Best Dish Rack Reviews 2018

If you don’t have one of those Italian kitchens where dish racks are built-in under the sinks, or an expensive dishwasher with a drying area, then you are right to purchase a dish rack. This item might not be the sexiest purchase you’ve ever made for your kitchen, but you will always appreciate its virtues. Go ahead and try one of these five products from some of the best dish rack brands in the market, and you will be glad you did. We did thorough research to ensure we have a style and design for everyone!

Overview

PROS

CONS

SPECS

Type

Size

Material

Chambers

Tiers

Our Top Choice

Totally Bamboo Folding Dish Drying Rack

Totally Bamboo uses natural wood, including bamboo, an ecologically friendly material, to make different products. Its Folding Dish Drying Rack comes with 2 extra side racks.

Extra-large capacity. Quality bamboo material. Great design. Collapsible for easy storage.

A bit pricey compared to other dish racks.

Foldable

19 x 18.5 x 10 inches

Bamboo

3 chambers

2-tier

Best Value

Surpahs WLDD-1512-03 Compact Dish Rack

Surpahs is a privately operated company that's developed some of the best kitchen items on the market. Its WLDD-1512-03 Compact Dish Rack is stylish and compact in size.

Fits sinks and countertops. Designed to drain water in any direction. Easy to clean and rust-proof.

A bit small, so it cannot hold many plates.

Countertop

14.5 x 13 x 6.8 inches

Steel

2 chambers

1-tier

Home Basics 2-Tier Dish Drying Rack

Home Basics was created to deliver high-quality products at affordable prices. Its 2-Tier Dish Drying Rack provides ample space to dry dishes, cups and other items.

Lots of space. Quality aluminum make. Removable tray. Innovative design.

Fewer tracks for full-size dishes.

Countertop

18.2 x 10.6 x 6.8 inches

Aluminum

5 chambers

2-tier

OXO Good Grips Foldaway Dish Rack

Over the years, OXO has always been dedicated to providing unique and quality products to make life easier. Its Good Grips Foldaway Dish Rack can be folded to dry larger cookware.

Foldable design. Holds cups, wine glasses and mugs. Generous capacity.

Water doesn’t drip completely below the plastic; you have to drain it.

Foldable

19.4 x 15.5 x 5.125 inches

Stainless steel

3 chambers

1-tier

UpGood 17120 Dish Drying Rack

Universal design guides UpGood's philosophy. Its Stainless Steel Over the Sink Dish Rack is a multipurpose tool, helping with other cooking processes as well.

Quality steel construction. Affordable. Larger surface area. Multipurpose.

Plates can break when inserted between rods; it’s designed for surface use.

Over-the-sink

20.2 x 15.7 x 0.2 inches

Stainless steel

1 chamber

1-tier

(Updated November 30, 2017)

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How Do I Choose the Best Dish Rack?

Whether you have a fancy penthouse in New York or a nice cozy cottage in the woods, there’s one living space that is absolutely necessary—the kitchen. This is one area of the home that is most frequented as people try to take care of their hunger pangs and quench their thirst. For others, the kitchen is where they get lost in a world of culinary art as they make delicious meals and actualize mind-blowing recipes. After the dust settles in the kitchen, leftovers have to be packed away and dishes have to be washed and dried. Hence the need for a spacious and well-draining dish rack.

To effectively dry dishes, a rack is often placed near the sink and allows utensils to comfortably drain any water. Storing your kitchen tools and appliances with water may cause damage and even rusting for metallic items. For this reason, dish racks have gained popularity since more people are investing in quality kitchen items such as fancy dinner sets; no one wants water to spoil their beautiful collection of utensils.

So, what determines the type of utensil rack to get? Well, for starters, the best dish rack is one with a large drying space so that it can comfortably hold your plates, cups, and other utensils. Partitioning is also an important aspect in the design of dish racks; this helps in convenient drying of each item. Some may be easily foldable for easy storage in places with limited space, while others can comfortably be placed on top of the sink to allow quick drying of dishes.

Price

Purchasing a functional dish rack doesn’t have to cost you a fortune. With between $15 and $80, you can acquire a dish rack, with the prices varying depending on a number of factors. You will find that those that have a large drying area cost more compared to over-the-sink racks which normally lack partitioning for conveniently placing different utensils. You may also find high-end dish racks that are quite costly since they are made using aluminum or stainless steel, and even allow you to dry cookware.

While it’s important to work within your budget whenever you’re shopping, we would like to discourage you from going for cheap dish racks. Such products lack draining areas, which allows water to accumulate rather than dry out. The racks may also not have adequate space to hold your utensils. It’s always important to get value for money, and such dish racks won’t do so.

Features

Let’s explore some of the important features you need to look out for when shopping for a dish rack. They are:

Type - The three common types of dish racks are countertop, folding, and over-the-sink.
Size - You need to consider how much space you have so that you can get the right size of dish rack for your needs.
Material - There are various materials used to make dish racks such as aluminum, steel, plastic, or eco-friendly wood.
Drainage - It’s vital that your dish rack has a place for drainage, so as to keep it clean and free of harmful bacteria.
Arrangement - It’s important for a dish rack to be partitioned to allow you to arrange your utensils without cluttering.
Tiers - Normally you will find that a rack has two tiers, allowing for extra drying space; but some may not have this top tier.

Construction and Design

There are three factors we consider the most important when choosing your ideal dish rack in terms of construction and design: the type, the material it’s made from, and whether or not it allows for drainage. Let’s take a closer look.

Type

Dish racks come in all manner of designs, but the key element in most of them is the draining capability. You will find that these drainers have chambers that allow you to slot various utensils. The size of the slots varies and different racks allow a certain number of utensils. While most have a separate slot for cutlery, you will find that those that are placed over the sink do have such partitioning. Most can be placed over the counter, while others are foldable for convenient use in the kitchen.

Material

Dish racks can be made using materials such as aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, or even wood. Metallic racks are built to last and those that are made of stainless steel tend to be rustproof. Treated and ecofriendly timber is also used by some brands.

Drainage

Drainage is an important aspect of the dish rack and some brands have added a draining tray at the bottom to hold water that drips from the utensils, preventing a mess.

Performance and Ease of Use

When it comes down to the performance and ease of use of your dish rack, it’s important to check out the arrangement it offers and its installation and care needs. Below, we talk a little more about each of these.

Arrangement

Convenient partitioning is an important aspect of a dish rack since this allows for orderly placement of utensils. Whether tiered or not, a rack should have adequate capacity to hold as many dishes as necessary. This calls for a portion for placing the cutlery, slots for plates and spoons, and various other utensils such as cookware. The most important thing is ample drainage chambers.

Installation and Care

Dish racks require minimal or nil installation since all you need is to place it on your countertop or over the sink, depending on the design. Further, it’s important to rinse your dish rack from time to time to prevent buildup of harmful bacteria. Those that have a draining tray need to be emptied regularly. In terms of storage, some racks are foldable for easy and convenient storage when not in use.

What is the Best Dish Rack?

Let’s explore in depth various features of different dish racks, and hopefully enlighten you further as you make your purchasing decision.

Our Top Choice

Totally Bamboo's Folding Dish Drying Rack is a quality rack with an extra-large capacity to hold even more items. It has an innovative design and is made of quality materials. If you want a great cutlery tray and drawer organizer made from bamboo, check out the Totally Bamboo Large Expandable Cutlery Tray & Drawer Organizer.

Totally Bamboo Collapsible Dish Rack- Extra Large Capacity for Maximum Storage, Beautiful and Durable Bamboo

Totally Bamboo Dish Rack 20-6701 - 19" x 18" x 10"

Features

Totally Bamboo developed the very first bamboo cutting board. The manufacturer says that this material is harder than maple and looks good, making it perfect for developing most products. Today the company makes bowls and plates, sinks, kitchen accessories, hardwood chairs, artwork and gift cards.

Its Folding Dish Drying Rack dries your dishes with style! The design spruces up your kitchen, while at the same time giving you an extra-large capacity where you can add pans, pots or large utensils. Don't forget that this dish rack can be folded and stored easily.

If you love the bamboo design, you can get other kitchen items from the same brand. Here are some that we came across during our research:

Totally Bamboo Dish Rack Utensil Holder, Beautiful and Durable Bamboo
Totally Bamboo 6" Classic Bowl, Beautiful Two-tone Bamboo Bowl Works for Individual Servings, Food Prep and More
Totally Bamboo Expandable Trivet, Durable and Beautiful Bamboo Protects Tabletops and Counters in Style, 11 3/4" by 8 3/4" open, 8 3/4" by 8 3/4" closed
Totally Bamboo Round Salt Box with Lid, Laser Etched with University of Florida Mascot

At around $40, you can get this dish rack and enjoy quality and durable materials, not to mention style. Amazon also offers more options at different prices, such as the Compact Dish Rack, Eco Dish Rack, Eco Utensils Holder and Utensils Holder alone.

Check out Totally Bamboo’s other eco-friendly kitchen ware, and its revitalizing oil to protect and preserve your dish rack.

Best Value

Surpahs' WLDD-1512-03 Compact Dish Rack is designed in a small size, holding about 11 full-size plates. Need a dish rack that takes up almost no storage space when not in use? Check out the Surpahs Over the Sink Multipurpose Roll-Up Dish Drying Rack. It sits flat over your sink for drying. Then you can simply roll it up and put it away in a drawer or cabinet when done.

Surpahs Compact Dish Drying Rack and Dish Drainer – In-Sink Dish Rack Fits Most Standard Sinks, 360 Degree Drainage Spout

Surpahs Dish Rack WLDD-1512-03 - 14.5" x 13"

Features

You would be forgiven for misspelling Surpahs as “Surpass,” because the brand surpasses the expectations of its customers. It goes beyond limits to achieve the best. The company manufactures just about every kitchen item, including bathroom and kitchen scales.

The Surpahs WLDD-1512-03 Dish Drying Rack is compact in size, making it a great option for small families. It can handle 11 full-size plates and can be placed on the countertop or in a standard sink. It’s designed in a way that water can rotate 360 degrees, draining from any direction.

At $29.99, this dish rack is certainly a good value for your money. Although we loved the design and convenience of this model, we did come across a number of others, and thought you might need to check them out so you can compare and get yourself the right one. Here are a few options to consider:

Surpahs Aluminum Small Dish Drying Rack, Never Rust
Surpahs 2-Tier Compact Dish Drying Rack (Gray)
Surpahs Over the Sink Multipurpose Roll-Up Dish Drying Rack (Warm Gray)
Surpahs Bamboo Dish Drying Rack

Surpahs has other dish racks if you want something different, including aluminum and bamboo racks. Take a look!

The Home Basics 2-Tier Dish Drying Rack is a high-end dish rack with an inventive design to allow you to dry your dishes and cutlery. Looking for a more affordable, but still high-quality dish rack? Take a look at the Home Basics 3-Piece Dish Drainer Set, which is available in either black or silver.

Home Basics 2-Tier Aluminum Dish Rack - Removable Tray with Drainage Spout

Home Basics Dish Rack DD44560 - 4.8” x 19” x 11.5”

Features

Since its inception, Home Basics has delivered on its promises, guaranteeing high-end home and kitchen products to consumers worldwide. Its goal has always been continuous improvement through developing new, innovative and unique products.

The Home Basics 2-Tier Dish Drying Rack retails at just $49.95, but it comes with something extra – you get a removable tray designed with a drainage spout to make it easy to dry your dishes. Better yet, the material (heavy-duty aluminum) is rust-resistant and will likely serve you for years without bending or getting damaged. The two tiers provide ample space for your dishes to dry, making your kitchen look great and organized.

If you are still undecided on this option, perhaps you can check out other dish drying racks we came across on Amazon during our research. They are awesome picks as well! They include:

Home Basics 3-Piece Dish Drainer Set, Black
Home Basics 2-Tier Steel Dish Rack with Removable Utensil Cup
Home Basics Dish Drainer, 2-Tier Plastic White
Home Basics Deluxe 2-Tier Dish Rack & Drainer, White

Home Basics has many other great dish drying racks if this one won’t fit your kitchen or needs. Check them out today.

OXO's Good Grips Foldaway Dish Rack is designed to fold down to allow room for larger cookware and bowls, and has legs that can fold out to open the drain. We also loved the OXO Good Grips Large Peg Dish Rack, which has pegs instead of your typical plate holders for maximum flexibility.

OXO Good Grips Convertible Foldaway Dish Rack - Stainless Steel, Adjusts to Handle Larger Dishes and Pots

OXO Dish Rack 1473480 - 20.2” x 13” x 4.1”

Features

There’s a good reason why OXO has managed to beat most big names in the kitchenware industry, becoming one of the most popular brands, and it’s simple! The company studies everyone from young to old in order to identify meaningful improvements for its products.

The Good Grips Foldaway Dish Rack accommodates everything, whether you want to dry cookware, bowls, glasses or plates! The unique thing about it, however, is that you can easily fold it down when you want to dry larger items, while holding the glasses on the cup rack. It also comes with a spout to allow effortless draining. Amazing, right?

If you love this brand and wouldn’t mind checking out more kitchen stuff it offers, we came across these items during our research and thought you would love them. Consider these:

OXO Good Grips Large Peg Dish Rack with Adjustable Drain Tray
OXO Tot Bottle and Accessories Drying Rack- Green
OXO Good Grips Silicone Stemware Drying Mat

OXO has other dish drying racks if this one isn’t right, including the OXO Tot designed for drying baby bottles and accessories.

UpGood's Stainless Steel Over the Sink Dish Rack has a nice design to allow for a wide range of uses. It sits easily over your sink, giving you enough space to dry your dishes. Need something a little wider, or maybe in a different color? Check out the Extra Large Roll-Up Dish Drying Rack from UpGood, available in either orange or green.

UpGood Stainless Steel Over the Sink Dish Drying Rack – Multipurpose Dish Rack, Rollable, Foldable, and Easy to Store, Black

UpGood Dish Rack UG-17120 - 20.2” x 15.5” x 0.2”

Features

If you have used OXO home items before, you know one thing – the brand doesn’t compromise when it comes to design. That’s right. OXO’s process of making products is guided by relentless attention to detail, which is perhaps one of the reasons it's come up with some of the very best solutions for everyday tasks.

Its Stainless Steel Over the Sink Dish Rack is made with quality premium-grade steel, guaranteeing beauty and perfection. It’s a multi-purpose rack, meaning that you can use it to dry your dishes and cookware, clean your vegetables when making dinner in the evening, cool down food items, and drain water and juices right into your sink. All you have to do is place it over your sink to make simple kitchen cleanups a breeze.

Want to try other kitchen items by UpGood? Here are some that we think will brighten up your space:

Turner Set | 2 Pack | Large and Small Kitchen Spatulas | Stainless Steel & Silicone | Non-Stick and Heat Resistant Utensils for Cooking, Flipping and Pressing (UpGood Kitchen Tools, Shadow Black)
UpGood Countertop Paper Towel Holder with Brushed Stainless Steel and Iron Accents | Vertical Roll Dispenser (Large Stand, Red)
Universal Replacement Kitchen Compost Filters | 4 Pack | Designed for Bins/Pails | Extra Thick and Absorbent | Made with Activated Carbon | Freshens Air and Traps Odors (UpGood Refill Set, Small)

If you’re looking for a multi-functional dish rack, the UpGood flat dish racks are a great option. Take a look and see!

Get the Best Dish Rack of 2018!

It’s our hope that this review helped you narrow down the best dish rack for your needs. Do check out the featured brands for more options and value for your money.

Our Top Choice

Totally Bamboo Folding Dish Drying Rack

Best Value

Surpahs WLDD-1512-03 Compact Dish Rack

Home Basics 2-Tier Dish Drying Rack

OXO Good Grips Foldaway Dish Rack

UpGood 17120 Dish Drying Rack