Editors Love These 10 Space-Saving Dish Racks

published Jun 20, 2022
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washing dishes

Everyone has a least-favorite chore, right? Maybe you can’t stand hauling clothes down to the basement on laundry day, or maybe cleaning the bathroom you share with your roommates gives you hives. For me, that dreaded chore is — and has always been — dishes. I’m not sure if it has something to do with living in New York City for over a decade without a dishwasher, but I will let those babies pile higher than the Empire State Building before you convince me the dishes actually need to be done. Did I fall in love with my now-husband because he used to be a dishwasher in high school and didn’t mind the task? I’m not saying yes… but I’m not saying no, either.

One of the many reasons I dread scrubbing dishes is just how chaotic the task feels. Suddenly there’s water everywhere, you’re trying to remember which glasses you’ve already washed, and you’re perilously stacking clean plates atop each other in the hopes that they dry before you need to use them again. Enter: these top-notch dish racks that The Kitchn editors love for solving exactly these types of problems. Over the years, our team has vetted the best of the best when it comes to all sorts of kitchen gear, countertop drying racks included. While these picks range in perks, price points, and functionality, they’re all sure to make one of the least-favorite kitchen chores just a bit more bearable.

1 / 10
Amazon
$12.99

While this collapsible dish rack can hold a sinkful of dinnerware, it can also fold down to be just 2 inches tall, making it easy to store in a cabinet or tuck away somewhere discreetly. It also has a detachable draining board on the bottom to collect water and divert it into your sink. Check out our full review of it here to learn more.

2 / 10
QVC.com
$26.98
was $34.00

We love a collapsible option and, better yet, one that comes in a set. This dish drainer not only works as a place to dry your dishes, but can also be used as an ice bucket, a sink for cleaning dishes (thanks to its drain), or as a vegetable rinser. It's leak-proof, has handles, and can do a bit of everything.

3 / 10
Yamazaki Home
$27.30
was $39.00

Yamazaki is a well-loved brand around here, thanks in large part to the functionality and streamlined style of their pieces. Their slim dish rack is versatile and can conform to a number of kitchen spaces, from a small slice of counterspace to a bar cart that's pinch-hitting as an island. It has a smooth, modern finish and a clean, box-like shape, with high walls that hide your drying dishes and minimize visual clutter.

4 / 10
Food52
$45.00

Turning your sink into a drying rack is another great option when you're short on space, and this this roll-up model allows you to do just that. Simply unroll the silicone and wire piece, set it overyour sink, and allow your dishes to drip dry into the basin. This is a handy solution that doesn't require you to sacrifice any counter space.

5 / 10
Amazon
$27.99

If you're a family with kids or you live with a bunch of roommates, chances are you need some durable (and roomy) dish storage. This two-tier dish rack boasts plenty of room for all your plates, bowls, cups, mugs, and utensils. Plus, it has over 14,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, so you know it's the real deal.

6 / 10
OXO
$42.99

OXO is a huge name in kitchens, with innovative products that are constantly improving and reinventing what functional cooking (and cleaning) looks like. Case in point: this fold flat dish rack, which won major accolades from our editors for its rustproof aluminum frame, easy-pour drip tray, and compact folding ability. See more of our editors' favorite OXO finds here.

7 / 10
West Elm
$55.00

The best thing about this foldable dish rack is that when you're not using it you can collapse it and store it away under your sink or in a corner on your counters to save space. We're fans of Y-shaped dish racks because they give you room to store dishes up top and on bottom, making them great for drying pots and pans, too.

8 / 10
Walmart
$59.99

You can adjust this expandable dish rack to make it the exact right size for your space, which is a perk that most dish racks don't offer. Its built-in draining system works well and its metal rack can hold all kinds of bowls, plates, and glasses. Check out more of our favorite Joseph Joseph kitchen finds here.

9 / 10
Yamazaki Home
$88.00

Our contributor Rochelle Bilow spent three years searching for the perfect dish rack, and this stylish model from Yamazaki was her top pick. Rochelle wrote that it "exponentially increased" her happiness, which is quite the accomplishment for a dish rack. Its sleek design is evenly matched by its functionality, with plenty of room for dishes big and small, along with a silverware caddy that keeps all your smaller pieces in one spot.

10 / 10
Full Circle Home
$24.99

If your tastes and needs skew more minimal, this dish mat from Full Circle Home could be perfect for you. It has an innovative design that delivers the best of both worlds when it comes to drying your dishes: sturdy wires to hold things like plants, and lots of plush (and absorbent!) surface area for laying down glasses, utensils, and more. The mat itself is made from recycled polyester with charcoal-infused foam, so bacteria and odors stay out. Even better, you can pop the metal racks into the dishwasher for a quick refresh.

This post originally appeared on Kitchn. See it here: 9 Space-Saving Dish Racks That Kitchn Editors Love