Updated 19 Oct 2026
Is the Igloo 26 lb Self-Cleaning Ice Maker with Handle worth it?
Yes — the best cheap ice maker.
It makes its first batch of bullet-shaped cubes in about seven minutes and up to 26 lb a day, runs quietly, has a self-cleaning mode and a handle for taking it to the patio or on a trip. The basket only holds about a pound, and like every countertop ice maker it doesn't keep ice frozen, so move the ice to the freezer if you need it later.
74%of 42 owners give it 4 or 5 stars
- First ice in about 7 minutes
- Self-cleaning
- Carry handle
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What owners say
Owners love how much ice it makes for its size, the solid cubes and how easy it is to use. Complaints are few and varied: a couple of units stopped working and a couple of handles came off.
Good to know
- The basket only holds about a pound of ice.
- Ice starts melting once it's made, so move it to the freezer.
- The cubes are small and can stick together.
From 42 buyer ratings at Home Depot (US) and Target (US), every complaint read by us, October 2026. How we do this
What they love
- Makes lots of ice for its sizeMentioned a lot
- Good, solid iceMentioned a lot
- Easy to useMentioned often
- FastMentioned often
- Easy to cleanAlso mentioned
What they complain about
Hardly any: just 11 of 42 owners gave it 3 stars or fewer, and no complaint came up often enough to list.
Get it if…
- You want extra ice cheaply.
- You'll take it outside or on trips.
Skip it if…
- You want soft nugget ice: get the Govee.
- You need a big stock of ice ready to go.
More on the Igloo 26 lb Ice Maker
How we reached this verdict
Yahoo Shopping's testers picked it as their best ice maker overall: quiet, easy to set up and self-cleaning, though the basket fills quickly. Reviewed picks it as the best portable ice maker for its handle and price, noting the small capacity.
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: Yahoo Shopping, Reviewed, Igloo (Nostalgia Products), Food Network, manufacturer specifications.
Updated 19 Oct 2026How we decide