Our expert recommends a host of cool choices, including undercounter and countertop ice makers.
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Ice makers are magic. You can have the exact kind of ice you love in a few minutes without having to make the perilous walk between your kitchen tap and freezer carrying a wobbly, overfilled ice cube tray.
Nugget ice, also called pebble ice or Sonic ice (named for the drive-in, fast food chain), is perhaps the trendiest ice. The crunchy little rocks are pleasing to chew and make soda bubbles tickle your nose. But there are also countertop machines for your bar or undercounter ice makers that produce enough bullet-shaped ice (the more traditional rounded pieces that drop from your fridge dispenser) to ensure your guests won't be sipping warm lemonade.
Cocktailians will appreciate the ice makers that churn out clear ice. This type of ice is attractive; but it also melts slower than cloudy ice because it is denser so your cocktail or whiskey stays chilled without being rapidly diluted.
Indeed, ice adds an ambiance of sorts to any beverage: A blissfully cool drink of iced tea after mowing the lawn, the clink of glasses filled with Sangria after a long day, a cooler filled with frosty cans, or an icy fruit smoothie whisked up in a blender. I compared the performance, price, and features of 11 different ice makers to find the coolest option for you.
Ice machines are good at making ice, but they aren’t freezers. Ice inside will melt eventually. In good news, the melt water is returned to the tank and made into ice again. A tip here: To get the most out of your ice machine and cut down on mineral build-up, use bottled, distilled, or filtered water.
Countertop ice makers are built for small spaces, perfect for a pantry or an RV. The average countertop machine makes nine to 24 cubes—enough for two or three glasses of iced tea—every 6 to 20 minutes. But if you’re throwing a party, you’ll need an undercounter or freestanding model depending on how much of the neighborhood is invited.
Freestanding and undercounter ice makers typically have a dedicated water line and drain line (you might need a plumber or licensed contractor for the installation), whereas their countertop counterparts have a tank to hold water and a plug to drain it.
If you want features beyond sensors that know when an ice tray is full, you’ll likely have to spend more money. Self-cleaning cycles, timers, the ability to adjust ice thickness (thinner ice melts faster but is quicker to produce), and a larger capacity are more common on expensive models.
Like diamonds, you should think about the shape and clarity of your ice before buying an ice maker. Bullet ice (cone-shaped with a hole in the middle) is made by cooled metal rods dipping into a pool of water. Clear cubes, like the kinds you see in craft cocktail bars, are produced in layers with water continuously flowing over a chilled rack. Pebble ice (often called Sonic ice or pellet ice) is made of flakes of ice that have been compressed together. Crescent ice are the half-moons you usually see in a freezer.
While I write about food and kitchen tools professionally, I also have relied on a countertop ice maker for several months during a kitchen renovation when our refrigerator was a mini fridge. To recommend the best ice makers, I compared the daily ice output, size, durability, and price of machines, as well as the type of ice produced. I looked at expert sites, like Wirecutter, Good Housekeeping, Epicurious, and Liquor.com, customer reviews from Amazon and Williams-Sonoma, and online videos of the machines in action. The 10 machines below are the best ice machines for a variety of needs and situations.
The whisper quiet Luma Comfort produces the crystal clear ice you see in a soda fountain or craft cocktail bar by cascading water over a freezing cold honeycomb to produce a sheet of square cubes.
If you want thicker ice, hold the on/off button for an additional five seconds for a slightly longer cycle. The machine automatically lets you know if you need to add water (the reservoir holds 64 ounces) or if the ice bin is full. It comes with a scoop and has a 1 year warranty.
Ice makers, like humidifiers, can build up scale if you’re using them infrequently. The Igloo Automatic 26-Pound Ice Maker has a handy self-cleaning mode to manage this. It also features a handle, making this ice maker easy to take with you. The retro look (check out the aqua color, one of four shades available) is charming.
This square ice maker is not as compact as some others on this list, but it's still small enough to fit under standard cabinets. But the bigger footprint comes with the benefit of a large ice bin (you won’t have to empty it as often) and nearly double the daily output of other budget countertop options. In this case, bigger is better, as it makes a dozen ice cubes in seven minutes.
Bells meet whistles. You’ve probably heard about “good ice.” Technophiles will love the smartphone-syncing Opal (it works with Alexa and Google devices) that produces little ice pellets that promise the satisfying crunch you might crave.
This trendy ice maker comes with a hefty price tag, but the sleek design in black or stainless steel looks impressive on countertops, and the optional side tank (for $70 more) means fewer refills.
This tiny ice maker, just 9.5-inches wide, is well-suited for apartment kitchens where counter space is limited. It’s small but mighty, with a slightly larger basket than similar models and can make nine cubes in seven minutes. Enjoy bullet ice at two sizes: small cubes for crunching and larger cubes for drinks.
You don’t have to worry about running to the store in the middle of a party with the Vevor Commercial Ice Maker. This stainless steel ice machine with a jazzy blue interior light produces three different thicknesses of ice and can store—not make—up to 29 pounds of ice (that’s bigger than the big bag at your gas station). It comes with a water filter, and needs to be attached to a water source.
The rounded Costway ice maker comes in bright colors, including a vintage-inspired seafoam green, and is an appealing addition to your counter or side bar.
It holds 2.2 liters of water and kicks out small or large bullet-shaped ice in as little as six minutes. The ice maker has a self-cleaning mode and a large window to see how much ice you have left.
There’s no need for opening the top and digging around in the bin with the KBice nugget ice maker. It has a built-in dispenser so you can grab a glass, push a button, and nibble on nugget ice whenever you want.
It does have a slower start-up compared to other models, but ice is still available in 30 minutes. You’ll appreciate the self-cleaning cycle to make sure there are no off flavors in your pebble ice. Keep in mind you’ll want to use distilled water for the best results.
The best part of waking up when you own this appliance: 25 pounds of clear ice waiting for your pool drinks. The New Air Undercounter Ice Maker can be programmed up to 24 hours in advance and functions as either a built-in or standalone ice maker.
It does require a dedicated water line, and the non-reversible door only opens to the right if you’re thinking about where to install the machine.
If you love crunching on ice, the Frigidaire ice maker guarantees you can chew to your heart’s content. Pull the handle to open the bin and use the included scoop to grab crunchy nuggets 15 minutes after you plug in the machine.
This tall, skinny ice maker cranks out a lot of ice—up to 44 pounds in a day—and can store as much as three pounds at a time.
For how long will my ice maker keep ice frozen?
While ice makers have insulation, they are not freezers. You can expect your ice maker to hold ice for a few hours with the door closed; but eventually the ice will melt back into water and return to the reservoir or need to be drained.
Ice machines hum and thrum and clank like a mildly insistent robot while they’re working to make ice. They’re likely as loud as your coffee maker, making the most noise at the start of an ice cycle and when cubes start clanging into an empty bin.
Where is the best place to keep an ice maker? Counter? Bar cart?
Keep your ice machine close to where you’ll be making your drinks. Remember, you’ll need an outlet close by and possibly a water line. If you’re tucking it away on a shelf, make sure you can easily get the ice out and have enough space to lift the lid.
Jonathan Bender is a food writer who lives in Kansas City, Missouri. He regularly tests kitchen appliances for national publications and recipes on his children. He's also the author of a pair of cookbooks: Stock, Broth & Bowland Cookies & Beer.
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