Home Ice Guide
A glass of iced lemon water on a white quartz counter in a sunlit white oak kitchen

Good ice,
every day at home.

Ice makers for your kitchen, your patio and the way you like your drinks. Chosen by a beverage industry professional.

Choose your ice

Choose your ice.

Pick it like a countertop: by how it looks, feels and lasts. Each one comes from a different kind of machine.

A heap of soft nugget ice pellets on white quartz Nugget Soft and chewable For everyday drinks A heap of hollow bullet ice from a countertop ice maker on white quartz Bullet Fast and plentiful For patio & parties Three large glass-clear ice cubes stacked on white quartz in sunlight Clear cube Slow-melting, glass‑clear For cocktails at home A heap of small clear ice cubes from an undercounter machine on white quartz Classic cube Crisp, always ready For a home bar
Iced coffee with milk in a tall glass on a white quartz kitchen counter in morning light

Nugget ice for everyday drinks

  1. Best overall

    GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker

    The best nugget ice at home, quiet enough for an open kitchen.

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    Up to
    38 lb / day
    First ice
    ≤ 10 min
    Bin
    3 lb

    Best forDaily nugget lovers who want the quietest, best-made countertop machine and app control.

    Skip it ifYour budget is under $300, or you have no space to keep it running all day.

  2. Best value

    Frigidaire Gallery Countertop Nugget Ice Maker

    The same chewable ice for much less.

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    Ice
    Nugget
    Water
    Tank, no line
    Cleaning
    Manual

    Best forThe same chewable ice for much less money, if you can live without Wi-Fi.

    Skip it ifNoise bothers you. It is louder than the Opal while it runs.

  3. Lowest price

    EUHOMY Nugget Ice Maker with Handle

    An easy, low-cost way to try nugget ice.

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    Ice
    Nugget
    Water
    Tank, no line
    Carry
    Handle

    Best forTrying nugget ice for the first time without paying GE prices.

    Skip it ifYou will run it every day for years. Budget nugget machines wear out sooner.

A pitcher of lemonade, glasses with ice and a full ice bucket on a sunny patio table

Bullet ice for patio & parties

  1. Fastest

    Chefman Iceman Dual-Size Countertop Ice Maker

    First ice in about six minutes, two sizes to choose.

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    Up to
    26 lb / day
    First ice
    ≈ 6 min
    Sizes
    2

    Best forParties and summer days, when the freezer trays cannot keep up.

    Skip it ifYou want ice that lasts in a drink. Bullet ice is hollow and melts quickly.

  2. Best value

    EUHOMY Countertop Ice Maker, 26 lb

    Small, simple and kind to the budget.

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    Up to
    26 lb / day
    First ice
    ≈ 6 min
    Water
    Tank, no line

    Best forA first ice maker on a small budget, for a kitchen, office or RV.

    Skip it ifYou need ice stored for hours. The basket is not a freezer.

  3. Compact

    Frigidaire Compact Countertop Ice Maker

    A trusted name that fits a tight counter.

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    Up to
    26 lb / day
    Cycle
    5–6 min
    Water
    Tank, no line

    Best forTight counters and a known brand name at an entry price.

    Skip it ifYou hate fiddly draining. Owners say emptying it is awkward.

An Old Fashioned over one large clear ice cube on a kitchen island at golden hour

Clear cube ice for cocktails at home

  1. Machine

    NewAir ClearIce40 Countertop Clear Ice Maker

    Clear cocktail ice on demand, no waiting a day.

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    Up to
    40 lb / day
    Batch
    every 7 min
    Size
    18 × 18 × 15 in

    Best forClear cubes on demand for cocktails, without waiting a day for a mold.

    Skip it ifYou only want a few big cubes a week. A mold does that for far less.

  2. Big cubes, no power

    True Cubes Clear Ice Cube Tray

    One big clear cube per glass, from your own freezer.

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    Ice
    Large clear cubes
    Time
    ≈ 24 h in freezer
    Power
    None

    Best forWhisky, Negronis and old fashioneds: one big clear cube per glass.

    Skip it ifYou need a lot of ice fast. Freezing takes a full day.

  3. Freezer tray

    ClearlyFrozen Clear Ice Tray

    Bar-quality clear cubes for a small spend.

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    Ice
    Clear cubes
    Time
    ≈ 24 h in freezer
    Power
    None

    Best forBar-quality cubes from any home freezer, for a small spend.

    Skip it ifYour freezer is full. The tray needs a deep, flat space.

A white oak home bar nook with glasses on open shelves and an ice bucket on the counter

Classic cube ice for a home bar

  1. Best overall

    KitchenAid 15" Automatic Ice Maker (clear ice)

    Clear cubes from a built-in machine that drains itself.

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    Bin
    25 lb
    Ice
    Clear cubes
    Drain
    Pump included

    Best forA home bar that wants clear cocktail ice, installed anywhere with a pump built in.

    Skip it ifYou want nugget ice. This makes clear cubes only.

  2. Nugget, built in

    GE Profile 15" Undercounter Nugget Ice Maker

    Built-in nugget ice for the whole family.

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    Up to
    56 lb / day
    Bin
    26 lb
    Drain
    Gravity (pump kit extra)

    Best forNugget fans who want it built in and serve many people.

    Skip it ifThere is no floor drain and you skip the UPK3 pump kit.

  3. Most ice

    EUHOMY Undercounter Ice Maker, 100 lb

    The most ice for the money, for big gatherings.

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    Up to
    100 lb / day
    Bin
    33 lb
    Drain
    Gravity

    Best forBig families, outdoor kitchens and parties, at a lower price than the big brands.

    Skip it ifIt goes in a tight, closed space. Owners say it runs warm and loud there.

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No one pays to be here.

Every pick is chosen, never bought. How picks are made

Iced coffee with milk in a tall glass on a white quartz kitchen counter
12picks shortlisted, each with who should skip it
Clear ice cubes in sunlight
4kinds of ice, from soft nugget to glass‑clear
0paid placements. No brand sees a page first
Nugget ice pellets on white quartz
1beverage industry professional, years behind hotel bars