Best Portable Ice Maker Buying Guide – Reviews, Comparisons & Recommendations

#1 Best – Magic Chef MCIM2ST 27 lb Ice Maker Stainless SteelGet Info#2 – NewAir AI-100BK 28-Pound Portable Ice Maker, BlackGet Info#3 – Luma Comfort IM200SS Portable Clear Ice Maker, 28-PoundGet Info#4 – Gourmia GI500 Electric Compact Professional Stainless Steel Ice MakerGet Info#5 – Newair AI-215SS Stainless Steel 50lb Portable Ice MakerGet Info#6 – Igloo ICE103 Counter Top Ice Maker with Over-Sized Ice BucketGet Info

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If you’re in a rush…

This Buying Guide is designed to help you compare the brands and the choices on the market in 2023 to ensure YOU buy the perfect and most affordable portable ice maker for YOUR needs.

✅ Best For The Money

When it comes to countertop ice maker machines, which portable ice maker is the best value for the money?

After months of deep research and getting feedback via hundreds of portable ice maker reviews, this portable ice maker is THE best for the money.

It makes ice really fast and holds 2 pounds of ice (which makes it great for parties). It also does NOT use any type of “ice trays” – which means it doesn’t leak – that makes it PERFECT for a camper, RV, or boat as well as perfect in your kitchen.

It’s a truly “portable” portable ice maker.

Even at the budget-friendly price, this portable ice maker has a lot of great features…

1. Makes 26 pounds of ice a day
2. Smaller/Space-Saver size (great for RV, camper, small kitchen, office, etc)
3. Makes ice in 10 minutes
4. Energy Saver
5. 3 ice cube sizes/shapes
6. Recycles unused water into cubes
7. “Smart Alerts“

There are many highly positive reviews of this ice machine (read all reviews here).

important: There are TWO models of this portable ice maker – a GI110 model and there is a GI120 model.
we prefer this GI120 model over the 110.

Review of My Portable Ice Maker

There are many specific needs, but for me, I simply wanted my ice maker to be portable, lightweight, easy to carry, simple to use, and VERY easy to clean – that way, I could use it not olny on my counter, but anywhere and EVERYWHERE.

We not only do a lot of entertaining at home… cook outs, backyard parties, birthday parties, holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter – and ALL require me to come up with LOTS and LOTS of ice.

But I also plan and throw baby showers, bridal showers, birthday parties, fundraiser events, house warming parties, church events, receptions, reunions, etc AWAY from home – so my little ice cube maker machine HAD to be portable and easy to ME to take from place to place.

In all seriousness, if you host ANY type of party, get-together, Super Bowl party, Christmas party or family dinner – you NEED a portable ice maker. You’ll never run out of ice – which makes YOU the hostess (or host) with the mostest =)

✅ in the picture: the portable ice maker I chose

I had one more requirement for my choice of a portable ice maker – it had to have a freezer type storage compartment to keep the ice frozen.

That frozen storage ability was a MUST HAVE for me.

I did NOT want to HAVE to tote a cooler around with me everywhere just so I’d be sure to have a place to keep my fresh ice frozen.

Portable ice makers that do NOT have that freezer storage option, well… sure, they make ice cubes, but they start melting right away unless you move the cubes to the freezer or a good cooler.

I have a YETI cooler alternative that I love – and good golly, it certainly DOES keep ice for a long time – but I didn’t want to HAVE to bring that with me. Plus, my home bar refrigerator doesn’t have a freezer in it.

Instead, I wanted a portable ice maker that would also keep my ice cubes frozen.

While the one I bought ranks #4 on our Best Portable Ice Makers List below, it was the best choice for ME and MY needs.

This is the review I read that helped me pick my portable ice cube maker.

Plus, I managed to buy it for around $175 – which was an amazing DEAL!

✅ You can check the current price here.

(if you can get it on sale, GRAB IT – you’ll love it)

BUT – just a warning – it’s hard to find and sells out quickly.

Short story – this is the portable ice maker that works best for me.

If you’re on a budget, yet want a great portable ice maker, watch this review video of this portable ice maker (it’s really good!)

Here are some more helpful reviews of “portable” ice cube making machines.

Portable Ice Maker Review Video

This is the portable ice maker model being shown in the video above.

He got his at Sam’s Club for well over $100, which in my opinion, is too much.

The prices change all the time, but if you can get it for around $100 or so AND it’s actually in stock (they sell out ALL the time) – you should get it.

Check current price and availability here.

Here are other affordable portable ice makers with freezer combo models we considered.

So, that’s my story of the best portable ice maker for my needs – now, let’s talk about YOU.

Portable Ice Maker Uses

First, let’s start with WHERE you want to use your portable ice maker.  This will help narrow down your choices dramatically.

Best For Camping

A portable ice maker is a GREAT thing to have when you’re camping.  You’ll need some sort of power supply,  from either your campground or from your vehicle.

Here are some of the best-rated portable ice makers for camping.

How about the best portable ice maker for your RV or camper?

Best For RV

Need a great portable ice maker for your RV (recreational vehicle) or camper? Let’s take a look at your options and which is the best ice maker for YOU.

There are different needs for a portable ice cube making machine for an RV motor home than there are for having one in your own home kitchen.

For many, needing a smaller ice maker is ideal so you save space on countertop areas.  No one needs a big, bulky ice machine when you have limited space to begin with.

This is the favorite portable ice maker for RV use according to consumer reports, reviews, and feedback – they LOVE it!

It comes in red, white, and a silver/stainless steel color. Great little lightweight portable ice maker!

Read all consumer reports and reviews here.

It makes 27 pounds of ice cubes per day, AND it makes a cycle of ice in about 7 minutes. It also has a choice of THREE types of ice cubes where the other one above only had a choice of 2 kinds of ice cubes.

I did a lot of research on RV and Motor Home forums and the over-whelming majority love their Magic Chef portable ice maker. When other “fancier” units broke, their Magic Chef was still going strong.

Best For Boat

When it comes to picking the best portable ice maker for your boat, there are a few GOOD choices of marine portable ice machines. Here’s your best options…

I sure wish we had a portable ice machine in our boat last summer – how NICE that would’ve been to have freshly made ice as opposed to almost melted ice from the cooler (yuck!)

The over-whelming majority of boat owners swear by their U-Line Marine Ice Maker. They are truly awesome, make a ton of ice really fast, and the machines last for years.

BUT, they tend to be a little on the expensive side and out of many boat-owners budgets. You can check current prices on U-Line Marine Ice Makers here.

Below are some other less-expensive portable ice makers for boat and pontoon use.

Best For Car

If you’ve ever traveled long distances in your car with your family/kids and or friends, I don’t need to explain just how convenient a portable ice maker would be in your car.

Plus, just how awesome would it be to have FRESH ICE for your drinks while on the road, right?

Using a portable ice maker in your car or truck requires special power supply cords, etc, so make sure you buy one that actually does what you need in order to get power to your portable ice maker.

Be sure to get a GOOD power inverter like this one (the one in the picture) so you can plug your ice maker in.

There not expensive at all – and well, you NEED one to make ice in your moving vehicle.

But the truth is, using a portable ice maker in your car, truck, or SUV is probably not the BEST idea. Instead, get a really good cooler like these coolers and fill it with ice before your trip. The ice will last for days and days.

Best For Outdoors

Let’s take a look at the best OUTDOOR portable ice maker. There are only few GOOD outdoor table top ice makers that are worth it.

Here’s the short list of the only “BEST” outdoor portable ice makers that we would consider buying:

1. This Igloo 26 Pound Portable Ice Maker
2. This Portable Ice Maker from NewAir
3. This 26 pound Portable Icemaker from Curtis Ice
4. This Stainless Steel Outdoor Ice Maker from Orien ( it’s large and “high-end”), or
5. This “Mini” Compact Outdoor Portable Ice Maker from Igloo

We entertain quite often and the first thing we always run out of is ICE.

Buying a portable ice maker for outdoor use is at the top of our list for our backyard entertaining this year.

Those outdoor ice machines are the only outdoor use ice makers we are choosing between.

Best For Office

My sister-in-law works in a small office with a handful of employees.

Get this, they still use those plastic ice cube trays to make ice!

But guess what?  No one ever bothers to refill them.

She and her boss are now choosing between these portable ice makers for office use.

Best For Home Bar

Some day, when we completely finish our home bar in our basement, I WILL have one of these portable ice makers.

Best For Home/Kitchen

If I weren’t getting an ice maker for our outdoor use, I would just get one specifically for my kitchen.  I’d want it to be smaller with less of a ‘footprint’ on my counter – and if it’s portable, I can take it anywhere I want/need.

Note: if you are looking for an excellent under counter/built-in ice maker for your kitchen, take a look at this one and read the reviews.  It’s awesome!

Popular Portable Ice Maker Brands

There are MANY brands and styles from various ice maker manufacturers.

The best portable ice maker brands to compare are: 

• Della,
• Dometic,
• Danby,
• Emerson,
• GE,
• Greenway,
• Frontgate,
• Gourmia,
• Igloo,
• Kenmore,
• KoldFront,
• KitchenAid,
• Magic Chef,
• VinoTemp,
• Viking,
• AquaPort,
• Avantic,
• Nemox,
• Bellini, and
• Maximatic.

Needless to say, that’s not a complete list of portable ice maker machine brands, but it’s a good place to start your ice maker comparisons before you buy.

Best Residential Ice Maker

If you’re looking for a top-quality and affordable residential ice maker to use on your kitchen counter or anywhere in your home, take a look at the winner for Best Residentail Ice Maker below.

Amazon chooses this portable ice maker as their ‘Amazon’s Choice’ Winner. The price is GREAT, it’s “Prime eligible” so shipping is free and you’ll get it FAST, the color is awesome, and it’s an all-around great countertop ice maker. See Amazon’s choice for BEST Residential Ice Maker on Amazon here.

Best Rated Countertop Ice Makers

Della Ice Maker Reviews

Della offers some high-quality and top-rated portable ice makers. They even have this countertop ice maker dispenser shown below that is a consumer favorite.

The countertop ice maker and ice dispenser found here is a HUGE favorite in the portable ice maker category.

Simple & Hassle-Free Electronic Ice Maker – Just Add Water & Press the Button

Quick Ice Making: Ready to Serve in 9 Minutes – Makes up to 33 lbs. of Ice Per Day

LED Digital Display Indicators – Choose (2) Different Sized Ice Cubes, Small & Large

Ability to Connect Water Supply Pipe Line for Direct Water Tapping – Tabletop Design

Water Reservoir Capacity: 1.8L – Ice Storage Capacity: 600g – Size: 14.6″ x 12.2″ x 13.8″

Below are some more popular Della portable ice makers – each ice machine below is a good choice to buy.

Della Portable Ice Maker Easy-Touch Buttons Digital 2 Selectable Cube Sizes – Up To 26 LBS of Ice DailyGet More Info –
See ReviewDella Portable Ice Maker Easy-Touch Buttons Yield Up To 26 Pounds of Ice Daily Countertop Machine -Stainless SteelGet More Info –
See ReviewDella Portable Ice Maker w/Easy-Touch, Yield Up To 26 Pounds of Ice Daily (Red)Get More Info –
See ReviewDella Electric Ice Maker Machine Express 26lbs/ Day with LCD Display Clock, Timer, Status -Stainless SteelGet More Info –
See Review

 

ThinkGizmos Ice Maker

The portable countertop ice maker from ThinkGizmos is also a top-rated ice maker that I’ve found on sale BIG TIME here on this page quite a few times lately.

• Stainless Steel & Built to last
• 3 Ice Cube Sizes
• First batch of ice in 6 minutes (!)
• Includes free ice scoop
• Professional grade ice maker (very quiet)

It really is a great countertop ice maker to have at home – very convenient for parties and get-togethers so you never run out of ice. The folks at ThinkGizmo really know what they’re doing.

I’ve heard that the ThinkGizmos portable ice maker works even better than an Igloo portable ice maker!

Get more details on the ThinkGizmos Ice Maker here.

Dometic Ice Maker Reviews

Dometic isn’t a really BIG player in the portable ice maker department, but they do have these ice makers that are pretty good – (read the reviews here)

This "iceless" electric cooler (or freezer) from Dometic is superb! Absolutely worth the money

Get More Info &
Check Price Here

Portable Ice Maker Buying Tips:

Below are some things you need to consider before you buy a portable ice maker.

Price

Yes, price is the first consideration when comparing these portable ice making machines.

Sure, you want a great deal and you want the lowest price, but cheap is not the best option for a GOOD portable ice maker.

There are lots of high-end portable ice makers… and then there’s ones that cost less that $99 – $100 or so.

Be sure that you are getting the exact portable ice maker model you want with the WARRANTY you need to get the best value.

Energy Star

Energy Star ratings are very important to let you know how much power/energy your portable ice maker will use in YOUR specific situation.

Obviously, an ice maker installed at home won’t be as concerning energy-use wise as one that is plugged in via a 12volt plug to your car or RV – or draining the battery on your boat.

Be mindful of energy and power consumption for the model you choose.

Ice Maker Options

You can get portable ice makers with refrigerated storage, water filters, space-savers, 12 v, 220 volt, 24ov, gas-powered ice makers – even propane-powered ones.

There are portable ice makers with a water dispenser, some with a  freezer compartment, some of these portable ice makers also have an ice crusher option – some are meant to be installed and other portable ice makers are free-standing and are truly portable. There’s even fancy, high-end portable ice makers with LED screens and all kinds of ‘whistles and bells’.

see this countertop ice machine here

As you can see from just that short list of options, there is a LOT of choices to be made.  You are certainly not limited by options – most are only limited by their budget.

Size

For almost all uses, a smaller sized ice maker machine is ideal.  Easier to travel with and will save space on your counter tops at home or office.

Be sure to review the size specs before buying to make sure it will fit your needs.

Speed of Ice Making

This was a big one for us – how FAST does the portable ice maker actually make ICE?  To be truly useful for us, it needed to make ice cubes quickly.

Amount of Ice Cubes

Another important consideration before buying a portable ice maker is to decide how MUCH ice you need it to make each cycle and the maximum amount of ice cubes it can make in a day.

Some people really want a portable ice maker machine that makes 50 pounds of ice cubes… other folks choose 35 lbs or 30 lbs.

Again, lots of option here as well.

Ice Cube Size/Shape

Another important factor for many people comparing portable ice makers, is the type/size/shape of the ice cubes the machine makes.

Here is a simple graphic to show the 5 different types of ice cubes.

As you can see, there are crescent ice cubes, square ice cubes, flaked ice (the kind of ice cubes that Sonics restaurants have – my personal favorite) – there are ‘Top Hat’ ice cubes, and ‘Cublelet’ ice (the softer small pellet shaped ice cube pieces).

If you’ve never even thought about the shape of your ice cubes and really don’t care, you might want to ask your family, friends, and/or co-workers. I guarantee that someone DOES have a preference!

If you REALLY want your ice maker to make ice cubes like Sonic, check out this highly-reviewed under-counter/stand alone ice maker machine. Everyone LOVES the ice it makes!

Ease of Use

No one wants a complicated appliance to deal with.  Who has time to keep reading the manual for directions to learn how to use a portable ice maker??  No one, right!

Make sure your ice maker is easy to CLEAN as well.  There is nothing worse that getting a fancy new gadget – and THEN learning how to clean it is harder than you ever anticipated.

Make sure it’s simple to use AND simple to clean.

Color/Style

There are MANY colors of portable ice makers available… from black to stainless steel  to red to teal and back around the rainbow.

If you plan to install your portable ice maker in your home or anywhere else the decor matters, be sure the color and style you choose will blend and match well so it’s an accent – not an eye-sore.

Where to Buy

Amazon

Personally, I buy virtually EVERYTHING from Amazon – and they have an excellent selection of portable ice makers with all sorts of options here.

The Free Shipping alone lets me know I am getting a great deal and I’ve found the prices to be consistently competitive.

Plus, it sure beats GOING out to buy a portable ice maker sold in stores like Target, Home Depot, Lowes, Kohls, Costco, etc  – I’d rather my UPS guy BRING it to me…lol!

✅ On Sale / Deals

If you’re looking for a deal on a portable ice maker, be sure to check out the page below and you’ll find a LOT of portable ice makers on sale:

Here are other well-trusted sites online that have good deals and sales on portable ice makers.

Walmart

I was looking through the portable ice maker deals at Walmart and came across this great little unit that currently costs a bit over $100 at Walmart, but today I see it cheaper here: (check current price here).

This ice cube maker machine is designed to be a stand-alone unit so no installation is necessary.

It takes about 10 minutes to make a cycle of ice cubes and can make up to 26 lbs of ice a day.

Also makes 2 kinds of ice cubes.

Best of all, this ice maker doesn’t need directions or an instruction manual – it’s THAT easy to use.

KMart

I came across this really good-looking RED portable ice maker at Kmart here and after looking around online, I saw it on sale today here.

This top-rated NewAir AI-215R portable ice maker makes 50 POUNDS of ice per day… and makes a cycle of ice cubes in just 7 minutes.

Super easy to use – just plug it in, add water (bottled or tap), and press start on the LED screen and you’ll have fresh ice in just a few minutes.

Has lots of storage room for ice and keeps ice frozen, too. Also has an 18 hour time to let you plan ahead to have ice cubes ready and waiting when you’ll need them.

Brookstone

Brookstone has a very cool stainless steel portable ice maker so I poked around to see if I could find a better price. (today, the better price was here)

It makes 28 pounds of ice and takes about 6 – 10 minutes to go through an ice making cycle.

Also, it makes 3 styles of ice cubes  =)

OverStock

This is a good deal on a high-quality portable maker (shown in picture below)

This portable ice cuber maker cranks out a cycle of ice cubes every 10 minutes and makes up to a POUND of ice an hour and 35 pounds of ice in a day.

Great for kitchen/home/mini-bar use or for on the go use (camping, RV, boat, etc).

It has a nice LED screen, and 18-hour timer (that’s a great feature for portable ice makers to have).

Update: That portable ice maker above just isn’t getting good reviews. We have changed our preference tothis Igloo portable ice maker – it’s much better!

Best Buy

BestBuy has a unit that is definitely worth mentioning – the Mr Freeze 26 lb Portable ice maker.

This is a great portable ice maker for boat use, camping use, and/or in your RV.

Yes, it works great for home use as well, but it is extra “portable” making it perfect for outdoor use.

Produces up to 26 pounds of ice a day and only takes a few minutes per ice cube making cycle.

This unit is also the most affordable and inexpensive portable ice maker I’ve found today.

Camping World

I was thrilled to see this deal on a teal blue colored small portable ice maker, isn’t it unique?

It’s not the fastest portable ice maker, but it gets the job done.  The size though, is what makes this the perfect portable ice maker for your RV or camper.

Update: the color options change regularly. Today I see silver/stainless steel and black units on sale on this page.

Refurbished Options

You can get a great deal on a refurbished portable ice maker here.

The deals change every day, but I’ve seen many of these ice maker deals for under $100.

Ok to Buy Refurbished?

Not only can you see a LOT of money and get a really cheap portable ice maker, if there is the “Prime” logo next to it, Amazon will have your back in the off chance something is wrong.

I have never had a problem with a Prime purchase that Amazon didn’t correct very quickly for me, so I would totally trust a refurbished appliance from them.

Which Portable Ice Maker is BEST?

I took a stroll around the internet to some trusted product comparison and reviews sites to see which portable ice maker they say is best.

Here’s what I found out…

Home Depot Says:

I took a peek to see what the good folks at Home Depot had to say.

Makes 30 pounds of ice and each ice cube cycle is complete in 7 minutes – that’ really good.

It also offers the option to create 3 different sizes of ice cubes, with the “small setting” being similar to Sonic ice.

The reviews on Amazon here are “all or nothing” star-wise – consumers either love it… or hate it.

Check current price and/or read reviews here.

Best-Sellers

If you’re looking for the best-selling and most popular portable ice makers, check this page on Amazon (updated daily).

Igloo ICE101-Black Counter Top Ice Maker, BlackSee ThisAvalon Bay AB-ICE26S Portable Ice MakerSee ThisIgloo Countertop Compact 26 lb. Portable Freestanding Ice Maker, Red (Certified Refurbished)See ThisDELLA© Stainless Steel Water Dispenser w/ Built-In Ice Maker Machine Counter Portable, 40-PoundSee ThisKnox Portable Ice Maker w/LCD Display – 2.8-Liter Water Reservoir, 3 Selectable Cube Sizes – Makes up to 27 Pounds of Ice Daily ,Stainless SteelSee ThisSunpentown IM-101 Portable Ice Maker with LCDSee This

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New Portable Ice Makers for 2023

Thre are new models and brands of portable ice makers coming out in 2023 every day.  Check this page to see the newest models available.

Portable Ice Maker Deals

 

Best Portable Ice Machine Winners This Year

Here’s the list for this year’s best portable ice machines. Feel free to click any winner below to read reviews, check for deals, and compare with other portable ice machines.

• Amazon’s Choice Winner from Igloo

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• My Personal Choice for Best Table Top Ice Maker

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• #1 Consumer’s Pick Best Countertop Ice Machine

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• Best Portable Ice Machine Consumer Reports

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• Best Portable Ice Machine for the Money Winner

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