Best ice maker 2024 – cold, hard, tested truths

You can never underestimate a good ice maker. If you don't have an ice maker built into your fridge, you need one of these on your countertop. These sleek and smart machines save you from the antagonising wait for an ice tray to freeze over or a stressful dash to the store for bags of ice. If you think you need one, you definitely do.

As a fan of all things cool (don't get me started on ice cream makers), I was keen to find the best ice makers on the market. I've spent hours researching and reading reviews, so that I could find the best models available. I found ones for home bars, your coffee bar, RV road trips, and everything in between.

Before I dive deep into the details, there's a few things to know about ice. In the ice maker industry, people don't really talk about ice 'cubes' they talk about three types of ice. There's bullet ice, which is the most common type. It has a rounded shape with a hole in the center. It's quick to make, but also quick to melt. There's clear ice, which has a low air content and melts slowly (this is is the luxury ice). The last one to know is flaked ice, which is powdery and soft, a little like a snowball. This is a little chewy and melts quickly into slushies. The different models below excel at different types, so if you're a stickler, it pays to know. 

The quick list

Here's a speedy introduction to our top-picks for the best ice makers on the market. If you want to find out more, I'll get to the cold, hard truths further down.

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The best ice makers in 2024

The best ice maker overall

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Ask anyone who's interested in ice makers to name the best ice makers on the market and I guarantee you the Luma Comfort will make their list. It's universally popular and just a quick glance at the specs will tell you why.

The Luma specializes in clear ice. This means that it produces dense cubes of crystal-clear ice, perfect for adding to cocktails and sodas. The lack of air inside the ice cubes means that they melts slower and keep the fizz in your drinks for longer. Almost all the owners of the Luma cited this as their key reason for investing in this specific ice maker.

The Luma is also one of the fastest and quietest ice makers on the market. It takes about 20-24 minutes to produces 1 lbs 2.5 oz of ice with close to no noise. When you're hosting a dinner party and you've run out of ice, that's the perfect combination. Everybody can have an ice cold top up without having to endure whirring and crushing noises in the background. Even better, the ice cubes (in both the small and large size) are consistently clear and rectangular. Even expert reviewers complemented the Luma on its unfaltering consistency,

If the Luma has made ice ahead of time, it will keep insulating the ice, ensuring the large capacity ice container is full and chilled, ready for when you need it. 

It's really hard to fault such a technically perfect machine, so most critical reviews turn to aesthetics. This is a big machine. If you own an espresso machine, it's probably a similar size to that. Given that the finish is brushed stainless steel, it's not the most aesthetically pleasing either. You'd be best to find a nook where this can securely sit out of sight.

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The best luxury ice maker

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GE has perfected the art of a beautiful, functional ice maker. The Profile Opal 2.0 looks stunning. No other ice maker comes close to how elegant this is. Complete with an internal light (which is UV, so doubles up for protecting against bacteria) and clear viewing door, it's everything you need in one, sleek appliance. 

This specialises in nugget ice, which is that crunchy, pebbly texture. If you often drink sodas or make cocktails, this is the kind of ice you'll want. Making the ice is effortless for the Profile Opal 2.0. Within 30 minutes, it will have close to filled capacity. You'll be using the scoop (included) to dig ice out by the handful.

Reviewers all commented on just how good the nugget ice was. The texture was faultless and the shapes were consistently smooth, which helps if you're all about presentation. Even better, this is really quiet when it's working, so won't disturb dinner time or your rest and relaxation.

However this is an expensive option. You'll need to set aside between $550 and $650 for one, but few people scored this poorly for value. After reading customer reviews, it's clear why. Not only does this look good and make good ice, it delivers on unique and smart features that you just don't get anywhere else. The reservoir is completely detachable, so you don't need to keep moving the Profile Opal around, or topping it up with a jug. You can also schedule ice making, connect this to your WiFi and control the ice making using just your voice. It's a truly modern machine. Furthermore, if you're not an enthusiastic cleaner (who is?), ice makers can build up bacteria. This has smart, self-cleaning functions and an easy drain at the side. All you need to do is move this to the sink on occasion and the machine can do the rest.

Before you fall too deeply in love, this isn't without its issues. It's big and heavy, so once you've set it up, be ready to keep it in one position. Don't move it around. Also, one expert reviewer, very validly raised that the ice container only tilts out and won't slide. You'll need to scoop your ice out, which can be time consuming if you just want to empty a big load into a bucket, for example.

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The best compact ice maker

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As it's clear, not all ice makers were made to be subtle or beautiful, which is why the Aglucky is so popular. Petite and sleek, it's not too demanding or displeasing on the countertop. Even better, it's effortlessly portable, so you can move between rooms with your ice maker. This might sound frivolous, but the number of reviews which commented on this feature suggest otherwise. It's something you'll love having. 

Aside from the compact design, this is extensively praised for its speed. It can make small and large ice cubes incredibly quickly. If you're serving a few glasses to friends and you run out of ice, you can have nine cubes of clear ice in as few as eight minutes. The clear viewing window and light make it easy to keep an eye on your ice, so you can check in on when it's full and ready to be emptied. Aglucky even provides a scoop (which isn't standard for all machines) to help you get as much ice out as possible.

Whilst this is convenient, it's also relatively low yield. If you're hosting for a lot of people, you'll need to keep emptying and topping up this ice maker to ensure you've got enough stock for everyone's drinks. Some reviewers say that it makes a slight whining noise. Nobody said that this was intolerable, but it's louder than other ice makers, so worth noting. 

The other caution, more often issued by experts than customer reviews, is that this is fiddly to clean. The small interior makes it tricky to reach right into the corners. You'll need to get a long brush or someone with smaller hands to keep this hygienic.

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The best value ice maker

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When it comes to looks, this is one of my favorite ice makers on the market. It's available in classic finishes, such as stainless steel and white, but also in baby pink and pastel blue too. So if you want a pop of color for your kitchens, home bar, or dorm room, you're in luck.

The space-saving design makes this perfect for even the smallest spaces. The simple addition of a handle transforms this into an easily portable ice maker. It's not to be underestimated. Lots of people loved moving this around the house. Even if you think you won't, take a look at the nearly 10,000 Amazon reviews. They'll tell you how useful it is (and also just how giftable this is — everyone seems to be asking for it in their wedding registry lists).

Another popular feature of the Igloo is the five self-cleaning cycles. There's an easy drain at the bottom of the ice maker, so that once it's finished cleaning, it's easy to empty. This is one of the lowest-maintenance ice makers, so it's perfect if you know you can be a little less than thorough when cleaning appliances.

On top of the convenient and colorful design, this is quick. It can make nine ice cubes in seven minutes. These bullet ice cubes are small and melt relatively quickly compared to clear ice cubes, but they'll do a good job of keeping drinks cool. Although the maximum capacity limits the overall yield, if you're willing to regularly re-fill the water tray, you can produce a lot of ice in not much time at all. The slick LED panel will let you know when you need to empty or refill the ice maker. As I said, it's all very easy.

There are two, reoccurring criticisms facing the Igloo. The first is noise. Whilst this isn't loud, it makes enough noise for customer reviews to comment on it. If you need your room to be quiet, you don't want the Igloo. The other criticism is build quality. This is normally around $114, so it's one of the cheaper models on the market. Most people say that this is reflected in the occasional fault or error, which results in them sending it back or having to replace a switch. This is never ideal, but it's the price you pay for choosing a cheaper model.

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The best budget ice maker

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As you might expect for our 'best budget' option, the Magic Chef is a brilliant basic option. It has cut out all of the frills, fuss, and finer details out of ice making, producing cloudy, slightly imperfect, but nevertheless very usable ice.

The Magic Chef looks like an ice maker. The boxy, stainless steel finish isn't something to shout about, but it's an eyesore. The stainless steel is high maintenance, more than most. It shows fingerprints and marks almost immediately. Sit it in the corner of your kitchen, tuck it out of sight, wipe it regularly and it will be fine. 

Reviewers all agree that this is a sturdy and reliable option. Even though it's cheaper than others, it feels like it's made to last. It's also very simple to use, so is perfect as someone's first ice maker. When working, this can make nine ice bullets every eight minutes. That means that within half an hour, you'll have plenty of ice to host a dinner party. The water reservoir has enough capacity to run for a few hours before needing a re-fill, so it's pretty low maintenance too. 

The biggest disappointment is that these bullet ice cubes can look a little cloudy and uneven. Once stacked into a glass or bucket, you probably wouldn't notice this, but it's a detail that reminds you, this is a budget option. There are other, minor, but important drawbacks that come with skimping on price. Critical customer reviews say that this is cumbersome to move around, a little bit noisy, and the top doesn't click nicely into place. Other reviewers also noted that the drainage spout is on the bottom of this ice maker. When you're cleaning it, you'll have to hold it over the sink. It's inconvenient, but something you might be willing to accept if you're saving money.

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The best speedy ice maker

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Ignoring the aesthetics, this is a brilliant ice maker. It's quick, quiet, compact, and completely portable. That makes it perfect for just about every user. Whether you'll place this in your kitchen, home bar, RV, or move it between all three, you'll get value for your money with the Arctic Pro.

Other reviewers attest that this made nine ice bullets in eight minutes. According to lots of reviewers, each bullet was well-shaped, consistent, and crystal clear — perfect if you're a stickler for consistency. 

There's an LCD screen where you can select small ice cubes, large ice cubes, a timer, cleaning functions, and a digital read out. If you feel like you want some visual evidence of ice making, there's a useful viewing window for keeping an eye on your ice production. With most functions automated, this is a hands-off, well performing ice maker.

There are, however, a few reasons that this isn't higher up in our buying guide. As a smaller model, the capacity quickly becomes a limiting factor. It will need emptying and topping up if you want to maximise the production power of the Arctic Pro. It also has some low noise levels that you might find distracting if you need a completely silent room. 

My (perhaps unfairly) biggest gripe is the huge Arctic Pro logo plastered across the front. It makes this look like an advertisement rather than a kitchen appliance. Some people might not mind this, others might cover it up, either way, I think it's a real shame. It's less of an issue in the black colorway, but in stainless steel, it's just ugly. I'd recommend buying some stickers (maybe even a whiteboard sticker to make notes on)  to cover it up.

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The ice maker which deserves a special mention

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We don't often do special mentions in our buying guides. A product is either good enough to earn an award or not good enough to be listed. Whilst there were plenty of ice makers that didn't make the list, it just didn't seem fair to cut the Silonn out. This is a good ice maker, it's just not a specialist in any specific field. If you want a median model, which covers everything, this is a good buy.

I'll start on aesthetics. This is one of the few attractive ice makers there are on the market. The sleek style would look good on countertops. It's hard to get an idea of size, but, compared to other models, this is relatively compact. The Silonn is actually portable. There's a handle which lets you carry it between rooms and on trips. If you'll be transporting it a long way, you need to keep it upright. If you find it has tipped onto its side, the Silonn needs to be stood upright again for 24 hours before being plugged back in.

Performance wise, this is a quick and consistent ice maker. It produces both small and large ice bullets, which are great for sodas and cocktails. In six minutes, you can have nine cubes ready to drink. It's easy to use, with straightforward, premium-feeling controls. The indicator light will let you know when it's full or needs re-filling, but there's also a clear viewing window if you want to check on it too. This is limited by the capacity. 

Customer reviews often mentioned that this has a notable, but managable noise level. They also said that this emptying and refilling this quite frequently, so if you're often hosting, you might want to look at bigger options.

When you're finished, this has a neat self-cleaning function. Whilst this saves you time on a deep clean, it's worth noting that when you come to draining it, you'll have to hold the Silonn over a sink, because the drain spout is on the bottom of the ice maker.

Generally, for the price, size, and performance, this is a good model. If your budget is around $100, you can't really go wrong with the Silonn. On Amazon, it has 4.4 stars out of over 25,000 reviews, so the evidence speaks for itself. This is a popular model which is worth the money. It's highly recommended, just not quite enough to knock the other six in this guide off from top spot.

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How to choose the best ice maker for you

Type of ice
This will determine the kinds of ice makers you look at. If the idea of different types of ice cubes has you baffled, here are the headlines. Bullet ice is the most common. These are sounded, often with a hole in the center. They're quick to form, but they melt quickly too. Then there's clear ice, which has the lowest air content, smallest surface area, and slowest melting time. It's the kind you would have in a whiskey. The last type is nugget ice, which is a bit like a snowball. This is formed from small layers of flaked ice and melts into a slushie type texture.

Portability
This is a big deal in the world of ice makers. A portable option can move between rooms, into your car, and generally offers you more flexibility. People who own ice makers always say that this is a feature you shouldn't underestimate. However, if you know you'll only keep it in one place, you won't need a model with a handle.

Aesthetics and size
Ice makers can be big appliances, so it's important that you choose ones with the right dimensions and aesthetics for your space. There are stylish and sleek options, ones which come in lots of colors, and others which put function first. 

Extra features
Brands will offer plenty of extras. Some have voice commands, pre-sets, and different sized ice cubes. If you'll make use of them, seek them out. If you won't, don't pay a premium for them.

Budget
As is the case with any appliance, it's important that you shop to your budget. A cheap ice maker shouldn't be any less than $80. Our luxury one in this guide costs over $600. Generally, I would look around $150-200.

Cleaning
It's important to keep your ice maker clean. There are some which have self-clean settings and others where you'll need to get more hands-on. You know yourself whether you're a meticulous cleaner or a little lazy, so always pick the one which will suit you.

FAQs

What is the quietest countertop ice maker?

The Luma Comfort Clear Ice Cube Maker is reportedly the quietest ice cube maker you can buy. Reviews say that it's close to silent.

Which type of ice maker do I need?

You can choose between three different types of ice makers: bullet, clear, and nugget. Bullet ice is the most common (it's rounded with a hole in the middle). This is quick to make and quick to melt. If you want a basic model, you want one of these. Clear ice melts slower because it has more air in. This  tends to be more expensive and production can take longer too. The last, more niche type, is nugget ice. This is textured and a bit chewy. It'll melt like slush, perfect for frozen cocktails.

How I researched these ice makers

At Homes & Gardens we pride ourselves on our practical, honest, unsponsored recommendations. Normally, we test every product before we recommend them to you, but sometimes we can't. I couldn't manage to get my hands on these ice makers, so I did some very thorough research instead.

I've looked through thousands of ice makers to find the best models on the market. Once we have a short list, our team dives deep into the expert and customer reviews of each model. I looked for evidence that the claims made by a brand stand up to real life tests. I made notes on everything I found, looking for insights into how these products work on a day-to-day basis. Once I've done that, we shorten the short list, making sure that only the best make the cut and get recommended to you.

We'll include everything we think you need to know in this buying guide. Whether it's about the functions or the ice maker or a quirky feature, if it's worth commenting on, we will. If you read what we have to say, you won't have any surprised when this turns up at your door. For more information, you can visit our page for how we test.