Best ice makers 2026, reviewed by an expert

Summer is approaching, and if you’re sick of forgetting to pick up a bag of ice for your garden party or barbecue, you might want to consider investing in one of the best ice makers.

While these American-style countertop appliances are still a relatively new concept in UK kitchens, they’re a convenient solution to the summer hosting nightmare. Sure, buying a gadget just to freeze water might sound like the height of indulgence, but once you have a constant, on-demand supply of crystal-clear ice you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.

The appeal is simple. Instead of balancing flimsy plastic trays in the freezer and waiting hours for cloudy, misshapen lumps, the best ice machines churn out fresh batches of crystal clear cubes in a matter of minutes. Your cocktails, beers, soft drinks and even seafood platters stay impeccably chilled, and your freezer gets a lot roomier.

Ready to cool down? Here’s my definitive guide to the best ice makers available.

The best ice makers for 2026 are:

• Best overall – Caso icechef compact ice cube maker: £74, Amazon.co.uk
• Best budget buy – Iceman ice maker: £74.99, Amazon.co.uk
• Best mid-range option – Baridi ice cube maker: £142.99, Wayfair.co.uk
• Best for large parties – Gastroback ice maker bartender pro: £190, Currys.co.uk
• Best for shaved ice – KitchenAid shave ice attachment: £98.95, Kitchenaid.co.uk

How I tested

I tried each of these cool machines in my own home (Alicia Miller)

All the ice makers in this feature were tested in the same kitchen, using regular tap water. I evaluated each machine on how quickly it made ice, the quality of the ice produced, how easy the machine was to use, and the overall design. You can read more about my testing process and criteria at the end of this article.

Caso icechef compact ice cube maker

Rating: 5/5

Best: Ice machine overall

Type of ice: Small bullets, large bullets

Amount of ice produced: Up to 12kg in 24 hours

Time per batch: Six minutes

Machine size: 24cm x 26.9cm x 28.2cm

Weight: 6.6kg

Why we love it

• Slim, compact and good-looking
• Produces cubes in less than 10 minutes

Take note

• Not the quietest on test

This was by far my favourite ice maker – a perfect balance of quality, output and good looks at a sensible price point.

Both small and large ice ‘bullets’ came out nice and even, with batches taking an average of about eight minutes to freeze during testing, but it could do it in as little as six. I liked the fact that the icechef is slim and compact, so I didn’t have to sacrifice too much counter space, but it was still capable of producing an impressive 12kg of ice in 24 hours. At just 6.6kg, it’s relatively light, so it’s easy to transport to a friend’s barbecue. The built-in handle makes it a breeze to carry, too.

Of all the ice makers tested, I liked the look of this one the best. Its matte black exterior was easy to clean and blended well with other kitchen appliances on my countertop. While this isn’t the cheapest or quietest option on test, there’s nothing else to fault this handy little machine. It will serve you well whether mixing margaritas for a crowd or chilling a bucket of beers at a garden party.

Iceman ice maker

Rating: 4.5/5

Best: Budget ice machine

Type of ice: Small bullets, large bullets

Amount of ice produced: Up to 10kg in 24 hours

Time per batch: Seven minutes

Machine size: 28.5cm x 24cm x 27.5cm

Weight: 6.67kg

Why we love it

• Great value for money
• Intuitive to use

I found that this perfectly sized machine made ice just as well as the more expensive models tested. I liked that the Iceman was particularly intuitive to work, and unlike some other machines I used, it had a dedicated cleaning cycle button. I also loved the clear LED display. Even people who have never seen the machine before (or who may have enjoyed a couple of margaritas beforehand) could work it without issue.

This machine was easy to use from the start (Alicia Miller)

There’s a detachable handle so you can carry the machine to a friend’s party, for example, and it’s pretty quiet, emitting just a gentle hum during the freezing process. The reason this model didn’t snag the top spot is that it produces slightly less ice in 24 hours than the Caso – 10kg compared with 12kg – and its speediest freeze time is slightly longer (seven minutes rather than six).

Baridi ice cube maker

Rating: 4/5

Best: Mid-range ice machine

Type of ice: Small bullets, large bullets

Amount of ice produced: Up to 12kg in 24 hours

Time per batch: 10 minutes

Machine size: 31.5cm x 24.8cm x 37.2cm

Weight: 8.25kg

Why we love it

• Consistent results
• Large serving window

Take note

• Slightly more complicated to use than some other models tested

This high-quality electric ice cube maker can produce up to 12kg of ice in 24 hours. Much heavier than the Caso and the Iceland (8.25kg heavier, to be precise), it’s a little less portable but cuts a fine figure on your countertop with its gentle curves. I found that it made clear and evenly shaped bullet ice, and I particularly liked how large its serving ‘window’ was. This made it easy to scoop out ice, as well as see at a glance how much ice was ready to go.

The machine is marginally more complex to operate than some other models – for example, it requires a particular series of button pushes if you need to set the cleaning cycle or want to change between small and large bullets of ice. On the flip side, this is a machine that feels built to last.

Gastroback ice maker bartender pro

Rating: 4/5

Best: Ice machine for large parties

Type of ice: Small bullets, large bullets

Amount of ice produced: Up to 15kg in 24 hours

Time per batch: 7-15 minutes

Machine size: 40cm x 24cm x 43cm

Weight: 11.2kg

Why we love it

• Can cater to large numbers
• Keeps large quantities of ice at a cold temperature

Take note

• Heavier than other models tested
• Expensive

If you often throw large parties, this professional-grade ice maker will help keep things cool. Notably larger than other ice machines I tested, the Gastroback has the size and oomph to churn out nine ice cubes every 7-15 minutes (depending on ambient temperature), and up to 15kg of ice in 24 hours.

You can leave it to do its thing for longer periods before having to refill the 2.8l water tank – or transfer finished cubes out of the catch tray (all machines stop producing ice when the trays reach capacity). That means you can maximise the amount of ice you have ready to go at any given time, which is handy if you’re powering through rounds of cocktails or refilling drinks buckets. The machine’s quiet, while the stainless-steel exterior makes it easy to clean.

However, this machine is huge. You can see in the testing image above that it’s twice the size of the other ice makers I used. Realistically, this model will be too big and heavy (it weighs more than 11kg) for the average person’s home use. It’s best suited to those with a garage, laundry room or basement, because it’s too large to fit most kitchens. However, if you often cater to a crowd, this ice maker could come in handy.

KitchenAid shave ice attachment

Rating: 4.5/5

Best: For shaved ice

Type of ice: Fine and coarse shaved ice

Amount of ice produced: 500ml of shaved ice in 60 seconds

Time per batch: 12-24 hours freezing time

Machine size: 11.8cm x 15.9cm x 22.9cm (attachment only, stand mixer sold separately)

Weight: 1.1kg

Why we love it

• Fun to use
• Easy to store

Take note

• Pricey
• You need to own the KitchenAid stand mixer

Love frozen daiquiris, slushies, granitas, or Hawaii-style shaved ice? This is the gizmo for you, as it churns out very fine, snow-like shaved ice as well as slightly coarser flakes. Before you get too excited, though, I should note it’s not a stand-alone machine – instead, it’s sold as an attachment for the KitchenAid artisan stand mixer (£419, Kitchenaid.co.uk).

The attachment only works with a KitchenAid stand mixer (Alicia Miller)

To use the attachment, simply fill its accompanying puck-shaped cups with water and pop them in the freezer to harden before attaching the shave ice head and ice puck to the front of your KitchenAid mixer. The stand mixer’s motor powers the attachment’s blades, which shave down the ice puck to your preferred consistency, with one block making enough for a cocktail or two. If you already have the KitchenAid appliance, this add-on is great fun to use, but it’s unhelpful if you don’t have a stand mixer.

What is the best ice maker?

When it comes to value for money, the Caso icechef compact ice cube maker came out on top. It proved effective, portable, and stylish, and it comes at a good price point. However, if your budget’s a bit tighter and you don’t need quite the same volume of output, the Iceman is an excellent buy, too.

How I tested ice makers

During the testing process, I assessed each ice maker against the following criteria:

• Ice-making speed: I assessed how long each machine took to produce its first batch of ice and how large serving ‘windows’ were, which is especially important for parties or frequent drinks.
• Quality of the ice: I noted the clarity, size, shape and solidity of the ice cubes to judge the quality of the ice each machine created.
• Ease of use: Each machine was judged on how intuitive it was to set up and operate, including filling the water tank, knowing when the ice was ready as well as cleaning or maintaining the unit.
• Design: I considered overall build quality, size and footprint, noise levels, and how well the machine would fit into a typical kitchen or entertaining space, including whether it looked smart enough to leave out on the work surface.

Why you can trust IndyBest reviews

Alicia Miller is an award-winning travel and food writer who has tested everything from the best non-stick pans to the best stand mixers for IndyBest. Her kitchen product knowledge is second to none, so you can trust that in her reviews, Alicia will always share her honest opinions and will only recommend products she believes are worth your money.

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