The 8 Best Ice Makers Under $500, From Nugget Countertops to Commercial Machines, Ranked & Reviewed

Our verdict: Up to 44 lbs of soft nugget ice a day with self-cleaning and a scoop and basket.

This EUHOMY makes up to 44 lbs of nugget ice per 24 hours, which it markets as sonic ice, the soft, chewable style. It has a self-cleaning cycle and includes an ice scoop and basket, in the $100 to $200 bracket.

Nugget ice is the reason people buy this class: it is chewable, it soaks up drink flavour and it is why fast food chains use it. At 44 lbs a day it produces more than the other nugget units here, which matters in a house that goes through ice at dinner. The cost is a larger body and a fan that runs when the machine makes ice.

Buy it if your household loves chewable ice. Skip it if you want clear, hard cubes for cocktails.

Output

Up to 44 lb per 24 hours

Ice type

Nugget

Cleaning

Self-cleaning

Bracket

$100 to $200

Our verdict: A stainless steel nugget maker with 35 lb daily output and a 7 minute cycle.

This stainless EUHOMY produces 35 lbs of ice a day on a 7-minute cycle, with a self-cleaning cycle, a scoop and a basket.

Stainless steel resists staining and dents and fits modern kitchens better than plastic. Output is lower than the 44 lb unit, though a 7 minute cycle means a first batch of ice arrives promptly. It ranks second because the extra output of the first pick matters more to heavy ice users than the finish.

Buy it if looks and a good cycle time matter. Skip it if you need maximum ice.

Output

35 lb per 24 hours

Cycle

7 minutes

Body

Stainless steel

Cleaning

Self-cleaning

Our verdict: 34 lbs per day with a 6-minute cycle, a carry handle and a removable top cover.

This EUHOMY nugget maker produces 34 lbs per day with a 6-minute cycle, a removable top cover and an auto-clean routine. It includes a basket and scoop and has a carry handle.

The handle makes it easy to move between a kitchen and a patio. It ranks third because output is a notch lower than the stainless unit while the faster cycle partly offsets it. The removable top cover simplifies wiping the inside.

Buy it if you want to carry the machine around. Skip it if output matters most.

Output

34 lb per day

Cycle

6 minutes

Design

Carry handle, removable top

Cleaning

Auto-clean

Our verdict: 130 lbs a day with 16 to 30 lbs of storage, in built-in, freestanding or under-counter form.

The VEVOR is a commercial machine producing 130 lbs per 24 hours with 16 to 30 lbs of storage, a stainless steel body, LED display and self-cleaning. It installs built-in, freestanding or under a counter.

It is the best choice for parties, bars and small shops that run out of countertop ice in an hour. Commercial machines need a water line and a drain, which is installation work a countertop unit avoids. It lands near the top of the budget.

Buy it if you serve a crowd. Skip it if you have no drain.

Output

130 lb per 24 hours

Storage

16 to 30 lb

Install

Built-in, freestanding, under counter

Display

LED

Our verdict: 100 lbs a day with 18 to 33 lbs of storage in a commercial-grade body.

The Mojgar produces 100 lbs per 24 hours and stores 18 to 33 lbs, built to a commercial grade.

It sits behind the VEVOR because output is lower and the listing gives fewer details about installation and cleaning. It offers slightly more storage, which helps through a busy evening.

Buy it if you want a commercial machine with more storage. Skip it if you need the highest output.

Output

100 lb per 24 hours

Storage

18 to 33 lb

Grade

Commercial

Bracket

$200 to $500

Our verdict: 26 lbs a day of bullet ice in 2 sizes, with 9 cubes in 6 minutes.

This EUHOMY makes 9 bullet ice cubes in 6 minutes, up to 26 lbs a day, in two cube sizes with self-cleaning, a basket and scoop.

Bullet ice is hard and cloudy, the classic cocktail and water-bottle ice. Two sizes let you pick small cubes for tumblers and larger ones for pitchers. It ranks sixth because nugget machines suit families better, and its output is lower.

Buy it if you want cube-style ice at a lower cost. Skip it if you want chewable ice.

Output

26 lb per 24 hours

Cycle

9 cubes in 6 minutes

Sizes

2 bullet sizes

Cleaning

Self-cleaning

Our verdict: 26 lbs a day of bullet ice, 9 cubes in 6 minutes, with a carry handle and auto-clean.

This black EUHOMY makes up to 26 lbs in 24 hours, 9 cubes per 6 minutes, with auto-cleaning, a basket and scoop, and a carry handle.

It ranks seventh because it overlaps the two-size model, which offers more choice for the same price bracket. The handle is useful for a small kitchen where the machine is stored away.

Buy it if you want to move the machine around. Skip it if you want two cube sizes.

Output

26 lb per 24 hours

Cycle

9 cubes in 6 minutes

Design

Carry handle

Finish

Black

Our verdict: 26.5 lbs a day in two ice sizes, with a scoop and basket, in the lowest bracket.

The Sweetcrispy makes 9 cubes in 6 minutes, up to 26.5 lbs in 24 hours, in 2 ice sizes with a scoop and basket. It is among the cheapest here.

This is the least expensive way to own an ice maker. It ranks last because it lacks the self-cleaning mention of the EUHOMY models and its brand history is shorter.

Buy it if budget is the priority. Skip it if you want a self-cleaning routine.

Output

26.5 lb per 24 hours

Cycle

9 cubes in 6 minutes

Sizes

2 ice sizes

Bracket

$25 to $50