Undercounter refrigeration: ice makers, drawers and beverage centers
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Undercounter refrigeration is where a luxury kitchen gets its second and third cold zones: refrigerator drawers in the island, a beverage center by the bar, and a clear ice maker that makes restaurant-style cubes. Every unit we cover fits a standard base-cabinet opening, roughly 34 inches tall, and they list from about $3,595 to about $6,750.
The short answer: if you entertain, a 15-inch clear ice maker is the undercounter refrigerator upgrade we'd prioritize. The Scotsman Brilliance (about $3,799 to $4,499) and Sub-Zero Designer (about $5,430 to $6,750) both rate 65 lb of clear ice a day. For drinks, the True Residential TBC-24 beverage center (about $4,569) is the overbuilt, commercial-style pick, and the Sub-Zero Designer (about $3,595) is the one to choose for a fully integrated look. For fresh-food overflow, Sub-Zero and Perlick refrigerator drawers both list around $5,100 to $5,700.
All comparisons rely on published specs, list prices and warranty terms; our ratings are editorial estimates, not lab results. Filter the grid below, or let the Kitchen Suite Matcher find units that match the rest of your suite.
Every model we review (8)
| Undercounter unit | Width | Type | List price | Full warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perlick Signature Series 24-inch Beverage Center | 24″ | Beverage center | $4,920 | 3-yr full |
| Perlick Signature Series 24-inch Refrigerator Drawers | 24″ | Refrigerator drawers | $5,386-$5,700 | 3-yr full |
| Scotsman Brilliance 15-inch Gourmet Clear Ice Machine | 15″ | Ice maker | $3,799-$4,499 | 1-yr full |
| Sub-Zero Designer 24-inch Undercounter Beverage Center | 24″ | Beverage center | $3,595-$4,015 | 2-yr full |
| Sub-Zero Designer 24-inch Refrigerator Drawers | 24″ | Refrigerator drawers | $5,115-$5,915 | 2-yr full |
| Sub-Zero Designer 15-inch Undercounter Ice Maker | 15″ | Ice maker | $5,430-$6,750 | 2-yr full |
| True Residential 24-inch Beverage Center | 24″ | Beverage center | $4,569-$4,919 | 3-yr full |
| U-Line 1 Class 15-inch Clear Ice Machine | 15″ | Ice maker | $4,099 | 1-yr full |
List prices when last checked; configurations, finishes and panels change the price. Click a column to sort.
Perlick Signature Series 24-inch Beverage Center
Perlick · Undercounter unit · Beverage center
- $4,920 MSRP
- 24″ wide
- 3-yr full warranty
- Total capacity (cu ft): 5.2
- Capacity (12-oz cans): 62
The Perlick Signature 24-inch beverage center (HP24BS) is the one to buy if you want a bar fridge that feels commercial rather than decorative. It holds 5.2 cubic feet, or about 62 cans plus 16 wine bottles, at 33 to 48°F, and Perlick backs it with 3 years of parts and labor if you register within 90 days. AJ Madison lists it at about $4,920. It's single-zone and not cheap, but the build and warranty justify the premium for heavy entertainers.
Perlick Signature Series 24-inch Refrigerator Drawers
Perlick · Undercounter unit · Refrigerator drawers
- $5,386-$5,700 MSRP
- 24″ wide
- 3-yr full warranty
- Total capacity (cu ft): 5.2
- Capacity (12-oz cans): 144
The Perlick Signature Series 24-inch Refrigerator Drawers (HP24RS-4-5) are the commercial-grade choice for undercounter refrigeration, and the capacity winner. One dealer lists them at $5,386, with the lockable HP24RS-4-5DL at $5,700. You get 5.2 cu ft across two all-stainless drawers on full-extension ball-bearing glides, a stated 33 to 42°F range, room for 144 cans and a variable-speed compressor. Register within 90 days and the warranty is 3 years parts and labor. The trade-off is fewer smart features than Sub-Zero.
Scotsman Brilliance 15-inch Gourmet Clear Ice Machine
Scotsman · Undercounter unit · Ice maker
- $3,799-$4,499 MSRP
- 15″ wide
- 1-yr full warranty
- Ice per day (lb): 65
- Bin storage (lb): 26
The Scotsman Brilliance 15-inch Gourmet ice machine (SRCG065A) is the value pick among premium clear-ice makers. Scotsman rates it at 65 pounds of clear, slow-melting top-hat cubes a day, with a 26-pound bin, and it's approved for outdoor kitchens. AJ Madison prices run about $3,799 to $4,499 depending on finish and drain type, well under Sub-Zero's 15-inch ice maker. The catch is a short 1-year parts and labor warranty and a more utilitarian look. If you care about ice more than logos, start here.
Sub-Zero Designer 24-inch Undercounter Beverage Center
Sub-Zero · Undercounter unit · Beverage center
- $3,595-$4,015 MSRP
- 24″ wide
- 2-yr full warranty
- Total capacity (cu ft): 5.5
The Sub-Zero Designer 24-inch Undercounter Beverage Center (DEU2450BG) is the one to buy if your bar has to match a Sub-Zero kitchen. It lists at $3,595 panel-ready, or $4,015 with a stainless glass-door kit and tubular handle, and holds 5.5 cu ft, including 8 wine bottles. A UV-resistant glass door, full-extension shelving, Wi-Fi, Energy Star certification and Sub-Zero's long sealed-system coverage are standard. The trade-offs: Sub-Zero doesn't publish can capacity or a temperature range, and rivals hold more wine.
Sub-Zero Designer 24-inch Refrigerator Drawers
Sub-Zero · Undercounter unit · Refrigerator drawers
- $5,115-$5,915 MSRP
- 24″ wide
- 2-yr full warranty
- Total capacity (cu ft): 4
The Sub-Zero Designer 24-inch Refrigerator Drawers (ID-24R) are the pick when undercounter refrigeration has to disappear into an island. They run about $5,115 panel-ready and about $5,915 with a stainless door kit and tubular handle, holding 4.0 cu ft across two full-extension soft-close drawers. Touchscreen temperature control, adjustable LED lighting, Wi-Fi and Energy Star certification come standard. The trade-off: Perlick fits more inside for a similar price, and Sub-Zero doesn't publish the temperature range.
Sub-Zero Designer 15-inch Undercounter Ice Maker
Sub-Zero · Undercounter unit · Ice maker
- $5,430-$6,750 MSRP
- 15″ wide
- 2-yr full warranty
- Ice per day (lb): 65
- Bin storage (lb): 25
The Sub-Zero Designer 15-inch ice maker (DEU1550I/DEU1550IP) is the clear-ice machine to buy if your kitchen is already Sub-Zero and you want everything to match. It's rated at 65 pounds of clear, full-size square cubes a day, holds 25 pounds, runs quietly, connects to Sub-Zero's app and is approved indoors or out. List prices run about $5,430 to $6,750. You pay roughly $1,600 or more over Scotsman for that integration and polish, not for extra ice.
True Residential 24-inch Beverage Center
True Residential · Undercounter unit · Beverage center
- $4,569-$4,919 MSRP
- 24″ wide
- 3-yr full warranty
- Total capacity (cu ft): 5.6
- Capacity (12-oz cans): 147
The True Residential 24-inch Beverage Center (TBC-24) is the commercial-grade pick for serious drinks storage, indoors or out. Abt lists it at $4,569 with a custom panel and $4,919 with a stainless-frame glass door. It holds 5.6 cu ft, 147 12-oz cans or 13 wine bottles, with a stated 33 to 47°F range, a low-E double-pane UV-tinted door and 300-series stainless inside and out. It's UL-rated for outdoor use and hand-assembled in O'Fallon, Missouri. The trade-off: no Wi-Fi, and it costs more than Sub-Zero's.
U-Line 1 Class 15-inch Clear Ice Machine
U-Line · Undercounter unit · Ice maker
- $4,099 MSRP
- 15″ wide
- 1-yr full warranty
- Ice per day (lb): 55
- Bin storage (lb): 25
The U-Line 1 Class 15-inch clear ice machine (UHCL115) is the most flexible-looking clear-ice maker in this group, with stainless, black, white and panel-ready finishes. U-Line rates it at 55 pounds of clear square cubes a day with a 25-pound bin. MSRP is about $4,099 for stainless, though AJ Madison showed sale prices from about $3,299 to $3,719 depending on finish. It makes less ice than Scotsman or Sub-Zero and isn't approved for outdoor use. For indoor bars that want square cubes and a color choice, it's a good fit.
How to choose undercounter refrigeration
Ice maker, drawers or beverage center?
Start with the job. Refrigerator drawers are best for an island prep zone or a kids' snack station, because you see everything from above. A beverage center keeps drinks out of the main fridge and usually has a glass door. A clear ice maker is a dedicated machine that makes far more and better ice than a refrigerator's ice maker.
Clear ice makers: output, drain and outdoor use
Compare daily output, bin size and drainage. The Scotsman and Sub-Zero list 65 lb a day with bins of 26 lb and 25 lb; the U-Line 1 Class lists 55 lb and a 25 lb bin. Each brand offers gravity-drain and pump-drain versions, so confirm whether you have a floor drain below the cabinet before you order. Scotsman and Sub-Zero are rated for outdoor use; the U-Line is not. Our clear ice maker guide explains how clear ice is made and who should buy one, and Scotsman vs Sub-Zero compares the two leaders.
Refrigerator drawers: capacity and finish
The Perlick Signature lists 5.2 cu ft in an all-stainless cabinet with a 33 to 42°F range. The Sub-Zero Designer lists 4.0 cu ft but is panel-ready, with Wi-Fi and soft-close drawers. Pick Perlick for capacity and a commercial look, Sub-Zero if the drawers should disappear into cabinetry.
Beverage centers: cans, bottles and doors
Look at can and bottle counts. The True lists 147 cans and 13 bottles, the Perlick 62 cans and 16 bottles, and the Sub-Zero 8 bottles with no can figure published. If you mostly store wine, you'll be happier with a dedicated unit from our wine refrigerator hub.
Warranty and service
Warranties vary more here than anywhere else. True lists 3 years parts and labor, Perlick 3 years if registered within 90 days, Sub-Zero 2 years full, and Scotsman and U-Line 1 year (U-Line adds a year with registration). Ice makers need regular cleaning, so ask your dealer who services them locally.
For ranked picks, see the best undercounter ice makers and the best refrigerator drawers and beverage centers. Planning full-height refrigeration too? Start at the refrigerators hub or read our column refrigerator guide.
Our best-of lists
Popular comparisons
Frequently asked questions
What is the best undercounter ice maker?
On paper, the Scotsman Brilliance and Sub-Zero Designer 15-inch are the two to beat, both rated at 65 lb of clear ice a day and both approved for outdoor use. Scotsman costs less, from about $3,799. Sub-Zero costs more, from about $5,430, but adds Wi-Fi, a panel-ready design and a 2-year warranty versus Scotsman's 1 year.
Do undercounter ice makers need a drain?
Yes, they need somewhere for meltwater and cleaning water to go. Gravity-drain models need a floor drain or standpipe below the unit. If you don't have one, choose a pump-drain version, which pushes water up and out to a sink drain. Scotsman, U-Line and Sub-Zero all sell pump versions, usually at a higher list price.
Are refrigerator drawers worth it?
They're worth it in an island prep zone, a coffee bar or a family snack station, where reaching into a drawer is easier than walking to the main fridge. They hold less than you might expect, 4.0 to 5.2 cu ft on our list, and cost more per cubic foot than a full-size refrigerator. Treat them as a convenience zone, not main storage.
What is the difference between a beverage center and a wine fridge?
A beverage center is built for mixed drink storage: cans, bottles and some wine, usually held at one colder temperature. A wine refrigerator is designed for wine, often with multiple zones, more bottle racks and vibration control. If wine is your main use, buy a wine unit; if you stock soda, beer and sparkling water, buy a beverage center.