What to Buy Bar & Drinks The Best Ice Buckets for Wine Lovers and Party Hosts Chill your refreshments in style with our top picks. By Melissa Vogt Melissa Vogt Melissa has been writing in the food and wine industry for more than a decade. She contributes to local and national publications as a California Wine Appellation Specialist, with certification through the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) at the Advanced Level 3. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 17, 2023 In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews Factors to Consider FAQ Our Expertise We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Pottery Barn Whether it's Champagne, rosé, a canned cocktail, seltzer, or iced tea, a drink nearing room temperature doesn't compare to one that's nestled between ice cubes. Ice buckets take care of this, and beautiful stainless steel, copper, and marbled vessels add a decorative touch to dinner parties and barbecues. Drawing on our industry knowledge, expert insights, and the ice buckets we use often at home, we curated this list with size, style, material, and insulation in mind. We know the ideal option might also be a matter of taste and budget, so we've included a few extra alternatives as well. From traditional ice buckets to beverage tubs and portable cooler bags, read on for the best ice buckets below. Our Top Picks Best Insulated: Williams Sonoma Ice Bucket at Williams-Sonoma Jump to Review Best Value: OXO Insulated Plastic Ice Bucket Set at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Parties: Crafthouse by Fortessa Stainless Steel Ice Bucket at Amazon Jump to Review Best Hammered Metal: Williams Sonoma Hammered-Copper Ice Bucket at Williams-Sonoma Jump to Review Best Stainless Steel: Fortessa Crafthouse Ice Bucket with Tongs at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Outdoors: Corkcicle Cooler Backpack at Amazon Jump to Review Best Vintage Style: Pottery Barn Bleecker Ice Bucket at Pottery Barn Jump to Review Best for Champagne: Williams Sonoma Champagne Bucket at Williams-Sonoma Jump to Review Best Insulated Williams Sonoma Double-Wall Stainless-Steel Insulated Ice Bucket Williams Sonoma View On Williams-Sonoma Pros This is a well-priced, well-made ice bucket that will get the job done. Cons This ice bucket doesn't have a handle and doesn't come with tongs. This stainless steel ice bucket from Williams Sonoma has a sleek rounded shape, smooth exterior, and simple lidded design that earn it a top spot on our list. It's double-wall insulated, so you don't have to worry about ice melting too quickly and the lid keeps ice frozen longer. Its size is ideal for serving ice cubes or chilling a single bottle of wine. It's also top-rank dishwasher safe, for easy cleanup at the end of the night. Price at time of publish: $100 Dimensions: 7.5 x 7 inchesMaterial: Stainless steel Alternative Pick: S'Well Ice Bucket S'well Buy on Amazon $50 Buy on Wayfair Buy on Swell.com Best Value OXO Insulated Plastic Ice Bucket Set Amazon View On Amazon View On Wayfair View On Sur La Table Pros The flip-top lid and garnish tray are the way to go for enjoying craft cocktails at home. It's less expensive than ice buckets made of stainless steel. Cons It's small, so you may need to refill it depending on the size of your gathering. Known for its accessible cookware, OXO sells an affordable ice bucket that houses enough ice cubes for a few cocktails as well as garnishes. This small bucket only holds ice (as opposed to larger ice buckets that can hold bottles), but it also comes with a garnish tray for maraschino cherries, lime wedges, and more, making it a great pick for parties. Double-wall construction keeps ice frozen, and the practical flip-top lid maximizes its insulation, which also helps to keep the garnishes fresh. Tongs are a bonus. Price at time of publish: $31 Dimensions: 7.7 x 7.8 x 8.7 inchesMaterial: Plastic, nylon Alternative Pick: Threshold Metal Ice Bucket Target Buy on Target $30 Best for Parties Crafthouse by Fortessa Stainless Steel Ice Bucket Food52 View On Amazon View On Wayfair View On Food52 Pros The large capacity of this ice tub makes it perfect for hosting. Cons It's not quite as large as a classic beverage tub. This is more of a tub than a bucket, but it's the kind of vessel you need for chilling enough refreshments for a larger group. A beverage tub beckons for barbeques and pool parties, and this one can hold two bottles of wine at once. The dimensions of this tub make it great for chilling even large bottles, and a drain grate at the bottom ensures you won't be dripping water across your table when you pull a bottle out to pour. With a large handle across the top, it's easily moveable when you want to take it elsewhere or top off the ice. Price at time of publish: $180 Dimensions: 12 inches x 5.5 inchesMaterial: Stainless steel Alternative Pick: Bash Beverage Tub Courtesy of Crate & Barrel Buy on Crate & Barrel $100 Best Hammered Metal Williams Sonoma Hammered-Copper Ice Bucket With Lid Williams Sonoma View On Williams-Sonoma Pros The watertight, stainless steel lining will keep ice cubes frozen for a long time. Cons Because this ice bucket is made of copper, you will have to polish it with lemon and salt on occasion to keep it shiny. This ice bucket, though small, boasts a practical design and an elegant hammered copper finish that make it worth the splurge. Stainless steel lining keeps this ice bucket well insulated, and its size and swing handle makes it easily carryable from indoor to outdoor spaces when entertaining. It holds a decent amount of ice if all you need are a few cubes per drink at small gatherings and celebrations; it's also sized to hold a single bottle of wine. If you're looking for a nice set, you can purchase matching pieces, including a wine chiller, for an entertaining upgrade. Price at time of publish: $130 Dimensions: 6.5 x 6.5 inchesMaterial: Copper Alternative Pick: Graham Hammered Metal Ice Bucket Crate&Barrel Buy on Crate & Barrel $71 Best Stainless Steel Fortessa Crafthouse by Fortessa Ice Bucket with Tongs Pottery Barn View On Amazon View On Pottery Barn Pros The well-made swivel handle makes this ice bucket easily portable for refilling. Cons It's not double-wall insulated. We love the design and clean lines of this ice bucket, which juxtaposes stainless steel with an acacia wood lid. An interior drain keeps ice away from water, so it's always easy to snag cubes with the included tongs. It's large enough for a single bottle of wine and makes a great gift on its own or paired with Fortessa's premium bar tools set. Price at time of publish: $70 Dimensions: 7 x 8 inchesMaterial: Stainless steel Alternative Pick: Arhaus Stainless Steel and Gold Ice Bucket Arhaus Buy on Arhaus.com $299 Best for Outdoors Corkcicle EOLA Cooler Backpack Corkcicle View On Amazon View On Williams-Sonoma View On Corkcicle.com Pros This backpack-style cooler is easy to transport and fashionable, available in six colors. Cons It's a bit pricey for a small, insulated bag, but the stylishness and well-crafted design more than make up for it. We love that you can toss this cooler on your back and hike up a hill or traipse down a steep trail to the coast, toting cold beverages with ease. Depending on the size, this sturdy little backpack can hold eight to 12 cans or two standard-size bottles of wine — or better yet, a few cans or a bottle of wine paired with your favorite chilled snacks. The food-safe interior lining will keep your drinks insulated beneath the full-zip closure, and it's easily packable with loose ice chips or an ice pack. Drinks stay cold overnight in this insulated bag, which also means they will fare well on a day trip in warm weather. Price at time of publish: $160 Dimensions: 8 x 11 x 14 inchesMaterial: Vegan leather and nylon Alternative Pick: Yeti Rambler Beverage Bucket YETI Buy on Amazon Buy on Yeti.com $150 Best Vintage Style Pottery Barn Bleecker Ice Bucket Pottery Barn View On Pottery Barn Pros It looks beautiful on a bar cart and makes a great gift. Cons It might sweat, which isn't ideal for wood surfaces. If you're looking for a specifically midcentury modern or vintage-style ice bucket, glass and brass are the way to go. Pottery Barn's Bleecker collection comes in antique gold or blackened bronze finishes, and beyond the ice bucket itself (which comes with stainless steel tongs), there's a full barware collection if you're the type of host that loves to coordinate serving sets. Price at time of publish: $89 Dimensions: 7 x 7.5 inchesMaterial: Glass, aluminum, and steel (wipe clean) Alternative Pick: Williams Sonoma Antique Brass Ice Bucket Williams Sonoma Buy on Williams-Sonoma $120 Best for Champagne Williams Sonoma Hammered Stainless-Steel Champagne Bucket Williams Sonoma View On Williams-Sonoma Pros It comes in both brass and silver finishes, and it's double-walled for hours of insulation. Cons It's hand-wash only which might be ungainly in the sink. For sparkling wine lovers, a great Champagne ice bucket is well worth the investment. This hammered-stainless steel bucket is double-wall insulated to keep things chilled for hours and can accommodate your favorite Champagne without breaking a sweat (so to speak). Choose between classic silver or antique brass finishes, and use the handles to easily move it between rooms while the party carries on at home. Price at time of publish: $120 Dimensions: 8.5 x 8 inchesMaterial: Stainless steel Alternative Pick: Charleston Wine/Champagne Bucket Crate & Barrel Buy on Crate & Barrel $60 Factors to Consider Dimensions and Typical Party Size There are many factors to consider when purchasing an ice bucket, with the most important being usage. Will you use it only for ice or does it need to double as a wine chiller? And if you regularly host large gatherings, just how many beverages do you want your ice tub to hold? Will it be used on the go or at home, indoors or outdoors? Dimensions also tie into your primary purpose for purchasing an ice bucket. If it's just ice you need, go for one of the smaller offerings around six to seven inches wide. For tub-style ice buckets or for chilling Champagne, you'll want widths that are in the 10- to 20-inch range. Material and Insulation The majority of well-made ice buckets consist of stainless steel. We've included a few materials on this list, such as Yeti's heavy-duty polyethylene plastic, but unless you have a specific niche purpose that would require an ice bucket that isn't made of stainless steel, we suggest going with this classic material for durability and its ability to keep iced-down drinks cold. Most recommendations on this list are insulated, as are nearly all ice buckets on the market. The large-scale beverage tub isn't insulated because it holds such a massive amount of ice that you don't really need it to be. In any case, double-walled insulation is the standard for keeping ice frozen and drinks cold. Frequently Asked Questions How long does ice last in an ice bucket? Many of the ice buckets on our list will keep ice frozen for up to 24 hours, with insulation and lids factored into this timespan. As our best practices for ice buckets state, you can also add in some water to eliminate the air pockets when drinks accompany ice in the bucket — this also speeds up the chilling process if you are trying to cool your beverages quickly. How long should you chill wine in an ice bucket? For white, rosé, and sparkling wines, the temperature should be about 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit once chilled. Of course, you'll want to let the wine sit tight in the glass for a minute or two to take the edge off the chill and allow the aromas to blossom, but generally, you want to be drinking white, rosé, and sparkling wines after they have been chilled for at least 10 minutes. Also, note that wines should chill in an ice bath (ice and water) and not just ice. Should red wine be chilled in an ice bucket? Yes, you can use an ice bucket to chill red wine. The main reason for doing so would be if the wine is too far above cellar temperature when you want to serve it. Cellar temperature is 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and red wine is most enjoyable at roughly 65 degrees. If your wines are not cellared or may have warmed up a bit too much while sitting out, you'll want to chill them back down to roughly 65 degrees Fahrenheit before serving (or just under room temperature). An ice bucket can help bring down the temperature. Not to mention, certain types of wines taste best when slightly chilled, such as Beaujolais Nouveau or a domestic version of a carbonic maceration red wine. Our Expertise Years of tasting and writing about food, wine, and spirits guide Melissa Vogt's research. As a tourist, Vogt seeks out the very best in local food and drink, and she's well acquainted with where to find good libations and eats in her hometown of Santa Rosa, Calif. Read more of her writing on her website and in Napa Valley Life, Very Napa Valley, and Wine Country This Month. As part of her research, Melissa tapped into her network of northern California sommeliers to discuss ice buckets, which are the go-to for the drinks industry. The 4 Best Undercounter Ice Makers for Your Kitchen Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit