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The 6 best countertop ice makers, by the hour and by the basket
Updated
Short version: for a couple or a small family that wants plain bullet ice, we'd pick the Frigidaire EFIC117-SS. It has the biggest basket of the 26 lb machines. For chewable nugget ice every day, the GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra has the biggest bin here at 3 lb. For clear cocktail cubes, the Frigidaire EFIC452-SS also has the highest hourly rate of the six.
Not sure how much ice you go through? Run the pounds per hour calculator first.
Quick comparison
| Model | Ice type | Listing, per 24 h | Per hour | Basket holds | Basket share | Basket fills in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra | Nugget | 38 lb | 1.58 lb | 3 lb | 7.9% | 114 min |
| Frigidaire EFIC452-SS clear | Clear square | 40 lb | 1.67 lb | 2.4 lb | 6% | 86 min |
| Euhomy IM013 nugget | Nugget | 35 lb | 1.46 lb | 1.3 lb | 3.7% | 53 min |
| Frigidaire EFIC117-SS | Bullet | 26 lb | 1.08 lb | 1.5 lb | 5.8% | 83 min |
| Euhomy IM001 with handle | Bullet | 26 lb | 1.08 lb | 1.3 lb | 5% | 72 min |
| Igloo IGLICEB26HNBK | Bullet | 26 lb | 1.08 lb | 1.25 lb | 4.8% | 69 min |
"Per hour" is the listing number divided by 24. "Basket fills in" is the basket size divided by that rate. Both are our arithmetic and both are a best case: no melting, and a room and water as cool as the maker's test. The Opal's bin size comes from GE's own product page. Every other figure is from the Amazon listing.
Pounds per 24 hours on the listingPounds the basket holds
- GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra38 lb3 lb
- Frigidaire EFIC452-SS clear40 lb2.4 lb
- Euhomy IM013 nugget35 lb1.3 lb
- Frigidaire EFIC117-SS26 lb1.5 lb
- Euhomy IM001 with handle26 lb1.3 lb
- Igloo IGLICEB26HNBK26 lb1.25 lb
The picks
Specs and owner feedback checked on Amazon September 19, 2026. We have not used these machines. Maker claims are labeled as claims.
GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra Nugget Ice Maker with Side Tank (XPIO13SWSS)
Get this if your household goes through chewable nugget ice every day and you want the biggest bin of the six, with a side tank so you refill less. Skip it if counter space is tight, if you want something you can carry, or if weekly cleaning sounds like too much. 38 lb per 24 hours on the listing, which is 1.58 lb per hour. The basket holds 3 lb, or 7.9 percent of the daily number. GE is the only maker here that also prints a warm-room rating: 32 lb per day at 90 F air and 70 F water.
Key specs (from the manufacturer listing)
- Nugget ice. 38 lb per day at 70 F air and 60 F water, 32 lb per day at 90 F air and 70 F water, both from the listing
- Storage bin 3 lb and 44 dBA, per GE's own product page for this model
- 0.75 gallon side tank, scale inhibiting filter, Wi-Fi and app
- First ice in 10 minutes or less (maker claim)
- 150 watts, 120 volts
- 49.2 pounds, 17.5 D x 13.43 W x 16.5 H inches
Recurring themes in owner feedback
- They like: Owners love the ice itself and find the machine easy to set up.
- They complain about: Owners report loud noises and some units breaking after about 6 months. They split on upkeep: some find it minimal, others say it needs a lot of cleaning. Some say the ice melts quickly.
Good
- Largest bin of the six picks, 3 lb
- Only pick with a published warm-room rating
- Side tank stretches the time between refills
Watch out for
- Heaviest and largest machine here
- GE's support page recommends cleaning once a week
- Owners report loud noises and some early failures
Frigidaire EFIC452-SS Clear Square Ice Maker
Get this if you want clear, square cubes for cocktails and whiskey, or you need the highest hourly rate of these six. Skip it if you want ice in minutes. A batch takes close to 15 minutes, and it takes more counter than a bullet machine. 40 lb per 24 hours on the listing, which is 1.67 lb per hour. The basket holds 2.4 lb, or 6 percent of the daily number.
Key specs (from the manufacturer listing)
- Clear square ice, two sizes. 40 lb per day on the listing
- 24 cubes in less than 15 minutes (maker claim)
- Basket holds up to 2.4 lb. 2.3 quart water tank
- Drain plug for emptying
- 120 watts, 115 volts
- 25.4 pounds, 14 D x 11 W x 15 H inches, 1 year warranty
Recurring themes in owner feedback
- They like: Owners like the clear cubes and find it easy to use. One notes a batch every 20 minutes or less.
- They complain about: Some find it fairly quiet while others report loud noises. Owners disagree on reliability and how long it lasts.
Good
- Highest listed rate here, 1.67 lb per hour
- Second largest basket of the six
- Owners like the clear cubes
Watch out for
- Slowest first batch of the six
- Owners split on noise and on how long it lasts
- No self-clean cycle named on the listing
Euhomy IM013 Countertop Nugget Ice Maker
Get this if you want chewable nugget ice in a machine close to the size of a bullet maker. Skip it if you serve a crowd. The rate is decent but the basket is small for a nugget machine, and the tank is the smallest here. 35 lb per 24 hours on the listing, which is 1.46 lb per hour. The basket holds 1.3 lb, or 3.7 percent of the daily number. You would have to empty the basket 27 times to collect the full daily number.
Key specs (from the manufacturer listing)
- Nugget ice. 35 lb per day on the listing
- First nuggets in 7 minutes (maker claim)
- Removable basket holds 1.3 lb. 1.1 L water tank
- 15 minute self-cleaning cycle and a bottom drain plug
- 130 watts, 115 volts
- 21.7 pounds, 11 D x 9.1 W x 12.6 H inches, 1 year warranty
Recurring themes in owner feedback
- They like: Owners say it is easy to use, fast, and turns out ice all day.
- They complain about: Noise gets split reports, from fairly quiet to a very loud noise. Owners also split on how long the ice lasts before it melts.
Good
- Nugget ice without the Opal's size and weight
- Short self-clean cycle and a drain plug
- Add Water and Ice Full alerts
Watch out for
- Basket is only 3.7 percent of the daily number, the lowest share here
- 1.1 L tank is about 2.4 lb of water, under 2 hours at the listed rate
- Owners split on noise
Frigidaire EFIC117-SS Bullet Ice Maker
Get this if you want a simple bullet ice machine for a couple or a small family and you like the biggest basket among the 26 lb machines. Skip it if you need a carry handle or a self-clean button. This one drains through a plug and you clean it by hand. 26 lb per 24 hours on the listing, which is 1.08 lb per hour. The basket holds 1.5 lb, or 5.8 percent of the daily number.
Key specs (from the manufacturer listing)
- Bullet ice, two sizes. 26 lb per day on the listing
- 9 bullets every 7 minutes (maker claim)
- Basket holds up to 1.5 lb. 2.1 quart water tank
- Drain plug, see-through window, LED panel
- 105 watts, 120 volts
- 16.17 pounds, 9 D x 13 W x 13 H inches, 1 year warranty
Recurring themes in owner feedback
- They like: Owners find it easy to use and quick, with a first batch in about 6 to 7 minutes.
- They complain about: Reliability is mixed, and some report it stopped working after a month. Owners note the ice melts if it is not used promptly, and they split on noise and on cube size.
Good
- Largest basket of the three bullet picks
- Biggest tank of the three bullet picks, about 4 hours of ice making per fill at the listed rate
- Low listed wattage
Watch out for
- No self-clean cycle named on the listing
- No carry handle
- Owners report mixed reliability
Euhomy IM001 Bullet Ice Maker with Handle
Get this if you want the lightest machine here with a carry handle, for an RV, a dorm or a camp site with power. Skip it if you hate refilling. Its 1.2 L tank is about 2.6 lb of water, which is two baskets of ice. 26 lb per 24 hours on the listing, which is 1.08 lb per hour. The basket holds 1.3 lb, or 5 percent of the daily number.
Key specs (from the manufacturer listing)
- Bullet ice. 26 lb per day on the listing
- 9 bullets in 6 minutes (maker claim)
- Holds up to 1.3 lb of ice. 1.2 L water tank
- One-touch cleaning cycle that runs 30 minutes
- 170 watts, 115 volts. Maker claims under 45 dB and 4 kWh per 24 hours
- 12.87 pounds, 11.42 D x 8.74 W x 11.57 H inches, 12 month warranty
Recurring themes in owner feedback
- They like: Owners praise how fast it makes ice, and many like the compact size. Some call it very quiet.
- They complain about: Others find it loud, some find the cubes very small, and some report it stopped working after about 7 months or did not last a year.
Good
- Lightest of the six picks
- Carry handle
- Cleaning cycle built in
Watch out for
- Smallest tank of the three bullet picks
- Highest listed wattage here
- Some owners find the cubes very small, and some report early failures
Igloo IGLICEB26HNBK Self-Cleaning Bullet Ice Maker
Get this if you want a bullet machine with both a carry handle and a self-cleaning function, from a brand you know from coolers. Skip it if basket size matters most. At 1.25 lb it is the smallest basket of the six. 26 lb per 24 hours on the listing, which is 1.08 lb per hour. The basket holds 1.25 lb, or 4.8 percent of the daily number.
Key specs (from the manufacturer listing)
- Bullet ice. 26 lb per day on the listing
- First ice in 6 to 8 minutes (maker claim)
- 1.25 pound ice basket. 2 quart water tank
- Automatic five-cycle cleaning function
- 105 watts, 120 volts
- 14.97 pounds, 12.2 D x 9.06 W x 12.8 H inches
Recurring themes in owner feedback
- They like: Owners like the fast production and say it does more than they expected. Some like having large and small cube options.
- They complain about: Some report cubes freezing together. Reliability is mixed, with some units stopping after a month or breaking within 90 days. Noise gets split reports.
Good
- Handle and self-clean together
- Low listed wattage
- 2 quart tank, about 3.8 hours per fill at the listed rate
Watch out for
- Smallest basket here, 1.25 lb
- Some owners report cubes freezing together
- No warranty length shown in the listing details we read
Before you buy any countertop ice maker
- Find the basket size. It is often buried in the last bullet. If a listing gives only the 24 hour number, be careful. More on the 24 hour number page.
- Plan where the ice goes. None of these keeps ice frozen. Euhomy's support page says the ice will slowly melt and tells you to store it in the refrigerator if you will not use it soon. See the basket is not a freezer.
- Pick the ice type on purpose. Bullet, nugget and clear cubes come from three different kinds of machine. See ice types.
- Accept the cleaning. GE recommends cleaning the Opal once a week. See cleaning and descaling.
- Read the reliability gripes. Owners of every pick here report some units that failed early. Keep the box and the receipt until you trust yours.