These Top-Performing Drying Racks Will Make Washing Dishes a Whole Lot Easier (2024)

This story was updated in May 2023 to replace out-of-stock picks and answer some frequently asked questions about dish racks.

Even with a top-rated dishwasher to do most of the heavy lifting, there are times when you still need to wash some items by hand. Whether it's just a few plates after breakfast or cookware you prefer to clean with your favorite dish soap, having the right drying rack means everything has a place to rest without fear of breaking or damage. Plus, a good dish rack helps keep everything separate and allows for maximum airflow and drainage, which ultimately speeds up drying time.

Letting dishes, utensils, and pots and pans air dry in a dish rack can also be a more sanitary option than towel drying, since there's no issue with how clean the towel you're using may be. If your water is hard, however, it's best to dry dishes with a clean towel after draining — especially glasses and plastics — to prevent water spotting.

If you're considering adding a drying rack to your sink space or replacing one you currently have, these are our top recommendations from brands we trust and styles that have done well in our tests.

When we test dish racks in the Good Housekeeping Institute, we assess them for how easy they are to assemble, how much counter space they occupy relative to the number of items they hold, how easy they are load, how well they drain and for foldable models, how easy they are to store. We also consider how easy they are to clean.

After reviewing our favorite dish racks, keep reading for more information about how we test dish racks, what to look for when buying a dish rack, how to care for a dish rack and why you should trust our reviews.

In Good Housekeeping Cleaning Lab tests, Simplehuman products are standouts. From soap dispensers to paper towel holders to trash cans, Simplehuman products are well made, well designed and great performers and this dish rack is no exception. Lab experts found it was easy to assemble, sturdy and had excellent capacity. They liked that it drained well from any side, meaning that you can position it in either direction to the left or right of your sink and still have the water drain from it. Plus, its fingerprint-resistant steel trim and coated plastic tray for faster drying mean smudges and water spots are a non-issue. Though these extras come at a price, we think something that's so visible in a kitchen should also look its best.

When you want just the basics and an affordable price, this no-frills dish rack from Rubbermaid fits the bill. We use multiples of these racks in our Good Housekeeping Cleaning Lab to hold all of our soiled dishes before running our tests of dishwashers, dishwasher detergents and dish soaps. They are sturdy, well made and best of all can go right into the bottom rack of the dishwasher for easy cleaning. The coated wires hold plates securely upright, won't rust and are treated with Microban to prohibit the growth of bacteria. Don't expect lots of extras at this price, however. All it includes is one small snap-on flatware caddy.

A dish rack sitting out on your counter 24/7 — no matter how stylish it is — may not be your idea of attractive kitchen decor. If so, or if you have limited counter space, this folding rack from Oxo is a great option. Fully open, it accommodates plates, flatware, cups, bowls and more. The flatware caddies are divided and the interior tines fold down for when you need a flat surface to drain large bowls, casseroles or cookware. What impressed Good Housekeeping cleaning experts most when they met with Oxo for a demonstration of this dish rack is how the sides, legs and plate tines fold in and down and the drain spout snaps up to store it neatly on its side under the kitchen sink. Though it may not be as big as other racks, we feel the ability to store it away neatly outweighs the few extra items it may not accommodate. And hey, big loads should be going into the dishwasher anyway!

Sometimes, it's nice to have extra room as the dishes pile up. This rack from Sabatier has a drain board that expands from a mere 18.5 inches to an ample 29.4 inches, giving you almost 11 inches of extra drying space. It also comes complete with a removable stemware rack for hanging delicate wine glasses. Other nice touches include a divided cutlery caddy, an extra-wide slot to hold a skillet, a drain spout that pivots to drain water from two directions and stainless steel trim. While this rack hasn't been tested by the GH Cleaning Lab, online reviewers rate it sturdy overall, though some thought moving the drain board and drip tray required a bit of care.

Umbra is a company known for its very cool and unusually designed home accessories and organizers, so we weren't surprised when we found this mini dish rack that's a hit with consumers, too. With almost 6,000 five-star Amazon reviews, it's perfect for one- or two-person households and small spaces. With its low-profile design, it nestles right inside a kitchen sink. Rubber coated feet keep it stable without scratching and the cutlery holder can be repositioned or removed. Best for only a few items, we like that it keeps dishes off the counter and out-of-sight while they air dry. It's also worth considering for larger households where most loads go into the dishwasher and only random dinnerware gets washed by hand.

For the ultimate in discreet drying racks, consider a roll up one, like this one from Kraus. Simply lay it across your sink-top and place your clean items on top to drain. When not drying dishes, it rolls up for easy, compact storage in a drawer or cabinet and it is silicone coated and heat safe to 400°F so it can also be used as a trivet to protect countertops from hot pots and pans or casserole dishes. The GH Cleaning Lab has tested similarly designed roll up racks and recommends them for any household, large or small. The manufacturer claims this one holds up to 40 pounds, is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning and can even be used to drain freshly washed fruits and vegetables. Keep in mind that it's best for items that can rest sturdily on their own.

Whether you place it over-the-sink or in it, this dish rack from Polder will free up valuable counter space while items drain and dry. Polder makes quality home organizing and laundry products and based on all its positive online reviews, this little dish rack is no exception. Made of stainless steel, the arms extend to 27 inches to safely straddle any sink bowl and the rubber coating on the arms and feet keep sink surfaces from getting scratched. According to the manufacturer, it can accommodate up to 10 plates with room for glasses and other small items (or even for draining fruits and veggies, we think!). What it doesn't offer is a little caddy for flatware and utensils.

For extra drying capacity, this customizable dish rack from Premium Racks goes up, not out, and its two-tiered design ensures you'll never be at a loss for space. The removable top plate shelf can be positioned on the front, back or either side of the lower rack. Other unique features include its wide utensil holder, separate knife caddy, three cup clips with a drip tray and a cutting board attachment with its own drip tray. Unlike others we've seen, it comes with two different style drainboards (one has a lip for draining into the sink) and a microfiber mat if that's the way you prefer to keep water off your counters. We haven't tested this model in our GH Cleaning Lab, but overall it has good consumer reviews, with some noting problems with draining and accommodating large plates in the upper tier as the image shows.

If cookware and utensils are what you hand wash most, KitchenAid's rack can handle the load. Pitched so water drains from the board into the sink, this rack has plenty of space to accommodate stock pots, skillets, lids and more. The full-length removable flatware caddy mimics those on KitchenAid dishwashers and is divided into three sections for better drying and draining. Seven prongs at the side closest to the sink provide plenty of space for frequently washed cups and glasses, though stemware doesn't have its own dedicated place. The stainless steel accents give it an upscale vibe and we like the low profile for a more discreet look and less countertop clutter.

Our GH Cleaning Lab loves this little Kohler drying rack for its dedicated purpose, safely drying and storing wine glasses. If you already have a dish drying rack that can't accommodate stemware, this makes a great add-on. The pillow top surface on the bottom pad allows air to circulate even within glasses sitting directly on it or it catches drips from glasses hanging above it. The rack holds six standard or four-oversized wine glasses and either folds flat for storage or can be placed directly into a cabinet to hold glasses safely there and for easy retrieval.

The key to keeping a dish rack clean (plus free from rust) is to keep it dry. Each time you're done with it, drain the excess water and dry the rack and all the pieces. Every so often wash it in warm, sudsy water. Some are even dishwasher-safe or have top-rack dishwasher-safe parts to make cleaning easier. Check your brand's cleaning recommendations to be sure.