You finally get the family room quiet, the movie starts, and your ice maker kicks into a rattle that you can hear from the couch. If that's you, a quiet countertop ice maker is worth shopping for on purpose. Here are the 4 best quiet countertop ice maker picks in 2026, chosen from what thousands of buyers say about noise, ice quality and daily hassle. We didn't personally test them, and no brand gives a decibel number we'd trust, so we leaned on review patterns instead.
What to Look For in a Quiet Countertop Ice Maker
Know what makes the noise. Most of the sound is a compressor hum plus the clunk of ice dropping into the basket. Every model below makes bullet-shaped ice with a compressor, so expect a steady hum and a clatter when a batch lands. None of them are silent. Some listings say "ultra quiet" without proof, so treat that as marketing.
Where it sits matters. A unit on a hard counter in a small kitchen sounds louder than one on a rubber mat near the other side of the room. Put it on a folded towel or a thin silicone mat and leave a few inches of space around the vents.
Check the water tank and basket. These machines make about 26 pounds a day, but the basket only holds around a pound or so. You'll refill the tank and empty the basket often. If you host a lot, plan to move ice to the freezer, because none of these keep ice frozen.
Look for a real self-clean button and a drain plug. Mineral buildup makes machines louder and the ice cloudy. A one-button clean cycle and an easy way to drain the tank save you a chore.
The 4 Best Quiet Countertop Ice Makers in 2026
1. Silonn Countertop Ice Maker (26 lbs a Day)
Best for: most kitchens, and anyone who wants the model the most people have already bought.
This is a compact bullet-ice maker that makes 9 cubes in about 6 minutes and up to 26 pounds in 24 hours. It comes with a scoop and a basket, and you can pick a small or large cube.
What makes it stand out: It has tens of thousands of reviews at 4.3 stars, which is a lot of real-world feedback on a $60-100 machine. The one-button self-clean cycle is easy, and it comes in several colors.
Good to know: The 6-minute time is the best case. The listing's own comparison table says 6 to 8 minutes. Silonn sells several versions, so check the model before you order. Warranty is one year.
2. Igloo Automatic Self-Cleaning Countertop Ice Maker
Best for: people who want a handle, color choices and a simple LED panel.
Igloo makes 26 pounds a day, with 9 cubes ready in about 7 minutes. It has a carry handle, an LED panel that tells you when to add water or when the basket is full, and a scoop and basket in the box.
What makes it stand out: It's easy to move. You can carry it to the sink to fill it, and the white, black, aqua, red and pink options look better on a counter than a plain gray box. It has over 7,000 reviews at 4.2 stars.
Good to know: The basket holds about 1.25 pounds, so it fills fast. Listings show different tank sizes depending on the version, and one year is the stated warranty.
3. Frigidaire EFIC123 Compact Countertop Ice Maker
Best for: small spaces and shoppers who want a known appliance brand.
This Frigidaire is about 12.5 inches tall and 8.7 inches wide, and it makes up to 26 pounds of bullet ice a day in two sizes. There's an LED panel with ice-full and add-water alerts, a see-through window, a drain plug and a scoop.
What makes it stand out: The drain plug makes cleaning easier than on models where you have to tip the whole machine. It has around 3,900 reviews at 4.3 stars.
Good to know: The listing says it won't keep ice frozen, so move it to the freezer. The stainless and black-stainless listings show different tank sizes and refrigerant details, so read the one you're buying. Warranty is one year parts and labor.
4. Frigidaire EFIC103 With Over-Sized Ice Bucket
Best for: people who want a bigger bucket and a retro look.
The EFIC103 is a 26-pound-a-day machine with a larger ice bucket, a self-cleaning function and a 120-watt motor. It measures about 11.6 by 8.7 by 11.4 inches and comes in stainless, black, red and aqua.
What makes it stand out: The bigger bucket means fewer trips to empty it. More than 5,500 buyers have rated it, and it's the one with the most color choices.
Good to know: At 4.1 stars it's the lowest rated of the four, and we'd put it last. It's also the most expensive of the group. Pick it if you want the bucket or the color, not for the lowest noise.
How to Keep Your Ice Maker Quiet
- Set it on a level spot. A wobbly counter makes the hum louder.
- Put a thin silicone mat or folded towel under it.
- Leave a few inches of room around the vents so the fan doesn't work harder.
- Run the self-clean cycle every few weeks, more often with hard water.
- Use filtered water if yours is hard. Less scale means less strain on the pump.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are countertop ice makers loud?
Does a countertop ice maker keep ice frozen?
How long does it take to make ice?
How often should I clean it?
Keep Reading
- Frigidaire ice makers compared
- GE ice makers, including nugget models
- Counter-friendly air fryer toaster ovens for small kitchens
Final Thoughts
We'd buy the Silonn first. It has the most reviews by far, a good rating, and a simple clean cycle. If you want a handle and a color that matches your kitchen, the Igloo is the one. If counter space is tight, the Frigidaire EFIC123 is the slimmer pick (see our Frigidaire ice maker roundup for more).
The EFIC103 is for people who want the bigger bucket. And if you're after soft, chewable nugget ice instead of bullet ice, that's a different kind of machine, covered in our GE ice maker post. Those cost a lot more.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Here's how we pick products.
