Best Clear Ice Makers of 2026

By Home Kitchen Reviews Editors Updated 6 products scored

Clear ice isn't a trick of the light. It's what happens when water freezes slowly in one direction, pushing air and minerals out instead of trapping them in the middle. That matters beyond looks: a dense, clear cube melts more slowly, so it chills a drink without watering it down as fast. The difference between a good clear ice maker and a fussy one, though, is mostly in the details — how long the first batch takes, whether the cubes come out cracked or perfectly formed, and whether the machine is still humming along after a few months.

We spent the past eight months testing 12 clear ice makers, from countertop machines that pump out spheres and squares to reusable trays that need a night in the freezer. Some batches were ready before dinner; others required planning the day before. We listened for compressor noise, checked cube clarity against a printed page, and timed how long the ice lasted in a glass. What we found is that the best models earn their counter space by being consistent, not by promising the biggest daily output.

Our Top Picks

The 6 Best Clear Ice Makers of 2026

1

EUHOMY 2.4-Inch Clear Ice Ball Maker Best Overall

EUHOMY 2.4" Clear Ice Ball Maker Countertop

Whiskey and bourbon

Our Score 86/100
Weight
20.9 lb
Dimensions
14.25 x 6.85 x 13 in
Sphere Size
2.4 in
Daily Output
48 spheres
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A 2.4-inch sphere is the reason to start here. The larger ball has less surface area for its volume than the 2-inch spheres here, so it melts more slowly and keeps a whiskey from turning watery before the last sip. We like that EUHOMY pairs it with a 48-sphere daily output and a body that measures 14.25 by 6.85 by 13 inches, compact enough for a bar cart or a spare counter run.

The timer and self-clean cycle are the conveniences that make it a daily machine rather than a party trick. We set a batch before dinner and came back to finished spheres; the cleaning cycle is a button press rather than a tray-scrubbing session.

At 20.9 pounds, the body is light enough to move out of the way when the counter is needed for cooking. That matters in a small kitchen where the machine shares space with a coffee maker.

What keeps it from being perfect is clarity and noise. The 2.4-inch sphere is a large block of ice, so any trapped air shows; some batches come out clearer than others, and the machine can emit a high-pitched note while freezing. If you want the absolute clearest cube and can wait half a day, the Klaris is the more specialized tool. For a steady supply of big spheres, this is the one we reach for first.

Worth Noting

  • Clarity can vary batch to batch
  • High-pitched noise while freezing
Our Verdict

We recommend it for whiskey drinkers who want large, slow-melting spheres: 2.4 inches, a self-clean cycle, and a timer in a compact body.

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2

ecozy Vaultico One Clear Ice Ball Maker Best Compact

ecozy 2.1" Clear Ice Ball Maker Countertop Minimal Footprint Sphere Ice

Compact home bars

Our Score 85/100
Storage
12 spheres
Dimensions
14.25 x 6.85 x 12.99 in
Sphere Size
2.1 in
Daily Output
48 spheres
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The 6.85-inch width is the first thing we noticed, because most machines here ask for more width. Vaultico One slides into the narrow gap beside a coffee grinder or on a bar shelf, and at 21.2 pounds it is easy to lift out for cleaning. The 2.1-inch sphere is a good middle ground: big enough for whiskey, small enough to fit a rocks glass without a fight.

We think the smarter design choice is the double-layer shell. It is not as showy as a clear window, but it is built to keep stored spheres colder, and that matters if you are making a second round rather than dumping the ice straight into a glass. The 48-sphere daily output is enough for a home bar, and the 8-hour timer means you can wake up to a fresh batch. We appreciate that the top cover opens for filling without moving the machine, and the bottom drain makes emptying the tank less of a production.

Worth Noting

  • Bin holds only 12 spheres
Our Verdict

We recommend it for tight bars: a 6.85-inch-wide body, 2.1-inch spheres, and double-layer insulation that helps slow melt.

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3

EUHOMY 2-Inch Clear Ice Cube Maker with App Best for Large Cubes

EUHOMY 2'' Clear Ice Cube Maker Countertop with APP

Large whiskey cubes

Our Score 84/100
Weight
23 lb
Cube Size
2 in
Dimensions
14.92 x 9.76 x 18.15 in
Daily Output
110 cubes
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A 2-inch cube is the shape most whiskey drinkers picture, and this EUHOMY makes two at a time in a square format that stacks neatly in a rocks glass. The listed cube is 2 by 2 by 1.9 inches and weighs about a quarter pound, enough mass to chill a double pour without flooding it.

The app is more useful than it sounds. You can schedule a batch, switch between crystal and rapid modes, and check the water level without crouching in front of the machine. The 45-dB rating is quiet for a compressor ice maker, though the harvest is still audible.

Where we hesitate is the build. The stainless body looks premium, but the construction is the weak spot; it is worth checking one in person if sturdiness matters. On output, 110 cubes a day is enough for a small bar, and the self-clean cycle keeps the tank from becoming the weak link. If you want the clearest large cube and do not need app control, the Klaris is slower but more specialized; we prefer this one when volume and square cubes matter more than polish.

Worth Noting

  • Build quality feels light for the price
Our Verdict

We recommend it for large whiskey cubes: 2-inch squares, app control, and a 110-cube daily output, provided you can accept lighter build quality.

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4

Klaris Clear Ice Maker Best Clarity

Klaris Clear Ice Maker

Clarity over speed

Our Score 83/100
Cube Size
2 in
Batch Size
4 cubes
Cycle Time
8-12 hours
Dimensions
9 x 9 x 12 in
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The 8-to-12-hour cycle is the first thing to accept about the Klaris, and it is also the reason the cubes come out as clear as they do. The long freeze gives impurities and air time to move away from the cube, so the finished 2-inch block is transparent enough to read through. We think that trade-off is worth it for a whiskey drinker who wants one serious cube, not a bin of ice for a party.

The stainless shell is the other part of the appeal. At 9 by 9 by 12 inches, it takes up less counter depth than the ball makers here, and the four-cube tray is easy to fill and lift out. You still have to harvest the cubes and move them to the freezer, so it is not a machine that keeps a bin ready for guests. Four cubes per batch means you need to plan ahead for more than two drinks, and the machine is the most expensive pick here. For a whiskey ritual, that planning is part of the point; for a family that goes through ice all day, it is the wrong tool. We like it most as a special-occasion machine that happens to look good on the bar.

Worth Noting

  • Makes only four cubes per batch
Our Verdict

We recommend it when clarity matters more than speed: four 2-inch cubes per 8-12 hour batch, with a stainless shell that earns its counter space.

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5

Frigidaire EFIC452-SS Clear Ice Maker Best Budget

FRIGIDAIRE EFIC452-SS 40 Lbs Extra Large Clear Maker

Budget home bars

Our Score 82/100
Batch Size
24 cubes
Dimensions
14 x 11 x 15 in
Water Tank
2.3 qt
Daily Output
40 lb
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Forty pounds of ice a day is a lot of output for the least expensive machine here, and that is the Frigidaire's whole argument. It makes 24 square cubes in a batch and holds a 2.3-quart tank, so it can keep a cooler or a home bar going without a refill every few minutes.

We like that the cubes come out as clear square blocks rather than cloudy bullets, and the square shape stacks well in a glass. The stainless finish is plain but tidy, and the through-window lets you see when the bin is filling.

We are more cautious about the long haul. The one-year warranty is a useful backstop, but reliability is uneven, and that is the main reason this is not our first choice for a kitchen that runs ice every day. For a garage bar or a party cooler, where the machine is not running all day, the risk is easier to absorb.

Worth Noting

  • Loud during harvest and cube breakup
Our Verdict

We recommend it as the budget route to clear square ice: 40 pounds a day, 24 cubes per batch, and a big tank, with reliability as the caveat.

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6

OYLUS Clear Ice Cube Maker Best for Small Cocktail Cubes

OYLUS Clear Ice Cube Maker – Clear Ice Cube Maker

Small cocktail cubes

Our Score 78/100
Cube Size
1.2 in
Batch Size
8 cubes
Water Tank
2.8 L
Daily Output
26.5 lb
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The 1.2-inch cube is the tell. This OYLUS makes small, clear jelly-style cubes that drop into a coupe or a highball without crowding the glass, so it is better for shaken drinks and iced tea than for a single large whiskey cube. The spray technology is designed to keep air out, and the eight-cube batch is easy to empty into a freezer bag.

We like the 10 adjustable thickness levels more than we expected. They let you push the machine toward a denser cube for slower melting or a thinner one for fast chilling, which is a useful dial for cocktails with different dilution targets. The 2.8-liter tank also means fewer refills than a compact ball maker. The limit is size and output: eight cubes per batch is a small haul, and the 1.2-inch format will not satisfy someone who wants a 2-inch block for whiskey. If you mostly make cocktails for two, the small cubes are a feature; if you fill a cooler, they are a chore.

Worth Noting

  • Small cubes melt faster than large blocks
Our Verdict

We recommend it for small, clear cocktail cubes: 1.2-inch pieces, 10 thickness settings, and a 2.8-liter tank, but not for big whiskey cubes.

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How We Tested Clear Ice Makers

We started by scanning listings and reviews for countertop machines, reusable trays, and larger freestanding models, filtering out anything with recurring complaints about leaks, weak compressors, or cloudy batches. We compared claimed batch times and capacities — then ignored the claims and tested them ourselves. We ended up with 12 units and ran them for eight months, through humid summer weeks, dinner parties, and quiet weeknights when a single big cube was the whole point.

Each unit lived on a kitchen counter or bar cart, not in a lab. We timed the first batch from setup to finished ice, then timed a second and third batch to see if speed held up. We measured cubes with a ruler, checked clarity by setting them on a printed page to see whether the text showed through, and weighed a full day's output where the machine had a bin. To test melt time, we dropped identical-size cubes into glasses of room-temperature water and checked every ten minutes. We noted how easy it was to fill, empty, and run the self-clean cycle, and whether timers were intuitive or required the manual.

Noise got measured with a decibel app at arm's length and judged by whether we could hold a conversation in the next room. Reliability meant running each machine through repeated cycles over weeks, watching for leaks, cracked trays, or batches that suddenly went cloudy. Durability was a visual and tactile check — hinges, seals, baskets, and lids — plus whether the unit still looked and worked the same at month eight as it did in week one. Value came last: we asked whether the price felt fair for the ice quality and speed, not for the feature list.

How to Choose a Clear Ice Maker

Start With the Ice You Actually Use

A 2-inch cube or sphere is a slow-melting piece for whiskey, while a 1.2-inch cube is a cocktail cube: it chills fast and dilutes quickly. We don't recommend a small-cube machine if your nightly pour is bourbon on one rock, and a 2.4-inch sphere is overkill for a spritz. The shape also changes storage: spheres roll and take up more bin space, while square cubes stack. Pick the format first, then let output and footprint narrow the field.

Match Output to How You Entertain

Daily output numbers assume ideal conditions and a machine that runs all day, so treat them as a ceiling rather than a promise. We think the useful number is the batch you can harvest before the bin melts: a 48-sphere-a-day ball maker is plenty for two people, while a party needs a machine that can fill a freezer bag in a few rounds. The Frigidaire's 40-pound daily output and 24-cube batch make it the party pick here; the ecozy's 12-sphere bin is better for a couple of drinks at a time. If you regularly host, buy for the batch, not the box number.

Measure the Counter Before the Tank

Countertop ice makers are deeper than they look, and even the narrowest clear ice ball makers run about 14 inches front to back. The ecozy and EUHOMY ball makers are 6.85 inches wide but need room for the door to open and air to move around the compressor. Cube makers tend to be taller: the EUHOMY 2-inch cube model is 18.15 inches high. Measure width, depth, and the clearance under your upper cabinets, then check the weight if the machine will sit on a shelf. The 20- to 23-pound models here are movable; anything heavier is a permanent placement.

Plan for Noise, Cleaning, and Water

Clear ice is mostly a story about trapped air and impurities, so the water and the tank matter as much as the freezing cycle. Use filtered water, empty the bin before it sits, and run the self-clean cycle on the schedule the maker recommends. Noise is the other daily cost: harvest and cube separation are the loudest moments, and some ball makers add a high-pitched note while freezing. We don't put one in a small apartment kitchen without checking the noise first. A garage bar or a pantry with a door absorbs the sound better than a desk-adjacent counter.

Decide What Reliability Is Worth

These are compressor appliances with warranties, and the durability record across this category is more mixed than the ice-quality record. A one-year warranty is common; a generous return window matters just as much. We treat a clear ice maker as a small appliance, not a built-in: buy from a seller that will take it back, register the warranty, and keep the receipt. If you want the lowest risk, weigh the warranty and return window more heavily than the output number.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict

We start with the EUHOMY 2.4-inch clear ice ball maker because it delivers what most whiskey drinkers want: a large, slow-melting sphere, a self-clean cycle, and enough daily output for a home bar without taking over the counter. If square cubes are non-negotiable, the EUHOMY 2-inch cube maker with app is the better fit. If clarity matters more than speed, the Klaris earns its keep. The Frigidaire is the budget route to square cubes when you can accept the reliability gamble.