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The Best 5Reviewed by Mike Hun·May 20, 2026

Best Portable Ice Makers

Top 5 portable ice makers reviewed and ranked.

Quick answer

Frigidaire EFIC189 is our top pick for portable ice makers — an averaged 4.6/5 across 1 published review at about $150. Runner-up: Frigidaire Gallery EFIC255 Nugget (~$580).

Read the Frigidaire EFIC189 review →$150 · Check Price on Amazon

At a glance

Tap any product for the full review
1Frigidaire EFIC189Top Score
(1 source)
$150Best for: households who want fast bullet-style ice for cocktails and water glasses
$150 · Check Price on Amazon
2Frigidaire Gallery EFIC255 Nugget
(1 source)
$580Best for: households who want chewable Sonic-style nugget ice at home
$580 · Check Price on Amazon
3Frigidaire EFIC452 Clear Ice
(1 source)
$300Best for: home bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts
$300 · Check Price on Amazon
4Magic Chef 27-Pound Portable
(1 source)
$130Best for: apartment dwellers with occasional ice needs
$130 · Check Price on Amazon
5NewAir Clearice40
(1 source)
$350Best for: party hosts and large families needing high ice volume
$350 · Check Price on Amazon
Verdict is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you click through and buy, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our ratings are sourced from independent publications, not sponsors.
Reviews aggregated from
ReviewedIcemakerspotCnn

The full ranking

How we rank →
Frigidaire EFIC189
#1 · Top Score
Best for: households who want fast bullet-style ice for cocktails and water glasses
Frigidaire EFIC189
from 1 source$150

The EFIC189 is the best-overall portable pick. Frigidaire's tested fast-batch ice maker at $150 — covers most household needs without the cost of a Magic Chef nugget machine.

Strengths
  • — First batch ready in 7 minutes — fastest in this lineup
  • — 5.5-cup water tank for ~26 lb/day
Watch-outs
  • — First 5 batches make thin cubes (avoid by leaving machine on)
  • — Bullet-shape cubes only
$150 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. Frigidaire Gallery EFIC255 Nugget →
Frigidaire Gallery EFIC255 Nugget
#2
Best for: households who want chewable Sonic-style nugget ice at home
Frigidaire Gallery EFIC255 Nugget
from 1 source$580

The EFIC255 is the nugget ice pick. Chewable nugget-style ice that the bullet models can't produce. Best for households that specifically want soft chewy ice for sodas and cocktails.

Strengths
  • — Chewable nugget ice (Sonic / Chick-fil-A style)
  • — Up to 44 lb/day capacity
Watch-outs
  • — Most expensive pick
  • — Slower first-batch than bullet machines
$580 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. Frigidaire EFIC189 →
Frigidaire EFIC452 Clear Ice
#3
Best for: home bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts
Frigidaire EFIC452 Clear Ice
from 1 source$300

The EFIC452 is the clear-cube pick. Cocktail-grade clear square cubes that the bullet models can't produce. Best for home bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts.

Strengths
  • — Clear cube ice (not cloudy like standard ice makers)
  • — Up to 40 lb/day
Watch-outs
  • — More expensive than the EFIC189
  • — Heavier and bulkier
$300 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. Frigidaire EFIC189 →
Magic Chef 27-Pound Portable
#4
Best for: apartment dwellers with occasional ice needs
Magic Chef 27-Pound Portable
from 1 source$130

The Magic Chef 27-Pound is the budget bullet pick. Slightly slower than the Frigidaire EFIC189 but $20 cheaper. Best for occasional ice needs in apartments.

Strengths
  • — Well-formed bullet cubes in 10 minutes
  • — 27 lb/day output
Watch-outs
  • — Slightly slower than Frigidaire EFIC189
  • — No drain pump
$130 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. Frigidaire EFIC189 →
NewAir Clearice40
#5
Best for: party hosts and large families needing high ice volume
NewAir Clearice40
from 1 source$350

The Clearice40 is the high-output pick. NewAir's industrial-leaning design with 11-cup water tank — appropriate for party hosts and large families. Best for users who need more ice than a typical countertop machine produces.

Strengths
  • — 11-cup water tank — largest in this lineup
  • — 40 lb/day output
Watch-outs
  • — Larger footprint than every other pick
  • — More expensive than Frigidaire EFIC189
$350 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. Frigidaire EFIC189 →

Spec comparison

5 products
SpecFrigidaire EFIC189Frigidaire Gallery EFIC255 NuggetFrigidaire EFIC452 Clear IceMagic Chef 27-Pound PortableNewAir Clearice40
Ice StyleBullet (2 sizes)NuggetClear square cubesBullet (2 sizes)—
First Batch7 min——10 min—
Daily Output26 lb44 lb40 lb27 lb40 lb

Frequently asked questions

What is the best portable ice maker?
Frigidaire EFIC189 is our top pick for portable ice makers, with an averaged rating of 4.6/5 from 1 published reviews. The EFIC189 is the best-overall portable pick. Frigidaire's tested fast-batch ice maker at $150 — covers most household needs without the cost of a Magic Chef nugget machine.
Is there a cheaper alternative worth considering?
Magic Chef 27-Pound Portable (around $130) rates 4.4/5 in our analysis. The Magic Chef 27-Pound is the budget bullet pick. Slightly slower than the Frigidaire EFIC189 but $20 cheaper. Best for occasional ice needs in apartments.
How does Verdict rank these products?
Every rating on Verdict is the numerical average of scores published by independent review sites, YouTube reviewers, and Reddit buyer reports. No editor adjusts the order — the ranking is whatever the source data produces. See our methodology page for the full process.
When was this guide last updated?
This guide was last re-checked in May 2026. We re-run our research pipeline for each category on a rolling basis so prices and rankings reflect current market reality.

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