The 8 Best Ice Makers of 2024

Best Overall

Luma Comfort Clear Ice Cube Maker

View On Amazon $250 View On Wayfair $250 View On Walmart $205

Our Ratings

• Portability
  3.5/5
• Performance
  5/5
• Capacity
  4/5

We love this ice maker because it produces very clear, restaurant-quality ice. The machine has a 10-cup water capacity, which yielded the highest output per hour out of all the ice makers we tested (though it did take a while), and the noise level was silent. We also liked that the machine isn't obtrusively branded.

The unit has push-button controls and an LED display, and it alerts you to let you know when the ice collector is full or water is low. It's fairly big and bulky—not massive to the point where a fridge with an ice maker is a better option, but if you have a small kitchen, this machine may need a designated space other than your countertop. It requires no installation and comes with a scoop, owner's manual, and a one-year warranty. It's not the most budget-friendly option, but it's worth the money.

Model: Countertop | Ice Size: 1 size, cube ice | Speed: Roughly 20 cubes per 20 minutes | Dimensions: 11.13 x 14.25 x 13.88 inches | Weight: 25.3 pounds | Output: 28 pounds per day

Best Budget

Silonn Countertop Ice Maker

View On Amazon $110 View On Walmart $125

Our Ratings

• Portability
  5/5
• Performance
  4/5
• Capacity
  4/5

If you're looking for an ice maker that won't break the bank, this one is a great choice. It's sleek, portable, relatively light, easy to use, and doesn't clutter the counter; it's also very easy to set up and use. We love that you can choose between small or large ice cubes, and despite the lower price point, it still operates quietly.

For the machine being on the smaller side, it still has a decent water capacity and churns out a good amount of ice per hour. The ice came out somewhat cloudy and inconsistently sized, but we still liked the fact that the machine recycles melted ice to make more ice.

It's important to note that you'll need to keep the ice maker in an upright position if you transport it or wait 24 hours before using it again if it wasn't kept upright (otherwise the refrigerant may not be properly settled in its reservoir after being moved, which could damage the compressor). The machine comes with a basket and an ice scoop. This is very sleek and nice-looking. We would be 100 percent OK with keeping it on the countertop.

Model: Countertop | Ice Size: 2 sizes, bullet ice | Speed: 9 cubes per 6 minutes | Dimensions: 12.3 x 8.7 x 12.5 inches | Weight: 15 pounds | Output: 27 pounds per day

Best Splurge

NewAir Countertop Ice Maker

View On Amazon $269 View On Wayfair $269 View On Walmart $300

Our Ratings

• Portability
  3/5
• Performance
  5/5
• Capacity
  5/5

This ice maker is huge and heavy, but it can produce up to a whopping 50 pounds of ice per day and 12 pieces in seven minutes. You can choose one of three different ice sizes and set the 18-hour timer to make ice on your schedule. Indicator lights let you know when you need to add water or when the removable ice bin is full, and an ice scoop is included for easy serving. Eventually, the ice will melt since the bin is not refrigerated, but it is better insulated than other smaller ice maker models we tried.

This machine doesn't require much maintenance (it has a self-cleaning mode) and produces ice really fast—leave it running for two hours on the small setting and you'll have a full bin. The bullet ice cubes were a bit cloudy and somewhat irregular in size, and the machine made a strong whirring noise during operation, but its performance made up for that. The machine can be tricky to drain since it's so big and heavy, so you may want to lay a dish towel underneath to pick up any dribbling during the draining process.

Model: Countertop | Ice Size: 3 sizes, bullet ice | Speed: 12 pieces per 7 minutes | Dimensions: 17.2 x 15.3 x 16.5 inches | Weight: 36.4 to 37.6 pounds | Output: 50 pounds per day or 12 pieces per 7 minutes

Best Compact

Aglucky Countertop Ice Maker

View On Amazon $40

Our Ratings

• Portability
  5/5
• Performance
  4/5
• Capacity
  3/5

This machine is tiny for an ice maker, and although it looks a little on the cheaper side, it's very cute and great for dinner parties, RVs, small get-togethers, and road trips. For the size of the machine, it made an adequate amount of ice in an hour during testing. Since it's small and has a lower water capacity, you may have to refill it fairly often to keep up with its output, but it's easy to use and has clear, precise instructions.

The Aglucky is small and mighty, making 26 pounds of ice per day while taking up minimal counter space. While this ice maker operates relatively quietly, there's a slight whirring noise from the fan. As the ice is used or melts, it makes more. This machine has a clear window to let you see how much ice is inside and comes with an ice scoop and basket. You'll have to clean it out yourself since this machine doesn't have a self-cleaning feature.

Model: Countertop | Ice Size: 2 sizes, bullet ice | Speed: 9 pieces per 8 minutes | Dimensions: 12.3 x 8.7 x 12.6 inches | Weight: 16.8 pounds | Output: 26 pounds per day

Best Nugget Ice

GE Profile Opal Countertop Nugget Ice Maker

View On Amazon $679 View On Wayfair $517 View On Wayfair $517

If you're not familiar with nugget ice, it's a soft and chewable type of ice that's best used for blended drinks like smoothies, frozen margaritas. Nugget ice is also great for blended cocktails, as it will keep your mixture cooler for a longer period of time and won't dilute the flavors. This machine produces restaurant-quality ice that's not wet, so it's easy to separate if stuck.

This sleek-looking stainless steel ice maker produces 1 pound of ice nuggets per hour, and the bin can hold up to 3 pounds. The clear, illuminated bin lets you see how much ice you have available and is easy to pull forward when scooping ice (a scoop is included). You can open the bin while ice is still being made, and while the bin is open, any ice that is made just falls into the water reservoir. The bin is also insulated to keep the ice cold, but as it inevitably melts, the machine automatically makes more.

The GE Opal connects to Wi-Fi, so you can control it when you're not home. It also comes with an extra water reservoir so you don't have to have to refill the water as often during larger get-togethers.

When we tested the brand's previous model, we loved how easy it was to chew the ice no matter what kind of drink it was in—from soda, to cocktails, to a copycat recipe of Sonic's cherry limeade. We were particularly impressed that the ice didn't soak up the drink's flavor. However, we don't love the noise level it produces.

Note: The original model we tested is featured in the full review link above and picture below. The brand improved and updated the product to a lighter 2.0 model with Wi-Fi connectivity, which is featured in this roundup.

Model: Countertop | Ice Size: 1 size, nugget ice | Speed: 1 pound per hour | Dimensions: 17.5 x 13.43 x 16.5 inches | Weight: 38 pounds | Output: 24 pounds per day

Best for Bullet Ice

Frigidaire Countertop Ice Maker

View On Amazon $139 View On Home Depot $139 View On QVC $175

Our Ratings

• Portability
  4.5/5
• Performance
  5/5
• Capacity
  4.5/5

Bullet ice, also sometimes called hollow cube ice, is more cylindrical in shape than nugget ice and works great in everything from soda to mixed drinks. This Frigidaire model makes some of the largest, thickest bullet ice we've found from a countertop ice maker, and it does it quickly.

The Frigidaire EFIC103 can churn out 26 pounds a day, and in our tests, it made a batch of nine in just eight minutes. Because the ice is so large and thick, a little goes a long way. This machine produced hollow, bullet-shaped ice as thick and as fast as brands that cost twice the price. It was also so quiet that we forgot it was even on.

This ice maker can store 2.2 pounds of ice at a time. While this one isn't as well-insulated as some higher-end models, we still found it adequate. In terms of customization, you have your choice of three ice sizes, and the size corresponds to thickness rather than length. Please note, though, that the ice storage isn't refrigerated, so you'll want to move it as it's produced.

Model: Countertop | Ice Size: 3 sizes, bullet ice | Speed: 9 pieces per 7 to 15 minutes | Dimensions: 14.44 x 11.69 x 14.88 inches | Weight: 24.03 pounds | Output: 26 pounds per day

Best Self-Cleaning

Igloo Premium Self-Cleaning Countertop Ice Maker

View On Amazon $100 View On Wayfair $110 View On Walmart $115

This attractive countertop ice maker has a handle for easy portability and comes in an array of color options. For its size, it works at an impressive speed, producing 26 pounds of ice per day and approximately nine cubes every seven minutes. The ice maker lets you choose between two sizes of cylinder-shaped ice and is overall very easy to use; the LED control panel lets you know when the water reservoir needs to be filled as well as when the collector bin (which can hold 2 pounds of ice at a time) is full. The machine pauses its production when the bin is full to prevent overflow.

The fan is somewhat noisy, but not egregiously so. Since the machine is portable and on the smaller side, it needs more frequent water refills than machines with huge water reservoirs, but its size and capacity are perfect for your typical home bar. Best of all, this machine has a thorough cleaning function that just requires you to add water and cleaning solution to the water reservoir.

Model: Countertop | Ice Size: 2 sizes, cylinder ice | Speed: 9 pieces per 7 minutes | Dimensions: 13.9 x 10.51 x 15.28 inches | Weight: 19.3 pounds | Output: 26 pounds per day