The 10 Best Dish Drying Racks For Small Spaces

• Also available on Walmart, $20

Dimensions: 13.5 x 6.6 x 4.4 inches (length by width by height)

Why it's great: This small dish rack is budget-friendly, compact, and comes with its own silicone mat to catch runoff water. It's also built with 12 slots for dinner plates, and a cutlery tray that can easily be removed for extra space. It’s versatile, too — this tiny pick can fit inside your sink if you want to get more room on your counter. The most fun part is that it comes in three colors: bronze, chrome, and copper. With a 4.6-star overall rating after 2,800 reviews on Amazon, reviewers love this dish rack for small kitchens and tiny sinks.

The tradeoffs: The setup is a bit too tight to accommodate rounded plates or more than a couple bowls.

What fans say: "I have a sink in my RV that is very small and I struggled to find a strainer that would fit in it. This is a perfect fit with just enough room for the few dishes that I use and a good space for holding utensils. Plus, I like the color.”

Dimensions: 12 x 5.75 x 4 inches (length by width by height)

Why it’s great: This compact dish rack is a basic pick that checks all kinds of boxes: It’s relatively compact, budget-conscious, and has earned a 4.6-star overall rating after more than 2,000 reviews. It has slots for over eight plates and comes with a plastic cup for utensils. It’s made from durable steel and is small enough to fit inside your sink if you need more counter space for meal prep.

The tradeoffs: Some reviewers have reported the rack may be prone to rusting over time.

What fans say: “Perfect for a small sink. We do not have a dishwasher and don't dry dishes on the counter top. This fits in my sink very well and looks great in a stainless steel sink.”

Dimensions: 8 sizes available, ranging from 17.8 x 11.2 inches to 20.5 x 19.6 inches

Why it's great: Bustle editor Wesley Salazar says, “If you don't have space on your counter or cabinets to store a bulky dish rack, a roll-up one like this can be an unexpectedly elegant solution. It fits neatly over your sink and is perfect for setting dishes, flatware, and even produce out to dry. It's easy to wipe down to clean, but you can also pop it into the dishwasher. And the best part is: It rolls up compactly and you can store it out of the way when needed."

Plus, with over 18,000 reviews on Amazon and an impressive 4.7-star overall rating, this dish mat isn’t just an editor’s choice — it’s reviewer-approved, too. Built with sturdy (and BPA-free!) stainless steel with nonslip grips on the ends, this option lets wet dishes drip directly into the drain. Best yet, it’s available in five sizes, heat-resistant (up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit), and dishwasher-safe.

The tradeoffs: If you don’t have a double sink, you may need to remove dishes before running the faucet.

What fans say: "I absolutely love it, when I don't need it, I roll it up and store under sink, I have used it for multiple things, I put hot pans on it from the stove, hang wet things on rack to drip into sink, dish drainer and it works well when I clean vegetables and fruit.”

Dimensions: 14 x 13 x 10 inches (length by width by height)

Why it's great: Durable and strong, this bamboo wood dish drying rack can accommodate a generous amount of dishes. It's built with 14 slots that can each hold a full-sized dinner plate and has a bottom section perfect for bowls, glasses, and mugs. Some reviewers even claim it's sturdy enough for their heavy pots and pans (although, full disclosure, other reviewers disagree). To top it all off, it folds up and collapses so you can set it out when you want to dry dishes, and put it away when you need counter space.

The tradeoffs: It may be a bit too high to fit under cabinets, and the bottom rack may not accommodate taller water glasses.

What fans say: "Very stable and holds a lot of dishes and cups. Opens smoothly and folds flat for easy storage in a bottom cabinet. Wood is very smooth and easy to clean, and it fits inside the sink. Also makes a great drying rack for washed veggies!”

Dimensions: 16.7 x 9.5 x 15.4 inches (length by width by height)

Why it’s great: This two-tier stainless steel dish drying rack truly has a place for everything, but it manages to do it in an impressively space-saving way. Use the top rack to dry up to 18 plates, the bottom rack for cups and pots, the six hooks on the sides for drinking glasses, and the basket for silverware. Made from chrome-plated stainless steel, it’s resistant to rust and doesn’t require any tools or hardware to set up — simply snap the pieces together.

The tradeoffs: It may be too high to fit under cabinets.

What fans say: “Terrific, sturdy two-tiered dish drainer. Dries super fast due to tiering. Cups, silverware dry on sides. Easy, slide out drip tray. Brilliant engineering. Easy, three minute assembly. Fits on counter under cabinet just fine.”

Dimensions: mat is 20 x 15.5 inches, holders are roughly 6 x 6 inches (according to a reviewer)

Why it’s great: Perfect for dorms, RVs, and efficiency apartments, this three-piece modular dish-drying set can be snapped together if you have the space for it, but you can also separate each piece for use on its own. One rack has space for up to six plates, while the other accommodates two bowls. The utensil holder can be used alone or snapped onto either of the racks for a secure fit. Perhaps the best part? Everything collapses for storage. The set is made from plastic (which won’t rust) and comes with a microfiber drying mat. The mat is generously sized, so you can dry pots and pans, but if you need more counter space, you can fold it up and just use half.

The tradeoffs: The lightweight plastic may be too flimsy for heavier items.

What fans say: “I was looking for a small drying rack for a small space and loved the fact that this one can be taken apart and used in different ways! It is very light weight, however very sturdy - holds bowls with no issue! Definitely a great buy.”

• Also available on Walmart, $49

Dimensions: 15 x 13.2 x 5.4 inches (length by width by height)

Why it’s great: When it comes to quality kitchenware, it doesn’t get much better than KitchenAid, and the brand’s compact dish drying rack is no exception. Made from stainless steel, the sturdy build is ideal if you cook with heavy pots and pans, and the drain tray is designed at a pitch so that water goes into the sink and doesn’t pool. It has slots for about 10 plates, along with a detachable four-compartment utensil holder and six cup hooks that are coated in nonslip material to prevent damage.

The tradeoffs: This pick is on the pricey side.

What fans say: “The dish drying rack is very solidly built and it stays put. It doesn't seem very flimsy at all. The dish drying rack has excellent drainage and it helps to dry the dishes easily. I haven't had any issues at all while using this dish drying rack and it seems that it will last a very long time. I would highly recommend this compact dish drying rack from KitchenAid.”

Dimensions: 15.8 x 11.8 x 5.1 inches (length by width by height)

Why it’s great: While it’s not the most compact option on the list, this expandable dish rack offers amazing versatility. Not only can you set it up on the counter (the rubber feet keep it firmly in place), but you can also extend the nonslip arms to 22.2 inches wide and place it in your sink — helpful when you need a little extra counter space. It holds up to 10 plates (with room to spare for cups), and the two-compartment utensil cup can be detached for even more room. Made from stainless steel, it’s earned a 4.7-star average rating after feedback from more than 4,000 reviewers.

The tradeoffs: If you don’t have a double sink, you’ll have to place the rack on the counter before running the faucet.

What fans say: “It fits sink perfectly, sturdy enough to hold most pots and pans. Certainly helps free up some counter space which I need desperately.”

Dimensions: 24.8 x 11.8 x 20.87 inches (length by width by height)

Why it’s great: Although it’s the priciest pick on the list, this modern dish rack also saves the most space while giving you lots of capacity and size customization options. Made from rust-resistant stainless steel, it has slots for holding up to seven plates, a tray for cups and bowls, a utensil holder, a knife holder, eight hooks for cooking utensils, a basket for detergent and sponges, and a holder for cutting boards and pot lids. And while the rack holds quite a bit, many reviewers describe it as sturdy and it has suction cups on the bottom to help keep it in place.

Keep in mind that the height of your faucet should be under 17.5 inches, the length of the sink should be less than 25 inches, and — if you’re dealing with a cabinet — you’ll need a clearance of at least 27.6 inches from the countertop. In addition to the 26-inch rack featured here, it’s also available in an expandable 22 to 39-inch option and a 33-inch size.

The tradeoffs: If you’re dealing with an irregular faucet or a cabinet over your sink, you’ll have to verify that the sizing will be compatible.

What fans say: “Thus is a huge space saver, we have limited counter space and it makes a huge difference to get the drying rack off of the counter. I was worried about the faucet fitting under and the cabinets but this rack fit perfectly in a tight space. Love it !!!”

• Also available on Bed Bath & Beyond, $45

Dimensions: 19.4 x 15.5 x 5.2 (length by width by height when open)

Why it’s great: This space-saving dish rack has two great things going for it: 1.) The body is made from BPA-free plastic (with stainless steel legs), so it’s more resistant to rust than many options, and 2.) The sides fold in, bringing the rack down to a width of 12.5 inches and height of just 3.9 inches, so you can stow it away in a cabinet when your dishes are done drying. A pop-up plate rack holds up to six plates, and it can be collapsed flat to make room for bigger items like pots and bowls. Spikes along the sides hold cups and glasses vertically, while two utensil holders detach for easy cleaning. The drain tray under the rack is outfitted with a spout — aim it toward the sink to drain excess water.

The tradeoffs: Reviewers have reported that the incline of the drain tray isn’t very steep, so water still tends to pool under the rack.

What fans say: “I wanted a dish rack that could be adjustable, and also have a drain. I also wanted a non rusting and slightly minimalistic look as well. OXO traditionally makes stand out kitchenware so I splurged and I was pleasantly surprised. The utensil holder can be moved around which is very handy, and the dish rack can fold up and down for cleaning it and whether you need it or not. It holds a lot of dishes and it is very easy to wipe up. I love it.”