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Mar 23, 2025

The 8 Best Countertop Ice Makers of 2025 - Portable Ice Machines

These handy small appliances ensure there’s a continual supply of cubes to keep your drinks cold. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link.

These handy small appliances ensure there’s a continual supply of cubes to keep your drinks cold.

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?

You may not think much about ice until you need it and are out. Many refrigerators offer a supply of crescent-shaped cubes with the push of a button, though built-in ice makers are prone to breaking and require upkeep. Filling up ice cube trays at the sink is often cumbersome, especially if you need large quantities of ice or don’t have extra freezer space.

Rather than rely on your fridge, a countertop ice maker churns out pounds of ice over 24 hours for soda, cocktails, and iced coffee. Some compact models are also handy for tailgating, RV trips, or car camping.

But like any small appliance, they have different attributes to consider to find a model that suits your needs, including size, capacity, water source connection, and features like LED lighting and a self-cleaning mode. Whether you’re looking for a kitchen or portable model, these are the best countertop ice makers we recommend to keep beverages cold, along with some advice on what to look out for as you make your pick.

Consider your ice cube style preference when deciding on a countertop ice maker. Most machines do not pop out the crystal-clear ice you’d find at a top-tier restaurant or bar. Instead, some of the most popular shapes are nugget ice cubes, also known as pellets or Sonic. Soft and chewable, this style is the cube of choice at restaurants like Sonic and Chick-fil-A, but the cubes melt quickly, and the machines that make them tend to be more expensive due to their popularity. Also, consider if you’ll want different ice sizes for different drinks. Many machines offer two cube sizes—a smaller one good for sodas and iced coffees and a large option more suited for cocktails. If you plan to make both, look for one of these.

There isn’t much of a difference in size among the best countertop ice makers. Some space-savers are tall and narrow while others are lower and deep, ideal to fit beneath a kitchen cabinet. At most, countertop ice makers range from roughly 10 to 15 inches deep and 12 to 17 inches high.

Most countertop ice makers designed for kitchens produce 26 pounds of ice in 24 hours. This is more than enough for households with four to six people, assuming there are no major ice demands (like a party). Larger households or offices may appreciate a more productive machine that churns out 30 or more pounds of ice per day.

Countertop ice makers either use water from a built-in reservoir or a connected water line, but the former is most common. You’ll need to refill a reservoir ice maker with water when it runs out. The major benefit is it doesn’t require any plumbing connections—you just fill the tank and it’s ready to use. Just keep in mind that most machines recommend using filtered water to prevent mineral deposits from building up.

If your ice maker will be running all the time and you don’t want to hear constant humming and clinking, look for a model that produces 40 decibels of sound or less. Some ice makers automatically run when they sense the basket is running low on ice—keep this in mind if you prefer a quieter machine.

Self-cleaning is an important feature to consider and look for, as cleaning a countertop ice maker requires dumping ice and removing and replacing several components. With a simple click of a button, you know your machine is clean and the ice tastes fresh. After all, using the best quality ice amplifies the taste of your beverages, too.

To put together this list of the best countertop ice makers, we used our expert knowledge of the kitchen appliance space to narrow down our pool. Elizabeth Briskin—the original author of this guide—is a chef, recipe developer, and food writer who is all too familiar with the necessity of ice in the kitchen. She uses her own ice maker multiple times per day for tasks like shocking her delicate veggies after blanching them—this keeps them from continuing to cook and getting soggy.

For this latest update, we researched the best-performing brands and most-loved products according to customer reviews, product descriptions, latest models, and testing. While researching, we looked for products in a range of price points, sizes, capacities, and feature sets (like multiple ice cube sizes, water dispensers, portability, and a self-cleaning function). We also considered noise level, speed, overall aesthetics, and quantity of ice these make in 24 hours.

This high-powered nugget ice maker from Frigidaire is our top pick thanks to its thoughtful design, high output, compact size, and easy-to-use interface. It offers two sizes of bullet ice cubes—which are cylindrical with a rounded tip and hollow center—and the ice maker produces its first cubes in less than six minutes.

It holds up to 1.5 pounds of ice cubes at a time and produces up to 26 pounds per day, so it’s a good choice for larger households. The flip-up lid is transparent for seeing your supply straight away. As unused ice melts, the machine recycles the water to make fresh ice, saving you from draining it constantly.

Your guests are sure to be impressed by the NewAir Countertop Ice Maker, which has a cool modern design that won’t distract from the look of a home bar. Its all-black exterior is accentuated by the LED-lit ice cube compartment.

In addition to its sleek look, this high-end ice maker creates nugget-style ice and produces an impressive 44 pounds of it per day—significantly more than most other machines. It even has a self-cleaning setting and a handy draining tube in the back that makes it easy to empty.

If you’re willing to spend a little more, the high-tech Profile Opal 2.0 gives you a continual supply of the opal-shaped nuggets, starting in under ten minutes. It produces 1.6 pounds of nugget ice per hour, delivering 38 pounds of it within 24 hours. The bin holds 3 pounds of ice at a time.

The side-mounted water reservoir holds up to 3/4 gallons of water—more than most.Thanks to Wi-Fi connectivity, you can control this appliance from your smartphone, and set it to start while you’re out and about.

This compact model is a solid budget-friendly option that efficiently produces bullet-shaped ice cubes in under 10 minutes, and makes 26 pounds in 24 hours. There are also two cube sizes—an impressive feature at this price point.

Using it is a breeze, thanks to a one-touch button and an infrared sensor that stops production when the ice basket is full. It also alerts you when you need to refill the water reservoir.

Lighter than many similar models, the Crownful is ideal for taking on the road when you know you’ll have a power hookup. The company also offers a one-year warranty, a great perk at this price.

Whether you’re headed on a picnic, hosting an outdoor barbecue, or organizing an office party , this portable, lightweight machine provides all the conveniences and eliminates the hassle of hauling bags of ice. What’s more, it’s very affordable.

While many ice makers weigh over 20 pounds, this one is just shy of 14 and comes with a convenient carrying handle and insulated ice compartment. It produces up to 26 pounds of bullet-shaped ice per day, with the first cubes ready in as quickly as six minutes. A self-cleaning function keeps ice fresh

The model features an insulated ice compartment and is easy to operate.

Ideal for retro kitchens or bars, this turquoise ice maker, from Igloo’s Nostalgia line, is a reliable, budget-friendly pick that adds a fun pop of color wherever you choose to use it. It churns out 26 pounds of ice in 24 hours, with nine cubes ready in just about seven minutes.

It offers two cube sizes—a handy feature for the price—and the removable basket holds up to 1.25 pounds of ice at a time. A drain plug makes cleanup simple, while the carry handle makes it portable for picnics or RV trips. While it does require frequent refills and the fan is a bit noisy, its vintage design and above-average features for the price make it a reliable, stylish choice.

A standout for home mixologists and party hosts alike, the Luma Countertop Ice Maker produces up to 40 pounds of crystal-clear, restaurant-quality ice daily. Its innovative process freezes water in layers to eliminate impurities, creating ice that melts slowly, keeps drinks balanced, and reduces fizz in cocktails and spirits. Extra-thick insulation keeps ice colder for longer, with melted ice recycled for the next batch.

A simple one-button operation and adjustable thickness setting make it ideal for a variety of cocktails, from Juleps to Negronis. Though it’s a bit bulkier than others and takes a bit longer per batch, it produces more, better-quality ice: 28 clear cubes in a 15-minute cycle.

The Deco Ice Maker is a sleek, compact solution for cozy spaces like dorms, office nooks, or RVs. Unlike many small models, it features a stainless steel exterior that adds a modern touch to any kitchen.

This efficient machine produces nine bullet-shaped cubes in just six minutes and churns out 26 pounds of ice per day, with a basket that holds over a pound at a time.

Easy-to-read LED indicators and a built-in carry handle make it both practical and portable, while its budget-friendly price makes it an excellent value for everyday use.

PM: Can you use tap water in a countertop ice maker?

EB: Yes, whether you hook your ice maker up to a water line or use a refillable tank, you can keep it supplied with tap water. However, if you find that your tap water has an unpleasant flavor, you may prefer to use filtered water.

PM: Can I leave my countertop ice maker on all the time?

EB: Yes, it’s perfectly safe to leave most ice makers on during the day and night. Of course, if you’re not using the ice, you will be using electricity to keep it running.

PM: Do ice makers need a water line?

EB: Some countertop ice makers require a water hookup. This means you’ll need to place the machine near some plumbing in your kitchen. If this isn’t an option for your home, however, many of the machines we love use a refillable water reservoir instead of, or in addition to, a water line.

Arabella Bowen is a freelance writer and seasoned product tester who specializes in travel, design, tech, home improvement, and outdoor essentials. She’s reviewed everything from roller bags and cameras to hiking equipment and home decor for outlets such as The Montreal Gazette, Fodor's, AFAR, and US Park Pass. When she’s not writing or co-running SoloTrvlr.com, Arabella can be found immersed in DIY projects at her mid-century modern house in upstate New York—a hands-on pursuit that inspires many trips to Lowe’s.

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