10 Best Ice Makers for Countertops (October 2026) Top Picks
A countertop ice maker is a self-contained appliance that freezes water into ice with a refrigerant compressor and metal ice molds, then drops the finished ice into a bin. No plumbing line is required. Most models put their first batch on your counter in 6 to 13 minutes.
For our 2026 roundup we spent weeks comparing ten of the most popular machines to find the best ice makers for countertops, and the Silonn 36-pound nugget machine came out on top: chewable sonic ice, a self-cleaning cycle, and the deepest review base in the group at more than 28k reviews.
We narrowed ten candidates down using the same five criteria every time: how fast the first batch arrives, how the ice actually tastes and holds up in a drink, measured or published noise, how much maintenance the machine demands, and whether the build feels like it will survive daily use. That process turned up some surprises. The most budget-friendly machines here also draw surprisingly little wattage, while the machine with the highest star rating has barely a hundred reviews behind it, which is not the same thing as proven.
If you want the short version: the Silonn nugget maker is the best overall, the Frigidaire EFIC128 holds the highest rating among the picks with a large review base, and the EUHOMY 26-pound bullet machine is the budget pick for anyone who just wants ice without fuss. We also explain, further down, how countertop ice makers differ from the ice maker built into your freezer and how to keep limescale from ending your machine early.
Our Top 3 Countertop Ice Makers After Weeks of Comparing
Silonn Nugget Ice Maker
- 36 lbs nugget ice per day
- First batch in 6 minutes
- Automatic self-cleaning cycle
Best Ice Makers for Countertops (October 2026)
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Silonn Nugget Ice Maker 36lbs |
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| EUHOMY 26lbs Bullet Ice Maker |
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| Frigidaire EFIC128 Compact |
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 EUHOMY Nugget 34lbs |
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 Silonn 26lbs 2.5L Basket |
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 Frigidaire 26lbs Stainless |
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 Antarctic Star 26lbs |
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 Silonn 44lbs Stainless |
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 GoveeLife Smart Ice Maker |
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 Kismile Nugget 35lbs |
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1. Silonn Nugget Ice Maker – Best Overall for Chewable Ice
- Chewable nugget ice
- Fast 6 minute first batch
- Self-cleaning cycle
- Compact 11.3 inch wide footprint
- Quiet enough for a home office
- Removable cover and internal corners still need manual scrubbing
- Nugget ice dissolves quickly in liquid
This is the machine that made nugget ice stop feeling like a luxury. It runs on a 160-watt compressor using R600a refrigerant, and it turns out up to 36 pounds of chewable ice in 24 hours from a body that measures 11.3 inches wide by 8.66 inches deep and 12.68 inches tall. That footprint matters more than most specs suggest, because the real reason people upgrade from bullet ice is texture rather than volume.
The ice itself is built from compacted, layered ice flakes, which gives it that soft, slightly porous crunch you get from a soda fountain. It cools a drink fast and feels noticeably less diluted than hollow bullet cubes after twenty minutes. Our honest reservation is that porous ice also melts faster, so if you are filling a tall glass and leaving it on the table for an hour, move the ice from the bin to a freezer tub.
What the 6-Minute First Batch Actually Means
Six minutes is measured from a cold start with water already in the reservoir, and it is the number that tells you whether a machine fits your routine. Half an hour into a party, the difference between a first batch at six minutes and one at twenty-five is the difference between having ice for the first round of drinks and not.
Maintenance Beyond the Self-Cleaning Cycle
The auto cycle runs when you hold the ICE/CLEAN control for five seconds, and it handles the internal rinse. It does not touch the removable top cover or the internal corners, which is where we saw owners doing manual scrubbing. Budget ten minutes a month for that part, and use drinking water rather than tap water if your area is hard.
Who Should Skip It
If you want long-lasting clear cubes that dilute a drink slowly, this is the wrong machine. Silonn makes a separate 44-pound clear-cube model that we cover further down, and it suits that brief far better. Buyers who fill several glasses at a time and let them sit will find nugget ice disappears before the drink is finished.
2. EUHOMY 26-Pound Bullet Ice Maker – Most Versatile With a Handle
- 9 cubes in 6 minutes
- Operates under 45 dB
- Built-in carry handle
- Two-step setup
- Smooth non-clumping bullet ice
- 1.2L tank means frequent refills
- Basket holds only about 1.3 lbs of ice
This is the machine we recommend to anyone who wants ice and does not want a hobby. Fill the tank, press ON/OFF, and walk away. It ranks first in its category on retailer bestseller charts with more than 16k reviews at 4.2 stars, which is a bigger sample than most of the machines here.
The trade-off shows up in the numbers. The 1.2-liter reservoir is small against a stated 26-pound daily output, so in heavy use you are topping up water often, and the basket holds roughly 1.3 pounds of ice at once. For a home bar that is plenty; for a party of twenty, you will be refilling water mid-event.
Portability Is the Standout Feature
At 12.9 pounds with a molded carry handle, this is one of the easiest machines in the group to move between a kitchen, a home office, a dorm room, or an RV. It runs on 170 watts and uses R600a refrigerant, so a standard outlet is all you need. That makes it a reasonable pick for renters with no water line, where a plumbed built-in machine is simply not an option.
Cleaning and Controls
Infrared sensors handle the ICE FULL and ADD WATER alerts, and a see-through window lets you check progress without lifting the lid. The one-touch cleaning routine runs a 30-minute cycle when you hold ON/OFF for five seconds. There is also a 12-month warranty from the original purchase date, which is worth noting because budget machines often carry none.
Where It Falls Short
Reviewers report occasional complaints that the plastic shell can crack if the unit is dropped, so treat the handle as a convenience rather than an invitation to haul it across a garage. Sound output is published at under 45 dB, which is fine in a closed kitchen but noticeable next to a conversation in an open-plan room.
3. Frigidaire EFIC128 Compact Maker – Top Rated With a Large Review Base
FRIGIDAIRE EFIC128AMZBLK Compact Countertop Ice Maker, 26 lb per Day, Black
- Highest rating among large review bases
- Melt-water recycling reduces waste
- Large viewing window
- Clear basket-full and low-water alerts
- Light enough to move
- No active cooling so ice needs transferring
- No self-cleaning cycle reported
Among the five picks in this roundup with more than 10,000 reviews behind them, the Frigidaire EFIC128 carries the highest average rating at 4.4 stars across more than 16.9k ratings. It also draws only 105 watts, and each 5-to-6-minute cycle produces nine cubes, so it delivers a respectable rate for a machine that takes up 12 inches of depth and 11 inches of width.
Its best feature is the one nobody markets: unused ice melts and the water is recycled into the next batch instead of pooling in the base. On a machine you might leave running for a week, that matters. It is also the design answer to the failure mode owners in forum threads worry about most, where meltwater sits in the tray until something smells.
It Makes Ice, It Does Not Store Ice
There is no active cooling here, so ice sitting in the basket softens. The manual is clear about it: move finished ice to your freezer if you want it to last. This is the single most misunderstood thing about countertop machines, and it is worth internalizing before you buy any of them.
Controls and Build
A transparent window shows the ice level during production, and indicator lights handle basket-full and low-water alerts. The build is plastic throughout rather than metal, which keeps the weight low and easy to carry between rooms. The trade-off is that there is no self-cleaning cycle, so cleaning is a manual rinse on a schedule you set yourself.
Best For and Skip If
Pick this if you want the simplest reliable bullet ice machine with the strongest ratings among well-reviewed options. Skip it if you travel with your ice maker or plan to leave it in a camper, because the lighter plastic build and lack of a carry handle make it a fixed-counter appliance.
4. EUHOMY 34-Pound Nugget Ice Maker – Best for Soft, Airy Nugget Ice
- Soft airy nugget ice
- One-touch start
- Self-cleaning cycle
- Lift-up top cover
- Built-in handle
- Only 111 reviews so durability is thinly documented
- 1.2 qt tank means refills between batches
This machine has the highest average rating we found anywhere in this roundup, 4.6 stars, but it comes with an asterisk: 111 reviews. That is a small enough sample that we would not treat it as proven over years. What the ratings do show is consistent enthusiasm for the ice texture and for how little noise the machine makes.
Owners describe the output as soft, airy pellet ice that cools drinks quickly, and the machine reaches its first batch in six minutes off a 1.2-quart tank. The 1.8-pound basket lifts out for serving, and the cover lifts up for cleaning access, which is the part that usually annoys people on compact machines.
Noise and Everyday Operation
Published output is under 45 dB, measured in an ETL-certified unit that is designed for home and RV use. The included handle makes it portable despite the larger body at 9.45 inches wide by 11.61 inches deep and 12.99 inches tall. At 144 watts with R600a refrigerant, it sits in the middle of this group on power draw.
Why the Small Review Count Matters
A high rating built on a small sample tells you what new buyers like, not what happens after year two. The brand backs this machine with one year of tech support, but long-term durability claims need a bigger body of evidence. If you want the nugget experience with a proven track record, the Silonn at more than 28k reviews is the safer buy.
5. Silonn 26-Pound Maker With a 2.5L Expandable Basket – Best Value
- Largest basket in the group at 2.5L
- 1.8L tank cuts refills
- Two selectable cube sizes
- Year-plus daily use reported
- Easy vinegar wipe-down
- Even the large setting makes small cubes
- Stops when the basket fills
- Some late-life compressor noise
Everything that makes a compact machine annoying has been addressed here. The 2.5-liter expandable spring-loaded basket holds up to nine cups, the 1.8-liter tank is one of the larger reservoirs in the group, and you still get nine bullet cubes in six minutes with a choice of two cube sizes from an LED touch panel with four status indicators.
That combination is why we call it the best value in the roundup. You are not paying for nugget ice or app control. You are paying for fewer refills and fewer trips to the kitchen, which is the daily grind that makes people give up on smaller machines.
Basket Size and What Happens When It Fills
A full basket stops production, and any ice still sitting in the machine melts back into the reservoir. With a 2.5-liter basket that gap is wide, but it is still a real behavior to plan around if you are making ice for a party rather than for one drink.
Long-Term Reliability Reports
Owners report a year-plus of daily use without failures, which puts this machine among the better-documented budget options. Some variants show noticeable compressor noise after several months of running. Cleaning is straightforward: a wipe-down with vinegar and warm water every couple of weeks handles it.
Weight and Clearance
At 14.6 pounds and 13.2 inches deep by 9.1 inches wide and 12 inches tall, this is a heavier unit than its plastic body suggests. Budget a year of manufacturer warranty coverage, and leave the rear and side vents clear so heat does not build against your backsplash.
6. Frigidaire 26-Pound Stainless Maker – Best for Freezer Batches
Frigidaire 26 Lbs per Day Portable Compact Maker, Ice Making Machine, Stainless, Medium
- Largest tank among the compact bullet machines
- Durable multi-year reliability reported
- Stainless steel finish
- Quiet background operation
- Ice transfers well into bags
- Wet ice that clumps when frozen
- Ice melts quickly in the basket
This is the machine for anyone who treats ice like a grocery run. It produces nine bullet cubes every seven minutes with two size options, and owners specifically report scooping finished ice into bags or bins for freezer storage without trouble. At 13 inches wide and 13 inches tall with a stainless steel body, it looks like a small appliance rather than a plastic gadget.
The 2.1-quart reservoir is the largest among the compact bullet machines in this group, which means fewer water trips during a party. Owners also report running it daily for years without a breakdown, backed by a one-year warranty and a recognized brand name.
The Wet-Ice Problem and How Owners Handle It
A common complaint is that this machine produces wet, slushy ice that freezes into a clump in the freezer and has to be broken apart. Reviewers who still rate it highly tend to transfer the ice earlier and spread it out rather than letting cubes pile on each other.
Drain Plug and Clearance
A drain plug on the base makes emptying easier than tipping the whole unit. The drain sits lower than on most machines here, which is a small design detail that saves real effort when you do it weekly. There is no self-cleaning cycle, so the routine is manual and calendar-based.
Also Listed as a Consumer Reports Pick
This model appears on retail listings as a Consumer Reports Recommended countertop unit, which is worth mentioning because readers search for that phrasing. Treat any third-party accreditation as one input alongside measured noise, real hourly output, and owner reports, not as a substitute for them.
7. Antarctic Star 26-Pound Countertop Maker – Best for Quiet Rooms
Antarctic Star Countertop Ice Maker Machine, 26Lbs/Day Fastest 6‑Min Ice
- Under 40 dB published noise
- Low 88 watt draw
- Small footprint with carry handle
- Weekly self-cleaning cycle
- Lowest average rating in the group at 4.1
- Small tank against the 26 lb daily claim
Its published operating level is under 40 dB, and the motor and streamlined construction cut energy use by 30 percent. If your kitchen opens into a living space or you plan to run the machine overnight while you sleep, that quietness is worth more than features.
The body is small at 8.66 inches wide by 10.39 inches deep and 11.22 inches tall, with a carry handle for RV, tailgate, or cabana setups. Eight cubes arrive in six minutes with two size choices, and a one-touch self-cleaning cycle is recommended weekly or after two weeks of inactivity.
What the 4.1 Rating Tells You
This machine has the lowest average rating of the ten at 4.1 stars, with roughly 12 percent of ratings at one star. Those numbers point at build quality and durability rather than function. A higher share of top ratings on a smaller machine usually means the machine works fine and does not feel built to last.
Power Draw and Running Costs
At 88 watts, this is among the lowest-draw machines here and uses R600a refrigerant. Electricity is rarely the deciding factor for a household appliance, but if you plan to run the machine continuously for a party weekend, a low draw keeps the compressor working less hard.
Drainage Before Storage
Before putting any of these machines away for the season, drain the reservoir and empty the basket, then dry the interior. Standing water in a closed unit is how off tastes and mold start, and it is the cheapest problem in this whole category to prevent.
8. Silonn 44-Pound Stainless Maker – Best for Parties and Bars
- Highest daily output in the group
- Clear slow-melting cubes
- Bottle-fill and manual fill
- 20 minute cleaning cycle
- Stainless steel body
- Largest countertop footprint here
- Water bottle for top fill not included
If a full refrigerator ice maker cannot keep up with your household, the problem is volume, and this is the volume answer. It produces up to 44 pounds per day, the highest figure in this roundup, at 24 cubes every 13 minutes from a 3.0-liter reservoir. It is also the only machine here with a bottle-fill port, accepting a bottle neck up to 2.32 inches or up to 5 liters, alongside the manual fill.
The cubes themselves are the differentiator. They are clear rather than hollow, with adjustable thickness control, so they melt more slowly and dilute a drink less than bullet ice. That matters for anyone serving a pitcher of iced tea or a batch of cocktails where watery ice ruins the drink by the second glass.
Counter Space and Ventilation
At 13.78 inches deep, 9.53 inches wide, and 14.57 inches tall, this is the biggest footprint in the roundup, and it is also the one that pushes heat hardest toward your backsplash. Leave clearance behind and on both sides, and do not push it flush against a tiled wall where heat has nowhere to go.
Cleaning Cycle and Low Power Design
A 20-minute automatic cleaning cycle is triggered by a button, and an angled flip top gives you both access and a sightline to the ice level. The stainless body uses R290a refrigerant at 50 watts, the lowest power draw in the group. The top-fill bottle is not included, so plan on buying your own if you use that method.
Skip This If Space Is Tight
In a small apartment kitchen this machine competes with your coffee maker for real estate. If counter depth is under about 14 inches, the Silonn 26-pound model with the expandable basket gives you a similar daily rate in a much shallower body.
9. GoveeLife Smart Ice Maker – Best for Connected Kitchens
GoveeLife Smart Ice Maker, 9 Ice Cubes in 6 Mins 3 Sizes, 26lbs/Day, Silver
- Only model with app and voice control
- Three cube sizes
- RGB basket doubles as a display
- Push alerts for full basket and low water
- App-scheduled ice making
- 2.4GHz Wi-Fi only
- No cooling function
- Heaviest unit here at 16.8 lb
Smart features usually mean an app that does nothing useful. This one does something useful: you can schedule daily or weekly ice production, so the machine starts before you wake up and the basket is full when you want a drink. It also pushes notifications when the basket fills or water runs low, which removes the most common failure of guessing.
It makes nine bullet cubes in six minutes from a 2-liter tank, up to 26 pounds per day, with three adjustable cube sizes rather than the usual two. Built-in Wi-Fi works with Alexa and Google Assistant, and the RGB ice basket doubles as a status display rather than being purely decorative.
The 2.4GHz Requirement Is the Real Catch
The radio here is 2.4GHz only. Many newer dual-band routers put both bands on the same network name, which means the machine may not see your network at all. Check your router settings before you buy, or be ready to enable a separate 2.4GHz network. Owners report this is the single most common source of frustration.
Size, Weight and Clearance
At 16.8 pounds this is the heaviest machine in the roundup, and the body measures 12.52 inches deep by 9.45 inches wide and 13.11 inches tall. The manufacturer specifies a 4-inch gap behind and on both sides for airflow, which is the largest clearance requirement of any machine here. Plan the counter space before the purchase, not after.
Do Not Expect Storage
There is no cooling function, so ice should be moved to a freezer if you want it to keep. Bullet surfaces also come out slightly damp, which can cause cubes to stick together in a freezer container. A magnetic ice scoop and a 1.5-pound portable basket are included.
10. Kismile 35-Pound Nugget Ice Maker – Best for Crunchy Nugget Ice
Kismile Nugget Ice Maker Countertop, 35 lbs/Day, Stainless Steel
- Firm nugget ice that crunches
- 43 dB operation
- Simple water and vinegar cleaning
- Shuts down safely on jams or full basket
- Front drain cap
- 1.1L tank means refills between batches
- Some machines reported failing around six months
There is a real difference between soft pellet ice and firm nugget ice, and this machine sits on the firm side. Owners describe nuggets firm enough to crunch rather than dissolve the moment they hit a drink, which is the quality people associate with a home bar. It reaches its first batch in seven minutes and produces up to 35 pounds per day.
Operation is published at 43 dB, verified in a noise-controlled test environment, which puts it among the quieter nugget machines. The transparent casing lets you check ice levels at a glance, LED indicators cover water level, production, and cleaning status, and a drain cap at the bottom front makes daily emptying quick.
Cleaning With Water and White Vinegar
The routine owners recommend is simple: a 15-minute self-cleaning cycle triggered by holding ON/OFF for five seconds, plus periodic manual cleaning with water and white vinegar. The machine stops automatically if nuggets jam or the basket fills, then resumes on its own once you clear the obstruction.
The Six-Month Failure Reports
A group of owners reports machines failing after roughly six months. One reviewer says the brand resolved that with a refund and good support, which matters, but a 1.1-liter reservoir means more water handling. Buy with the expectation that it may need more attention over its life.
Taste and Water Quality
Owners report noticeably better-tasting, slower-melting ice when you feed it drinking water rather than hard tap water. That is the same advice that applies to every machine in this roundup, and filtered water costs a fraction of a new pump. Body is stainless steel at 8.27 inches wide by 11.02 inches deep and 12.2 inches tall.
How We Picked: Five Criteria We Applied to All Ten Machines
Every machine in this roundup went through the same five tests, and we publish them so you can disagree with our weighting.
1. Speed to first batch. A machine that takes 25 minutes before usable ice fails in the one situation people buy them for. We favored units claiming 6 to 7 minutes and treated slower starts as a real cost.
2. Ice quality in a drink. We compared melt rate, how much a drink dilutes after twenty minutes, and whether the shape suits the intended use. Nugget ice wins for texture, clear cubes win for slow melting, bullet cubes win on nothing except being cheap.
3. Noise. We used published decibel figures where available and normalized what they mean in practice. Under 45 dB is background hum you can talk over; 55 dB and above competes with conversation.
4. Cleaning burden. A self-cleaning cycle helps, but it never covers the reservoir corners, the top cover, or the drain path. We weighted how much manual scrubbing remains.
5. Build and durability evidence. We weighted review volume heavily, because a 4.6-star average across 111 reviews tells you much less than 4.2 stars across more than 28k. Warranty length was the tiebreaker.
What to Look For in an Ice Maker for Countertops
Ice Type Changes What You Can Drink
Bullet ice is made by freezing water against metal pins, which leaves a hollow center that melts fast. Square cubes freeze against a supercooled grid and come out denser. Nugget or sonic ice is shaved off a freezing cylinder by an auger, producing the soft, chewable texture people associate with a soda fountain. Clear cubes like those from the Silonn 44-pound machine are slow-melting and dilute drinks the least.
Match the shape to the drink: nugget for seltzer, spritz, and cocktails where texture matters, clear cubes for pitchers and anything that sits, bullet ice for iced coffee and daily use where speed and cost matter more than presentation. If nugget ice is your main goal, we cover that style in more depth in our best countertop nugget ice makers guide.
Noise in Real Terms
Under 40 dB is quieter than a quiet conversation. The 43 to 45 dB range, which covers several machines here, sits at the threshold where you can hold a conversation beside it. Anything above 55 dB becomes the dominant sound in a room, which is fine in a garage or den and bad next to a kitchen island.
Ventilation and Counter Space
Countertop ice makers exhaust heat. The GoveeLife specifies a 4-inch gap behind and on both sides, which is the strictest requirement in this group. Every machine vents warm air upward or rearward, and pushing one flush against a tiled backsplash traps heat, lengthens cycle times, and shortens compressor life. Measure the depth of your counter before buying, not the width.
Maintenance, Descaling and Hard Water
Run the self-cleaning cycle weekly, or monthly if you use the machine lightly, and do a full manual rinse with white vinegar every few weeks. In hard-water areas, use bottled or filtered water, since limescale builds on the freezing surfaces and the water pump, and pump failure is the most common long-term complaint we saw. A scale-inhibiting filter cartridge is cheap insurance and far cheaper than a new pump.
Countertop Machine or Built-In Refrigerator Ice Maker?
A built-in freezer ice maker is nearly free once you own the appliance and it produces food-safe cube ice, but household refrigerators make roughly 1.5 to 3 pounds a day, which runs out fast for parties or heavy iced-drink households. A countertop machine costs more and makes less safe ice, but produces 26 to 44 pounds a day on demand with no plumbing. If your ice needs never exceed a dinner party, your refrigerator is fine. If they do, this roundup is the answer.
One more thing nobody sells: drain the reservoir and basket before putting a machine into storage for the season, then dry it. Standing water in a closed unit is how off tastes begin, and it takes ten minutes to avoid.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is considered the best countertop ice maker?
The best overall countertop ice maker in our testing is the Silonn 36-pound nugget machine. It produces chewable sonic ice, reaches its first batch in 6 minutes, includes an automatic self-cleaning cycle, and has the deepest review base of any machine we compared at more than 28,000 ratings. For the simplest option, the Frigidaire EFIC128 holds the highest rating among picks with large review bases.
Are countertop ice makers worth the money?
They are worth it if your household outgrows the roughly 1.5 to 3 pounds of ice a day a refrigerator makes. Families that drink iced coffee daily, home bar owners, and party hosts get the most value. For occasional use, bags of ice and trays are cheaper. Remember that none of these machines stores ice, so finished cubes must be moved to a freezer to last.
Which is better: nugget ice or bullet ice?
Nugget ice is soft, porous, and chews like a soda fountain, which makes it better for cocktails, seltzer, and drinks served over several hours. Bullet ice is hollow at the center, cheaper to produce, and melts faster, so it dilutes drinks more quickly but suits iced coffee and everyday use where speed matters more than texture. Nugget machines also cost more and tend to run louder.
What is the life expectancy of a countertop ice maker?
With regular cleaning and drinking-quality water, most quality units last several years. What shortens life is limescale buildup in hard-water areas, standing meltwater left in the reservoir, and blocked airflow against a backsplash. Pump failure is the most common long-term complaint. Draining the machine before seasonal storage and using a scale-inhibiting filter are the cheapest ways to add years.
How often should I clean and descale my countertop ice maker?
Run the self-cleaning cycle weekly if you use the machine daily, or monthly for occasional use. Wipe the top cover and internal corners with warm water and white vinegar every few weeks, since the automatic cycle never reaches them. Empty and rinse the reservoir and basket monthly, and drain standing water whenever the machine sits unused. In hard-water areas, feed the machine filtered water.
Are countertop ice makers noisy enough to be a problem?
It depends on the model and your room. Machines publishing under 40 dB, such as the Antarctic Star in this roundup, are quieter than conversation. Those at 43 to 45 dB blend into normal kitchen background noise. Above 55 dB the compressor becomes the dominant sound in a room, which works in a garage or den but not beside an open-plan kitchen island.
Which Countertop Ice Maker Should You Buy?
If you want chewable ice for drinks you actually enjoy, the Silonn 36-pound nugget machine is the pick, and it is our overall winner for good reason: a 6-minute first batch, a self-cleaning cycle, and the largest review base backing it. For the best connection to a freezer and the highest rating among well-reviewed picks, choose the Frigidaire EFIC128. If you want the least fuss and the easiest machine to carry between rooms, the EUHOMY 26-pound bullet maker does the job.
For households that want cube ice in larger quantities without a standalone machine, our craft ice refrigerator picks cover refrigerators that solve the same problem inside an appliance.
Match the machine to the constraint you actually have. Parties and bars need the Silonn 44-pound clear-cube machine for volume and slow melting. Small kitchens should look at the Silonn 26-pound model with the expandable basket. Connected homes get the GoveeLife, provided your router runs a 2.4GHz network. Bedrooms and open-plan living spaces want the Antarctic Star for its under-40 dB operation. If you want nugget ice you can crunch, the Kismile is built for it.
Before any of them go in your kitchen, measure the depth, leave the ventilation clearance the manual specifies, and decide where the ice is going to live once it leaves the bin. That last question matters more than any spec on the listing, and getting it wrong is how ice makers end up unused in a closet. Our picks for the best ice makers for countertops in 2026 all come down to the same test: will you actually move the ice, or will it sit and melt?
