The best countertop ice makers fall into three very different families, and picking the wrong one is the mistake most buyers make twice. Nugget makers chew like a cold pack and cost the most, clear cube makers hold a drink without watering it down, and hollow bullet makers do the job for a fraction of the money. Then there is the number on the box: every one of these machines claims to make somewhere between 26 and 45 pounds of ice in a day, and almost none of them will come close in a normal kitchen.
We spent weeks running these machines through first batches, refills, cleaning cycles and drink tests to work out which claims hold up. What follows covers all ten, with the noise, footprint and water demands that specification sheets leave out. If your household is off-grid or on well water, read our countertop ice maker picks for rural homes first, because water chemistry changes the maintenance story completely.
The short version: if you want chewable nugget ice without the premium price tag, start with the Silonn nugget maker below. If you just want cold drinks, the Frigidaire and EUHOMY bullet machines do most of the work for a small fraction of the cost.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Countertop Ice Makers in 2026
Silonn Nugget Ice Maker 36 lbs
- Chewable nugget ice
- 36 lbs per day
- 6 minute first batch
- Self-cleaning cycle
EUHOMY 26 lbs Bullet Ice Maker
- 26 lbs per day
- 9 cubes in 6 minutes
- 1.2L tank
- 13 lb portable body
Frigidaire 26 lbs Bullet Ice Maker
- 26 lbs per day
- 9 cubes every 7 minutes
- 2.1 quart tank
- 1 year warranty
The Silonn nugget maker is the one we kept reaching for after testing finished. It makes genuinely chewable ice, the first batch lands in about six minutes, and the self-cleaning cycle does most of the upkeep for you. The EUHOMY bullet machine is the cheapest way to get a working ice maker on a counter, and the Frigidaire is the smarter version of the same idea with a bigger tank and a recognizable appliance brand behind it.
Best Countertop Ice Makers in 2026
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Silonn Nugget Ice Maker 36 lbs |
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| EUHOMY 26 lbs Bullet Ice Maker |
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 Silonn Touchscreen Ice Maker |
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| Frigidaire 26 lbs Bullet Ice Maker |
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 EUHOMY Nugget Ice Maker 34 lbs |
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 Silonn 44 lbs Clear Ice Maker |
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 EUHOMY 45 lbs Clear Cube Ice Maker |
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 GoveeLife Smart Ice Maker |
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 Kismile Crescent Ice Maker |
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 COSTWAY 40 lbs Ice Maker |
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1. Silonn Nugget Ice Maker, 36 lbs a Day – Editor’s Choice
Silonn Nugget Ice Maker Countertop, Pellet Ice Machine with Self-Cleaning Function, Sonic Ice Maker Produces 36lbs of Chewable Ice in 24 Hours, Ideal for Home Kitchen and Office (Stainless Steel)
36 lbs/day nugget ice
First batch in 6 min
11.3W x 8.66D x 12.68H in
160W
120V
R600a
Pros
- Chewable layered nugget ice
- 6 minute first batch
- Automatic self-cleaning cycle
- Compact 11.3 inch wide body
- Multi-color status lights
Cons
- Small ice basket for its output rating
- Some owners still scrub the chute by hand
This is the machine I kept refilling after the other nine had gone back in their boxes. It makes real nugget ice, the small layered pellets that crunch rather than the soft watery cubes most machines at this tier produce, and the texture holds up in a drink long after the ice has been sitting in the basket.
Production is genuinely fast. The first pieces landed in about six minutes from a cold fill, and the stated ceiling is 36 pounds a day, which is the second-highest number in this group. In practice a normal household sees a good fraction of that, and the machine keeps working as long as the reservoir has water and the basket has room.
The build is metal and plastic in a stainless steel finish, and the whole thing measures 11.3 inches wide by 8.66 inches deep by 12.68 inches high. It runs on 120 volts at 160 watts, so it can share a countertop circuit with anything else in the kitchen without upsetting a breaker.
Upkeep is the part that usually decides these purchases, and the self-cleaning cycle here runs from the ICE/CLEAN button with a removable cover on top. The cover comes off, the chute is reachable, and the multi-color lights tell you when water is low or the basket is full. I still scrubbed the chute by hand periodically, which matches what owners report.
What You Get With This Silonn Nugget Maker
You get chewable ice in a machine small enough to sit beside a toaster rather than claim a whole counter. Ice maker, scoop, basket and manual are in the box, so there is nothing extra to buy before the first batch.
At 160 watts this is also one of the cheaper machines to run continuously, which matters if you leave it making ice through the afternoon. Nugget ice is denser and slower melting than hollow bullet, so drinks stay cold longer and dilute less.
Where This Machine Falls Short
The basket is the weak point. With output this high, the basket fills long before the reservoir empties, so in practice you will move ice to a freezer partway through the day rather than letting it pile up.
Budget nugget makers also share a common weakness: the ice chute and water circuit need occasional manual scrubbing that the automatic cycle does not fully cover. Owners report the same pattern, and it is manageable but not zero effort.
2. EUHOMY 26 lbs Bullet Ice Maker – Budget Pick
EUHOMY Countertop Ice Maker Machine with Handle, 26lbs in 24Hrs, 9 Ice Cubes Ready in 6 Mins, Auto-Cleaning Portable Ice Maker with Basket and Scoop, for Home/Kitchen/Camping/RV. (Black)
26 lbs/day bullet ice
9 cubes in 6 min
8.74W x 11.42D x 11.57H in
12.9 lb
170W
12 month warranty
Pros
- First batch in about 6 minutes
- Light 12.9 pound body with carry handle
- Infrared ICE FULL and ADD WATER alerts
- One-touch 30 minute auto-clean
- See-through viewing window
Cons
- Holds only about 1.3 lb of ice at a time
- Hollow bullet cubes melt faster than solid ice
This is the cheapest machine in the group that we would actually recommend to someone starting out, and it ranks first in appliances on the strength of how many people bought it. Sixteen thousand reviews at 4.2 stars tells you the design is not clever, just dependable and cheap.
It produces smooth bullet-shaped cubes, first batch in roughly six minutes, with a stated ceiling of 26 pounds a day. Bullet ice is hollow inside, which is why it comes out of these cheap machines faster than solid ice, but it also melts quicker in a glass.
Portability is the quiet advantage here. At 12.9 pounds with a molded handle on top, it moves between the kitchen, a dorm room or an RV without drama, which is why it keeps showing up in motorhome forums alongside the Costco portable models.
The body is plastic, the compressor pulls 170 watts at 115 volts, and the tank holds 1.2 liters. A 12-month warranty comes with it along with lifetime technical support, and a 30-minute self-clean cycle runs from the control panel when the ICE/CLEAN button is pressed.
Infrared sensors handle the ADD WATER and ICE FULL alerts so you are not guessing at the state of the machine. The viewing window on the lid shows the basket, and the panel is a simple two-step control rather than a menu tree.
Why This Is the Best First Ice Maker
It answers the two questions that matter most for a first machine: how long before I can have a drink, and will it hurt my electricity bill. Six minutes and 170 watts is a good answer to both.
The sensor alerts mean it will not silently run dry and clog, and the self-clean cycle covers the routine wash. For anyone who wants ice for weekend entertaining rather than a full-time home bar, that is enough machine.
Where This Machine Falls Short
The basket holds about 1.3 pounds of ice. That is roughly nine cubes, so on a warm day you will be moving ice into a freezer several times a day rather than letting it accumulate.
Bullet cubes are hollow and sit close to freezing, so they melt faster than solid or nugget ice and dilute a drink sooner. If you care about a drink staying cold for half an hour, this is the wrong machine type.
3. Silonn Touchscreen Ice Maker – Best for Small Kitchens
Silonn Countertop Ice Maker with Smart Touchscreen, Ambient Light & Timer
8 cubes in 6 min
26.5 lbs/day
17.52W x 13.58D x 7.87H in
16.5 lb
160W
Dual 0.8L plus 1L tanks
Pros
- Color touchscreen with basket light
- Dual tanks total 1.8L
- 12 hour ice scheduling
- One-touch cleaning cycle
- Slim 7.87 inch tall body
Cons
- Wide 17.5 inch footprint
- Limited cube size options
Most portable ice makers are tall and narrow or short and wide, and this one is the rare model that is short and wide on purpose. At 7.87 inches tall it slides under a low shelf or a coffee bar cabinet where a 13-inch machine will not go.
The touchscreen is the feature that gives it away as a newer design. It carries a color panel, three-color ambient lighting around the body and a light inside the basket, so you can see the ice without lifting the lid in a dim kitchen.
Output is 8 cubes in as little as 6 minutes with a stated ceiling of 26.5 pounds a day, driven by two tanks: 0.8 liters in the main reservoir and a 1-liter auxiliary tank. Meltwater recirculates rather than being dumped, which stretches both tanks further than the numbers suggest.
Scheduling runs up to 12 hours ahead, so you can have ice waiting before guests arrive or before a morning coffee. A one-touch cleaning cycle handles routine maintenance, and the 160-watt compressor at 120 volts is gentle on a small kitchen circuit.
Why the Low Profile Actually Matters
Counter space is the real constraint in most apartments. This machine gives up depth, not height, which is usually the smarter trade when the cabinet above is close and the counter run is long and narrow.
The dual tank setup is the other quiet win. Most competitors at this size force a refill every couple of hours, and a second 1-liter tank means an evening of entertaining without walking to the tap.
Where This Machine Falls Short
The 17.5 inch width is genuinely wide. If your counter is a galley kitchen or a dorm-sized surface, measure first, because the depth is 13.58 inches as well.
Cube size options are limited compared with machines offering three selectable sizes, and the 1.1-pound basket is small. If you want a large cube for a slow drink, this is not the one.
4. Frigidaire 26 lbs Bullet Ice Maker – Best Value
Frigidaire Countertop Portable, 26 lb per Day Bullet Ice Maker Machine (Black Stainless Steel)
26 lbs/day bullet ice
9 cubes every 7 min
11W x 15D x 14.5H in
1000W
120V
1 year warranty
Pros
- 2.1 quart tank is about twice most rivals
- Recognizable appliance brand with 1 year warranty
- Drain plug for full emptying
- LED panel with two size options
- Black stainless finish
Cons
- Wet hollow ice that melts quickly
- Batches can fuse and need breaking apart
- Noisy when ice drops into the basket
The Frigidaire is the same basic bullet machine you have seen in a hundred kitchens, and that is the point. It carries the highest average rating of any large-sample machine in this group at 4.3 stars across more than 11,000 reviews, with a recognizable brand and a real one-year warranty behind it.
Output is roughly nine bullet cubes every seven minutes with a stated ceiling of 26 pounds a day and two size options on the LED control panel. A transparent window shows the basket, and the panel itself handles the rest without a menu.
The reason it beats the cheaper bullet machines is the 2.1-quart reservoir, roughly double what most rivals carry, so refills interrupt you far less. A drain plug at the base lets you empty it completely, which is the single habit that keeps biofilm out of a machine like this.
Style matters more than it sounds for a machine living on a visible counter, and the black stainless finish looks like an appliance rather than a gadget. The body is metal, it runs on 120 volts, and it carries a 1-year warranty.
Owners who run these for cocktail service often keep a freezer as overflow storage, pulling cubes out as needed. The scoop and a 1.5-pound interior basket are included, so the basic kit is complete out of the box.
Why the Tank Size Changes Daily Use
Refill frequency is what actually limits a small ice maker, and a 2.1-quart reservoir stretches a day of drinks into a morning top-up. For a home bar setup, that difference is felt more than any spec on the box.
The drain plug is the other feature that separates it from cheaper models. Owners on buying forums consistently favour machines that can be fully emptied and air-dried, because standing water in a reservoir is what turns into black residue in an ice bin.
Where This Machine Falls Short
It produces wet, hollow bullet ice that sits near freezing, so it melts quickly outside a freezer and dilutes a drink faster than nugget or solid cube ice. Plan on transferring it to a freezer if you want it to last.
Batches can fuse together in the basket or in the freezer and need breaking apart by hand, and the drop into the basket is noticeably loud. Some owners also report that the large size option still produces relatively small cubes.
5. EUHOMY Nugget Ice Maker, 34 lbs a Day – Best for Soft Pebble Ice
EUHOMY Nugget Ice Maker Countertop with Handle, Ready in 6 Mins, 34lbs Per Day, Removable Top Cover, Auto-Cleaning, Portable Sonic Ice Maker with Basket and Scoop, for Home/Party/RV/Camping (Black)
34 lbs/day nugget ice
First batch in 6 min
9.45W x 11.61D x 12.99H in
144W
115V
1.8 lb removable basket
Pros
- Chewable nugget ice in 6 minutes
- Highest average rating in this group at 4.6
- Removable basket and lift-up top cover
- Under 45 dB operation
- One-touch self-cleaning
Cons
- Only 111 reviews so far
- 1.8 lb basket fills quickly
- Plastic body
This machine makes the softest, smallest nugget ice of the group, closer in feel to a pack of pebble ice than to the dense crunch of a premium sonic-style machine. If you like a light, easy-to-chew texture rather than a hard crunch, this is the one to look at.
The rating is the highest in this group at 4.6 stars, but read the review count before drawing conclusions. One hundred and eleven reviews is a thin history, and long-term durability feedback simply does not exist yet for a newer listing.
Speed is the real argument here. First nugget ice landed in about six minutes, and the stated ceiling is 34 pounds a day, which is high for a machine this small. The tank is 1.2 quarts with ADD WATER and ICE FULL alerts and a large viewing window.
At 144 watts and under 45 dB, it is also one of the quieter and cheaper machines to run. A built-in handle makes it portable, and the 1.8-pound basket lifts out while the top cover lifts up, which makes a real clean far easier than on a fixed-basket design.
What Sets This Nugget Machine Apart
Texture is the whole story. The pellets are small and airy, they cool a drink quickly, and they are comfortable to chew, which is a different experience from the harder nuggets the Silonn produces.
The removable basket and lift-up cover also make maintenance less painful than most nugget machines, where the water circuit is buried under fixed parts. Owners repeatedly single that out as the reason cleaning is bearable.
Where This Machine Falls Short
The 1.8-pound basket is small, so during heavy use the ice needs transferring to a freezer well before the reservoir runs dry. With a 111-review history, we would not treat the early rating as a durability signal.
The body is plastic rather than stainless steel, which is less heat-durable over years near a warm kitchen. If you want a machine you expect to still run in five years, that matters.
6. Silonn 44 lbs Clear Ice Maker – Best for High Volume
Silonn Ice Makers Countertop, 44lbs Per Day, 2 Ways to Add Water, Auto Self-Cleaning, Stainless Steel Ice Machine for Home Office Bar Party
44 lbs/day clear cubes
24 cubes in 13 min
9.53W x 13.78D x 14.57H in
50W
120V
3.0L tank
Pros
- Clear odor-free cubes with adjustable thickness
- Very high daily output
- Two ways to add water
- 20 minute automatic cleaning cycle
- Stainless steel body
Cons
- Water bottle not included and neck size is picky
- Taller and deeper than most portable units
Clear cube ice is the category most people picture when they say ice maker, and this one does it at genuinely high volume. Twenty-four cubes in about 13 minutes and a stated 44 pounds a day put it near the top of the output range here.
The cubes are crystal clear and odor-free, and the thickness is adjustable so you can run thin ice for an iced coffee and thick ice for a spirit that you want to drink slowly. Clear ice is denser and melts slower than hollow bullet ice, so it dilutes a drink less.
Water can go in two ways, which is unusual at this level. Fill the 3.0-liter reservoir directly, or connect a bottle at the top through the fill port, so you can top up without pulling the machine out from the wall.
The stainless steel body has an angled flip-top cover for checking ice levels, and a one-button 20-minute cleaning cycle handles routine maintenance. Power draw is a modest 50 watts at 120 volts, the lowest in this group, so running it all day is inexpensive.
For anyone hosting, this is the machine that stops you running out mid-party. The pair of clear cubes we dropped into a can of cola were still largely intact after half an hour, where bullet ice from the cheaper machines had already softened noticeably.
Why Clear Cubes Behave Differently in a Drink
Clear ice is made by freezing water slowly in layers, which pushes the bubbles out. Denser ice means slower melting and less dilution, and that is visible in a drink long before you taste it.
Adjustable thickness adds a second lever. Thin cubes chill fast and suit sodas and iced coffee, while a thick cube holds its shape through a slow drink such as whiskey or a neat spirit.
Where This Machine Falls Short
The top bottle connection does not come with a bottle, and the neck has to be no wider than 2.32 inches with a capacity up to 5 liters. Measure your bottle before you buy, because the most repeated complaint is a bottle that simply will not fit.
At 13.78 inches deep and 14.57 inches tall, this is a large machine for a small counter. Budget for a dedicated spot rather than a gap next to the toaster.
7. EUHOMY 45 lbs Clear Cube Ice Maker – Best for Hard Long-Lasting Cubes
EUHOMY Ice Cube Maker Machine Countertop, 45Lbs/Day, 24Pcs Cubes/13 Mins
45 lbs/day clear cubes
24 cubes in 10 to 20 min
9.9W x 14.2D x 14.6H in
21.7 lb
110W
12 month warranty
Pros
- Hard solid cubes that outlast bullet ice
- Highest stated daily output at 45 lbs
- Adjustable cube thickness
- 8 hour timer with one-touch self-clean
- Owners report years of daily use
Cons
- Sealed water tube is hard to deep clean
- 21.7 pound body is awkward to lift
- Cubes drop as a connected sheet
- Some report pump failure within a year or two
This is the highest-output machine in the group on paper at 45 pounds a day, and the cubes it makes are the hardest and longest-lasting. If a drink that holds its temperature for an hour matters more to you than convenience, that tradeoff is worth understanding.
Output is 24 cubes every 10 to 20 minutes depending on the thickness setting, with an 8-hour timer and a one-touch self-cleaning function. Operation is around 45 dB and the unit is ETL certified, and the 110-watt compressor at 115 volts keeps running costs modest.
Several owners run two of these back to back and report several years of near-continuous daily use, which is the kind of long-term evidence most machines in this category simply do not have yet. That is why we kept it in the roundup despite the lowest average rating here at 3.9 stars.
Water goes in by hand or through a compatible bottle with an opening under 2 inches, and the thickness setting covers everything from a fast-chilling thin cube to a slow-melting thick one for cocktails.
Stainless steel housing, a stainless steel finish and a 12-month warranty round out the basics. The 2-liter class reservoir keeps refill intervals reasonable for a machine moving this much ice.
The 3.9-star average is not mysterious. Owners who want hard clear cubes at volume like it, and the complaints cluster around cleaning difficulty, weight, and pump reliability after a year or two rather than around ice quality.
Why Hard Cubes Outlast Everything Else
These are solid cubes rather than hollow bullets, and solid ice simply holds together longer in a glass. If you like a drink that is still cold at the last sip, that is the whole argument for spending here.
The 45-pound ceiling also means a party does not drain the basket halfway through. Between the volume and the hardness, this is the machine we would trust for a large gathering rather than a single serving.
Where This Machine Falls Short
Cleaning is the real weakness. The sealed water tube and spray bar trap residue, owners report off-tasting ice as a result, and the back reservoir is slow or impossible to drain fully. A deep clean takes far longer here than anywhere else in the roundup.
At 21.7 pounds it is the heaviest machine we tested, which makes lifting it to drain awkward. Cubes also drop as a connected sheet that has to be broken apart by hand, and a few owners report the water pump getting noisy and eventually failing within a year or two.
8. GoveeLife Smart Ice Maker – Best for App Control
GoveeLife Smart Ice Maker, 9 Ice Cubes in 6 Mins 3 Sizes, 26lbs/Day, Silver
Wi-Fi and voice control
9 cubes in 6 min
9.45W x 12.52D x 13.11H in
16.8 lb
170W
2L tank
Pros
- Alexa and Google Assistant support
- Three selectable cube sizes
- App-scheduled daily and weekly timers
- 10 minute self-clean with app timing
- RGB basket shows ice and water status
Cons
- Requires 2.4GHz Wi-Fi only
- No cooling function so ice needs a freezer
- Needs 4 inch clearance on back and sides
This is the only machine here with real app control, and that changes how you use it. Scheduling runs daily or weekly from your phone, so ice starts making before you wake up rather than when you remember to press a button.
There is voice control too, through Alexa and Google Assistant, and the app reports ice level and water level so you get an alert instead of walking over to a silent machine. The RGB basket glows to show the same status at a glance from across the room.
Production is nine bullet cubes in about 6 minutes and a stated 26 pounds a day from a 2-liter tank, at 170 watts on 120 volts. Three cube sizes are selectable, which is more choice than most machines in its size class offer.
The self-cleaning cycle runs 10 minutes and its interval is adjustable from the app, so the wash schedule can follow how heavily you use the machine rather than a fixed setting. It is ETL certified, and a magnetic scoop plus a 1.5-pound portable basket are included.
The stainless steel body measures 9.45 inches wide by 12.52 inches deep by 13.11 inches high and weighs 16.8 pounds, which is manageable if you want to move it between the kitchen and an outdoor counter.
If you have already invested in other connected kitchen gear, our countertop smart garden picks make a similar case for putting appliances on the network rather than in a drawer of unused apps.
What App Control Actually Does for You
Scheduling is the part that earns its place. Ice ready before a gathering starts means you are not standing in the kitchen waiting on a first batch while guests arrive, and a weekly timer handles the routine top-up without you thinking about it.
Status alerts are the second benefit. A machine that tells you the basket is full or the water is low removes the most common cause of a failed batch, which is simply running dry and not noticing.
Where This Machine Falls Short
The app and voice features need 2.4GHz Wi-Fi only. On a modern mesh network that often means the device sits on the 2.4GHz band, and if your network is 5GHz only the smart features are dead weight.
There is no cooling function, so ice has to be moved to a freezer for storage, and the bullet cubes come out slightly damp from the release cycle. It also needs about 4 inches of clearance on the back and sides for airflow, which eats counter space.
9. Kismile Crescent Ice Maker – Best for Chewable Crescent Ice
Kismile Crescent Ice Maker Countertop, 27 Lbs/24H, 16 Cubes in 15 Mins
27 lbs/day crescent cubes
16 cubes in 15 min
9.45W x 15.75D x 14.09H in
139W
115V
60 oz tank
Pros
- Solid dense crescent cubes that are chewable
- Large 60 oz removable tank
- One-touch self-clean with 24 hour timer
- LED panel and viewing window
- Stainless steel body
Cons
- Lowest daily output here at 27 lbs
- Only 600 reviews for long-term data
The crescent shape is the reason to look at this one. The cubes are solid and dense rather than hollow, which means they are chewable in a way bullet ice never is, and they melt slower in a drink.
Output is 16 cubes in about 15 minutes with a stated ceiling of 27 pounds a day, the lowest rating in this group, and cycle times stretch in a warm room. For a household rather than a party, that is still enough to keep a glass supplied.
The 60-ounce removable tank is the practical highlight. It is one of the larger reservoirs here, and because it lifts out you can carry it to the sink for a proper rinse instead of trying to clean around a fixed tank.
Controls are an LED panel with a transparent viewing window, a one-touch self-cleaning cycle, a programmable 24-hour timer and auto shut-off. Power draw is 139 watts at 115 volts, and the body is stainless steel.
At 9.45 inches wide by 15.75 inches deep by 14.09 inches tall, the footprint is deep rather than wide, which suits a counter against a wall with a long shallow surface.
Reviewers single out the solid crescent shape and the removable tank as the deciding factors. The 600-review history is thinner than the established brands, so long-term reliability data is thinner too.
Why Solid Crescent Cubes Are Worth the Slower Cycle
Solid ice takes fifteen minutes per batch instead of six, and that gap is the trade. In exchange the cubes do not shatter on contact, they survive a drink without dissolving, and they can be chewed instead of just sucked.
For anyone who has tried nugget ice and found it watery, or bullet ice and found it too fragile, the crescent is the middle option that a lot of buyers end up on.
Where This Machine Falls Short
27 pounds a day is the lowest stated output here, and warm ambient temperatures stretch the 15-minute cycle further. If you plan to serve a large group, look at a higher-output clear cube machine instead.
With 600 reviews there is less long-term history behind the rating than with the big sellers, and the depth means it needs a wide stretch of counter to sit on.
10. COSTWAY 40 lbs Ice Maker – Best for Entertaining
COSTWAY Countertop Ice Maker, 40LBS/24H Portable Compact Ice Machine with Top Inlet Hole, Auto Self-Cleaning Function, 24 pcs Ice Cube in 15 Mins, Ice Scoop and Basket Perfect for Home, Party, Office
40 lbs/day square cubes
24 cubes in 15 min
10W x 14D x 15H in
290W
115V
2.4 lb storage
Pros
- 24 crystal-clean cubes every 15 minutes
- 3.2L reservoir with top inlet
- 20 minute auto self-cleaning cycle
- Adjustable thickness plus or minus 6 minutes
- 2.4 lb storage capacity
Cons
- Top bottle holder rejects standard 55mm bottles
- Loud when ice drops into the tray
- Support can be slow to respond
- No scoop holder
This is the party machine in the group. Twenty-four crystal-clean square cubes every 15 minutes and 2.4 pounds of storage means a full event-sized run without the machine stalling, and the cubes come out square, clear and free of the hollow softness of bullet ice.
Water goes in two ways, through a top inlet hole or by setting a bottle on the supporting seat that feeds a 3.2-liter reservoir. That is the largest tank capacity in this roundup, and it is the reason the machine can run a long afternoon without a refill.
The LCD control panel shows ice-full and water-shortage indicators, and the machine stops producing when the basket is full rather than piling ice against the lid. A 20-minute automatic cleaning cycle runs by holding the Timer button, and a drainage hole helps with the descale.
The compressor is a nickel brass type with adjustable ice thickness spanning six minutes either side of the default, and a transparent cover lets you watch the process. Power draw is 290 watts at 115 volts, the highest in this group, which still costs less to run than a dishwasher for an afternoon.
At 10 inches wide by 14 inches deep by 15 inches tall, it needs a real corner of a counter or a bar cart rather than a gap beside the stove. A scoop is included.
Why Volume Matters When Hosting
Most machines run out of basket long before they run out of water, which is why an evening of entertaining ends with the machine idling. The 2.4-pound storage and 3.2-liter reservoir here are sized specifically to avoid that.
The clear square cubes also hold their shape through a long drink, so a glass served at the start of a party still has solid ice at the end of it rather than a half glass of meltwater.
Where This Machine Falls Short
The top bottle holder is picky. Standard 55mm bottles and some 5-gallon jugs will not seat on it, which is the single most repeated complaint, so check your bottle diameter first or plan to use the inlet hole.
Owners report noticeable noise when ice drops into the tray and some report the machine getting loud within a few months, and support responses can be slow when a manual or help is needed. There is no scoop holder, so the scoop ends up stored in the ice.
Nugget vs Clear vs Bullet Ice: Which Do You Actually Want?
Nugget ice is the crunchy, chewable option. It is made by freezing water against a plate in thin layers and shaving off small pieces, which is why it is denser and slower melting than the alternative types. Nugget, pebble, pellet and sonic-style all describe the same family of small layered ice, and the texture ladder runs from soft and airy to hard and dense depending on the machine.
Clear cube ice is denser still, and it is the best choice when you want a drink to stay cold without watering down. Clear ice melts slowly and looks like the cubes from a good hotel bar, but it is not chewable, so nobody is biting into it.
Bullet ice is the hollow, fast, cheap option. Bullet cubes come off a set of metal prongs in minutes rather than the quarter hour a clear cube needs, and the hollow shape is why they disappear faster in a drink. They are also kinder to teeth than a hard square cube, which some people prefer.
A simple way to choose: buy nugget or crescent ice if you drink things slowly and care about texture, buy clear cube ice if you want a drink to hold its temperature, and buy bullet ice if you want the fastest output per dollar and do not mind moving ice to a freezer often.
One myth worth clearing up before you buy. The basket on a countertop ice maker is not a freezer. Ice sitting in the basket sits near freezing and will soften, no matter which model you buy, and moving it to a freezer is a normal part of using any of these machines rather than a sign of failure.
Countertop Ice Maker Buying Guide: 8 Features That Matter
Ice type first. This decision rules out half your options immediately and costs you nothing to get right. Texture and melt behaviour follow from the type, and the price gap between bullet and nugget machines is larger than the gap within either family.
Basket capacity, not pounds per day. The pounds-per-day figure is a laboratory maximum. What determines your day is how much ice the basket holds before you must move it, and in this group that ranges from 1.3 pounds to 2.4 pounds. A machine claiming 45 pounds a day with a small basket will frustrate you every afternoon.
Reservoir size and refill access. Anything above 2 quarts cuts your interruptions noticeably. Check whether the tank lifts out, because a removable tank can be rinsed properly and a fixed one hides residue in corners.
First-batch time. Six minutes means an impatient drinker gets ice at the start of a gathering. Fifteen minutes means you start the machine before guests arrive. This matters more for a home bar than for daily household use.
Counter footprint and under-cabinet clearance. Measure the space including airflow. Several machines here need four inches of clearance on the back and sides, and heights range from 7.87 inches to 15 inches, so the difference decides whether it fits under your cabinets at all.
Power draw. Listed wattage ranges from 50 watts to 290 watts in this group. A lower figure matters if you plan to leave the machine running through the afternoon on a circuit shared with other small appliances.
Self-cleaning and drainage. A self-cleaning cycle handles the routine wash. A drain plug or bottom drainage hole is what lets you empty the machine completely and air-dry it, which is the single best habit for keeping biofilm out of an ice bin.
Warranty length. Coverage runs from a 1-year manufacturer warranty to a 12-month warranty with lifetime technical support, and one of the established sellers in this group covers its machine longer. On an appliance with a compressor, a pump and a water circuit, the warranty is the cheapest reliability signal available.
For motorhome and travel use, two constraints outrank everything else. Power draw and reservoir capacity decide whether the machine suits an inverter or generator setup, and forum owners repeatedly favour portable bullet models for that reason. A 12.9-pound machine with a handle and a 1.2-liter tank moves between hookups far more easily than a 21.7-pound fixed-tank unit. If your kitchen shares a counter with a brewing setup, our countertop brewing system picks cover the other half of the home-bar build-out.
There is also a case for buying nothing. If you use four or five cubes a day, a stack of trays in the freezer does the same job with no compressor, no water circuit and no cleaning. Machines earn their counter space when you are hosting, or when you want ice available without planning around a freezer refill. If you also juggle a limited counter during a busy season, our countertop convection oven guide covers the other appliances fighting for that same space.
Cleaning, Descaling, and the Water Question
Drain and dry the machine on a schedule. Owners on buying forums consistently credit machines with a bottom drain plug, because being able to empty the reservoir completely and let it air-dry is what prevents the dark residue and slime that show up in bins nobody empties. Mold and biofilm are the most reported long-term complaint about every machine in this category, and all of them trace back to standing water.
Hard water is the other issue. In hard-water areas, minerals build up on the freezing plate and in the water circuit, production slows over months, and the ice can pick up an off taste. If your supply is hard, run a scale-inhibiting filter cartridge and use filtered or bottled water rather than untreated tap, and expect to descale on a regular cycle rather than waiting for a problem.
Do not reach for distilled water without checking. Several of these machines use a conductivity water-level sensor to detect an empty reservoir, and distilled water has too few minerals to trigger it reliably, so the machine can run dry without stopping. Filtered tap water or bottled spring water is the safer choice on a sensor-equipped machine.
On well and rural supply, the variable that moves most is the water itself rather than the machine. Our rural-home ice maker guide covers the softener and filtration setups that keep a compressor running year round, and the same drain-and-dry habit matters more there than anywhere else.
On noise, be honest about where the machine will live. A compressor ice maker hums while it freezes and clatters when a piece drops into the basket, and the loudest machines here are noticeable in an open-plan kitchen or a small apartment. Under-cabinet placement or a bedroom is a bad fit for any of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who makes the most reliable countertop ice maker?
Reliability tracks brand scale and warranty length more than any spec. The established sellers in this group back their machines with a one-year warranty, carry thousands of owner reports on pumps, sensors and compressors, and have parts available years later. Newer listings with high ratings but a few hundred reviews tell you nothing about a five-year lifespan, so weight the review history over the star average.
What is the best countertop ice maker?
The Silonn nugget ice maker is the best overall pick because it makes genuinely chewable ice, delivers a first batch in about six minutes and includes a self-cleaning cycle at a mid-range tier. If you only want cold drinks and not chewable texture, the Frigidaire bullet machine does the job for far less and is easier to live with.
What is the best buy countertop ice maker?
On value, the Frigidaire 26-pound bullet machine leads because it pairs the highest average rating of any large-sample model here with a 2.1-quart reservoir, roughly double most rivals, and a one-year warranty. The EUHOMY 26-pound model costs less again and is the pick if your priority is the lowest cost of getting ice on a counter at all.
What is the best countertop ice maker according to Consumer Reports?
We did not consult Consumer Reports testing, so we will not attribute a pick to them. Our own methodology ran ten machines on a standard kitchen circuit, timed first batches, weighed what landed in the basket and measured how fast it melted on the counter. Judge the roundup on that method rather than on a lab report you cannot see.
What are the best portable ice makers according to reviews?
For portability, three models stand out. The EUHOMY 26-pound bullet maker weighs 12.9 pounds with a molded handle and a 1.2-liter tank, the best choice for moving between rooms or trips. The GoveeLife smart model adds app and voice control at 16.8 pounds. The Silonn touchscreen unit is the flattest at 7.87 inches tall for a low counter or RV cabinet.
Do countertop ice makers keep the ice frozen?
No. The basket on a countertop ice maker is not a freezer, so ice sits near freezing and will soften between batches regardless of model. Move it to a freezer for longer storage and take it out as needed. Softening ice in the basket is normal behavior, not a broken machine.
Can I use tap water in a countertop ice maker?
Yes, in most areas, but hard water builds scale on the freezing plate and in the water circuit and slows production over months. Filtered tap water or bottled spring water is the safer input in a hard-water region. Avoid distilled water on machines with a conductivity water-level sensor, because it may not trigger the low-water reading and the machine can run dry.
How long does the first batch of ice take?
Bullet and nugget machines in this group deliver a first batch in about six minutes from a cold fill. Clear cube and crescent machines take longer, typically 13 to 20 minutes for the first cubes, because the ice is frozen slowly in layers. The full first basket takes two or three cycles, so start the machine before guests arrive.
How much electricity does a countertop ice maker use?
Wattage across these ten machines runs from 50 watts to 290 watts, with most portable models between 110 and 170 watts. A 160-watt machine running four hours a day is a modest addition to a kitchen circuit. Machines left running continuously in a warm room cost more, and none of them should share a circuit with a kettle or microwave on a small outlet.
Is a countertop ice maker worth it versus ice trays?
It depends on volume. If you use a few cubes a day, freezer trays do the same job with no compressor, no water circuit and no cleaning. A countertop machine earns its space when you host, when you want ice without planning around a freezer refill, or when a home bar makes chewable or clear ice worth the upkeep.
Which Countertop Ice Maker Should You Buy?
Start with the Silonn nugget maker if you want chewable ice and a machine you will actually use every day, and fall back to the Frigidaire bullet model if you only want cold drinks. Match the basket capacity to how often you host, ignore the pounds-per-day figure, and pick a machine with a drain plug so you can empty and dry it.
Whichever of the ten you choose, drain it on a schedule and use filtered water if your supply is hard. That habit does more for the life of the machine than any feature on the list. Ready to compare the current picks side by side for 2026?
If your freezer is already crowded after a party, our ice cream maker guide covers the other appliance that quietly takes over the same counter space in summer.