You don't need to spend $500 for good ice. These four machines all cost under $300 and cover both nugget and clear ice.
- Best nugget under $300Frigidaire Gallery EFIC255About $260
- Best clear under $300NewAir ClearIce40$279.99 list
- Cheapest clearFrigidaire EFIC452About $150
- Cheapest nuggetEuhomy Nugget Ice Maker (34 lb)About $160
Side by side
| Model | Price | Rated output | Ice bin | Water | Noise | App | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frigidaire Gallery EFIC255 | About $260 | 44 lb a day | 3 lb | Built-in reservoir | Louder than GE (not published) | None | See Frigidaire |
| NewAir ClearIce40 | $279.99 list | 40 lb a day | Insulated bin | Built-in reservoir | Not published | None | 2 years |
| Frigidaire EFIC452 | About $150 | 40 lb a day | 2.4 lb | Built-in reservoir | About 46 dB | None | 2 years |
| Euhomy Nugget Ice Maker (34 lb) | About $160 | 34 lb a day | About 4 cups | Built-in reservoir | About 65 dB | None | See Euhomy |
Ice makers are rated in cool test conditions. In a warm kitchen, plan for noticeably less. Our ice calculator on the homepage assumes about 75% of the rating.
Frigidaire Gallery EFIC255
- Price
- About $260
- Rated output
- 44 lb a day
- Ice bin
- 3 lb
- Water
- Built-in reservoir
- Noise
- Louder than GE (not published)
- App
- None
Real nugget ice, rated at 44 lb a day, for about $260. It's louder than premium machines and has no app, but nothing else under $300 makes this much nugget ice.
What we like
- 44 lb a day
- 3 lb bin
What to know
- Louder
- Mixed long-term reliability reports
NewAir ClearIce40
- Price
- $279.99 list
- Rated output
- 40 lb a day
- Ice bin
- Insulated bin
- Water
- Built-in reservoir
- Noise
- Not published
- App
- None
Clear cubes about every seven minutes, a 2-year warranty and an insulated bin, at $279.99 list and often less on sale.
What we like
- 2-year warranty
- Fast batches
What to know
- No self-cleaning cycle
Frigidaire EFIC452
- Price
- About $150
- Rated output
- 40 lb a day
- Ice bin
- 2.4 lb
- Water
- Built-in reservoir
- Noise
- About 46 dB
- App
- None
About $150 for clear square cubes in two sizes, rated at 40 lb a day, with a 2-year warranty.
What we like
- About $150
- Two cube sizes
What to know
- Shutoff can jam on a stray cube
Euhomy Nugget Ice Maker (34 lb)
- Price
- About $160
- Rated output
- 34 lb a day
- Ice bin
- About 4 cups
- Water
- Built-in reservoir
- Noise
- About 65 dB
- App
- None
About $160 for nugget ice in a light, portable machine. It's loud, so it suits a garage bar or office better than a kitchen.
What we like
- About $160
- Portable
What to know
- About 65 dB
Questions
What do I give up under $300?
Mostly quiet operation, app control and a side tank. Ice quality is close; noise and convenience are where premium machines earn their price.
