We’re willing to bet good money you haven’t given much thought to a dish rack, but the sink-side essential is a kitchen necessity in every house.
Whether you have a dishwasher or not, and if you share a home or live by yourself, one of these racks is vital to allow your cutlery and crockery to air dry properly instead of turning into a dangerous and potentially expensive game of kitchen Jenga.
You can find cheap plastic models on any high street, but if you’re an aesthetics-driven type, you may be looking for something that fits the theme and look of your kitchen.
A hardwearing plastic has the pros of being easy to keep clean, but could wreck the aesthetic of your carefully curated kitchen. Similarly, an industrial-looking design will seem out of kilter in a space that champions cottagecore.
It may not seem like a huge detail to get caught up in - for most, dish-drying racks are about function above all else - but it's the small things that add up to make a house feel like a home.
To that end, we've whipped up a shoppable edit of the very best, and best-looking, drying racks for your money. They're typically something a homeowner or renter might get for themselves, but they also make an excellent housewarming gift for someone who's just moved into a space of their own.
Best dish drying racks at a glance
- Best for big kitchens: Brabantia Foldable Dish Drying Rack - £45.99, Amazon
- Best for compact design: Joseph Joseph 2-piece Sink Organisation Set - £70, JosephJoseph
- Best for space-saving: Dunelm Matt Black and Bamboo Two Tier Drainer - £18, Dunelm
- Best for keeping small kitchens tidy: Joseph Joseph Extend Expandable Dish Rack White - £65, Selfridges
- Best for long-lasting: Umbra Holster Dish Rack - £38.45, Amazon
- Best for keeping crockery organised: Simplehuman Dish Draining Rack, Stainless Steel - £79.96, John Lewis
- Best for double the drying space: 2-Tier Stainless Steel Dish Rack with Drain Tray - £17.99, Amazon
- Best for country chic: Relaxdays CROSS Dish Rack - £13.35, Amazon
- Best for refined style: Madam Stoltz Iron Dish Rack W/ Drip Tray - £59, NOTHS
For you, and for anyone pondering such a purchase, we’ve put together this list of the best dish drying racks.
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Brabantia Foldable Dish Drying Rack
Best for: big kitchens
As one of the leading names in home organisation and cleaning, there are few things Brabantia doesn’t have in its huge portfolio of products. If you’re looking for a drying rack that makes use of every inch of space, set your sights on this foldable dish drying rack.
The design sits on a non-slip sloping tray which offers more drying real estate as well as helping water run off into the sink. Two cutlery baskets give enough room for knives, forks and spoons and there are hooks for wine glasses and champagne flutes too.
There are rubber grips included to help your plates stay in place and the entire contraption can fold down and store away flat when not in use, if you’re the minimalist type. Measures 51. x 42 x 33cm.
Buy now £45.99, Amazon
Joseph Joseph 2-piece Sink Organisation Set
Best for: compact design
Not quite everything but the kitchen sink, but a good portion of it. Joseph Joseph has this two-piece sink organisation set that promises to bring order to the smallest of spaces.
The expanding dish drainer can double in size allowing you to get more plates, chopping boards and serving platters into the racks, while a moveable cutlery bucket keeps your utensils untangled and in order.
There’s also a 350ml soap pump which you can use to decant washing up liquid or hand soap, adding to the uniformity around your sink area.
Buy now £70.00, Joseph Joseph
Dunelm Matt Black and Bamboo Two Tier Drainer
Best for: space-saving
Two tiers offer double the drying space for your freshly washed cutlery, crockery and other kitchen essentials at an exceedingly pleasing price. With a separate section for cutlery, putting your things away once they’re dry will be a doddle.
The racks are wide enough to accommodate both round and square-shaped dinner plates, and the odd serving platter will do well here too. Made from bamboo and coloured black, it’s a sharp design that will look good in most kitchen interior styles.
Buy now £18.00, Dunelm
Joseph Joseph Extend Expandable Dish Rack White
Best for: keeping small kitchens tidy
This expandable design is perfect for keeping in caravans and mobile homes as it comes with an integrated plug which will trap water so you can drain it later - ideal for camping trips. Raised ribs on the base stops your clean glasses and plates from standing in dirty water and instead helps move the flow towards the draining spout, which you should position on the lip of your sink. The cutlery drainer is removable too, making it easier to reposition and keep clean.
Buy now £65.00, Selfridges
Umbra Holster Dish Rack
Best for: long-lasting
A dish rack is the sort of purchase you want to make once and then forget all about. Umbra’s design is made from resilient moulded plastic wrapped around a stainless steel frame, so it should last you yonks.
There’s plenty of space for a household’s worth of dishes, with space for up to 15 plates, a dedicated utensil area and a moveable stemware holder which has space for four glasses. Ideal for everyday use in the kitchen.
Buy now £38.45, Amazon
Simplehuman Dish Draining Rack, Stainless Steel
Best for: keeping crockery organised
Full of racks, draws and holders to rapidly store drying dishes and glassware, simplehuman’s dish rack is a lesson in sinkside organisation. The stainless steel frame sits atop a swivel spout that can swing through 360 degrees, so no matter where you place it on the countertop, you should be able to aim it at the sink to take care of water running off.
Buy now £79.96, John Lewis
Two Tier Black Dish Drainer Rack
Best for: double the drying space
Why have a single tier when you can double your drying space with two? Not only does this design offer double-decker racks, but there are expandable trays positioned beneath each one, increasing drying space in an instant. It’s one for family homes with plenty of space to hold a full day’s worth of dishes. As well as the racks, it comes equipped with a cutlery holder, space for chopping boards and a water draining system.
Buy now £17.99, Amazon
Relaxdays CROSS Dish Rack
Best for: country chic
Prefer a warmer look to your kitchen? Shun the stainless steel and silicone for rustic appeal, like this folding rack made from bamboo. Compared to the other designs on our list, it’s a basic look but that’s not necessarily a bad thing if you’re into a simple aesthetic. As well as racks to hold your dishes, there’s also a section below to place mugs and bowls.
Buy now £13.35, Amazon
Madam Stoltz Iron Dish Rack W/ Drip Tray
Best for: refined style
Made from iron and finished with an antique brass hue, this simple yet chic design is made for lovers of form and function. Wooden handles add a sense of warmth to the otherwise industrial-looking rack, and makes it easier to carry dishes to store if cupboards are positioned farther away from the sink.
Buy now £59.00, NOTHS
