Quick Answer: The EdgeStar IB250SS is the best undercounter ice maker in 2026 — up to 50 lbs a day of clear, crescent-shaped ice, ~25 lbs of storage, and a front-venting build that fits a standard 15-inch cabinet. If you want the simplest install with no drain required, choose the Whynter UIM-155 instead.
An undercounter ice maker connects to a water line and lives in a cabinet, bar, or outdoor kitchen — giving you a serious, always-full ice bin without a countertop appliance in the way. Because these are the priciest and most permanent ice makers, install type and reliability matter as much as output. We ranked the leading 2026 models on ice production, ease of install, and long-term durability.
Our top undercounter ice maker picks at a glance
| Ice Maker | Best for | Ice/day | Drain? | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EdgeStar IB250SS | Best overall | ~50 lbs | Yes | ★★★★★ |
| Whynter UIM-155 | Easiest install | ~12 lbs | No | ★★★★☆ |
| NewAir ClearIce40 | Best clear cube | ~40 lbs | Yes | ★★★★☆ |
| EdgeStar IB120SS | Best compact | ~12 lbs | No | ★★★★☆ |
| GE Profile Opal 2.0 | Best nugget (no line) | ~38 lbs | No line | ★★★★★ |
1. EdgeStar IB250SS — Best Overall
EdgeStar IB250SS Built-In Ice Maker
- Makes restaurant-quality, crystal-clear crescent cubes — up to 50 lbs a day.
- Stores about 25 lbs and fits a standard 15-inch built-in cabinet with front venting.
- Can be built-in or freestanding; one of the highest-rated residential units around.
- Needs a gravity drain (or drain pump) and a water line — plan the plumbing.
The EdgeStar IB250SS is the undercounter unit we’d put in most homes. It combines high daily output, generous storage, and clear cocktail-grade crescent ice in a 15-inch footprint that slots into a cabinet or stands alone. If you have a spot for a drain and water line, nothing else in this class balances capacity and quality as well.
2. Whynter UIM-155 — Easiest Install (No Drain)
Whynter UIM-155 Undercounter Ice Maker
- Drainless design recycles meltwater — only a water line and outlet needed.
- The simplest built-in install at the lowest entry point in the category.
- Lower output (~12 lbs/day, ~6 lbs storage); watch long-term reliability.
If your cabinet has no floor drain, the Whynter UIM-155 is the answer. It recycles meltwater internally, so you skip the hardest part of an undercounter install. Output and storage are modest, and some owners report units failing after a few years, but for a low-fuss built-in in a bar or kitchen island, it’s the path of least resistance.
3. NewAir ClearIce40 — Best Clear Cube
NewAir ClearIce40 Undercounter Ice Maker
- Produces slow-frozen, crystal-clear gourmet cubes ideal for cocktails.
- Roughly 40 lbs/day output with a stainless, built-in-ready cabinet.
- A strong middle ground between the high-output EdgeStar and drainless Whynter.
For anyone who cares about how the ice looks in the glass, the NewAir ClearIce40 delivers slow-frozen, perfectly clear cubes — the kind that melt slowly and don’t cloud a cocktail. It sits between our top two picks on both output and price, making it a great choice for a home bar.
4. EdgeStar IB120SS — Best Compact
EdgeStar IB120SS Compact Ice Maker
- Slim 12-inch-class footprint for tight cabinets and small bars.
- Drainless operation keeps installation simple.
- Lower capacity, but perfect where space — not volume — is the priority.
When a full 15-inch unit won’t fit, the EdgeStar IB120SS squeezes a built-in ice maker into a narrower cabinet. It’s drainless and easy to live with — the right call for compact kitchens, RVs with a proper hookup, or a small wet bar.
5. GE Profile Opal 2.0 — Best Nugget (No Water Line)
GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker
- Not truly built-in, but the best way to get soft nugget ice near your counter with zero plumbing.
- Reservoir-fed with an optional side tank; Wi-Fi scheduling.
- Choose this if you want chewable ice and don't want to run a water line.
True undercounter machines make cube or crescent ice, not nuggets. If chewable nugget ice is what you’re after but you can’t (or don’t want to) plumb a built-in unit, the countertop Opal 2.0 is the workaround — see our best nugget ice maker guide for the full breakdown.
How to choose an undercounter ice maker
- Drain vs. drainless: This is the biggest install decision. Drainless units (Whynter, EdgeStar IB120) only need a water line and outlet; gravity-drain units (EdgeStar IB250) need a floor drain or add-on pump but produce far more ice.
- Built-in vs. freestanding rating: Only front-venting units can sit flush in a cabinet. Never enclose a freestanding-only model — it will overheat.
- Ice output & storage: 12-50 lbs/day. Match it to how much ice you actually go through; the bin is not a freezer and will slowly melt if unused.
- Ice style: Crescent cubes (EdgeStar) chill and pour well; slow-frozen clear cubes (NewAir) look best in cocktails; nugget requires a countertop unit.
- Dimensions: Measure cabinet width, depth, and height plus clearance for the water line and drain. Standard built-ins are ~15 inches wide.
The bottom line
The EdgeStar IB250SS is the best undercounter ice maker for most homes — big output, clear crescent ice, and a true built-in fit. Pick the Whynter UIM-155 for the easiest drainless install, or the NewAir ClearIce40 if crystal-clear cocktail cubes are the goal.