We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. What to Buy Cleaning The 8 Best Dish Racks, According to Our Tests We tested more than 25 dish racks, including collapsible options and an over-the-sink style. By Alyssa Longobucco Alyssa Longobucco Alyssa Longobucco is a freelance writer, editor, and stylist living in New York with over a decade of experience in the food, home, and lifestyle categories. When she's not diving into the latest trends and products, she's restoring an 1820s farmhouse in the Hudson Valley alongside her husband and children. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 29, 2023 In This Article Expand In This Article Our Top Picks ReviewsOur Favorite Dish Rack Our Dish Rack Tests Factors to Consider FAQ Other Dish Racks We Tested Our Expertise Photo: Food and Wine / Williams Sonoma We all have chores we dread. For many of us, it’s washing and drying dishes — and we don’t just mean scraping off the crusty remnants of last night’s lasagna recipe from our casserole dishes. Even with a generously sized sink, dishes can quickly become one of the messiest tasks in our kitchens. To help streamline your dishwashing process and keep your sink area organized, sanitary, and free of excess water, you’ll need the right dish rack. The best dish racks provide an organized and sturdy place to stack your dishes, glassware, and flatware while they dry — but that’s not all. They should also prevent pooling water and be easy to store out of sight when not in use. To find the best dish racks, we tested more than 25 top-rated picks, selecting styles with various features, drying capabilities, and footprints to ensure you can find one that works for your kitchen space. From over-the-sink picks that eliminate soggy countertops to space-saving collapsible designs, here are the best dish racks that aced our tests. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Simplehuman Steel Frame Dish Rack at Amazon ($100) Jump to Review Best Overall Runner-Up: Yamazaki Tosca Dish Rack at Amazon ($88) Jump to Review Best Value: Kitsure Space-Saving Dish Drying Rack at Amazon ($30) Jump to Review Best Over-the-Sink: Food52 Five Two Over-the-Sink Dish Rack at Food52 ($45) Jump to Review Best Stainless Steel: KitchenAid Full-Size Dish Rack at Amazon ($60) Jump to Review Best Collapsible: OXO Aluminum Fold Flat Dish Rack at Amazon ($43) Jump to Review Best Two-Tier: Yamazaki Home Two-Tier Dish Rack at Food52 ($88) Jump to Review Best Bamboo: Totally Bamboo Dish Drying Rack at Amazon ($50) Jump to Review Best Overall Simplehuman Steel Frame Dish Rack PHOTO: Simplehuman $100 at Amazon $100 at Target $100 at Wayfair Pros The base drip tray on this dish rack unscrews, so it can easily be cleaned and sanitized. Cons At $100, this rack is one of the priciest picks on our list. It’s also one of the widest, so it may not be the best choice for small spaces Our top honors go to this comprehensive Simplehuman design. The sturdy stainless steel frame has one of the widest footprints on our list, offering plenty of room for a meal’s worth of dishes, flatware, and drinking glasses. The interior of the basin has silicone-capped plate dividers to keep your dinnerware stacked securely, while a bottom swivel spout rotates, allowing you to channel drips and water from the catch tray directly into the sink no matter how you have it positioned on your counter. During our testing, we gave high marks to the sturdiness and durability of this rack, which was just as stable whether it was filled with dishes or used to dry more awkwardly shaped items, like coffee pots and enameled cookware. The wide footprint easily accommodated enough dishes, glassware, and flatware for four people thanks to a deep caddy that can hold any whisk or spoon in your utensil set. The spacing between the interior dividers offered enough air space between the dishes so that everything dried nearly completely overnight. Material: Stainless steel, plasticDimensions: 22.3 x 20.2 x 11.5 inchesDishwasher safe: Yes Food & Wine / Riddley Schirm Food & Wine / Riddley Schirm Food & Wine / Riddley Schirm Best Overall Runner-Up Yamazaki Tosca Dish Rack PHOTO: Amazon $75 at Amazon $88 at Williams-Sonoma $88 at Food52 Pros Simple and sleek aesthetics make this dish rack one you don’t mind having displayed on your countertop. Cons The base tray doesn’t have a spout that drains directly into the sink, so it will have to be drained manually, which adds an extra task to your to-do list. For a sleek and simple dish rack that’s a total crowd-pleaser, look no further than this Yamazaki Home design. Like many of the brand’s biggest hits, it seamlessly marries form and function, with a lightweight coated steel structure and dividers that keep dishes, bowls, and serveware pieces upright. There’s also a separate storage area to stash flatware, though no designated spots for delicate glassware like on the Simplehuman model. A base dish drainer helps keep drips from coating your countertop, while wood handles allow for easy carrying and add a stylish touch. This pick won rave reviews in our testing for its looks, durability, and versatility. We loved how the interior of the rack had just enough organization without limiting us to only place certain items in a single location. Because the walls of the rack are on the taller side, we were able to stack and pack this dish rack a bit more than other models — frying pans, a colander, and a salad spinner all found their way onto this drying rack. Our one gripe was that the drip tray doesn’t have a spout that channels the water into a nearby sink, so it will need to be drained manually. It’s not a dealbreaker — the sides of the drip tray are rather deep, so it’ll hold a lot of water until you’re ready to empty it. Material: Stainless steel, plastic, woodDimensions: 18.5 x 13.25 x 8 inchesDishwasher safe: No Food & Wine / Taylor Rock Food & Wine / Taylor Rock Food & Wine / Taylor Rock Best Value Kitsure Space-Saving Dish Drying Rack PHOTO: Amazon $23 at Amazon Pros This dish rack comes in several different colors including matte black, teal, and even orange, so it’s easy to coordinate with your kitchen decor. Cons The side walls on this dish rack are shorter than some of the other options on our list, which may cause tall pieces to tumble out more easily. If our two winning picks for the best overall drying racks were to have a baby, this Kitsure design would be it. It teams up top-notch features from both models — including a drainage spout and steel bar sides — to form a comprehensive yet inexpensive dish rack that gets the job done. The interior of the basin has a designated dish rack and flat area where you can dry cereal or pasta bowls, coffee mugs, and cups, as well as a plastic caddy with two different sections (one for serving and cooking utensils and one for flatware). Best of all, this design features a coveted spout on the drainage tray that rotates in three directions to properly channel water from the basin into a nearby sink. During our testing, we noted how high-quality this piece felt for its reasonable price point. While it wasn’t quite as luxe as some of the pricier picks on our list, this Kitsure piece was sturdy and durable, with properly spaced dividers that allowed our dishes to dry quickly and evenly. Because this model is on the petite side (we think it’s best for one to two-person households), it does fill up quickly and can be susceptible to tipping over if you use it to dry heavier pieces like a cast iron skillet. Still, it’s a quality design that can’t be beaten for the price. Material: Stainless steel, plasticDimensions: 15.6 x 12 x 4.9 inchesDishwasher safe: No Food & Wine / Michelle Parente Food & Wine / Michelle Parente Best Over-the-Sink Food52 Five Two Over-the-Sink Dish Rack PHOTO: Food52 $45 at Food52 Pros This rack is heat-safe up to 550°F, so it can double as a trivet for hot pots or trays of cookies. Cons This dish rack spans 20 inches wide when completely unrolled, so if you have a small sink, it may be put out of commission while using this drying rack. Reclaim your counter space with this clever dish-drying rack that nestles right over your sink. Designed by Food52, this silicone-coated metal rack unrolls to cover a portion of your sink, with enough space to dry everything from stackable glassware to small pans. It also includes a silverware caddy with perforated holes that drain water directly into your sink. While it may seem like this small but mighty rack wouldn’t hold a lot, we were able to stack it full with three frying pans, several kitchen knives, and even a Vitamix blender jar. As we were testing this dish rack, one thing became quickly apparent: This is the best pick for anyone with a small kitchen or very little free countertop space. You can’t beat the convenience of being able to roll up your dish rack when it’s not in use. The stainless steel bars are covered in slip-proof silicone, so they’re gentle on dishware while being able to withstand a decent amount of weight. Thanks to its heat tolerance, we used this rack to hold cooling stockpots while cooking, proving it’s a do-it-all design you’ll seriously appreciate adding to your kitchen. Material: Silicone-coated stainless steelDimensions: 20.5 x 12.25 inchesDishwasher safe: Yes Food & Wine / Elle Wignall Food & Wine / Elle Wignall Food & Wine / Elle Wignall Best Stainless Steel KitchenAid Full-Size Dish Rack PHOTO: Amazon $60 at Amazon $60 at Wayfair $60 at Sur La Table Pros The angled drying tray at the base helps direct drips into your sink to avoid messes. Cons This dish rack isn’t able to be disassembled as much as some of the other options on our list, making it a bit more difficult to clean. If you’re sick of piling your nonstick cookware atop the stove to dry or immediately having to wipe each pan by hand with a towel, this KitchenAid drying rack is for you. At 20 inches wide, it’s one of the largest options on our list, making it ideal for holding freshly washed pots, pans, and even stainless steel skillets. Sturdy stainless steel construction ensures it won’t tip over even when fully loaded, and the large silverware caddy and rust-resistant wire dividers help keep things organized, with designated spots for dishes, cups, and mugs. During our testing, this dish rack rose to the top of the crop thanks to its durable design and angled tray at the base, which gently coaxed water toward the sink. We loved the convenience of the silverware caddy, which is removable so you can easily tote your squeaky clean forks and knives to the silverware drawer to put them away. The biggest perk of this piece had to be its size, though. It’s purposely oversized to accommodate a ton of dishware (up to a dozen or so plates, according to our testing) or pieces of cookware and bakeware like cookie sheets, which many dish racks can’t properly hold. This one also has rubber feet on the legs to provide added stability and keep it from sliding around on your counter. Material: Stainless steel, plasticDimensions: 20 x 14.96 x 7 inchesDishwasher safe: No Better Homes & Gardens / Nick Simpson Food & Wine / Anna Knief Food & Wine / Anna Knief Food & Wine / Anna Knief Best Collapsible OXO Aluminum Fold Flat Dish Rack PHOTO: Amazon $43 at Amazon $43 at Target $43 at Food52 Pros The base draining pad has ridges to keep the rack securely in place while allowing bowls or cups to dry quickly. Cons The included cutlery rack is on the smaller side, and may not fit more than a few large cooking utensils. Calling all small space dwellers! If you can’t sacrifice a lot of counter space for a dish drying rack, your number one goal should be hunting down a collapsible style. We love OXO’s folding dish rack for tight spaces since it flattens to just two inches when not in use. When set up, you can use this sturdy rust-proof aluminum rack to dry up to 10 plates at a time, with plenty of room underneath for bowls, mugs, and cups on a ridged plastic mat. While testing this piece, we liked its narrow yet impactful design and sleek aesthetic. While it’s most easily used to dry dishes — the slots are perfectly spaced for holding your favorite stoneware dinnerware set — it still held its own against larger pieces of cookware without tipping over. We struggled a bit when it came to drying glassware — smaller pieces found a home on the base mat but stemmed glassware wouldn’t fit. Altogether though, this is a very solid pick for a dish-drying rack, especially if you have a small kitchen and want an option that can be tucked away when not in use. Material: Stainless steel, plasticDimensions: 20 x 14.96 x 7 inchesDishwasher safe: No Food & Wine / Cassandra Basford Food & Wine / Cassandra Basford Food & Wine / Cassandra Basford Best Two-Tier Yamazaki Home Two-Tier Dish Rack $88 at Food52 View on Theyamazakihome.com View on Burkedecor.com Pros This mega-rack holds up to 26 pounds worth of dishware, making it the ideal choice for larger households. Cons Whatever you place on the top of this rack drips down onto the bottom level, so those items will take longer to dry than normal Tall and narrow, this towering dish rack from Yamazaki is the perfect pick for larger families or anyone who isn’t able to supplement their scrubbing with a dishwasher. Made from durable stainless steel, this rack has two levels dedicated to corralling dishes, cups, and cookware, as well as a flatware holder and adjustable hooks on either side where you can hang mugs, measuring cups, and more to dry. The best part? It features a handy drain tray and spout that leads any drips right back into the sink. While placing your beloved plates on a teetering tower may seem a bit precarious, our testing found this double-decker model to be just as sturdy as its single-level counterparts. The rack itself was easy to set up and remained stable through loading and unloading the dishes. The bottom rack is the ideal spot for glassware as well as larger pieces of cookware, like essential pots and pans or mixing bowls. Don’t envision putting that level to use? You can remove the bottom tray to create a spot to squirrel away extra dish towels or sponges. Material: Stainless steel, resinDimensions: 16 x 9 x 13 inchesDishwasher safe: No Best Bamboo Totally Bamboo Dish Drying Rack PHOTO: Amazon $50 at Amazon $50 at Walmart View on Totallybamboo.com Pros This dish rack collapses flat to just 4 inches, making for easy storage under your sink or in your pantry. Cons There’s no base or tray with this dish rack model, so you’ll have to put a towel beneath it to catch drips. If you have a precious collection of porcelain china or chef’s knives you want to baby by handwashing, this bamboo dish drying rack is the perfect accompaniment. It’s gentler on your fragile pieces and is the most water-resistant wood out there, making it the ideal practical pick for dishwashing. The accordion-style shape slightly resembles a “W,” with two levels where you can air dry dishes, glasses, utensils, and more. Done scrubbing for the evening? Simply fold it up to a respectable 4-inch thickness and stash it under your sink for safekeeping. During our testing, this piece held up to piles of plates and a collection of cookware, staying balanced and steady even when items were placed only on one side of the rack. That being said, you will need to use a bit of logic when placing your pieces on this rack — the V-shape of the top rack can make it a bit more difficult to get bulkier items off the bottom shelves, so you’ll want to save that space for smaller pieces, like cups or mugs. One other small gripe we had? There’s no catch-tray at the bottom of this piece for water, so you’ll want to put a dish towel down or invest in a dish drying mat to place underneath. Material: BambooDimensions: 19 x 18.5 x 10 inchesDishwasher safe: No Food & Wine / Emily Deichmann Food & Wine / Emily Deichmann Food & Wine / Emily Deichmann Our Favorite Dish Rack While we tested a lot of great dish racks for this piece — 26 to be exact — our top honors went to Simplehuman’s Steel Frame Dish Rack. Not only does the design hold a ton of dishes and cookware, but the piece is aesthetically pleasing enough to keep on your countertop. Our Dish Rack Tests We spent hundreds of hours testing 26 of the best dish racks on the market, putting them through a variety of tasks to see how well they held up against everyday dishwashing duties. Each rack was assembled and then used for several weeks. During our testing period, we incorporated the dish rack into our typical chores, filling it with dishes and other cooking utensils at least once, and using it to dry large and odd-shaped cookware like Dutch ovens, cookie sheets, colanders, and glassware at least once. We paid close attention to the drying time of the pieces when they were nesting in the rack, noting how well they had air-dried at the two-hour mark and again the following morning. Aesthetics were also kept in mind. We noted how stylish each piece was, how much room they took up on the counter, and whether or not the design was collapsible. Finally, we made note of any extra features, like convenient drain spouts or removable silverware caddies, that make for a better overall product. Factors to Consider Size One of the biggest considerations when shopping for a dish drying rack is just how large of a piece you need — and what your kitchen can accommodate. If you don’t have a dishwasher that will be handling some of the load, then you’ll want to choose a drying rack that can house upwards of 10 or more plates, along with cutlery and glasses. Your ideal drying rack should also fit your available counter space, especially if you envision leaving it out on display. You don’t want to sacrifice all your prep space to a dish drying rack if you don’t have to, so aim to snag a piece that balances the capacity you need with a footprint that feels manageable. Finally, consider what you’re most likely to be using your dish rack for. If you have a dishwasher and will primarily be using it to dry cookware you wash by hand, you’ll want to choose a size that accommodates your most-used pieces. The same goes for any oddly shaped plates or platters you use frequently. Material Most of the picks on our list are made from silicone, plastic, stainless steel, or bamboo. You’ll want to choose a material that suits your dishware and lifestyle, avoiding anything that will mold or mildew over time or abrasive styles that may scratch your cookware. Additional Features A dish rack with dividers is a must, but many of the picks on our list also include additional features that make your nightly washing routine an easier and more organized task. When shopping for the best dish rack for your space, look for functional add-ons like cutlery cups, drip trays, removable levels, and unique organizers to make the most of your drying space. Ease of Cleaning It may seem counterintuitive (after all, you’re using it to stash clean dishware), but your dish drying rack will need to be cleaned occasionally. No matter how hard you try, it will still be vulnerable to food scraps and slimy leftovers, so you want to make sure to choose a style of rack that is relatively easy to clean. Whether that means something as simple as a removable drip tray or the ability to throw the whole thing in the dishwasher is totally up to you. If you decide on a stainless steel drying rack, we recommend investing in a stainless steel cleaner to keep surfaces bright and shiny. Frequently Asked Questions Why do you need a dish rack? In homes with a dishwasher, a dish rack isn’t a must — but it’s pretty helpful to have. Dish racks can provide a safe and sturdy place to air dry delicate dishware, cookware, glassware, and more. If you don’t have a dishwasher, a dish rack is a helpful addition as you cycle through multiple meals' worth of dishes each day. How do you clean a dish drying rack? Cleaning your dish rack should be done weekly or more if you happen to be drying a particularly messy piece of dishware. “Daily cleaning would be ideal, but it might not be realistic,” says Lisa Yakas, a trained microbiologist who specializes in consumer products. “It depends on how frequently it’s used, how soiled it is, and if it stays wet. Based on your routine, implement a regular cleaning and sanitization cycle. If you see water pooling for long periods, notice a smell, or see visible grime, then wash and sanitize it right away before next use.” Where is the best place to put a dish rack? If you have the cabinet space to put away your dish rack, the best spot to store it is beneath or near your sink. You want to keep it somewhere close to where you wash your dishes so you can conveniently reach for it any time you need it. Make sure to keep your rack away from any exposed chemicals (like in cleaning solutions) or dirt and grime that could make its way onto your dish rack and then transfer to your “clean” dishes. What is the best material for a dish rack? “When buying a dish rack, look for designs with construction that is considered smooth and easily cleanable,” says Yakas. “Stay away from designs or materials that might trap microorganisms or promote their growth.” The picks on our list range from stainless steel to silicone and bamboo, all of which should do their part to ward off germs and bacteria if cleaned regularly. Other Dish Racks We Tested We tested a lot of dish racks in our quest for the best, and while the eight that made our list are strongly considered the best, many strong contenders didn’t make our final roundup. The below dish racks are still strong contenders, with a few small exceptions — either they dripped a little too much water, weren’t as sturdy as we would have liked, or didn’t fit a ton of dishes seamlessly. Strong Contenders Joseph Joseph Excel Steel 2-Tier Dish Rack ($80 at Target) OXO Good Grips Aluminum Dish Rack ($55 at Amazon) Dash SmartStore Dish Rack ($70 at Amazon) Hay Shortwave Dish Rack ($195 at Nordic Nest) Chef’n DishGarden ($27 at Amazon) What Didn’t Make the List Umbra Holster Dish Rack ($65 at Amazon) Seropy Roll-Up Dish Rack ($13 at Amazon) Surpahs Over The Sink Roll-Up Dish Drying Rack ($36 at Amazon) Bambüsi Bamboo Dish Drying Rack ($20 at Amazon) Rubbermaid Large White Antimicrobial Dish Drainer ($31 at Walmart) Yamazaki Tower Dish Rack ($59 at Amazon) Better Homes & Gardens Bamboo Kitchen Dish Drying Rack ($15 at Walmart) KitchenAid Wrap Compact Dish Rack ($70 at Amazon) iPEGTOP Expandable Dish Drying Rack ($29 at Amazon) Joseph Joseph Stainless-Steel Extendable Dual Dish Rack ($51 at Amazon) Simple Houseware 2-Tier Metal Dish Rack ($40 at Amazon) Mainstays Dish Drying Rack ($9 at Walmart) Brabantia Foldable Dish Rack Large ($88 at Williams-Sonoma) Our Expertise Alyssa Longobucco is a freelance writer, editor, and stylist living in New York with over a decade of experience in the food, home, and lifestyle categories. When she's not diving into the latest trends and products, she's restoring an 1820s farmhouse in the Hudson Valley alongside her husband and children. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit