Skip to Content

5 Best Ice Cube Trays, Tested and Reviewed

Our top pick is Tovolo's silicone Perfect Ice Cube Tray.

By
Jump to Products
best ice cube trayspinterest

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

On the surface, ice is pretty simple. It's just frozen water, right? Well, clocking in at 1.3 billion views, #IceTok is trending on TikTok, with entire channels devoted to ice drawer restocks that feature infused ice, iced coffee cubes, shaped cubes and more. While we aren't suggesting tossing out the contents of your freezer to dedicate the space to only ice (unless you want to), a tray or two of ice that's ready to go is always a good idea.

In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab, we test hundreds of cooking products every year to find the best of the best, from drinking glasses to meal prep containers to cocktail shakers. Our picks for the best ice cube trays are based on testing as well as our kitchen experts' extensive product knowledge and research.

Our top picks:

  • 1
    Perfect Cube Ice Tray

    Best Overall Ice Cube Tray

    Tovolo Perfect Cube Ice Tray

    Check Price at Amazon
    Read more
  • 2
    Good Grips Ice Cube Tray

    Best Value Ice Cube Tray

    OXO Good Grips Ice Cube Tray

    Read more
  • 3
    Silicone Ice Cube Tray and Storage Box

    Best Small Ice Cube Tray

    Lekue Silicone Ice Cube Tray and Storage Box

    Read more
  • 4
    Sphere Ice Molds (Set of 2)

    Best Large Ice Cube Tray

    Tovolo Sphere Ice Molds (Set of 2)

    Read more
  • 5
    Clear Ice Cube Tray

    Best Ice Cube Tray for Cocktails

    Dexas Clear Ice Cube Tray

    Read more

Keep reading to the end of this article to learn more about what to look for when shopping for ice cube trays. Looking for more ways to make ice? Check out our guide to best nugget ice makers.

1
Best Overall Ice Cube Tray

Tovolo Perfect Cube Ice Tray

Perfect Cube Ice Tray
1
Best Overall Ice Cube Tray

Tovolo Perfect Cube Ice Tray

Check Price at AmazonCheck Price at Walmart
Pros
  • Large cubes for additives
  • Lots of colors
Cons
  • No lid

For fancy ice with fruit, vegetables or anything else you want suspended in your ice, we recommend this silicone ice cube tray from Tovolo. The cubes are big enough to put in pieces of fruit so you can get that perfectly Instagram-worthy shot of your drink. We found the silicone to be sturdier and thicker than other silicone trays we've tested. Ice cubes slide out easily with a push.

While this option doesn't include a lid, the brand does sell the same Perfect Ice Cube Tray with a lid on its site. It comes in nine different colors, too, so you can buy a few and color code them, if you're looking to infuse your ice with multiple different ingredients.

Dimensions4.5" x 7.12" x 1.5"
Weight.03 lbs
Materials Silicone
2
Best Value Ice Cube Tray

OXO Good Grips Ice Cube Tray

Good Grips Ice Cube Tray
2
Best Value Ice Cube Tray

OXO Good Grips Ice Cube Tray

Pros
  • Comes with lid
  • Overflow channels
Cons
  • Lid can stick

If you're looking for just a quality ice cube tray at a good price, you're not going to do much better than this tray from OXO. The features it has are thoughtful, like the cover that clicks into place and channels between cubes to allow water to overflow into other spaces.

There are large handles on each side for easy carrying and if you get multiple, they're designed to stack in the freezer. We did find in testing that the cover sticks a little and you have to push to get it to click into place, though.

Dimensions 1.75" x 5.5" x 13.63"
Weight .5 lbs
Materials Plastic
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3
Best Small Ice Cube Tray

Lekue Silicone Ice Cube Tray and Storage Box

Silicone Ice Cube Tray and Storage Box
3
Best Small Ice Cube Tray

Lekue Silicone Ice Cube Tray and Storage Box

Pros
  • Stylish design
  • Storage container for additional ice
Cons
  • Can't stack things on top

GH Institute Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab Director Nicole Papantoniou has been using this ice cube tray from Lekue for years, since she doesn't have an ice cube maker built into her freezer at home. She loves how easy it is to fill the tray. The fun shapes look good in drinks and the included storage bin fits up to three trays of ice.

The ice cube tray itself acts as the lid to the container, so note that you can't place anything on top of it. Papantoniou says the cubes are easy to pop out and after years of owning this tray, she hasn't noticed any odors.

Dimensions 4.7" x 8.6" x 6.6"
Weight 14 oz
Materials Silicone, plastic
4
Best Large Ice Cube Tray

Tovolo Sphere Ice Molds (Set of 2)

On Sale
Sphere Ice Molds (Set of 2)
4
Best Large Ice Cube Tray

Tovolo Sphere Ice Molds (Set of 2)

Now 28% Off
Pros
  • Different shapes
  • Overflow hole on top
Cons
  • Only makes one cube at a time

Papantoniou notes that even after years of use, the quality silicone on these Tovolo molds haven't worn down. The hole in the center allows you to fill it up to the perfect capacity, and then overflow in case you add too much water. Handles on the sides make them easier to carry and help pop the ice out of the mold too. These come in a bunch of other shapes like lime wedges and a faceted heart. If you get two in the same shape, they stack on top of each other.

Dimensions3.5" x 3.5" x 6.5"
Weight.55 lbs
Materials Plastic, silicone
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5
Best Ice Cube Tray for Cocktails

Dexas Clear Ice Cube Tray

Clear Ice Cube Tray
5
Best Ice Cube Tray for Cocktails

Dexas Clear Ice Cube Tray

Pros
  • Makes clear ice
  • Fill lines on insert
Cons
  • More involved to fill with water

We discovered this tray from Dexas while testing how to make clear ice, and we've loved it ever since. It's a more cumbersome process than just pouring water in a tray and putting it in the freezer, but we found that it produces clear cubes that are perfect for the aesthetic cocktail.

There aren't any handles but the tray is wide and thick so it's easy to grip and very sturdy. Inside of the plastic insert there are lines so you can judge how much the silicone molds will displace the water so you don't run into an overflow situation. When you want to clean the tray, the plastic insert pops out easily, and we haven't noticed any odors.

Dimensions 10.5" x 5" x 3.75"
Weight 1.87 lbs
Materials Silicone, plastic and styrofoam

How we choose the best ice cube trays

mums

To find the best ice cube trays, we started by researching and evaluating dozens of best-selling and highly rated trays. We then tested several of them in our Kitchen Appliances Lab in New York City. We also considered models that our staffers have personally tried and loved through the years. When then narrowed our list down to our best-of-the-best picks.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

What to look for when shopping for ice cube trays

line break

✔️ Size: If it can't fit in your freezer, it's not going to do you much good. It's a good idea to see how much extra space you have (or how much extra space you can make) to fit in an ice cube tray without cramming your freezer full and creating a Tetris situation every time you want to chill your drink.

✔️ Lid: Not only can a lid allow you to stack things on top of the ice cube trays, like other ice cube trays, but it also keeps other stuff out of your water while it's freezing.

✔️ Material: The most common materials for ice cube trays are silicone and plastic, but you can also find stainless steel ice cube trays. Plastic is more rigid and won't flop over the edge of a box, but it can be harder to get the ice out because it doesn't have the flex silicone does to push your fingers into. Silicone is great for uniquely shaped ice because you can more easily maneuver it around, but it doesn't stay flat when full and can become brittle over time.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

mums

During her time working at the Good Housekeeping Institute, Abigail Bailey has tested, researched and written about everything from Japanese knives to hammocks. She loves a perfectly chilled glass of iced tea or cold brew coffee any day of the year, and is known to enjoy iced drinks even in the dead of winter.

Headshot of Abigail Bailey
Abigail Bailey

Abigail (she/her) is product reviews writer who has covered everything from kitchen gear to mattresses and smart blinds. She graduated from Louisiana State University with a B.A. in creative writing and earned her M.S. in publishing digital and print media from New York University. She currently works at Wirecutter, but has also spent time on staff at Good Housekeeping and The Southern Review literary magazine. In her free time you can find her quilting, cross-stitching or trying to figure out how to squeeze one more bookshelf in her tiny apartment. 

Watch Next
 
preview for Featured Videos From Good Housekeeping US
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Product Reviews

Man with Beard

Everything You Need to Know About Makeup for Men

a woman wearing wonderskin wonder blading lip stain masque

Wonderskin Wonder Blading Lip Stain Masque Review

pomade for man hair styling isolated on white background

The 15 Best Edge Control Products

loving couple in bed

The Best Mattress for Sex

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below