Step-Up · Dish rack
Dish rack: plastic tray or steel frame?
OXO's compact rack against simplehuman's compact steel frame. You are paying to stop emptying the tray.
Save if you live alone and empty the tray daily. Spend if puddles, film and replacing racks every couple of years wear you down.
Updated · First published.
OXO Good Grips Compact Dish Rack
Small rack with a deep tray. You tip the water out yourself.
- Footprint
- About 13.75 × 10.3 in (listed)
- Build
- Molded tray with fold-down slots
- Drainage
- Tray with pour corners
- Care
- Top-rack dishwasher-safe
simplehuman Steel Frame Dishrack, Compact
Stainless frame, a tray that spreads water to dry, and a spout that drains into the sink.
- Frame
- Stainless steel, silicone-capped wires
- Footprint
- About 15 × 15.5 in, 7.5 in tall (listed)
- Drainage
- 360° swivel spout
- Tray
- Moisture-spreading, anti-residue coating
- Warranty
- 5 years (listed)
What the extra money buys
| Line | Base | Step-up |
|---|---|---|
| Frame | Molded tray | Stainless steel |
| Drainage | Tip out by hand | Swivel spout to sink |
| Footprint | 13.75 × 10.3 in | 15 × 15.5 in |
| Tray | Dishwasher-safe | Anti-residue coating |
| Warranty | Satisfaction guarantee | 5 years |
Spend if
- You wash dishes daily for more than two people.
- The rack can sit beside the sink so the spout reaches it.
- You are tired of slimy trays and rusted wires.
Save if
- You live alone or wash a few things at a time.
- Counter space is tight.
- You don't mind tipping the tray into the sink each day.
The trade-offs
Cheap racks don't fail at holding dishes. They fail at water. A tray that collects water needs emptying, and if you forget, it grows a film and starts to smell. The simplehuman's spout drains straight into the sink, and its tray is designed to spread water thin so it dries.
The compact simplehuman is still noticeably bigger than the compact OXO, so footprint is the first check. Its five-year warranty is a reasonable sign the frame won't rust out soon. For one person with a small counter, the OXO's simplicity is a fair trade. For a busy household, the drainage alone justifies the step up.
Listing checks before you buy
- Footprint in inches against your counter, plus how far the spout reaches.
- Frame material: stainless steel, coated steel or plastic.
- How water leaves the tray: spout, angled drain or by hand.
- Warranty length, as a guide to rust resistance.
Red flags
- Rustproof claims on coated wire racks with no material named.
- Racks with no plan for drainage at all.
Product facts checked on October 30, 2026. Advice is research-based: we read makers' specifications and warranty terms rather than using the products ourselves.