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Gear Review

How to Choose the Best Portable Ice Maker

A portable ice maker helps you keep food and drinks cool when your fridge or ice cube trays just can’t keep up. They’re perfect for hot summers, as an addition to your RV or camper kitchen, and for parties! But, as we all know, there are tons of options on the market, so it’s hard to decide! So we set out to find the best portable ice makers. Before we jump to the reviews, here are a few features to look for in the best portable ice maker for you.

Most Important Portable Ice Maker Attributes

Capacity

How much ice can your next portable ice maker produce in a day? This 24-hour capacity will give you an idea of how quickly the ice maker works.

Colors

Do you want your ice maker to stand out from the crowd, so you don’t lose track of it at the barbecue? Or do you want it to match your kitchen? We list the available colors to help you decide!

Cube Sizes

Many portable ice makers can be set to produce different sizes of bullet-shaped ice cubes for various uses. Some people only need one size – but that’s up to you!

Includes Scoop

Although this may not make or break which ice maker you choose if you don’t want to shell out for a scoop, pay attention to which ice makers come with one included.

Dimensions

Listed in inches, the dimensions will give you an idea of how much space your portable ice maker will take up–especially important if you want to take it traveling.

Warranty

Having a warranty to back you up can give you peace of mind and can be an important indicator of how well-made the product is.

Top 10 Portable Ice Makers

Portable ice makers give you fresh ice whenever you want. These ice makers don’t require water hookups, either: just plug in and fill the reservoir! This makes them incredibly convenient for taking on camping trips, but they make great kitchen appliances, too. Let’s get started!

Della Stainless Ice Maker
Features
  • Capacity: 48 lbs/day
  • Colors: 1
  • Cube Sizes: 3
  • Scoop: Yes
  • Dimensions: 14 x 17 x 16.75″
  • Warranty: 1 year

This ice maker from Della made it as our top pick for the best ice maker due to its impressive capacity: at 48 pounds per day, it’s nearly double what many other portable ice makers can offer! With a sleek stainless steel design and simple touch controls, it’s a great asset for backyard barbecues or filling up the cooler before you go fishing! It can produce a batch of ice cubes in just 6 minutes… can your ice cube tray do that? Select from three cube sizes and turn it on or off. It alerts you when the ice bucket is full or when the water level is low, so you don’t have to check on it every few minutes. It also features overflow drainage (just in case), and if you forget about it, any melted water will be recycled back into the machine. Since this has one of the highest capacities around, it’s a great choice for bigtime ice users and large parties.

Hamilton Beach Ice Maker
Features
  • Capacity: 25 lbs/day
  • Colors: 1
  • Cube Sizes: 2
  • Scoop: No
  • Dimensions: 10 x 14 x 13″
  • Warranty: 1 year

Looking for a cheap ice maker? Hamilton Beach has you covered with a BPA-free black plastic ice maker. It makes 25 pounds a day–that’s more than two of those big ten-pound bags you can get from the gas station! Choose from two cube sizes and get a batch of ice cubes in just 6-8 minutes. Simple touch-button controls let you select the cube size and turn the machine on and off. Lighted icons will let you know if the storage basket is full or if the water level is low. The 2.5-liter water reservoir means you won’t have to refill the ice maker constantly. Plus: the ice basket has a two-pound storage capacity, perfect for dipping in periodically to refill a drinking glass. Its small size makes it super-portable and perfect for camping, fishing trips, and small kitchens. The only downside? No scoop included. But with a low price like that, it didn’t bother us too much!

Ivation Portable Ice Maker
Features
  • Capacity: 26 lbs/day
  • Colors: 1
  • Cube Sizes: 2
  • Scoop: Yes
  • Dimensions: 16.4 x 15.6 x 12″
  • Warranty: 1 year

This silver plastic portable ice maker from Ivation features a clear plastic lid for checking on the ice levels with just a glance. It produces up to 26 pounds a day, and you can choose from two cube sizes. Simple touch-button controls let you turn the machine on and off and choose the cube size. Indicator lights will tell you if the water reservoir is empty or the ice bucket is full. The 2.5-quart water reservoir (similar in size to our budget pick’s) is big enough that you won’t have to refill it constantly. When the ice bucket is full, the Ivation portable ice maker shuts off automatically to avoid wasting power. Any unused ice that melts is recycled back into the ice maker. The included ice scoop makes getting a handful of fresh ice cubes convenient. Its rectangular base gives it a slim profile that works well in most kitchens and even your RV!

Della Deluxe Ice Maker
Features
  • Capacity: 26 lbs/day
  • Colors: 2
  • Cube Sizes: 3
  • Scoop: Yes
  • Dimensions: 16 x 14 x 15″
  • Warranty: 1 year

The Deluxe ice maker from Della is available in white or silver and has a rounded body. A clear panel on the lid lets you check on the ice level. It also alerts you when the water is low or the two-pound ice basket is full. But here’s the kicker: the LCD doesn’t just let you choose from three cube sizes and turn the ice maker on and off. You can also set a timer to get the perfect amount of ice exactly when you need it! Since these portable ice makers don’t also feature refrigeration abilities, you can use the timer setting to be more efficient and avoid wasting electricity. Set it the night before to wake up to a fresh batch of ice, or in the morning for when you get home from work! Or just let it run–it produces 26 pounds of ice per day, with a new batch being churned out every 6-8 minutes.

NewAir AI-100CB
Features
  • Capacity: 28 lbs/day
  • Colors: 5
  • Cube Sizes: 3
  • Scoop: Yes
  • Dimensions: 14.5 x 11.8 x 15″
  • Warranty: 1 year

Want a brightly colored portable ice maker that’s easy to find? If you’re worried your friends will try to snag your ice maker and claim it’s their own, the unique style of this NewAir ice maker makes that a lot harder. Available in orange, blue, gray, red, or black, it makes a great camping accessory or countertop appliance. It produces 28 pounds of ice per day and includes a scoop to make your life a little easier! Push-button controls let you choose from three cube sizes and turn the machine on and off. Indicator lights alert you to low water levels or a full ice basket. A clear panel on the lid lets you check in on the ice level periodically before it gets too full! This ice maker has a great capacity and a small size, so it’s portable and perfect for traveling, camping, or small kitchens. The removable ice basket makes it easy to clean, and each ice-making cycle takes up to 15 minutes.

Della Portable Ice Maker
Features
  • Capacity: 26 lbs/day
  • Colors: 3
  • Cube Sizes: 1
  • Scoop: Yes
  • Dimensions: 12 x 16 x 15″
  • Warranty: 1 year

The Della Portable Ice Maker comes in a few sleek colors: silver, stainless steel, and white. You can go for one with an LCD that allows you to set a timer, or keep it simple with a few push-button controls. This ice maker only makes one cube size, but sometimes that’s all you need! LED indicators and alarm sounds to let you know if the ice machine is making ice, if the ice basket is full, or if the water level is low. If you forget about your freshly made ice, the machine recycles meltwater back into itself to remake it. It’s an average size for an ice maker that makes 26 pounds per day. It comes with an ice scoop and also has a see-through window so you can check on its progress. If you like the style of the Della brand ice makers but want a more basic machine, this ice maker keeps the Della ice maker build quality but with a simpler design.

Gourmia GI500 Ice Maker
Features
  • Capacity: 26 lbs/day
  • Colors: 1
  • Cube Sizes: 3
  • Scoop: Yes
  • Dimensions: 14.5 x 10 x 12.5″
  • Warranty: 1 year

The Gourmia GI500 has a black plastic and stainless steel design that will blend right in with any modern kitchen. It has a two-quart water tank and can hold 1.5 pounds of ice in its ice basket, so you won’t have to run back and forth emptying and filling this ice maker! It can produce 26 pounds of ice per day, and you don’t have to mess with any ice cube trays! The LCD display will let you know the time and if the ice maker is in action. You can set a timer or pause the ice maker whenever you like, and it automatically shuts off when it’s done making ice. A refill alarm lets you know when water is running low. It comes with a scoop and has a clear plastic lid. Plus, it can make three different cube sizes for different drinks and other uses! It also has a small footprint considering its capacity, making it easy to take traveling or set up in a tiny RV kitchen.

Magic Chef MCIM22ST
Features
  • Capacity: 27 lbs/day
  • Colors: 1
  • Cube Sizes: 2
  • Scoop: No
  • Dimensions: 9.5 x 14 x 13″
  • Warranty: 5 years

This shiny stainless steel ice maker from Magic Chef has a sleek design and small footprint. Choose from two cube sizes and let the machine do its thing: you only need to pay attention to it when it alerts you to a full ice basket or low water levels. The basket holds 1.5 pounds of ice at a time, and melted ice gets recycled back into the machine. It can make up to 27 pounds a day, saving you trips to the gas station for bags of ice! It also has a longer five-year warranty where most of the ice makers we liked had one-year warranties. If you’re looking for an ice maker with a solid warranty time, this option for Magic Chef might be for you. It can be a little noisier than some higher-end ice makers, but it performs well overall. Take it camping or set it up in your kitchen to keep you and your family cool on hot days!

Thinkgizmos Ice Machine
Features
  • Capacity: 26 lbs/day
  • Colors: 1
  • Cube Sizes: 3
  • Scoop: Yes
  • Dimensions: 16.8 x 16 x 13.7″
  • Warranty: 1 year

This stainless steel ice maker offers similar ice production speeds as the Della ice makers. It can produce 26 pounds per day! The ice basket holds 2.2 lbs of ice at a time, so you don’t have to constantly empty out the machine. Push-button controls let you turn the machine on and off and select from three ice cube sizes. Indicator lights tell you when the water levels are low or when the ice basket is full. You also get a scoop! This ice maker does have a larger size than other ice makers with similar capacities. Use it for entertaining in the backyard or set it up in the kitchen, but small spaces like campers and apartments may find this ice maker a little too big. Any melted ice gets recycled back into the machine, so you don’t have to worry if you accidentally forget about it! It’s much easier than driving to the store to buy bags of ice.

Mr. Freeze Maxi-Matic
Features
  • Capacity: 26 lbs/day
  • Colors: 1
  • Cube Sizes: 2
  • Scoop: Yes
  • Dimensions: 13.2 x 13.8 x 10″
  • Warranty: 1 year

The Mr. Freeze Maxi-Matic features two ice cube sizes and the ability to make up to 26 pounds of ice per day. The large 1.7-liter water tank means you don’t have to fill it up constantly. The overall footprint of this ice maker is compact despite its solid capacity, so it’s easy to fit into an RV or camper kitchen, or a small home. Touch-button controls let you select from two ice sizes and turn the machine on and off. Indicator lights alert you to low water levels or a full ice basket. The lid has a viewing window for you to keep an eye on your ice, and the Maxi-Matic also comes with an ice scoop to get you started! It’s a lot faster than relying on those ice cube trays in your freezer, and it doesn’t take up much space at all! From camping to entertaining in the backyard, this portable ice maker is super portable! The simple controls are easy to figure out, and you’ll be making tons of ice in no time.