Commercial-Grade Residential Ice Makers

Why put a commercial ice maker in a home?

Most household undercounter ice makers are designed for light use: a family's drinks and an occasional party. Homeowners who entertain often, run a home bar or want restaurant-quality ice increasingly choose commercial-grade machines instead.

The trade-offs are height, drainage and warranty. Each is covered below.

The best commercial ice makers for home use

Specifications from each product page. The grid also includes more Manitowoc NEO, Hoshizaki KM, ICETRO and ITV models.

Will it fit under my counter?

Kitchen counters are usually about 36 inches high, so the space under the counter is about 34-34.5 inches. Many commercial machines are taller than that on their standard legs. Sort by height:

The ITV SPIKA NG 130, NG 160 and DELTA NG 150 have a 31.07-inch cabinet but stand about 35 inches with legs, so check whether shorter legs are approved for your opening.

Measure your opening and check the installation drawing for each model, including legs and door swing. The Ice-O-Matic UCG080A product page notes an optional short-leg configuration for ADA-height counters.

The drain question

Every ice maker has to drain meltwater. Restaurants have floor drains; most homes don't. Your options:

1. A gravity drain into a nearby drain line or standpipe below the machine's outlet. This is the simplest option if plumbing allows.
2. A machine with a built-in drain pump. The Scotsman CU50PAX-1 includes a drain pump and a 10-ft drain tube, so it can push water up and out to a sink drain. The ICETRO IU-0090-ANP also has one, and the ICETRO IU-0070-OU is drain-pump ready with optional kits.
3. A separate drain pump kit for other models.

Read drain pump vs gravity drain.

Outdoor kitchens

Only install outdoors if the manufacturer approves it. Several models in our range are UL approved for outdoor use when installed within the manufacturer's conditions:

• Hoshizaki C-80BAK (chewable cubelet ice)
• Hoshizaki AM-50BAK-AD (top hat, ADA height)
• Scotsman CU50PAX-1 (gourmet, with built-in drain pump)

Outdoor approval doesn't remove the operating temperature limits on the spec sheet, so shade the machine and plan for winter. Read our outdoor ice maker buying guide and outdoor vs indoor ice makers, or browse outdoor ice makers.

Panel-ready for a built-in look

To match kitchen cabinetry, Hoshizaki's C-80BAK-ADDS and AM-50BAK-ADDS use a custom cabinet door system that takes a panel you supply. They are 31-1/2 inches tall, so they also fit lower counters. See built-in ice makers and our built-in ice maker guide.

Choose the ice for how you entertain

See cocktail ice machines and large cube ice makers.

How much ice does a home need?

For a party, the bin matters as much as production. Start the machine a day or two early and bag extra ice in a freezer.

Warranty: read this before you buy

Commercial warranties are written for commercial installations. Some exclude residential use, some offer shorter residential terms, and some cover both:

• ICETRO WU-0100-AC: lists 1 year parts and labor for residential installations.
• Ice-O-Matic GEMU09090: lists 1 year parts and labor for residential or commercial installation.
• Scotsman (B322S and others): many Scotsman listings note 1 year parts and labor for residential applications.
• Others: check the product page or ask us before you buy.

A commercial machine with a shorter home warranty can still be the better buy if it outlasts household units, but know the terms in advance.

Running costs at home

At home volumes, running costs are modest. A gourmet machine using about 9-10 kWh per 100 lb that makes 30 lb a day uses about 3 kWh, roughly $0.45 a day at $0.15 per kWh, or about $165 a year. Clear-ice machines use more water than standard cubers (the ITV DELTA NG 80 lists about 40 gallons per 100 lb) because they flush minerals away to keep cubes clear.

Care at home

• Clean and sanitize every six months, or sooner if ice tastes off.
• Clean the air filter every month or two.
• Use a water filter. Clear ice depends on clean water.
• If the machine is idle for weeks, turn it off, empty the bin and dry it.

See how to clean an ice maker and how often to clean an ice maker.

A buying checklist for home installs

Work through these in order; each one rules models in or out.

1. Measure the opening (width, height under the countertop, and depth to the wall), then subtract room for the water, drain and power connections behind the unit.
2. Find the drain. If there's no drain below the machine's outlet, shortlist only drain-pump models or budget for a pump kit.
3. Decide the ice. Clear gourmet for cocktails, cubelet for soft drinks and chewing, standard cube for volume.
4. Estimate ice per day using the table above, then check the model's 90°F output, not the rating.
5. Check outdoor approval if the machine will be outside or in an unheated space.
6. Read the warranty for residential installations.
7. Plan a water filter and a shut-off valve at the water connection.

Worked example: a basement bar for 20 guests

A homeowner hosts 20 people about twice a month, mostly cocktails and beer, plus everyday family drinks.

• Party night: 20 guests x about 1.5-2 lb of ice each (drinks plus a cooler of bottles) = 30-40 lb.
• Everyday: about 10 lb.
• Space: a 34-inch opening under a standard bar counter, with a laundry standpipe 6 feet away but no drain directly below.

The Ice-O-Matic UCG080A (77.8 lb/day at 90/70, 33 lb bin, 27.25 in. tall) fits the opening with room to spare and covers a party when started the day before. Because the drain is not below the machine, it needs a drain pump kit. If the homeowner wanted to avoid a separate kit, the Scotsman CU50PAX-1 (49 lb/day at 90/70, 26 lb bin) has a built-in pump; on party days it would need a day's head start and some bagged ice in the freezer.

Household ice maker vs commercial machine: what changes over time

Commercial-grade machines cost more up front, often two to three times a household unit. What you get for the difference:

• Heavier components designed to cycle all day in a restaurant, so home use is light duty.
• Commercial service networks and parts availability from the major brands.
• More choice of ice, including clear gourmet, cubelet, spheres and large squares that household machines rarely offer.
• Larger bins, which matter most on party days.

The trade-off is that some commercial warranties are shorter or limited for homes, and the machines are usually taller and need a proper drain plan. If you only need a few pounds of ice a day and never entertain, a household unit may be enough.

Common mistakes

1. Buying a 39-inch machine for a 34-inch opening.
2. No drain plan. Choose a drain-pump model if there's no gravity drain.
3. Outdoor install without outdoor approval.
4. Assuming the commercial warranty covers a home.
5. Buying a gourmet machine for volume. Clear ice is made slowly.

Related collections

• Scotsman residential ice machines
• 15-inch and 18-inch undercounter ice makers
• Gourmet ice makers and crystal clear ice makers
• Built-in ice makers and outdoor ice makers
• Guide: best ice maker for a home bar