The Best Dish Racks for 2026: KitchenAid, Simplehuman, Zojila and More
By Claire Whitmore. Last updated October 2026.
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Even kitchens with a dishwasher need somewhere to dry pans, knives, wine glasses and anything that’s hand-wash only. A good dish rack holds a meal’s worth of dishes securely, drains water into the sink rather than onto the counter, and is easy to clean so it doesn’t grow mold.
Our picks come from Wirecutter’s dish rack guide, updated in December 2025, which has tested racks since 2014. Testers loaded each rack with four place settings plus cookware, balanced a 12-inch cast-iron skillet on the edge, poured water on to check drainage (including over a drop-in sink edge), hung a 26.5-pound kettlebell on over-sink racks and left dishes to dry overnight. We haven’t tested these ourselves, and prices change often.
Quick answer: the KitchenAid Full Size Dish Rack is the best for most homes, and the KitchenAid Compact Dish Rack suits two-person households. Choose the Simplehuman Steel Frame Dishrack for big households and stemware, or the all-stainless Zojila Rohan Dish Drainer as a buy-it-once upgrade.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Best for | Notable feature |
|---|---|---|
| KitchenAid Full Size Dish Rack | Most households | Roomy three-section cutlery holder; limited lifetime warranty |
| KitchenAid Compact Dish Rack | Two people | About 16 x 12.5 in.; fits thick stoneware plates |
| Simplehuman Steel Frame Dishrack | Large households | Most capacity; wine glass holder; swivel spout |
| Zojila Rohan Dish Drainer | Upgrade | All stainless steel; steep drainboard |
| Chef’n DishGarden | Small kitchens | Compact, adaptable prongs |
| OXO Good Grips Aluminum Fold Flat | Storing away | Folds to under 2 in. tall |
| OXO Extendable Over-the-Sink Rack | In-sink use | Arms extend 15 to 19 in. |
| Kraus Roll-Up Dish Drying Rack | Tiny counters | Rolls up; heat-resistant to 400 °F |
| Brightroom Polyester Dish Mat | Drying-mat fans | Absorbent, machine-washable, about $8 |
| IKEA Rinnig Dish Drainer | Low profile | About $4; ridged surface drains well |
The best dish racks
1. KitchenAid Full Size Dish Rack: best overall
Best for: households of up to about four.
The KitchenAid held four place settings, a 10-inch skillet and two mugs, and its angled drain tray left not a drop on the rack overnight. The cutlery holder has three sections, two with slotted lids that keep silverware upright. It comes apart into three pieces for cleaning; hand-wash it, since one long-term tester’s tray warped in the dishwasher.
It has no secure stemware holder, and thick stoneware plates won’t stand between the prongs. A small share of reviews mention rust near the joints; KitchenAid’s limited lifetime warranty should cover it.
Pros
- Large capacity
- Excellent drainage
- Roomy cutlery holder
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- No stemware holder
- Thick plates don’t fit the prongs
2. KitchenAid Compact Dish Rack: best compact rack
Best for: couples and small kitchens.
About 16 x 12.5 inches, the compact KitchenAid performs as well as its larger sibling and, unlike it, holds thicker stoneware plates upright. Its three-section cutlery holder fits large-handled tools. A little water pooled in one corner of the drainboard, away from the dishes.
Pros
- Space-saving
- Fits thick plates
- Spacious cutlery holder
Cons
- Small puddle on drainboard
3. Simplehuman Steel Frame Dishrack: best for large households
Best for: families who hand-wash a lot, and stemware owners.
It held four place settings, a 10-inch skillet and a whole Dutch oven with its lid, and it has a dedicated wine glass holder with its own drip tray. The enclosed basin drains through a 360-degree swivel spout that clears drop-in sinks, and it stayed stable with a cast-iron pan balanced on its edge. It has six parts to clean, a 22.5 x 20-inch footprint and stands nearly a foot tall, and it’s pricey.
Pros
- Biggest capacity
- Stemware holder
- Swivel spout
Cons
- Large footprint
- Tedious to clean
- Expensive
4. Zojila Rohan Dish Drainer: upgrade pick
Best for: anyone who wants a rack that may never need replacing.
The Rohan is made almost entirely of thick stainless steel, including the drainboard, which is pitched so steeply that dishes dried in about half the time of other racks. It’s fully dishwasher-safe and resists mold. The bare steel wire chipped a bit of enamel off a Le Creuset pot, it weighs about 7.5 pounds, and Zojila’s lifetime warranty requires you to post a review or follow the company on social media to activate it.
Pros
- Durable stainless build
- Fast drying
- Dishwasher-safe
Cons
- Can chip enamel
- Heavy
- Warranty strings attached
Picks for small spaces and special needs
Chef’n DishGarden: an all-plastic rack with tall outer and short inner prongs that held surprisingly heavy cookware, two movable cutlery cups and a closable spout. It’s top-rack dishwasher-safe (no heated dry). Its stickers are hard to remove.
OXO Good Grips Aluminum Fold Flat Dish Rack: folds into its tray to just under 2 inches tall for cabinet storage, held a cast-iron pan and Dutch oven, and its tray held about a cup of water without overflowing. The cutlery basket is cramped.
OXO Good Grips Extendable Over-the-Sink Rack: about 15 x 11.5 inches, it sits in a sink basin or spans it with arms extending from 15 to 19 inches, and it barely bent under a 26.5-pound kettlebell. It doesn’t work over apron sinks.
Kraus Multipurpose Over-Sink Roll-Up Rack: silicone-wrapped steel bars that roll out over the sink, held a 15.5-pound Dutch oven and double as a trivet to 400 °F. It fits only a plate and bowl at a time and smelled of plastic at first.
Brightroom Polyester Dish Mat: at 18 x 24 inches and about $8, it absorbed a quarter cup of water and was nearly dry in half an hour. Machine-wash it regularly.
IKEA Rinnig Dish Drainer: a $4 ridged drainboard, about 15.75 x 12.25 inches, that drained cleanly and dried everything overnight, but doesn’t hold much.
What to look for
- Material: stainless steel or plastic resist mold and rot better than wood.
- Drainage: an angled tray or spout that clears your sink’s edge.
- Easy cleaning: few parts and crevices where gunk can collect.
- Capacity and stability: room for your household’s dishes and heavy pans without tipping.
- Fit: measure your counter and sink, and note which side the rack drains from.
FAQ
How often should I clean a dish rack?
Wipe it weekly and deep-clean the tray and spout regularly to prevent mold and hard-water buildup.
Is a drying mat better than a rack?
Mats are cheap and store flat but hold less and need frequent washing. Racks give better airflow.
How do I remove hard-water spots from stainless?
Wirecutter suggests Bar Keepers Friend, then letting the steel dry fully. Avoid steel wool.
Do I still need a rack if I have a dishwasher?
Most households do, for knives, wooden items, nonstick pans and delicate glassware. See our dishwasher guide.
The bottom line
The KitchenAid Full Size Dish Rack is the best choice for most kitchens, and its compact version is ideal for two. Go big with the Simplehuman, or buy once with the stainless Zojila Rohan. For tiny kitchens, the Chef’n DishGarden, OXO folding rack or a Brightroom mat will do the job.
