Best Space Saving Ice Maker: Sweetcrispy Leads

The best space saving ice maker is the Sweetcrispy Countertop Ice Maker, because its 11.14" x 8.9" x 11.77" body keeps every dimension under 12 inches while still producing 9 cubes in 6 to 8 minutes. If your gap is narrower than the machine is deep, the Electactic Countertop Ice Maker Machine wins instead: 6.7 inches wide and built to sit flush. Get this choice wrong and you end up with a 15-inch appliance parked permanently on a counter you needed for chopping.

Best space saving ice maker at a glance

How I screened these space saving ice makers

I set three criteria before looking at any listing, weighted in this order.

1. Published dimensions, weighted heaviest. A machine that does not publish all three measurements cannot be planned around. Six of these seven publish a full set.
2. Stated daily output. Space is only worth giving up if the ice keeps coming. Every pick here states a figure, from 18 lbs to 35 lbs.
3. Published warranty and weight. Secondary, but they separate the listings that tell you everything from the ones that leave gaps.

Why those three, in that order? Because the constraint in this category is physical, not electrical. Every one of these runs on a standard outlet. Every one makes bullet or nugget ice. The thing that actually varies, and the thing you cannot fix after delivery, is whether the box fits the gap.

The screen cut anything over 16 inches in its longest dimension, since that is the point where a countertop machine stops being a countertop machine and starts being furniture. It also cut listings with no dimensions at all. What survived was seven, and they split cleanly: five keep every side under 12 inches, one goes narrow instead, and one runs tall.

A note on the search term. Amazon's results for a space-saving query pull in the whole compact ice maker category, not just the slimmest bodies. So treat "space saving" as your own measurement job, not a promise on the box. Measure the gap, then read the dimensions column above.

Which dimension actually decides the best space saving ice maker?

Most roundups compare daily output. That is the wrong number to lead with. Five of these seven claim 26 lbs a day, so output barely separates them at all.

Height is what decides it. The standard gap between a kitchen counter and the bottom of a wall cabinet is around 18 inches. Subtract clearance for lifting the lid and reaching a scoop in, and you have maybe 15 usable inches. The EUHOMY Countertop Ice Maker Machine with Handle stands 15.6 inches tall. The FRIGIDAIRE EFIC128AMZBLK is 14.5 inches. Both of those numbers put you into "slide it out to fill it" territory.

Compare that to the Antarctic Star at 11.2 inches and the Sweetcrispy at 11.77 inches. Those two live under a cabinet without a second thought.

The second deciding number is depth, because that is what steals your working surface. Here is the spread:

• Antarctic Star: 10.4 inches deep
• EUHOMY Nugget: 11 inches deep
• Electactic and EUHOMY bullet model: 11.4 inches deep
• Sweetcrispy: 11.1 inches deep
• Silonn: 11.6 inches deep
• Frigidaire: 12 inches deep

A standard counter is 24 to 25 inches deep. A 12-inch machine takes half of it. A 10.4-inch machine leaves you a usable strip in front.

Output only becomes the deciding factor above roughly 26 lbs a day, which in this set means the EUHOMY Nugget at 35 lbs. Below that line, pick on the tape measure.

1. Sweetcrispy Countertop Ice Maker with Scoop — Best overall

The most balanced space saving ice maker here: nothing over 12 inches, a stated 26.5 lbs a day, and the lowest price position in the set.

Best for: a standard 12-inch-deep counter with cabinets above Skip it if: your gap is under 9 inches wide

What makes this the default is that it wins on no single dimension and loses on none. At 11.14" x 8.9" x 11.77" it is the only pick in the set where all three sides land between 8.9 and 11.8 inches, so it slots in whether your constraint is width, depth or cabinet height. The Antarctic Star is shallower. The Electactic is narrower. Neither is as forgiving about which way you turn it.

Sweetcrispy states 26.5 lbs in 24 hours, the highest bullet-ice figure of the seven, and says the first 9 cubes arrive in 6 to 8 minutes. The listing describes two cube sizes, add-water and ice-full alerts, and a self-cleaning cycle, plus sub-40dB running noise. Those are the brand's claims, not measured results, but the 12.1 lb body weight is a specification, and it explains why the built-in handle is worth having.

It's also the cheapest of the seven and sells faster than all but two. The trade-off: only one seller lists it, and unlike the Silonn or either EUHOMY, no warranty term is published.

Pros:

• Every dimension under 12 inches
• Highest stated bullet output at 26.5 lbs
• Cheapest of the seven picks
• Four colours listed, including white and green
• Published weight of 12.1 lb with carry handle

Cons:

• No warranty term published
• Only one seller lists it
• Wider than the Electactic and Silonn
• Noise figure is a manufacturer claim, not a tested rating

2. Electactic Countertop Ice Maker Machine 18lbs/24H — Most versatile

At 6.7 inches wide it fits gaps no other machine in this set can reach, and the listing says it needs no side clearance.

Best for: narrow gaps between an appliance and a wall Skip it if: you need more than 18 lbs a day

This is the one to buy when your problem is a slot, not a surface. Width here is 6.7 inches, against 8.66 inches for the next narrowest, the Antarctic Star. That two-inch difference sounds trivial until you're trying to wedge a machine between a toaster and a backsplash.

Electactic pairs that with a claim worth taking seriously if it holds: the cooling system needs zero side ventilation, so the unit can sit flush against a wall or cabinet. Every other machine in this set assumes breathing room you may not have. The listing also describes an auto-drain drawer that returns melt water to the reservoir, one-button control, and self-cleaning. First ice is claimed at 6 minutes.

The price is worth noting: it's the third-cheapest here, so the narrow body is not a premium you pay for.

Two things pull it back. Output is 18 lbs a day, the lowest in the set by 8 lbs, and the body runs 14.4 inches tall, second tallest here. So you buy width at the cost of both height clearance and ice volume. It's also the slowest seller of the seven by a wide margin.

Pros:

• Narrowest in the set at 6.7 inches
• Listing claims zero side clearance needed
• Auto-drain drawer recycles melt water
• Third-cheapest of the seven
• Published weight of 12.1 lb

Cons:

• Lowest output here at 18 lbs a day
• 14.4 inches tall, tight under wall cabinets
• No warranty term published
• Sells far slower than the rest of this set

3. Silonn Ice Maker Countertop — Best for heavy use

A stated 26 lbs a day with a 1-year manufacturer warranty, at the second-cheapest price position in the set.

Best for: daily ice for a couple of drinkers who want a warranty Skip it if: you count every inch of counter depth

The Silonn SLIM21B is the pick for someone who plans to run the machine hard. It publishes more than most: model number, a 13.7 lb weight, an 8.74" x 11.6" x 11.4" footprint, and a 1-year manufacturer warranty. Only three of the seven state a warranty term at all, and this one is among the two cheapest picks here.

Silonn claims 26 lbs a day from the compressor, 1.3 lbs of basket storage, and first ice in 6 minutes. The control panel is described as three steps: fill, switch on, choose small or large cubes. A hold-for-five-seconds clean button runs the self-cleaning cycle. It's the second-fastest seller of the seven.

At 8.74 inches wide it's narrower than the Sweetcrispy, and at 11.4 inches tall it's the second-shortest here, which is the pairing that makes it work under cabinets.

The catch is depth. At 11.6 inches it is the second-deepest machine in this group, giving up more counter than the Antarctic Star's 10.4 inches. It's also the heaviest of the seven at 13.7 lb, which matters if you plan to move it between a kitchen and an RV rather than leaving it parked.

Pros:

• 1-year manufacturer warranty published
• Second-cheapest of the seven picks
• 8.74 inches wide, 11.4 inches tall
• 1.3 lbs stated basket storage
• Model number and weight both published

Cons:

• 11.6 inches deep, second-deepest here
• Heaviest pick at 13.7 lb
• Black only, no colour choice listed
• No noise figure published at all

4. Antarctic Star Countertop Ice Maker Machine — Best for quiet operation

The shallowest machine in the set at 10.4 inches, with a claimed sub-40dB running noise and a 1-year warranty.

Best for: an open-plan kitchen or a home office corner Skip it if: you want the cheapest way to 26 lbs a day

Two numbers make this one worth a look. First, 10.4 inches of depth, the smallest in the set and 1.6 inches shallower than the Frigidaire. Second, 11.2 inches of height, again the smallest here. If your constraint is a shallow counter under a low cabinet, this is the shape that fits.

Antarctic Star claims running noise below 40dB and says the motor cuts energy use by 30%. Both are marketing figures, unverified, and the Sweetcrispy makes a similar sub-40dB claim, so treat the quiet-operation label as a stated design goal rather than a measured advantage. Output is a claimed 26 lbs a day with 6-minute first ice, and the listing describes a one-touch weekly clean cycle. A 1-year warranty is published, along with the model number 58012RIMO-NJ3-BLACK.

Here's where it gets awkward. This is the second-most expensive pick in the set, and it produces the same 26 lbs as the Sweetcrispy and Silonn, both of which cost less. The compact footprint is real, but you pay for it. The listing also publishes no unit weight, so you cannot plan a shelf load or judge how easily it travels. There's no handle mentioned either.

Pros:

• Shallowest in the set at 10.4 inches
• Lowest height here at 11.2 inches
• 1-year warranty and model number published
• Claimed under 40dB operation

Cons:

• Second-most expensive for the same 26 lbs
• No unit weight published
• No carry handle described
• Energy and noise figures are unverified claims

5. EUHOMY Nugget Ice Maker Countertop — Best premium

The only nugget ice machine here, and the highest stated output at 35 lbs a day.

Best for: chewable nugget ice fans with 12.6 inches of depth Skip it if: your counter is shallow or your budget is tight

Nugget ice is a different product, not a better version of the same one. Soft, chewable, slow-melting pellets are what this machine makes, and none of the other six can do it. If that's the ice you want, the comparison stops here.

The specifications back the premium position. EUHOMY states 35 lbs a day, 9 lbs more than any bullet model in this group, and 7-minute first ice. The body is 12.6" x 11" x 9.1" in stainless steel, with a 1-year manufacturer warranty and a self-cleaning cycle described as built-in deep cleaning. Model IM013-NSI-USEH.

At 9.1 inches, the narrowest side is genuinely tight, and the 11-inch depth is second only to the Antarctic Star for counter savings. But that 12.6-inch measurement has to go somewhere, so plan the orientation before you buy.

The costs are clear. This is the most expensive pick here by a comfortable margin, it publishes no unit weight, and it's the slowest seller of the seven alongside the Electactic. Nugget machines are also more mechanically involved than bullet machines, which is worth remembering when you're weighing a single-year warranty on the priciest thing in the set.

Pros:

• Only nugget ice option in this set
• Highest stated output at 35 lbs a day
• 1-year warranty and model number published
• Stainless steel finish, 11-inch depth

Cons:

• Most expensive pick in the set
• Longest side runs 12.6 inches
• No unit weight published
• Slowest-selling of the seven

6. FRIGIDAIRE EFIC128AMZBLK Compact Countertop Ice Maker — Best upgrade

A familiar appliance name with a published 105W rating and R600a refrigerant, but the largest footprint of the seven.

Best for: buyers who want a familiar appliance brand name Skip it if: you need published weight or warranty details

Frigidaire is the one brand here most people already know, and the listing tells you two things nobody else does: rated power of 105W and R600a refrigerant. If you're calculating draw on an RV inverter or a shared circuit, that number is the only one of its kind in this set.

Output is stated at 26 lbs in 24 hours, with 9 cubes per 5 to 6 minute cycle. The listing describes a large transparent window, ice-full and add-water indicators, and a system that recycles melt water into the next batch. Model EFIC128AMZBLACK.

Then the tape measure spoils it. At 14.5" x 12" x 11", this is the deepest machine in the set at 12 inches and the second-tallest at 14.5 inches. Against the Antarctic Star's 10.4-inch depth and 11.2-inch height, the Frigidaire eats noticeably more counter and needs more headroom. For an article about saving space, that's the wrong direction.

It's also priced in the top three here while publishing no unit weight and no warranty term, where the cheaper Silonn publishes both. You're paying for the name and the power spec, not for a smaller box. That's a fair trade for some buyers. Just know which trade you're making.

Pros:

• Only pick with a published 105W rating
• R600a refrigerant stated on the listing
• Recycles melt water into the next batch
• 9 cubes per 5 to 6 minute cycle

Cons:

• Deepest in the set at 12 inches
• 14.5 inches tall, second-tallest here
• No warranty term or unit weight published
• Third-most expensive despite the largest footprint

7. EUHOMY Countertop Ice Maker Machine with Handle — Best for families

The lightest machine here at 6 lb, with a 12-month warranty, but it stands 15.6 inches tall.

Best for: a bar cart or island with room to spread out Skip it if: you have less than 15.6 inches of counter run

The number that stands out is 6 lb. Every other machine here that publishes a weight lands between 12.1 and 13.7 lb, so this EUHOMY is less than half the weight of the Silonn. Combined with the handle, that's the easiest unit in the set to carry out to a deck or lift into a camper.

EUHOMY states 26 lbs a day and 6-minute first ice, with an infrared sensor driving the ice-full indicator, a see-through window, and a self-cleaning cycle. A 12-month warranty from the purchase date is published, along with model IM001-B. The box includes handle, basket, scoop and manual. It's the fastest-selling pick of the seven.

The problem is the shape. At 15.6 inches, this is the longest dimension in the entire set, 3.6 inches more than the EUHOMY Nugget and 4.2 inches more than the Sweetcrispy. Stand it upright and it clears most wall cabinets by nothing. Lay it along the counter and it takes a full run of surface.

It also sits at a mid price position while the cheaper Sweetcrispy and Silonn both fit in less space. For an island or a bar cart, fine. For a tight kitchen, look higher up this list.

Pros:

• Lightest in the set at 6 lb
• 12-month warranty published
• Built-in handle, basket and scoop included
• Fastest-selling of these seven

Cons:

• Longest dimension here at 15.6 inches
• Costs more than two smaller picks with equal output
• No noise figure published
• Black only, no colour options listed

Do you need side clearance for a countertop ice maker?

This is the question that ruins otherwise careful measuring. A compressor throws heat, and most manuals ask for a few inches of air on each side. If yours does, an 8.74-inch machine needs closer to 14 inches of gap.

Only one listing in this set addresses it directly. Electactic claims its cooling system requires zero side ventilation and that the unit can sit flush. That's the brand's claim, and it's the reason a 6.7-inch width becomes a genuine 6.7 inches of gap rather than a number you have to pad.

For the other six, plan on clearance until the manual tells you otherwise. Practical steps before you order:

1. Measure the gap at its narrowest point, not the widest.
2. Measure the height from counter to cabinet, then subtract 3 inches for lid access.
3. Check whether the wall behind is a backsplash or an outlet plate that steals depth.
4. Add side clearance unless the listing explicitly says none is needed.

Do that and the dimensions column above tells you which of these seven actually fits. Skip it and you'll be returning something.

Bullet ice or nugget ice: which should you pick?

Six of these machines make bullet ice. One makes nugget. That's the real fork in the road.

Bullet ice is hollow-cylinder ice, fast to freeze and quick to chill a drink. It's what you get from the Sweetcrispy, Silonn, both entry EUHOMY styles, Electactic, Antarctic Star and Frigidaire. Cycle times run 5 to 8 minutes across the set.

Nugget ice is compacted pellet ice, soft enough to chew. Only the EUHOMY Nugget Ice Maker makes it, at a claimed 35 lbs a day with 7-minute first ice. EUHOMY describes it as crunchy and slow-melting.

Which one suits your kitchen?

• Cocktails and cold water: bullet ice. Faster, cheaper, more choices.
• Chewing habit or soda fountain drinks: nugget. There's one option here and it's the premium one.
• Blending or crushing: bullet ice, since the nugget machine's output already comes soft.
• Tightest possible budget: bullet ice, without question. The three cheapest picks all make it.

Cube size choice is a bullet-ice-only feature in this group. Sweetcrispy and Silonn both list small and large settings.

What more money buys in this set

Spending more here does not reliably buy you a smaller machine. That's the finding worth sitting with.

At the entry positions you get the Sweetcrispy, Silonn and Electactic. Between them: the highest stated bullet output at 26.5 lbs, a published 1-year warranty, and the narrowest body at 6.7 inches. Two of the three publish a unit weight.

In the middle sits the EUHOMY with the handle. It buys you a 6 lb body and a 12-month warranty, but costs more than the Silonn while standing 4.2 inches taller than the Sweetcrispy.

At the premium end, three machines. The Frigidaire buys a known brand name and a 105W power rating, at the largest footprint in the set. The Antarctic Star buys the shallowest and shortest body, 10.4 inches by 11.2 inches, for output that matches machines costing less. The EUHOMY Nugget buys a different ice format entirely and 35 lbs a day.

So the pattern is this: premium money buys either a capability change, meaning nugget ice, or a small dimensional edge, meaning the Antarctic Star's depth. It does not buy more ice from a bullet machine. If your budget is tight and your gap is normal, the cheapest pick here is also the most balanced one.

What these listings do not tell you

Three gaps matter when you're planning around a space saving ice maker, and no listing in this set closes all of them.

Reservoir volume. Only Silonn gives a storage figure, 1.3 lbs in the basket. Nobody states how much water the tank holds, so you cannot work out how many refills a 26 lbs day actually needs.

Drain position. Electactic describes an auto-drain drawer that returns melt water to the reservoir, and Frigidaire says unused ice is recycled into the next batch. The rest are silent on where water goes when you empty them, which matters if the machine lives away from a sink.

Verified noise. Sweetcrispy and Antarctic Star both claim under 40dB. Those are manufacturer figures with no standard behind them, and the other five publish nothing at all. If quiet is your priority, treat every noise number here as a design intent.

Also worth noting: three of the seven publish no unit weight. If the machine is going on a shelf, a bar cart or an RV counter, that's a real blank. The Sweetcrispy at 12.1 lb, Silonn at 13.7 lb and EUHOMY at 6 lb are the ones you can plan around.

The verdict

If your kitchen has a normal counter and a wall cabinet above it, buy the Sweetcrispy Countertop Ice Maker. At 11.14" x 8.9" x 11.77" it keeps every side under 12 inches, claims 26.5 lbs a day, and sits at the cheapest price position of the seven. Nothing else in this set matches that combination of small in all three directions and low cost.

If your kitchen has a slot rather than a surface, buy the Electactic Countertop Ice Maker Machine. Its 6.7-inch width is two inches narrower than anything else here, and the listing claims it needs no side ventilation, so a 7-inch gap is genuinely enough. You pay for that in output: 18 lbs a day against 26 lbs, and a 14.4-inch height that tests cabinet clearance.

The cutoff is 8.66 inches. That's the narrowest width in the set outside the Electactic, held by the Antarctic Star. If your available gap is wider than 8.66 inches plus whatever side clearance your manual asks for, take the Sweetcrispy and enjoy the extra ice. If it's narrower, the Electactic is the only machine here that will physically go in.

The Silonn's exact advantage over the Sweetcrispy is the published 1-year manufacturer warranty at nearly the same price. If that reassurance is worth 2.7 inches more width and 0.5 inches more depth, take it instead.

FAQ

Is a space saving ice maker worth it over bagged ice?

A space saving ice maker is worth it if you use ice more than a couple of times a week. These machines claim first cubes in 5 to 8 minutes and 18 to 35 lbs over 24 hours, so you stop making trips and stop clearing freezer shelves. For occasional entertaining only, bagged ice and a cooler still make more sense than giving up counter depth permanently.

How much counter space do these ice makers actually need?

The counter space these ice makers need ranges from 6.7 x 11.4 inches for the Electactic to 14.5 x 12 inches for the Frigidaire. Height matters just as much: 11.2 inches for the Antarctic Star against 15.6 inches for the EUHOMY with handle. Add side clearance unless the listing says none is required, since the compressor needs to shed heat somewhere.

Sweetcrispy or Silonn: which is the better buy?

Sweetcrispy or Silonn comes down to warranty versus footprint. Sweetcrispy is 11.14 inches wide with a stated 26.5 lbs a day and the lowest price position here, but publishes no warranty term. Silonn is 8.74 inches wide with a 1-year manufacturer warranty and a published 13.7 lb weight, at the second-cheapest position. Narrow gap, take Silonn. Cabinet clearance, take Sweetcrispy.

Do these machines work in an RV or on a boat?

These machines work in an RV if the power and the mounting hold up. Three listings mention RV or camping use directly. The Frigidaire publishes a 105W rating, the only draw figure in this set, which helps if you're on an inverter. The EUHOMY with handle weighs 6 lb, the lightest here, though its 15.6-inch length needs a long run of surface.

What is the most common mistake buying a compact ice maker?

The most common mistake buying a compact ice maker is measuring only width. Height decides whether the lid opens under a wall cabinet, and depth decides how much working surface you keep. A 14.5-inch-tall machine in an 18-inch gap leaves nowhere to reach in with a scoop. Measure all three, then subtract about 3 inches of height for lid access.

Start with the tape measure, not the product page. Note the narrowest point of your gap, the counter-to-cabinet height, and how much depth you can afford to lose, then read those three numbers against the table above. For most kitchens the Sweetcrispy is the right default, and not because it wins any single measurement: it's because it never forces you to choose which dimension to sacrifice. Small in every direction, cheapest of the seven, and it still claims the most bullet ice per day. That combination is rare, and it's why it leads.

Last updated: October 2, 2026. Product availability re-checked.

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