Best Dish Drying Racks in 2021: Top 10 Picks

Everybody knows how convenient it is to have a decent dish drying rack in the kitchen. A good rack helps organize your kitchen, keeps your dishes germ-free, and makes washing chores hassle-free.

In this post, we will be comparing some of the best dish drying racks available in 2021. Each dish rack comes with excellent features and functionalities and has its own pros and cons. And it is up to you to make the right choice depending on your needs.

Dish Drying Racks Buying Guide

Before buying a rack, you need to make sure that the product you are buying has the right equipment and fits in size for your family. There are other important factors like size, material, drainage system, etc. You need to consider these factors in determining the best dish drying rack for your needs, and this section is going to tell you everything about it.

Materials

Materials used in a dish rack is an important thing to consider. Currently steel, aluminum, and plastic are common materials among dish drying racks, sometimes even bamboo and wood are used. Stainless steel is very strong and lasts long without getting rusty over time. Plastic reduces production costs and may provide many advantages depending on the type used. On the other hand, bamboo is eco-friendly and has anti-bacterial properties.

Inside the Sink or Outside?

Many people prefer to keep their dishes in the sink, though many leave them on the countertop. If you want to keep your dish rack in the sink, you have to find a size that fits your sink. The smaller racks that we reviewed are suitable for this job, and many of them are built for use inside the sink.

You may want to keep your rack out of the sink, but you will have to deal with dripping water. Otherwise, that water will spoil your countertop. For this reason, it’s important to find racks with the proper drainage system, for example, one with spouts which directs the water into the sink or down to the drainage tray, which then diverts the water into the sink.

Size and Capacity

Before buying a dish drying rack, you need to have a good idea of how much space you need to place it near or inside your kitchen sink. If you have less space but lots of plates, you may go for the two-tier dish racks that are taller than single-layered ones. You could also buy a large over-the-sink rack, that can store lots of dishwares while keeping the counter free. But if you are a small family then you may go for the smaller options which will save bucks.

You may go for the convertible or expandable options if you use completely different sets of kitchenware at different times, and your need for a spacious rack is not frequent. They can be customized based on your needs and can save space by collapsing to a smaller area when space is a problem.

Style

In addition to storing dishes, a dish rack should enhance the look of a kitchen. Ideally, select a rack that matches your kitchen interior. However, never sacrifice functionality for the sake of beauty. Always try to choose one that suits your need and looks decent enough.

Foldability

This is an important factor for many buyers. If you buy a rack that is large but not foldable, you may face problems in storing it. Many of the racks these days are foldable/collapsible for convenience of use and storage. If you wish to keep your rack inside cabinets then you should go for a foldable option that can easily fit inside.

10 Best Dish Drying Racks Reviews in 2021

Our Pick:

The most important factor we considered before choosing the best drying rack for dishes was the combination of functionalities that would suit most of the buyers. We chose this classy rack from Simplehuman because of its elegant design, effective and practical features that will meet almost any customers’ needs. You should check out our other racks of choice before making a decision.

1. Simplehuman Kitchen Steel Frame Dish Rack

When you start using a dish drying rack, the first thing you will notice is the excess water falling under the rack. And if you do not have a tray under the dish rack, your sink area might become wet and slippery.

Designers from Simplehuman solved this very easily, and effectively as well. Their dish rack has a 180-degrees swivel spout drainage system which leads the water directly into the sink. The spout can be swiveled and also be confronted sides by sides, thus keeping the countertop neat and clean altogether.

As the rack is made of stainless steel with a hydrophilic coating of plastic, it can soak the water quickly. It reduces the growth of bacteria and fungus on the dish rack. It will thus help you to keep your food hygienic and ensure a healthy environment in your kitchen.

In Simplehuman Dish Drying Rack There are three separate spaces alongside the dish holder to put your kitchenware separately. There is a space for keeping knives, spoons, and other cutlery. A fountain chamber is available where you can keep cups, plates, dishes, etc. There is also a nice glass hanger on one side for your wine glasses.

Pros:

• Very fast drying.
• Special drainage system.
• Easy to clean.
• Corrosion-free.
• Handsome outlook.
• Can easily move towards any direction.
• Three large space to organize kitchenware.
• Versatile use.

Cons:

• A little bit overpriced but worthy.
• Takes a large space relatively.
• Requires frequent cleaning.

2. Premium Racks Professional Dish Rack

If you pay too much attention to decorations and want to keep your kitchen neat and classy then Premium Racks Professional Dish Rack might be the best pick for you.

This dish drying rack is made of high-quality stainless steel. It has an extremely customizable and flexible design that permits users to store different sets of utensils. Moreover, instead of eating up space on your kitchen counter, it uses vertical space to increase dish holding areas. The steel used is strong and corrosion-free and provides very good support and stability even when the rack is carrying full weight.

The top wire rack is positioned high above the floor, it has slots made of steel wire to hold the plates securely. The bottom shelf of this rack can be opened in order to keep bowls & other items.

The upper shelf is adjustable as well, it can be fitted on the left, right, front or removed if needed. The rack has space for drying your cutting board, something you do not find in all the dish racks. There are three attachments to hold your cups and glasses, and after they come in isolated holders, you can fit them anywhere in the rack.

This Rack comes with a pair of drainboards each having different functionalities. You will also find 3 cup holder attachments and a cutting board attachment as well. A good addition in this dish rack is its multi-purpose knife holder attachment. When you separate the top part, it can be used to keep more bowls.

Pros:

• Modular construction.
• Strong base for stability.
• Fully customizable.
• Made of high grade 304 Stainless steel.
• Large storage space.
• Eats up less space on the counter.

Cons:

• No additional cup clips.
• Assembling the rack may seem like a tough job to some.

3. Neat-O Deluxe Chrome-Plated Steel Small Dish Drainers

If you have a smaller kitchen and can not manage to accommodate a bigger rack, Then this dish drying rack should fit in your compact kitchen. It is also comparably cheaper than most racks featured in this post and should fit into any budget.

Neat-O Deluxe Chrome-plated Steel Small Dish Drainer does not have too many frills and comes with a handsome sleek design with a chrome finish. Due to its simple and compact design, it can be used over-the-counter or placed inside the sink.

The rack is very lightweight. It does not come with a water tray, mainly because it is designed to be used inside the sink as well. You can buy an extra tray to use the rack on the counter.

The plate holder takes up almost the entire space on the rack. The wire at the bottom of the holder is plastic coated to protect dishes. You can fit this slot at more than 8 plates at once.

There is a separate holder for carrying knives and cutlery, which can be separated from the rack. It has four inclined containers for cups or glasses as well. Another thing we like about this rack is the bottom half covered with black plastic coating. A stylish as well as effective approach that ensures the rack does not dig your countertop and does not slip. The rack wire is made of stainless steel which is plated with chromium, which makes them rust and corrosion-resistant.

Pros:

• Small, lightweight dish drainer suitable for limited counter space.
• Simple yet stylish design.
• Made of chrome-plated stainless steel.
• Can be placed in the sink or over the counter.
• Includes inclined glass holders.
• Black dipping to protect the dish.

Cons:

• Not enough space even for smaller bowls.
• A draining tray or a mat is necessary if using the rack outside sink.

4. OXO Good Grips Convertible Foldaway Dish Rack

Three words to describe OXO-good-grips foldable dish rack: convertible, convenient and compact. It features convertible storage space, meaning its different parts can be expanded or collapsed to make space for different combinations of kitchenware. The rack is mostly made of solid plastic, although there is a stainless steel frame.

The dish drying rack contains plate holders that can be used to make slots for your plates or converted to be flat on top which allows you to use the same space for keeping big dishes like pots and pans. There are two rows of stemware holders on each side of the rack, which you can use to dry your cups, water glasses, and wine glasses.

Each holder is divided into three parts, which makes organizing flatware super easy. There are six slots for placing the plate and cutting board. Finally, there is an array of ties for cups and glassware. You can drain your sink directly using the water drainage spout.

Many people prefer to keep the dishes stored in their kitchen cabinet for more space in the kitchen counter. For many large dish racks, this is not possible due to space shortage. This one is designed with space problem in mind. Fold between plate holders, two rows of column holders, two rows of the spout and rear feet, you can reduce the total size of the rack by 46%. Now you may store it wherever you want to.

About 85% of Amazon reviews for this dish drying rack is positive. However, many reviewers rated it 4 out of 5, as they found the draining system a bit problematic in some cases.

Pros:

• Built of stainless, rust-resistant steel.
• Durable.
• Has a versatile convertible design.
• Drips directly into the sink and minimizes the mess.
• The plate rack is safe for Chinese and delicate dishware.
• Utensil holders are removable for easier unloading.
• Holds tabletop clean and dry.

Cons:

• The base is not slanted so you might need to tilt the body.
• Does not include a detachable basket for cutlery.
• Not very spacious.

5. OXO Good Grips Aluminum Frame Dish Rack

If you have a ceramic sink that rises above your kitchen counter and also has limited space, this dish rack can be a great choice. This one sits high and can also be positioned in two ways. With a great metal look and clever design, this smaller dish rack will fit into any kitchen environment.

The OXO-Good-Grips Aluminum Dish Rack, as the official website states, combines versatility with durability in its design by using aluminum. Aluminum is a lighter metal than steel, and it does not get rusty over time. This gives the rack an edge over its steel-based opponents. The designers did a good job implementing a smart yet minimalistic look.

The rack has a gorgeous array of plate holders. You can use them to either stack plates or glasses or both. The draining board opens directly to the sink through the extended spout. The floor of the rack does not hold any water, instead, it directs the water down to the drainer board directly.

Safety boundary around the rack is pretty high, dishes have less chance of breaking from falling. It also has a removable utensil cup where you can store knives and cutlery. But it lacks a dedicated glass holder, and there is no space for your cutting boards.

Overall, this rack is perfect for small families in terms of design and performance. But it is not suitable for people looking for a multi-functional rack for different types of kitchen appliances.

Pros:

• Made with rust-proof aluminum frame.
• Stylish design.
• Lighter and stronger than steel racks.
• Functional drainage into the sink.
• Easy to clean.
• Unique plate holders.
• Has removable, divided utensil cup to accommodate long-handled tools.
• Adjustable drain tray.
• Has non-slippery feet for stability.

Cons:

• A bit expensive.
• Not large enough for bigger dishes or pans.

6. Kitsure Stainless Steel Dish Rack

Even though there are few advantages of using plastic, it can grime and easily mold and it is difficult to keep clean. Many of us do not like to use plastic tools, especially in front of guests. For those people, this rack should be a perfect choice.

The Zojila Rohan Dish Rack is fully made of heavy gauge stainless steel. No plastic guaranteed. The only place you will see plastic is at the feet, soft plastic covers are used so that your countertop does not get scratched by the metal legs.

This dish drying rack has a great design. Especially the open plate holder area is very unique. The plate holder is basically inclined, evenly-spaced steel rods. The horizontal spread of the holders is useful to store plates of different sizes. Altogether it has slots to hold 13 plates at a time.

The drip tray is a thick sheet of stainless steel with a smooth surface. The steel sheet is carved in a way to prevent water from falling on the countertop. The two legs at one side of the rack is shorter than the other side, and you will have to place those legs beside the sink. This will cause the water to directly flow to that side and fall into the sink.

The rack has a non-removable cutlery holder that is also made of steel. It can be divided using a removable divider that creates four segments for different sets of utensils. There is also a relatively smaller space for cups, glasses or bowls beside the cutlery holder.

It comes with a lifetime warranty from Zojila.

Pros:

• Unique, aesthetic design.
• Made of top-grade stainless steel.
• Easier to keep clean and hygienic.
• Inclined and longer plate holders.
• Capable of holding a lot of items.
• Comes with divisible cutlery holder.
• Has an efficient draining system.
• Lifetime warranty.

Cons:

• Very expensive compared to other options.
• Always leans toward one side, not horizontally parallel to surface.

7. Joseph Joseph Extended Dish Rack

For all the premium stainless steel flash, Joseph Joseph Extended Rack offers a neutral kind of presence that we definitely loved. At a glance, it is just a small plastic rack with metal prongs and a cutting basket delicate, nothing special in particular. But this rack is great at what it is designed to do. This is one of the best dish drying racks for saving space and being stylish at the same time.

It is basically a water spout that helps to remove all the water in the sink. It keeps water away from the surfaces of your workplace. Depending on your space it has a stretching feature to make the drainer larger or smaller.

The ‘expanded’ system works reasonably well. The expanded rack allows you to easily expand your dish-drying space. If needed, it can be increased up to two times the original size.

A moving cutlery holder can be placed in a different position on the rack and allows for flexible use. Non-slippery feet of dish rack ensures that the rack is safe and stable anywhere in the kitchen. Steel racks can also be removed for easy cleaning.

An integrated spout helps to drain excess water, but it can be drained and trapped inside to be disposed at a later time.

 Pros:

• Holds most items without too much wobbling.
• Expands to almost double of its size.
• Movable cutlery holder.
• Scratch-proof tips.
• Integrated drainage spout.
• Spout rotates to trap water.
• The water will not get trap under them.

Cons:

• May look a bit ordinary in your kitchen.

8. Polder Dish Rack & Tray (4-Pieces Combo)

Polder aims to make daily life easier by applying user-centered design philosophy and creating useful, beautiful, better products.

This 4-Pieces Advanced Dish Drying Rack from Polder is made of Stainless steel rods and high-quality plastic material. It comes with a double tray: One is for drying and another is for draining. These trays are easily separated from one another to give flexibility in how you want to make use of them.

The drainer tray falls under the wired floor and you can hold the water from the washed items on the rack. The sloping edges make sure that the water can flow directly into the sink and not onto the counter. The steel feet are plastic padded to protect countertop from scratch.

The plate holders can accommodate 10 plates of different sizes. There are also cup holders at one side. At the other side, you have a cutlery holder divided into smaller segments for different sets of cutlery and knives.

The drying tray is useful for drying glasses and bowls. It can make space for those extra dishes from the aftermath of your thanksgiving or a birthday party. The surface of the tray is dotted which prevents slipping or toppling of glasses and cups.

If you are not satisfied with the product, you can always ask for a refund or replacement from Polder.

Pros:

• Made from rust-resistant, brushed stainless steel.
• Elegant design and quality.
• Easy to clean.
• Durable.
• Comes with a separate tray that can be used as extra drying space.
• 10 slots for plates and 6 holders for your glasses and cups.
• You can ask for refund or replacement.

Cons:

• Cannot use mugs in cup holders.
• Draining system could have been better.

9. Totally Bamboo Eco Dish Drying Rack

Totally Bamboo has introduced a whole new line of eco-friendly dish drying racks. Their racks are completely made of bamboo parts. It is not just environment-friendly, it looks great with pine and other wooden worktops. Besides, bamboo has anti-bacterial properties that make it a good choice for use in kitchenware.

This rack is made of 100% natural and golden color bamboo. As bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants, using bamboo in industries does not affect add too much to the deforestation or greenhouse problem. Bamboo made products are often thicker than oak or maple, and it is much stronger than steel. This rack is strong enough to take a full workload and never tumble.

The rack design is well-thought and has 2 side racks for pots, pans, glasses, or a large container. The rack is also easily folded to a height of just 4 inches so storage space is never a problem.

It is large enough to accommodate many plates and big pans and bowls. It is well-designed and does its job quite perfectly. Even if you feel like paying a little extra for this, it is absolutely worth it.

Nothing looks prettier than bamboo, no matter the style and look of your kitchen. The durable look of the rack is firmly built and combines with most kitchen interior very well.

Among all other bamboo racks we reviewed, this should be the better choice for most.

 Pros:

• Made of high-quality bamboo.
• Beautifully designed to fit seamlessly into any kitchen.
• Spacious and holds many dishes.
• Has 2 side racks for holding other items and large pans.
• Able to handle so many dishes.
• Has three separate racks for organizing dishes.

Cons:

• Need to take care of the bamboo, or it may degrade.
• No drainer tray underneath, countertop may become messy.

10. Island Bamboo Dish Drying Rack

Once you get a bamboo dish drying rack, you may not want to go back to the world of plastics and stainless steel dish racks. So if you are familiar with bamboo dish racks, this can be good choice.

The drying rack from Island Bamboo has a two-stage design. The rack is designed and constructed to maximize stability and durability. The rack can sustain extreme use and is very long-lasting. The main point of bamboo is the hygiene factor compared to ordinary wood (oak/maple). Bamboo is naturally anti-microbial, there is no reason to be concerned about the increase in bacterial growth.

The design of the rack is quite the same as other bamboo racks(e.g. the one from Totally Bamboo). The two-tier rack is foldable for easy storing.

The rack is generously sized and quite massive. It can easily make space for all of your tableware, flatware, cutting boards or serving items. It is 24 inches or two feet in length, meaning any big pans or bowls will fit easily in it.

The highest rack keeps the plates upright for quick and fast-drying, whereas rock bottom level is for the cups or alternative serving items. The rack additionally includes a removable cutlery holder, which is comparatively larger as well.

This dish drying rack is quite large and very stable. It provides so much space for drying and holds up well for years. Island Bamboo also provides replacement for faulty products.

Pros:

• Made of bamboo that is 16 percent stronger than wood.
• Has anti-microbial properties.
• Spacious rack, extends to two feet.
• Collapses flat for simple storage.
• Includes a removable portable utensil holder.
• Has a two-layer design.
• Has strong build and is long-lasting.

Cons:

• No dividers in the utensil container.
• Not very cheap.
• May not fit in smaller kitchen.
• No drainer tray means wet countertop.

Conclusion

In this post, We have tried to cover the best dish drying racks available online and review their strengths and weaknesses. If you are really thinking about buying a dish rack, we have one last advice: choose wisely. With so many brands and options in hand, many get confused and buy based on others’ recommendations. To better suit your kitchen, choose a rack that meets your necessities.