The Best Dish Rack

Washing and drying dishes is a daily task, whether you cook or order takeout. Even with a dishwasher, dishes can pile up, making a space-efficient dish rack essential, the KitchenAid Full Size Dish Rack stood out. It’s sturdy, spacious, and drains water efficiently.

Among the dish racks we tested, the KitchenAid Full Size Dish Rack offers the best mix of capacity and features for a family of four. At 20½ by 15 inches, it fits well on most countertops and efficiently drains water into the sink. Its steel sides add stability, preventing dishes from falling. The rack can be disassembled for cleaning, but it’s best to hand wash, as dishwasher use may warp the tray.

The Simplehuman Steel Frame Dishrack is the largest of our picks, ideal for a four-person household and more. It drains water effectively, features a swiveling spout for flexible placement, and includes a side rack for wine glasses. However, it’s bulkier than the KitchenAid rack, costs more, and requires hand washing for most parts.

The Zojila Rohan Dish Drainer is a durable, high-quality stainless steel rack designed to last a lifetime. It holds as much as our top pick, features a sleek design, and drains efficiently with its angled tray. Compatible with overmount sinks, it includes a lifetime warranty but lacks enclosed sides, making careful placement necessary. At 7.2 pounds, it’s heavy and should be hand washed without steel wool to avoid scratches.

For an affordable, smaller option, the Rubbermaid Antimicrobial Dish Drainer is lightweight and does the job well when paired with the separately sold Rubbermaid Drain Board. It holds less, is flimsier, and less durable than our top picks but costs about half as much as the KitchenAid rack. Hand wash for best care.

For limited counter space or a two-person household, the compact Chef’n DishGarden is a great choice. It holds a surprising amount, drains well, and works in the sink or on the counter. While some find its design odd, it’s popular with reviewers. It may drip water from the outer prongs, but a towel can fix that. Dishwasher safe (top rack), but remove before using the heated drying cycle.

Who this is for

Washing dishes is a daily task, influenced by lifestyle, family size, and dishwasher use. A good dish rack can make drying more efficient while saving counter space. We’ve gathered options for small kitchens, two-person households, and larger families.

How we picked

There are many types of dish racks available—bamboo, over-the-sink, roll-up racks—but what makes a good one? We focused on a few key factors:

Durability: The best materials for resisting mold, rot, and rust are plastic and stainless steel, so we prioritized racks made from these. We ruled out wood models after reading numerous complaints about mold and rot. Wood racks often have joints that create crevices where mold can grow, and the material expands, contracts, and cracks when exposed to frequent moisture. Plus, maintaining wood racks with regular oiling or waxing can be too much trouble for most people.

Plastic and metal racks have their downsides too. While plastic is easier to clean, it can still develop mold and discoloration over time (darker plastic tends to be better in this regard). Lower-quality metal racks, meanwhile, may rust after prolonged use. While it’s hard to test for rust right away, we researched owner reviews to avoid racks that had frequent rust complaints. We also plan to test new picks over time to monitor their durability, with many of our long-standing picks showing no rust issues so far.

Easy to clean: We considered how easy the dish rack would be to maintain, especially for those who aren’t likely to clean it often—people without dishwashers who might only clean the rack every few months. To simplify cleaning, we looked for racks that don’t have too many parts or require tools for disassembly. Racks with rounded edges and fewer tight corners or crevices are easier to clean and less likely to trap water or food, reducing the chances of mold growth.

Generous, versatile capacity: We prioritized racks that could hold a variety of dishes in sufficient quantity. We eliminated racks with limited slots and prongs, like roll-up dish racks (though we may revisit these in future updates). Even the best racks can’t hold every dish used throughout the day, but we focused on those that could accommodate dishes from a typical two- or four-person household.

Space-efficient: We avoided models that take up more than just basic counter space, such as over-the-sink or wall-mounted racks. While these can work for some, the variability in sink and kitchen sizes made them difficult to test properly. We focused on simple, compact racks that maximize counter space.

How we tested

We tested each dish rack by loading it with the dishes a four-person household typically uses for dinner—plates, bowls, cups, utensils, a skillet, and a Dutch oven. After soaking the dishes, we let them dry for eight hours. We then tested each rack’s stability by adding heavy items like wine glasses and a Dutch oven. Finally, we poured three cups of water on each rack to test how well the drain trays handled an accidental overflow, simulating a worst-case scenario.

Our pick: KitchenAid Full Size Dish Rack

The KitchenAid Full Size Dish Rack outperformed our previous top pick, the Polder 4-Piece Advantage, in recent tests. It’s large enough to hold a variety of dishes but still compact, slightly smaller than a medium toaster oven. Its sturdy build and angled tray drain excess water effectively. The rack can hold both thick and thin plates, a large utensil holder fits silverware and bigger utensils, and cup tines store at least four cups. The rubber-coated wires are gentle on dishes and may help prevent rust. It disassembles into three easy-to-clean pieces.

The KitchenAid held everything from four full place settings to a 10-inch skillet and a 6-quart Dutch oven comfortably, drying them all well. It offers enough space for flexible dish placement, while the utensil holder’s three sections (two with removable lids) keep silverware organized. The drain tray effectively directs water into the sink, though large spills may cause overflow.

The KitchenAid Full Size Dish Rack features stainless steel side panels that securely hold dishes in place and prevent splashing. Unlike the more open Zojila Rohan, we never worried about dishes falling out. It also has no-slip rubber feet to keep it steady and protect your countertop.

The rack disassembles into three easy-to-clean pieces (utensil holder, drain tray, and rack), with fewer crevices for mold or food buildup. However, it should only be hand-washed as the tray warped in the dishwasher. With dimensions of 20½ inches long, 15 inches wide, and 6½ inches high, it’s roughly the size of a medium toaster oven.

The KitchenAid rack is backed by a limited lifetime warranty, offering a replacement for defects within the first year and repair or replacement after that.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

While the KitchenAid dish rack is sturdy, we found that tall glasses, like stemware, may tip over without extra care, as there’s no secure spot for them. If drying stemware is important, the Simplehuman Steel Frame Dishrack offers a dedicated wine-glass holder.

Some Amazon reviews mention rust, particularly around the soldered joints where the rubberized coating may not fully protect the wire. KitchenAid describes the wires as “rust-resistant,” so we’ll monitor this during long-term testing. If rust occurs, it’s covered by the limited lifetime warranty.

Runner-up: Simplehuman Steel Frame Dishrack

The Simplehuman Steel Frame Dishrack offers exceptional performance, holding more dishes than any other rack we tested. Its spacious design fits dinnerware for a four-person household, and the steel-walled basin with a dedicated wine-glass holder ensures delicate items are secure. The swiveling drain spout provides flexibility, and each of the six removable pieces is easy to clean.

Although it outperforms most racks, its larger size (7½ inches wider than the KitchenAid) and higher cost may be drawbacks for some. The fully enclosed basin and efficient drainage prevent spills, and the wine-glass holder keeps glasses safe without taking up extra space.

The Simplehuman Steel Frame Dishrack is impressively stable, securely holding dishes during our tests, with no tipping or imbalance. The steel sides contain dishes well, and the utensil caddy and wine-glass holder stay firmly in place.

This new version improves the cleaning process with tool-free removal of parts, making it easier to maintain. However, its larger size and higher price may be drawbacks for some, especially considering its 7½-inch wider footprint compared to the KitchenAid. If you need more space for dishes, it’s worth the extra $20, but for smaller households, it may be too large.

Upgrade pick: Zojila Rohan Dish Drainer

The Zojila Rohan Dish Drainer is a stylish, high-performing option for drying dishes, with enough space for a four-person household. Made of heavy-duty stainless steel, it features a sleek design and solid drain board that allows water to flow quickly into the sink, drying dishes faster than other racks. The utensil caddy is smaller but removable for easier cleaning and can be placed anywhere on the rack. Though expensive, its modern look and efficiency make it a worthwhile choice for those willing to invest in a premium dish rack.

The Zojila Rohan Dish Drainer has some downsides, including potential damage to delicate dishes due to its thick, uncoated steel wires and its hefty weight, which can make cleaning a bit challenging. Some users have also complained about smaller items slipping out due to the lack of side rails. While fingerprints and hard-water spots may appear, mold and gunk buildup are less of a concern compared to plastic racks. Cleaning should be done by hand, avoiding steel wool. The rack comes with a lifetime warranty, though it requires activation via social media or reviews, which some may find frustrating. Its high price is the main drawback, but it’s backed by a durable build and lifetime warranty, making it a long-term investment.

Budget pick: Rubbermaid Antimicrobial Dish Drainer

The Rubbermaid Antimicrobial Dish Drainer is an affordable option with a smaller footprint but still holds as many dishes as pricier models. While it lacks a drain board, it can be paired with the Rubbermaid Antimicrobial Drain Board for a budget-friendly setup. The coated wire is lightweight and flexible, making it easier to fit dishes, though it can bend easily. The cup holders support heavy glasses well, but the rack may tip over when overloaded on one side. It’s best for smaller items, as larger pots may need to rest on top or require adjustments to the dish slots.

The Rubbermaid Antimicrobial Dish Drainer can also be used as an in-sink rack, addressing its tipping and flimsiness issues by resting in the sink. This setup eliminates the need for a tray and keeps heavier dishes secure. Rubbermaid recommends hand washing to maintain cleanliness. Widely available at hardware and discount stores, it’s an affordable option, and you can even use it without the drain board by placing it on a kitchen towel to save more.

Also great for smaller kitchens: Chef’n DishGarden

The Chef’n DishGarden is perfect for small spaces, ideal for a two-person household. Its circular shape maximizes capacity with cup holders around the edge, though it can’t hold as many dishes as larger racks. Plates are held upright with varying prong heights, but figuring out the best setup requires some practice. While cups and larger items may drape over the edge, it’s more suited for in-sink use, with drippage easily managed using a dish mat.

The Chef’n DishGarden includes two removable utensil holders, though they can take up space. Its steeply angled base drains well, and the spout flips up to prevent water leakage when moving. The textured exterior helps prevent suction on glasses. While the prongs may make cleaning trickier, reviews indicate no major complaints about upkeep. Some find it small, as expected from a compact rack, and the design may not appeal to everyone. A common issue is the difficulty in removing sticky labels—adhesive remover may be needed.