If you frequently forget to keep your old-school plastic ice trays topped up, having a refrigerator that can cool your drink at the press of a button is a huge relief. This is far from a rare sentiment: a built-in ice maker is seen as a must-have for a large segment of prospective fridge buyers. That said, not all refrigerator ice makers are alike: for instance, in-fridge setups are convenient for cooling individual drinks, but in-freezer systems are generally less failure-prone, and are better suited for making large amounts of ice. Beyond that, the best refrigerators with ice makers should also excel at simply being a fridge, with enough capacity to store all your groceries, no overly cold or warm spots, and well-sealed produce drawers to keep fresh fruit and veggies from wilting.
We've bought and tested over 35 refrigerators, and these are our recommendations for the best refrigerators with ice makers, based on overall performance and capacity. If you're interested in learning more about refrigerator ice makers, check out our buyer's guide at the bottom of this article, or, for a more thorough overview, our entire article on the topic. If you're looking for other recommendations, see our picks for the best French door refrigerators, the best counter-depth refrigerators, and the best refrigerator brands.
We've tested over 35 refrigerators. We purchase ourselves each unit independently from major retailers, just like you, to keep our reviews free of brand influence. Each refrigerator undergoes the same tests to measure objective metrics such as temperature uniformity, ice making, produce preservation, parts availability, and actual storage capacity, so you can easily compare results.
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Best Refrigerator With Ice Maker
Ice Maker TypeTwist-Tray24-Hour Ice Production1,472 g (3.25 lbs)Max Ice Maker Capacity4,328 g (9.54 lbs)Ice MakerFreezer CompartmentEveryday Use8.1Refrigerator Capacity7.1Freezer Capacity6.7See all our test resultsIce Making8.2The Bosch 800 Series B36CT80SNS is the best refrigerator with an ice maker that we've tested. This high-end 36" unit boasts an impressively effective ice-making system, with a single in-freezer twist-tray style ice maker that can produce more than three pounds of ice per day. If you want to serve a larger crowd, it's best to wait until the ice tray is completely full; it can hold just under 10 pounds of ice, enough for larger gatherings. In terms of performance, temperatures in both cabinets are very consistent, so you don't need to be overly diligent when unpacking your groceries. It does a great job of keeping fresh produce crisp, especially within the well-sealed VitaFresh drawers. That strong performance and very high price are a result of its sophisticated cooling system, which features separate evaporators and separate compressors for the fridge and freezer. Bosch's service network is far-reaching, and part availability for this model is generally reliable, so you shouldn't be stuck with, say, a non-functional ice maker if something does go wrong.
The main weakness here is interior storage space: all Bosch 800 models are only available in counter-depth sizing, which severely limits just how much stuff you can fit inside, especially when compared to other 36" standard-depth refrigerators. The large ice tray in the freezer also takes up quite a bit of room. At the very least, its interior can be extensively reconfigured to fit your needs, with split, movable shelving in the fridge, plenty of alternative shelf positions, and even two movable tubs and a bottle holder that can provide additional storage at the back of the cabinet.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Refrigerator With Ice Maker
Ice Maker TypeEjector-Style And Twist-Tray24-Hour Ice Production3,090 g (6.81 lbs)Max Ice Maker Capacity5,805 g (12.80 lbs)Ice MakerFreezer Compartment & Refrigerator DoorEveryday Use7.3Refrigerator Capacity8.9Freezer Capacity7.5See all our test resultsIce Making9.5If you don't have a real need for the Bosch 800 Series B36CT80SNS's high-performance dual-evaporator/dual-compressor cooling system and would prefer to spend less on a fridge that offers more room and better ice-making performance, check out the Samsung RF32CG5400SR. This 36" standard-depth French door unit features three separate ice makers, one being an ejector-style unit in the fridge door and the other two being twist-tray units in the freezer. One freezer ice maker produces fast-melting 'ice bites' for quickly cooling drinks, the other more conventional cubes. This setup results in a very high production rate, with the fridge as a whole able to produce nearly 7 pounds of ice in a 24-hour period. The combined capacity of the fridge and freezer ice trays is nearly 13 pounds, enough to chill drinks at a backyard barbecue without buying a big bag of ice. It's worth noting that this setup is rather complex; ice makers are among the most failure-prone components in modern refrigerators, and having three of them introduces many potential failure points.
As a standard-depth 36" fridge, interior storage space is pretty substantial. There's more than enough room to fit multiple large casserole dishes inside, and you can adjust its two main shelves to store taller bottles. That said, the bump-out for the combined water/ice dispenser takes up a lot of room. In terms of performance, this model can't really compete with the pricier Bosch 800 Series B36CT80SNS: the Samsung uses a far simpler single-evaporator, single-compressor cooling system and does a worse job of keeping produce crisp. Temperatures along its door bins are much higher than in the rest of the cabinet, to the point where you should only use them to chill shelf-stable items like unopened drinks. Serviceability also isn't a strong point, with an inconsistent supply of spare parts and a service network that thins dramatically in more rural US states.
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Best Mid-Range Refrigerator With Ice Maker
Ice Maker TypeTwist-Tray24-Hour Ice Production1,637 g (3.61 lbs)Max Ice Maker Capacity3,655 g (8.06 lbs)Ice MakerFreezer CompartmentEveryday Use8.0Refrigerator Capacity8.6Freezer Capacity7.0See all our test resultsIce Making8.2The Samsung Bespoke RF30BB6200QL is the best fridge with an ice maker at a mid-range price point we've tested, especially if you aren't as concerned about producing ice quickly and don't need quite as much on hand. While this unit's two side-by-side in-freezer ice makers can't produce as much ice as the Samsung RF32CG5400SR's trio of ice makers, this fridge is still sufficient for most families, with a max capacity of just over 8 pounds in its ice tray. In-freezer ice makers also present fewer failure points than the RF32CG5400SR's additional in-door unit, which requires supplemental insulation from the warmer fridge cabinet to produce ice. Beyond that, it's a better overall performer: unlike the pricier RF32CG5400SR, this fridge has a dual-evaporator cooling system, which is something of a rarity at this price point and helps ensure produce stays crisper for longer. Temperatures in the fridge cabinet are pretty consistent, and there's plenty of room inside, plus two rows of produce drawers to keep things organized.
Unfortunately, this fridge shares a common weakness with the RF32CG5400SR: Samsung's network of authorized service providers is somewhat thin in some US states. While its spare-parts supply is a little more consistent than that of the RF32CG5400SR, you might still be stuck waiting for a repair if something goes wrong.
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Best Budget Refrigerator With Ice Maker
Ice Maker TypeTwist-Tray24-Hour Ice Production1,499 g (3.30 lbs)Max Ice Maker Capacity3,775 g (8.32 lbs)Ice MakerFreezer CompartmentEveryday Use7.2Refrigerator Capacity8.2Freezer Capacity7.8See all our test resultsIce Making8.1The best budget refrigerator we've tested that delivers strong ice-making performance is the Frigidaire FRSS2623AS. This side-by-side model features a high-capacity ice tray with room for more than eight pounds of ice, enough to cool drinks at a fairly busy backyard gathering. Better yet, the ice maker is built into the freezer door, minimizing complexity and potential failure points compared to an in-fridge arrangement. Unfortunately, you do lose out on performance compared to the more expensive Samsung Bespoke RF30BB6200QL; the Frigidaire's single-evaporator cooling system means that cold, dry air is shared across the freezer and fridge. This dry environment causes fresh produce with a high water content, such as celery or lettuce, to wilt quickly.
On the upside, this refrigerator delivers outstanding temperature uniformity in the freezer, so you can store frozen items conveniently without worrying about inconsistent freezing or freezer burn. The refrigerator compartment also provides impressive capacity. The freezer's capacity is very good, but the ice maker occupies a significant amount of space in the upper third.
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Best Cheap Refrigerator With Ice Maker
Ice Maker TypeEjector-Style24-Hour Ice Production2,457 g (5.42 lbs)Max Ice Maker Capacity3,405 g (7.51 lbs)Ice MakerFreezer CompartmentEveryday Use7.3Refrigerator Capacity7.4Freezer Capacity7.2See all our test resultsIce Making8.7If you're looking to spend as little as possible on a fridge for making ice, the LG LTCS20020S is worth a look. Like the overwhelming majority of cheap top-freezer models, this unit typically isn't sold with an ice maker pre-installed. Instead, you'll need to purchase the LK65C ice maker separately and plug it into the freezer yourself. Once that's done however, this ejector-style ice maker delivers excellent overall performance given its relatively small size, with a daily production rate of over five pounds of ice and an ice tray with an ice capacity of over 7.5 pounds, so you shouldn't run out during a medium-sized gathering, though serving drinks at bigger parties will likely necessitate grabbing an extra bag of ice for peace of mind.
Compared to the pricier models on this list, like the Frigidaire FRSS2623AS, this one is mainly only suited to smaller households of two or possibly three individuals, especially if any one of them is an avid home cook; its 30" width will struggle to fit larger quantities of meal-prep containers or bulkier casserole trays. That said, it does a decent job of keeping fresh produce crisp when stored in its drawers, and, aside from the warmer fridge door bins, temperatures inside the fridge and freezer are pretty uniform. This fridge features a pretty standard, well-established design, and part availability is consequently pretty steady. LG's service network isn't quite as strong as that of brands like Frigidaire, but you won't have much trouble getting in touch with an authorized service technician if you live in a more heavily populated state.
Notable Mentions
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GE Profile PGE29BYTFS:
The GE Profile PGE29BYTFS is a mid-range 36" French-door refrigerator with an additional temperature-controlled drawer. It's a good alternative to the Samsung RF32CG5400SR if you want a fridge from a brand with a more established service network and spare parts supply, but its ice-making performance lags behind Samsung's.
See our review -
Frigidaire GRFS2853AD:
The Frigidaire GRFS2853AD is the refrigerator with the best ice maker setup we've tested, with separate systems in its freezer and fridge door. This design yields a massive combined ice capacity of over 17 pounds. That said, the Samsung Bespoke RF30BB6200QL is a better overall performer, with more uniform temperatures inside its fridge and freezer, and superior produce preservation.
See our review
A Quick Guide To Refrigerator Ice Makers
Ice Maker Placement
Ideal ice maker placement remains a topic of debate, with each setup offering distinct strengths and weaknesses.
In-Freezer
- Presents fewer potential failure points, as ice can form in the ambient conditions within the freezer without the need for additional insulation.
- These conditions also promote faster ice formation.
- Easier to scoop out larger amounts of ice.
- Generally fairly simple to replace if an ice maker does fail.
- Can be a little less convenient to access for users with mobility issues, particularly with bottom-freezer models that require bending and reaching farther into the freezer cabinet.
- High-volume ice trays can seriously reduce freezer space.
In-Fridge/Through-Door
- Fridge ice makers have more potential failure points, as the ice maker compartment must be insulated from the warmer refrigerator cabinet.
- These seals can degrade over time, increasing temperatures inside this compartment and slowing ice production.
- Water lines need to be run through the fridge door, and are consequently subject to wear and tear as the fridge door is opened and closed.
- Ice makers built into a fridge door take up space at the top of the refrigerator cabinet and inside the door.
- Slightly more convenient to fill a single glass with ice compared to an in-freezer design.
- However, it's typically far slower to access large amounts of ice.
- Built into the fridge door and, consequently, very difficult to replace if a failure does occur.
Combined Setup/In-Freezer & In-Fridge
- Maximizes ice production rate, ideal if you frequently host large gatherings.
- Allows you to easily fill a single glass or access a large amount of ice for batch-making drinks.
- Presents the highest number of potential failure points.
Ice Maker Types
Ice makers in domestic fridges are typically one of two types: ejector-style and twist-tray.
Ejector-style
- Ice forms within a metal mold, which is encircled by a heating element that melts the outer layer of ice, which is then scraped into a tray.
- Aside from the plastic scraper arms, most components inside are metal and experience low mechanical stress, limiting potential failure points.
Twist-Tray
- Ice forms in a flexible plastic tray, which is flexed to force the ice cubes out once they're fully formed.
- Extremely mechanically simple, but slightly more subject to failure in the long run.
- Trays are subject to repeated mechanical stress and sub-zero temperatures, which can render them brittle and cause them to crack over time.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we believe are currently the best refrigerators with ice makers to buy. We don't base our results solely on overall performance, but also on factors like availability, price, and reader feedback.
If you'd like to do the work of choosing yourself, here's the list of all our counter-depth refrigerator reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While there's no single fridge that's perfect for every use, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.