The 6 Best Dish Drying Racks of 2024, According to Testing
By Rachel Simon, Michelle Love,
1 days ago
Our top pick is a large, versatile rack with fully adjustable parts.
Better Homes & Gardens / Nick Simpson
As delicious as a home cooked meal can be, cleaning up afterward is typically a whole lot less enjoyable. Even if you have a dishwasher to help with the process, there are often still at least a handful of items that don’t fit inside or need to be hand washed, making it essential to have a dish drying rack ready nearby.
Designed to hold just-washed kitchenware so that they air dry, dish drying racks are helpful accessories to have in any kitchen, says Alysha Fenn , founder and CEO of the organizing company Making Space Today.
What We Tested
During testing, we evaluated multiple dish drying racks and rated them based on how thoroughly they dried dishes, the design, how easy they were to assemble/clean, and how much space they provided for various dish sizes. For more information on how we tested dish drying racks, check out our testing process below.
It’s a large, versatile drying rack that can go in the sink or on a countertop.
Keep In Mind
It isn’t ideal for drying wine glasses.
For a top-notch dish drying rack that will serve you well for years to come, we highly recommend this bestselling option from KitchenAid. It’s a large capacity rack that can fit numerous plates, bowls, cups, and even full size pots and pans, and it’s designed to be used directly over the sink or over a mat on the countertop.
During testing, we placed several dishes and pots/pans of various sizes on the rack, and we were impressed with how much it could hold. It held a variety of pots, knives, plates, and even bottles with ease, and we never felt like we were overcrowding the rack.
We found that most of the items placed on the rack were dry within two hours, and everything else was thoroughly dry by the next day after sitting overnight. Plates and bowls seemed to dry the fastest while the inside of bottles dried the slowest.
The quick drying is due to the rack’s drainage system, which features an angled draining board that allows the water to flow directly into the sink. We also loved the non-slip feet at the bottom of the rack because it kept the rack in place on the counter and didn’t scratch any countertop surfaces.
It’s available in four neutral colors (white, gray, charcoal, and black) to complement the rest of your kitchen appliances. It’s not the absolute biggest drying rack out there and isn’t specially designed for wine glasses, though, so keep that in mind when considering this item over other choices.
Product Details: Dimensions: 14.96 x 20 x 7 inches | Material: Stainless steel | Care Instructions: Hand wash
Another great way to save on counter space is by using a foldable dish drying rack, such as this popular pick from Umbra. Featuring both a lightweight microfiber mat and an ample-sized dish rack, it’s designed to easily and quickly fold up when not in use, so you can store it in a drawer or cabinet and keep your countertops looking fresh.
This item uses the mat as its base, so you can place items of all different sizes on it to dry as you stack up to 18 larger items like plates and bowls in the adjustable plastic rack component.
The rack is smaller than some of the other racks we tested, and its simplistic design gave us the first impression that it wouldn’t be as sturdy, but it quickly proved us wrong. During testing, we were able to fit four dinner plates, four dessert plates, drinking glasses, two mugs, a serving spoon, a measuring cup, two small serving bowls, two fruit/dessert bowls, a small metal pitcher, and a small sauce bowl onto the rack.
We were initially worried that the amount of dishes would make the rack fall over, but the rack stayed stable during the entire drying process. Everything dried within two hours except for the glasses, though we credited that to laying them on the drying mat facedown.
Cleaning both parts is hassle-free, as you can throw the mat in the laundry machine and the dish rack in the dishwasher. Plus, because of the mat’s soft material, you won’t have to worry about water building up or your counters getting scratched up as they might from otherwise.
You can pick from six colors for this item, for a lower cost than most other similar options out there. We recommend this rack for smaller spaces and countertops but don’t let its size fool you: this is a great drying rack that will hold plenty of clean dishes and make cleanup much easier.
Product Details: Dimensions: 24 x 18 x 1.5 inches | Material: Microfiber, plastic | Care Instructions: Machine-wash (mat), Dishwasher (dish rack)
Best Over-the-Sink Dish Drying Rack: Food52 Five Two Over-the-Sink Dish Drying Rack
It’s a convenient, space-saving drying rack that has multiple features.
Keep In Mind
Plates can only be stored horizontally, not vertically.
If you’re looking to save on counter space, opt for a dish drying rack that can be placed right over the sink, like this option from Food52.
The lightweight rack rolls out and fits right over the sink, and is sturdy enough to hold heavy pots and pans while draining water out directly into the sink below. This drying rack has a perforated ledge to store bottles and other small objects, as well as a wide slot designed to keep bigger items like lids and rolling pins steady as they dry.
During testing, we were able to fit a variety of larger bowls and pots on this rack and even had room for utensils and a few mugs. However, keep in mind that plates may take up quite a bit of space since they can’t be stored vertically. With the rack placed over the sink, there was no water or drainage on the countertops, so we didn’t have to spend any time wiping up water.
There’s also a built-in utensil caddy that, like the rack itself, is designed for ultimate air-flow (leading to faster drying times) and can pull double duty as a colander since it’s removable. And because the rack is made from silicone-coated stainless steel, it’s heat safe and can work as a trivet for hot items.
Best of all, when the drying rack gets dirty, you can just throw it in the dishwasher (or hand wash it) for a quick cleaning. Before ordering, measure your sink to make sure it will fit across it.
Product Details: Dimensions: 20.5 x 12.25 inches | Material: Silicone, Stainless Steel | Care Instructions: Dishwasher
This two-tier rack is affordable, sturdy, and stylish.
Keep In Mind
It’s not designed to hold silverware and other small objects.
Bamboo is a durable type of wood, making this Bambusi style one of the best options to consider. The two-tier drying rack is big enough to store up to 14 plates, or support a mix of cups and large utensils.
This drying rack is foldable, making it easy to store and convenient for anyone with limited counter space—although it’s attractive enough that if you can keep it displayed in a modern organic kitchen.
During testing this rack was used primarily for baby bottles, but we were also able to fit pots, lids, and plates in the 28 slots the rack provided. Everything dried relatively quickly with just a few wet spots after a couple of hours.
The bottles took longer to dry than the other items, but after we left them on the rack overnight, they were completely dry by the morning. Additionally, each wide wood slat is spaced far enough apart to allow for ideal air flow and fast drying, and the rack is lightweight yet strong enough to support a variety of dishes.
Price-wise, this rack is fairly inexpensive compared to others, but on the downside, its minimalist design isn’t meant to hold small utensils or other tinier objects that might fall through the slats. Additionally, the rack didn’t include a drainage spout or drainage tray, so you’ll need a drying mat to place under it.
Product Details: Dimensions: 11.5 x 17.75 x 1.5 inches | Material: Bamboo wood | Care Instructions: Hand wash
Best Two-Tier Dish Drying Rack: PUSDON Over Sink Dish Drying Rack
This rack stands over the sink and has plenty of storage for a large amount of dishes.
Keep In Mind
There isn’t room for cookie sheets or large pots and pots.
Having a two-tier dish drying rack can be a huge asset in the kitchen, especially if you’re hand washing a large stack of dishes. During testing, we loved the Pusdon Dish Drying Rack because of its modern and practical design.
This dish drying rack features multiple compartments that can hold utensils, scrub brushes, and larger kitchen tools like tongs and spatulas. There were several glass hooks that allowed us to hang cups and glasses, and the top level held several plates.
We loved how sturdy this rack was and how it was able to hold so much in such an organized way. All of the dishes dried quickly and thoroughly since the dishes drain directly over the sink.
Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of space for pots and pans, but there’s plenty of room for dishes, bowls, glasses, utensils, and more. During testing, we also found that it was easy to clean—we just wiped it with a paper towel. For those who have limited space, this is a smart solution that utilizes the vertical space over your sink.
Product Details: Dimensions: 12.6 x 33 x 20.5 inches | Material: Stainless steel | Care Instructions: Wipe down with a towel
Best Expandable: Joseph Joseph Expandable Dish Drying Rack
Everything about it is adjustable, including the drying space and draining spout
Keep In Mind
It’s not dishwasher safe.
Dish drying racks that expand to provide more space are always great to have handy in the kitchen. Take this Joseph Joseph design, for example. It features a two-part sliding tray that lets you adjust the size of the draining space as needed, so you can fit more items to maximize the rack’s storage and drying capabilities.
Made from durable and fingerprint-resistant stainless steel, this rack held a fairly large amount of plates, cups, bowls, and more. During testing, we applied extra pressure to see how strong the rack was, and it never budged.
We liked that it has an adjustable cutlery tray on the side that has a separate slot for knives, and there’s a rail in the back for cutting boards and other large items. The drainage spout can move between three different positions to adapt to your sink’s layout, and the tray has raised ribs to prevent water from piling up on the bottom and steel prongs to hold items up that are designed to prevent scratching.
Because of its design, this rack isn’t ideal for stacking dishes, but because it’s expandable, you should be able to fit plenty of items without needing to do that anyhow. We were able to fit several different dishes of varying sizes (a set of 20 dishes to be exact) with plenty of space to spare.
One of the details that stood out to us about this rack is that it includes a cutting board support bar for when you want to dry a cutting board, something our other tested racks do not have. However, unlike other drying racks such as the Food52 Five Two Over-the-Sink Dish Drying Rack , this one is not dishwasher safe.
Product Details: Dimensions: 14 x 12.2 x 6.6 inches | Material: Stainless Steel | Care Instructions: Hand wash
The Bottom Line
While there are many great options on the market, you can’t get better than the KitchenAid Full Size Dish Rack , thanks to this item’s ample size, adjustable compartments, and sleek stainless steel make.
Our Testing Process
During testing, we put dish drying racks through a series of dish washing sessions to determine the best ones based on drying ability, design, assembly, and ease of cleaning. The types of items dried consisted of 22 various items including kitchen knives, pots, cooking utensils, wine glasses, cutting boards, and other common kitchen items.
After we washed and placed the wet dishes on the racks to dry, we waited two hours. Then, we checked the dishes to see how dry they were. If the dishes were still wet, we allowed them to sit overnight and checked on their dryness levels the following morning.
After evaluating the dish drying racks on those factors, we compared all of them together and selected the ones that performed the best.
Better Homes & Gardens / Lauren Phillips
What to Know About Dish Drying Racks Before Shopping
Dimensions
Dish drying racks come in all different sizes, so before buying one, Fenn advises that you consider “how much space in your kitchen is available and how much space you want the rack to occupy.”
If you have limited counter space, opt for a smaller model or one that can be folded up for storage or hung up on a wall. Even if you happen to have ample space, you might simply like the convenience of one of those options better. If you do go for a traditional rack, however, make sure to measure your counter and sink space first to ensure it’ll fit.
The Joseph Joseph Extend Steel Expandable Dish Rack is an expandable rack that can fit small or large spaces, and the expandable format allows for convenient storage space. The Pusdon Dish Drying Rack allows you to utilize the vertical space over your sink to dry your dishes, rather than sink or counter space.
Material
Many drying racks are made from stainless steel, which is typically rust-resistant and durable. The Pusdon Dish Drying Rack Over The Sink is made from stainless steel and is sturdy enough to hold a variety of plates and glassware with ease.
This can be a great choice for many people, but if you’re looking for a more elevated design, consider a drying rack made partly or entirely from wood or other types of metal. If you want to save on costs, opt for a plastic drying rack as an alternative, which is usually less expensive if not quite as durable.
Care Instructions
Each dish drying rack has specific care instructions, so make sure to read those first before taking yours out for a test run. Many racks are dishwasher-safe (especially if they’re made from stainless steel or plastic), as long as they go on the top shelf, but you still might want to hand-wash some individual parts that are trickier to keep clean or can’t survive the dishwasher.
Fabric mats, for instance, “should be quick-drying to avoid water build up which can lead to mold and mildew,” says Fenn, and any components made of wood will need to be hand-washed as well.
Better Homes & Gardens / Jessica Comstock
Other Dish Drying Racks We Tested
Yamazaki Home Dish Rack
The Yamazaki Home Dish Rack scored fairly well during testing, and we were initially happy with its performance and aesthetic. Unfortunately, this rack didn’t have a proper drainage system so water collected frequently in the bottom tray. Additionally, the plates never fully dried when they were stacked together because there wasn’t enough space to allow for proper airflow.
OXO Good Grips Compact Dish Rack
Like the Yamazaki Home Dish Rack, the OXO Good Grips Compact Dish Rack also lacked a drainage system. Water pooled frequently underneath the dish rack, and we also wish it had a more convenient way to organize utensils. It felt like a high-quality product, though, and may be a fine option for those with limited kitchen space.
Better Homes & Gardens / Abigail Wetzler
Your Questions, Answered
How do you clean a dish drying rack?
That depends on the material that the drying rack (and all of its individual parts) is made of. “Different materials may require different methods so read the care instructions first,” advises Fenn. Many stainless steel and plastic drying racks can go right in the dishwasher, once you take apart the different components, but racks made with wood or other materials should be hand washed. To do so, Fenn says to “wipe down the rack with soap or a non-toxic cleaning agent and water,” and make sure to let it dry fully before putting dishes into it to dry themselves!
What are the benefits of a dish drying rack?
There are numerous perks, says Fenn, including the fact that “most are designed to hold kitchenware standing up for quicker drying—especially compared to laying dishes flat to dry, which also takes up a lot more space & doesn't exactly ensure everything will dry completely.” Dish drying racks can also save you time and effort spent drying items by hand, and prevent water from just-washed items from spilling out onto the countertops.
Are dish drying racks sanitary?
Yes, says Fenn—”as long as you're putting clean dishes on them and they aren't coming in contact with unsanitary items (like touching them after handling raw meat, for example).” She adds that racks are often “more sanitary than drying with a kitchen towel, especially one that's been out in rotation wiping hands and/or countertops.”
Who We Are
This article was written by Rachel Simon , a writer for Better Homes & Gardens , Real Simple, The New York Times , and many other publications. She frequently covers home products and did significant research on dish drying racks for this story, including speaking to Alysha Fenn, founder and CEO of Making Space Today . Michelle Love is a commerce writer for Better Homes & Gardens and has written multiple pieces covering gardening, kitchen tools, and interior design.
What is BHG Recommends?
Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval . Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they're worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn't an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.
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