On our assumption of 100g of ice per drink, a gathering of 20 guests with 3 drinks each needs about 6kg of ice, and two people having two drinks each a day need about 0.4kg. A countertop ice maker rated at about 12kg per 24 hours is a reasonable fit for a few gatherings a year, and a home bar suits about 30kg. These are our rules of thumb, as we found no independent source that sets an output for homes. Kilograms per 24 hours is a rate, not a stockpile, because a machine’s basket holds only about one to three hours of production. Empty it into lidded freezer containers as it fills.
- Output: Kilograms per 24 hours is a listed rate, so it shows how fast ice builds up.
- Storage: The basket decides how much ice is ready at once, so it matters as much as output.
- Hygiene: Ice is classed as a food, so plan for regular cleaning.
What Do kg per 24 Hours, Cubes per Batch and Tank Size Tell You?
A portable ice maker pumps water from a reservoir to a freeze tray, then releases the ice into a storage tray.[1]
- kg per 24 hours: This is the listed daily output, which we read as a rate. Divide by 24 for kilograms an hour, so 12kg a day is 0.5kg an hour.
- Cubes per batch: This shows how many cubes each cycle makes and how long it takes.
- Water tank: The tank holds the water for making ice. Pages do not always say how many batches one fill makes, so check the manual.
- Storage basket: Portable machines switch off once the storage tray is full,[1] so basket size and how often you empty it limit the real output.
How Much Ice Does a Gathering Actually Use?
- Count the drinks: Multiply guests by drinks each.
- Choose ice per drink: We use 100g as an example, which is our assumption, not a measured figure. A cocktail uses more.
- Divide by the hourly rate: Kilograms needed divided by kilograms an hour gives the making time, and dividing by the basket size gives how many times to empty it.
| Gathering | Ice at 100g a drink | 12kg model (0.5kg an hour, 0.7kg basket) | 30kg model (1.25kg an hour, 4kg basket) |
| 10 guests, 2 drinks each | 2kg | 4 hours, basket emptied 3 times | 1.6 hours, emptied once |
| 20 guests, 3 drinks each | 6kg | 12 hours, emptied 9 times | 4.8 hours, emptied twice |
| 40 guests, 3 drinks each | 12kg | 24 hours, emptied 18 times | 9.6 hours, emptied 3 times |
Hours are making time at the listed rate; emptyings use the basket sizes from the Worked Example, rounded up. Assumes you are home to move ice to lidded containers – check the manual for what it does when full.
Which Type of Ice Source Suits Your Use?
| Type | Typical output | Ice stored | Best for |
| Bagged ice | Set by what you buy | Needs freezer space | One-off large parties |
| Countertop machine | About 12 to 20kg per 24 hours | A small basket | A few gatherings a year and everyday drinks |
| Larger freestanding or under-counter machine | About 30 to 45kg per 24 hours | A larger basket | A home bar or frequent hosting |
The output ranges are those listed in the ice makers category.[2] Portable units are among the smallest ice makers.[1]
Which Six Features Matter Besides Output?
- Cube size: Longer freezing cycles make thicker cubes,[1] so check whether the page offers more than one cube size.
- Water supply: Check how the tank fills and whether a tap connection or drain is needed.
- Noise: Compare listed maximum decibel figures only where pages state them the same way.
- Self-cleaning: The pages we checked did not say how often to run a cleaning cycle, so follow the manual.
- Size and weight: Check the footprint, height and weight, as a countertop machine takes worktop space.
- Marking: GOV.UK says CE marking is generally recognised in Great Britain alongside or in place of UKCA marking, though rules can differ by product,[3] so check the product or its packaging.
How Much Does an Ice Maker Cost to Run?
Energy is power multiplied by time,[4] so cost is kilowatts multiplied by hours and by the price per kilowatt-hour.
- Formula: Watts divided by 1,000, multiplied by hours, gives kilowatt-hours. Multiply that by the pence per kWh on your bill.
- Per kilogram: Divide the watts by 1,000, then divide by kilograms an hour. A 90W machine making 0.5kg an hour uses 0.18kWh a kilogram, about 4.5p at an example rate of 25p per kWh, which is not a current price. Six kilograms would cost about 27p.
- Compare: Divide a bag’s price by its weight for the cost per kilogram of bagged ice.
- Limits: This assumes the machine draws its listed rating throughout. Room warmth and lid openings may change the result, and we found no independent figure for kilowatt-hours per kilogram.
How Should You Store Ice and Keep the Machine Clean?
The council advice below is written for food businesses, so we treat it as a cautious home reference.
- Storing ice: A portable machine does not keep ice frozen, so ice left in the basket melts.[1] In our view, treat the basket as short-term holding and move made ice into lidded containers in the freezer. East Cambridgeshire District Council advises never returning ice to its bag or the machine.[5]
- Food safety: West Lothian Council classes ice as a food that should be made, stored and handled hygienically.[6]
- Cleaning: Follow the manual first, and switch the machine off before cleaning.[5][6] Both councils advise cleaning the ice storage compartment at least fortnightly, and West Lothian adds a daily check for mould or slime and daily sanitising of the scoop.[5][6]
- Handling: Use a clean scoop or tongs, not hands, and do not chill bottles in the basket.[5][6]
Worked Example: A 12kg Countertop and a 30kg Freestanding Ice Maker
Two HOMCOM ice makers, rated at 12kg and 30kg, show how output, storage and size differ.[7][8] The 30kg page is titled commercial but says it suits homes, pubs and offices. They are examples, not recommendations, compared on what each page states, and we did not test them.
| Check | 12kg model | 30kg model |
| Product | HOMCOM Ice Maker Machine Countertop 12kg | HOMCOM Commercial Ice Maker with 4kg Ice Storage |
| Output listed | 12kg per 24 hours | 30kg per 24 hours |
| Ice storage listed | 0.7kg | 4kg |
| Making-ice power | 90W | 300W |
| Maximum noise | Below 46dB | 55dB |
| Size as listed (cm, labels differ) | 21.2W x 29.5D x 32.6H | 34.5L x 33.9W x 60.2H |
| Weight | 7.2kg | 16kg |
| Hours to make 6kg (our arithmetic) | 12 | 4.8 |
| Energy for 6kg (our arithmetic) | 1.08kWh | 1.44kWh |
- Capacity and storage: The 30kg model lists 2.5 times the output and 5.7 times the storage. By our arithmetic the baskets hold about 1.4 and 3.2 hours of production.
- 12kg page: It lists CE-EMC and LVD certifications, gives its tank as 2L and 1.8L and does not explain its 130W melting figure.
- 30kg page: It says insulation keeps ice frozen longer but lists 310W for melting without explanation, gives an operating range of 10 to 43°C and a narrower room rating of 15 to 25°C, includes an outlet hose without explaining drainage and mentions no CE or UKCA marking.
- Price and delivery: At time of writing prices were £71.99 (12kg) and £189.99 (30kg), with free UK mainland delivery and returns requested within 30 calendar days of delivery.[7][8]
Checklist: Five Questions Before You Buy
- How many drinks do you serve at a typical gathering, and how many hours before the event can you start making ice?
- Does the listing state the basket size, tank size and noise level?
- Is there a self-cleaning cycle and a manual with cleaning steps?
- Where will the machine stand, and can you lift it?
- Do you have freezer space and lidded containers for the ice?
The Right Ice Maker for Your Needs
Size an ice maker by hourly output and basket size, not the daily figure alone. About 12kg per 24 hours suits a few gatherings a year in our view, and about 30kg suits a home bar. Work out ice from guests, drinks and ice per drink, such as about 6kg for 20 guests with 3 drinks each, allow the making time, freeze made ice in lidded containers and clean on a schedule.
FAQs
1. Do home ice makers keep ice frozen?
Usually not. A portable machine does not keep ice frozen, so ice left in the basket melts, and the meltwater is recycled into new ice.[1] Check the product page for any insulation claim, and in our view move made ice into lidded containers in the freezer.
2. How much does it cost to run an ice maker?
Divide the watts by 1,000, multiply by the hours, then by your pence per kWh.[4] A 90W machine running for 12 hours uses about 1.08kWh and, at 0.5kg an hour, makes about 6kg. At an example 25p per kWh, which is not a current price, that is about 27p, or 4.5p a kilogram.
3. How often should you clean an ice maker?
4. How long does an ice maker take to make ice?
The first batch from a portable machine can be ready within about 10 minutes of switching it on with water in the tank.[1] Later batches depend on the freezing cycle, so check the page for listed batch times.
5. Is a home ice maker worth it?
Yes, in our view, if you regularly run out of ice and have a worktop and freezer space for it. A machine needs electricity, cleaning and emptying, whereas bags need only freezer space, so bags may suit one party.
References
[1] Wikipedia. Ice maker.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_maker
[2] Aosom UK. Ice Makers, category page.
https://www.aosom.co.uk/home/ice-makers-c969.html
[3] GOV.UK. Placing UKCA or CE Marked Products on the Market in Great Britain.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-ukca-marking
[4] Wikipedia. Kilowatt-hour.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilowatt-hour
[5] East Cambridgeshire District Council. Ice: Hygienic Production and Service.
https://eastcambs.gov.uk/food-safety/ice-hygienic-production-and-service
[6] West Lothian Council. Hygienic Production, Storage and Service of Ice from Ice Making Machines, Information Sheet FH02.
https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/media/2776/Hygienic-Production-Storage-and-Service-of-Ice-from-Ice-Making-Machines-Information-Sheet-FH02/pdf/FH02_ICE.pdf
[7] HOMCOM Ice Maker Machine Countertop, 9 Ice Cubes in 8 Mins, 12KG in 24Hrs, Self-Cleaning Portable Ice Cube Maker, product page.
https://www.aosom.co.uk/item/homcom-ice-maker-machine-portable-counter-top-ice-cube-maker-for-home-12kg-in-24-hrs~800-075V70.html
[8] HOMCOM Commercial Ice Maker with 4kg Ice Storage, Silver Tone, product page.
https://www.aosom.co.uk/item/homcom-commercial-ice-maker-machine-freestanding-industrial-ice-cube-maker-with-digital-control-ice-scoop-self~1T4J71261JO00.html