Countertop Ice Makers: Best Bullet, Nugget and Clear Ice Picks

Our picks for the best countertop ice makers, from a $90 bullet ice machine that works for most homes to the best nugget and clear-ice makers.

By Amanda RobertsUpdated October 29, 2026How we pick products

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A countertop ice maker is one of those appliances you don’t think about until summer hits or your freezer can’t keep up with a party. A good one makes a fresh batch in minutes and keeps going all day.

Before you buy, remember the big catch: countertop ice makers don’t keep ice frozen. The basket is insulated, but ice slowly melts and gets recycled into new ice. If that’s news to you, our countertop vs fridge ice maker comparison explains what to expect.

We compared the most popular models on ice type, speed, daily output, noise, ease of cleaning and price, using results from independent tests.

Compare at a glance

Output figures are manufacturer or tester ratings and drop in warm rooms. Prices are typical prices we saw in October 2026 and change often.

1. Igloo Premium Self-Cleaning: Best for most people

Buy it if: Anyone who wants plenty of ordinary ice without spending much.

This compact bullet ice maker is the one we’d suggest to most people. America’s Test Kitchen named it its top pick for most people, and CNN Underscored chose it as its best bullet ice maker. It makes its first batch in about 8 minutes and close to a pound of ice an hour. It also has a genuinely useful self-cleaning cycle, which most budget machines skip, and a carry handle that makes it easy to bring out for parties.

What bugs us: The plastic feels cheap, and the indicator lights are hard to see. Bullet ice is cloudy and melts faster than pricier machines’ ice.

Skip it if: you want nugget or clear ice, or you need a lot of ice at once.

2. GE Profile Opal 2.0 XL: Best nugget ice

Buy it if: Nugget ice lovers who want the best version.

If you love soft, chewable “Sonic-style” ice, the Opal is the machine most reviewers come back to. Reviewed named it best overall and praised its crisp, clean-tasting nugget ice. The XL version adds a detachable one-gallon side tank, so you refill far less often, and it has a drain hose that makes cleaning easier.

What bugs us: It’s expensive. Testers also found it isn’t especially quiet, and it can take 25 to 30 minutes to produce fully formed nuggets from a cold start. Nugget machines need regular descaling.

Skip it if: you’re happy with ordinary ice. A bullet machine costs a fraction of the price.

3. Frigidaire Gallery EFIC255: Best value nugget ice maker

Buy it if: People who want nugget ice without paying Opal prices.

Reviewed named this its best value pick, saying the ice tastes clean and close to higher-end machines. It’s rated to make 44 pounds a day, has a 3-pound basket and includes a water filter. A handle on the back makes it easier to move.

What bugs us: It’s a bit noisy while running, and there are no smart features or app.

Skip it if: noise matters, for example in an open-plan living space.

4. Frigidaire EFIC452: Best clear ice

Buy it if: People who want bar-style clear cubes for cocktails and drinks.

Clear ice looks great and melts more slowly than cloudy ice. Reviewed found this machine reliably makes clear, thick cubes, 24 at a time in under 15 minutes, with no special water prep. It’s rated for 40 pounds a day.

What bugs us: The controls aren’t the most intuitive, and the cubes need a minute or two before they break apart. Reviewers noted a stray cube can block the full-basket sensor.

Skip it if: you prefer nugget ice or just need volume. The Igloo is cheaper.

5. GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro: Best large capacity

Buy it if: Big households and people who host often.

This is the heavy-duty option. It has the largest water tank and ice bucket of the machines we compared, a rating of up to 60 pounds a day, and app and voice control so you can schedule ice to be ready when you get home. CNN Underscored named it its best large-capacity pick, and Reviewed called it very quiet.

What bugs us: It weighs nearly 50 pounds, so it’s not something you’ll move around, and it’s one of the most expensive machines here.

Skip it if: you only need ice now and then.

How we picked

We compared the countertop ice makers recommended most often in independent testing, including results from America’s Test Kitchen, Reviewed, CNN Underscored and Wirecutter. We focused on:

• Ice type and quality: bullet, nugget or clear, and how it tastes
• Speed and daily output
• Noise
• Cleaning: self-clean cycles, drains and how easy the reservoir is to reach
• Price for what you get

We haven’t tested these ourselves. Where testers disagreed, we say so. We’ll update this guide as we use these machines ourselves. Read more about how we pick products.

What to look for in a countertop ice maker

Ice type

• Bullet ice is the most common and cheapest. Cubes are hollow and cloudy, form fast and melt fairly quickly.
• Nugget ice is soft and chewable, and great in sodas and iced coffee. Machines cost more and need regular descaling.
• Clear ice is solid and slow-melting, ideal for cocktails.

Daily output vs basket size

Daily output tells you how much ice a machine can make in 24 hours. Basket size tells you how much it holds at once. For a party, a larger basket matters more, since you’ll be pulling ice out in bursts.

Water tank

A bigger reservoir, or a side tank, means fewer refills. A few models can connect to a water line.

Cleaning

Look for a self-clean cycle and an easy drain plug. You’ll be cleaning it regularly; here’s how to clean a countertop ice maker.

Noise

All ice makers hum and clatter. If it’ll sit in an open-plan space, check reviews for noise.

Short answers

How much ice do I actually need? A common rule of thumb for parties is about 1 to 2 pounds of ice per guest, more in hot weather or if you’re chilling drinks.

Do countertop ice makers use a lot of electricity? Not much. Most draw roughly 100 to 200 watts while running, far less than a space heater, and turning them off between uses keeps costs low.

My fridge ice maker stopped working. Should I just buy one of these? Try a few quick fixes first: here’s why your ice maker might not be making ice.