Going for that icy minimalist vibe? Working with limited counter space? Living that single serving life? Whatever your compact needs, we want you to know which is the best small blender for ice on the market.
Wading through various amazon reviews, reading Q&A’s, and shopping for the best price can be time consuming and stressful. Well, don’t fret!
We've prepared all you need to know in this buying guide and full review on the most ideal small blender for you.
Best Mini Blenders for Ice
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Best Overall Small Blender for Ice
Up first is the Ninja Nutri Pro Compact Blender. This blender is from the trusted Ninja line, and contains many of their wonderful attributes, just in a smaller package. The 900 watt powered base takes up barely any room on your counter, which is perfect for busy kitchens.
Within its small stature, it has enough power to efficiently crush ice and frozen ingredients as well as skins and stems to give you a perfectly smooth beverage. We're looking at you, smoothie lovers!
The Ninja can whip up shakes and smoothies with minimal dishes and effort. Simply put all of your ingredients in the to-go cup and attach the blending blade lid. Pop it into the base and turn it on. When you are satisfied with the consistency, exchange the blending lid for a to-go lid and enjoy!
The pulse button is easy to use for a no-nonsense smoothie making experience. The nutrient extraction blades do all the work for you, breaking down fruits and veggies to provide you with optimal nutrition. Going from fresh ingredients to a perfectly sippable smoothie only takes minutes, which is perfect for a busy morning routine.
For cleaning, all of the parts are dishwasher safe so clean up is a breeze. If you do not have a dishwasher, simply put a drop of soap and some warm water inside the cup and pop the cup back on the base for a quick rinse.
What We Like:
- Sleek design
- Dishwasher safe
- Recipe book included
- Easy twist on lids
- Easy to operate
What We Don't Like:
- Plastic base
Best Runner Up Small Blender for Ice
Next up is the NutriBullet Nutrient Extractor NBR-0601. This powerful, small blender is incredibly fast and easy. It can chop, blend, and liquefy nearly anything you throw into it, including ice, fruits, veggies, and nuts.
It is the perfect size for taking up residence in your kitchen, and its stylish silver appearance makes it a welcome addition. The 600-watt base is powerful enough to extract nutrients from your ingredients in just minutes, making it simple and easy to live a healthy lifestyle.
The large 24 ounce cup is great for making single serve portions. The convenient to-go lid is perfect for taking your beverages on the go. Even more, the size of the cup also makes it ideal for making a small batch of baby food or other pureed dishes such as hummus.
Clean up is hassle-free. Just rinse off the blades and pop the cups into the dishwasher. The BPA-cups are durable and long lasting, so you can keep up your great habits for years to come!
What We Like:
- Modern design
- Budget friendly
- Dishwasher safe
- To go lid included
What We Don't Like:
- Short 1 year warranty
Best Budget Small Blender for Ice
The Hamilton Beach Personal Smoothie Blender is one of the most compact small blenders. This makes it ideal for use either at home or on the go. It is small enough to even take with you almost anywhere. And with six different colors, you can choose the one that perfectly matches your style.
The base is small but just big enough to house the 175-watt motor. This blender can effortlessly whip up shakes, smoothies, salad dressings, and more. Powerful stainless steel blades quickly and efficiently blend all of your ingredients. All it takes is one touch of the pulse button and you are on your way to healthier eating.
The 14 ounce jar attachment is a great size for a single serving. Attach the to-go lid and you can drink straight from the blending jar. We are huge fans of minimizing dishes and making clean up easy. When you return home just put the jar and lid into the dishwasher and it will be ready for the next morning!
While the Hamilton Beach may not be great for crushing large ice or large pieces of frozen fruit, the small blades can handle crushed ice or very small cubes. In addition, the affordable pricing will give you everything you need to support your healthy eating efforts.
This blender is so portable and versatile you will want to take it with you on vacation, to work, and everywhere you go!
What We Like:
- Variety of color choices
- Portable
- Trendy design
- Quiet
- Measurement markings on cup
What We Don't Like:
- Blades are not removable
- Not suitable for large ice pieces
Best Small Blender for Ice with Accessories
When they say "magic", they mean it. The Magic Bullet Blender contains an astounding thirteen pieces that let you get creative in the kitchen. Blend, chop, grind, whip, and more. This awesome countertop model really does it all. And fast.
It owes its speed to its 250 watt base. Combined with its high torque blades and the variety of cups, you can have a perfect portion of smoothies, salsa, guacamole, omelets, practically anything.
When it comes to ice, the Magic Bullet can handle it, but be sure to use very small cubes or soft ice in order to get the best results for your frosty drink.
The set includes a nifty handled to-go mug, a 12 ounce tiny cup, and a smoothie cup, plus an assortment of to-go lids and resealable lids. All the components are dishwasher safe, making cleanup a cinch.
This small and compact countertop model is so versatile, you will likely find yourself using it every day.
What We Like:
- Variety of cups and lids
- Versatility
- Replacement lids available
- Budget friendly
- Lightweight
What We Don't Like:
- Not suitable for large ice pieces
- Not suitable for continuous batches
Best Multi-Purpose Small Blender for Ice
For frozen drinks, be sure to add ice slowly and in small cubes. You will achieve even better drink results if you can use crushed ice in order to help the blades give you the best consistency. Slushie anyone?
What We Like:
- Shatter resistant
- Dishwasher safe
- Available in two colors
- Slip proof feet on base
- Cord storage compartment
- Includes blending jar and chopping cup
What We Don't Like:
- Difficult to blend large pieces of frozen fruit
- Difficult to blend large pieces of ice
Best Looking Small Blender for Ice
The La Rêveuse Personal Size Blender is undoubtedly one of the easiest small blenders to use. All you need to do is press down and twist the blending bottle until you hear a click, then it is locked and ready to blend. You can attach the stainless steel blades to either the 16 oz cup or the 16 oz handled mug as each fits nicely into the 250 watt base.
Once you have made your juice, smoothie, or protein drink you can sip it directly from the container. The comfort lip ring or the flip-top lid allows you to decide how you want to enjoy your drink. Saving it for later? This set even includes a sealable lid!
The high torque matte black base is very attractive and makes an unobtrusive and appealing addition to your countertop. Apart from its good looks, it is also very fast and efficient, making your morning or after gym routine quick and painless!
If you intend to add ice to your drink, take note of the motor capacity and blade size. The La Rêveuse can definitely handle it, but we advise using only crushed or very soft ice in order to get the best drink results.
What We Like:
- Available in two colors
- Two blending cups included
- Three lid types included
- Easy to operate
- Lightweight at 3.24 pounds
What We Don't Like:
- Not suitable for continuous batch making
Best Travel Small Blender for Ice
For extras, we love that this blender comes with an ice tray which is perfect to help you judge the size and amount of ice to add to the Sboly. To prolong the life of your blender, it's always a good idea to break up large pieces of ice or frozen fruit before adding it to the blending container.
What We Like:
- One hand operation
- Sleek design
- Ice tray included
- Bottle brush included
- Safety features
- Budget friendly
What We Don't Like:
- Difficult to blend large pieces of frozen fruit
Guide to Buying a Mini Blender for Ice
Shopping for a small blender is a lot like looking for a full size blender. Similar factors should be considered so that you can find the perfect blender to suit your needs.
Since you will be adding ice quite often to your ingredients, it's important that you take special precautions on your search since not all blenders process ice in the same way. If you've ever had a lumpy smoothie, then you understand! When you are searching for your future small blender, think about the following:
Versatility
Some small blenders can do it all, and include special attachments like a chopping cup and blade, to achieve this. Others are best suited to making protein drinks or smoothies. Think about how you plan to use your blender in order to ensure that you choose a model that will work best for your needs.
For example, a small blender with lots of attachments like the Magic Bullet Blender may best suit your needs if you find yourself making a variety of different things in your blender. While the Magic Bullet may not be the most powerful ice crusher, the ease of using one machine for everything else from hummus to baby food is a nice convenience.
However, if you are a daily breakfast ice filled smoothie drinker, then a no nonsense, powerful blender like the Ninja Nutri Pro Compact Blender may best suit your needs. In other words, if you know you will be pulverizing ice on the daily, then be sure to get a blender that can produce consistent results day after day rather than worrying about making tons of different dishes.
Ice Crushing Durability
Since you will be crushing ice, you want a small blender that will last a long time. After all, no one likes spending money all the time on poorly made appliances. Even more, if you are an ice aficionado, then you definitely need a blender that will make the cut.
Small blenders like the NutriBullet Nutrient Extractor NBR-0601 and Ninja Nutri Pro Compact Blender are both powerful machines that can handle ice easily due to their stronger motors (600 and 900 watts, respectively).
If you know that you will always be using larger ice pieces or even large pieces of frozen fruit, then one of these two mini blenders would be your best bet since stronger motors typically contain more power to pulverize ice.
Portability
Portability can refer to the actual blender or the portability of its attachments. The beauty of small blenders is that they are usually compact enough to easily travel with, allowing you to make shakes on-the-go. But most specialize in allowing you to drink directly from the blending bottle. There are flip-cup lids, mug blending bottles, and even sport-bottles to suit your style.
The Sboly Personal Blender is a great example of this with its blend-right-in-the-bottle concept.
We suggest, if you are planning to bring your blender on the go, to also bring along a way to clean it easily. This bottle brush set featuring two large brushes and three smaller ones will help keep your blender in tip top shape. Plus, they even come in two different colors and are bendable.
Appearance
It's very likely a small blender will take up permanent residence on your countertop. It can be more of a hassle to find a spot in your cabinets than it is to just leave it out. That being said, you will probably want one that isn’t an eyesore. There is a wide range of styles to choose from, from matte black to stainless steel, and even colors.
We think that the La Rêveuse Personal Size Blender is one of the best looking blenders on our list due to it's sleek finish. However, the Hamilton Beach Personal Smoothie Blender is also great fun and adds a splash of color to any kitchen.
Whatever your style, find a blender that is both functional and beautiful, and you will be on your way to an effortlessly healthy lifestyle.
Price
Most small blenders are extremely affordable due to their small size and limited motor power compared with large countertop models (read, Vitamix). However, there are some key differences when it comes to power and durability.
If budget is top of mind, then the Magic Bullet Blender or the Hamilton Beach Personal Smoothie Blender would both be great choices. Both have drink making abilities and are very affordable due to their low motor power. Keep in mind, however, that crushing ice with lower motor power can take longer and risk blade damage if your ice pieces are too large.
If you have some room in your budget, then nothing compares to the power offered in the Ninja Nutri Pro Compact Blender. The 900 watt motor is worth every penny and will ensure an easy, icy blend.
Lastly, for price, if you've made it this far and have decided that an all out splurge is in order, then we've also covered even more powerful ice crushing blenders in a separate guide.
Overall, when it comes to small blenders for ice, the old saying is true, meaning, you get what you pay for. Usually, more expensive models do offer better blending abilities simply because the blender has more motor muscle to flex. When it comes to pricing, we suggest investing whatever you feel comfortable according to your blending needs.
Conclusion
The best small blender for ice can depend on a variety of things, but when it comes to functionality, efficiency, and ease of use, the Ninja Nutri Pro Compact Blender is the clear winner. This powerful small blender allows you to blend, whip, chop, and more. All with the added superiority of crushing ice with ease.
Whatever blender you choose, you are now equipped to buy the best mini ice crushing machine for your needs and are well on your way to a healthier lifestyle. Happy blending!