Ice Cream Makers Market Trends

Ice Cream Makers Market Overview

The Ice Cream Makers Market size was valued at USD 1064.24 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 1440.45 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 3.4% from 2025 to 2033.

The global ice cream makers market is witnessing accelerated expansion due to rising demand for frozen desserts across commercial and household sectors. In 2024, over 8.7 million ice cream maker units were sold globally, with soft ice cream machines accounting for approximately 58% of sales, while hard ice cream machines contributed around 42%. This demand is driven by increasing consumer interest in on-demand dessert preparation, health-focused ingredients, and customization, alongside advancements in foodservice technology. The market spans small countertop household units, medium-capacity machines for cafes, and high-throughput industrial systems for commercial outlets and QSR chains.

Commercial establishments dominate the market, accounting for over 60% of global ice cream machine usage. Restaurants, ice cream parlors, hotels, and food trucks are increasingly investing in automated and multi-functional equipment to meet consumer expectations for variety and quick service. Asia-Pacific and North America are the leading regions in terms of commercial machine installations, with more than 20,000 new commercial machines deployed in 2023 alone. Furthermore, global chains are standardizing their equipment portfolios, leading to bulk procurement and custom-configured models designed to meet hygiene and efficiency standards.

Key Findings

Driver: Consumer shift toward convenience and personalized desserts is reflected in soft serve machines holding 58–61% of unit share.

Top Country/Region: Europe leads at 39.6% soft serve unit share, with North America next at 28.7%.

Top Segment: Soft ice cream makers dominate, with 58–61% of total machine volumes in 2025.

Ice Cream Makers Market Trends

The market for ice cream makers is shaped by evolving consumer, technology, and regional dynamics. Soft serve machines, accounting for roughly 58–61% of unit sales in 2025, continue to dominate both commercial and residential deployments. Of this, the commercial soft serve segment alone reached 573.3 million USD in 2023, reflecting bakery, QSR, and catering sector reliance. Countertop/home models generated 660 million USD in 2024, showcasing adoption among DIY dessert enthusiasts. These units are typically priced between 350–400 USD, including popular models like Ninja Swirl and GreenPan Frost. Regionally, Europe held a 39.6% share of the soft serve machine market in 2025 due to strong local tastes and tourism-driven demand. North America followed with 28.7% share, propelled by robust foodservice infrastructure. Asia-Pacific machines were valued at 153.23 million USD in 2022, with projected growth to 200.33 million USD by 2029. Use of single-cylinder soft serve models was at 227.4 million USD in 2025, underlining the market’s need for varied production capacity.

The total global soft ice cream machines segment was worth about 0.88 billion USD in 2023, with multi-cylinder units making up around 61.2% of sales by revenue. Multi-cylinder floor models ranged from 1,320 to 5,700 USD depending on capacity. The market also sees a shift toward modular design, energy efficiency, and multi-functionality to serve frozen yogurt, gelato, and shakes. Home-use ice cream maker sales hit 1.2 billion USD in 2024, indicating interest in convenience-based dessert appliances. The broader ice cream machine market was valued at 9.92 billion USD in 2023. Overall, the trends show rising adoption of soft serve equipment across commercial and household sectors, supported by product diversification (e.g., single-cylinder vs multi-cylinder), pricing spread (low-end 350 USD to high-end 5,700 USD), and geographic diversification, particularly in Europe (39.6%), North America (28.7%), and Asia-Pacific (153+ million USD).

Ice Cream Makers Market Dynamics

DRIVER

Surge in demand for personalized and convenient frozen desserts

The global market for ice cream makers gained momentum with an approximate 9.92 billion USD spend on machines in 2023. Soft serve units, dominating 58–61% of volume, attracted investments in QSRs, cafés, and catering. Notably, commercial soft serve equipment engaged 573.3 million USD in 2023. Home countertop systems also garnered 660 million USD in 2024. North America and Europe combined to hold 68.3% share of the soft serve segment by revenue share (28.7% + 39.6%) in 2025. This demand supports innovation in modular systems, smaller sized countertop appliances, and quick-freeze technologies.

RESTRAINT

High equipment costs and maintenance complexity

Commercial units such as multi-cylinder floor models can cost between 1,320 and 5,700 USD depending on features and capacity. Even mid-range modular devices must justify investment through high usage volumes. Residential devices at 350–400 USD sell well, but some consumers perceive maintenance as a barrier. The global ice cream machine market, estimated at 9.92 billion USD, includes heavy-duty devices with maintenance-intensive compressors, pushing up costs. Regions with low utilization may find cost recovery challenging.

OPPORTUNITY

Emerging consumer and commercial segments

Market metrics show home-use ice cream makers achieving 1.2 billion USD in 2024. Asia-Pacific’s training market rose from 153.23 million USD in 2022 to a projected 200.33 million USD by 2029. Single-cylinder soft serve units alone recorded 227.4 million USD in 2025, opening avenues for niche products. Growth in residential interest and compact commercial models suggests opportunities across price tiers and use-case scenarios, particularly in emerging middle-income communities.

CHALLENGE

Fragmentation and regional regulatory variations

The global market is fragmented, with size variances from 350 USD consumer units to floor models costing over 5,000 USD. Commercial segments require local maintenance support, and regulatory standards differ across regions—Chinese units (Asia-Pacific) cost less but may fail EU/NA safety norms. The 9.92 billion USD overall machine market contains various models with distinct operational standards, complicating standardization.

Ice Cream Makers Market Segmentation

The ice cream makers market is segmented by type—soft ice cream makers, hard ice cream makers—and application—commercial use, household, and others.

By Type

Soft Ice Cream Makers (≈58–61% of units): These account for over half of machine installations in 2025, leading commercial spend at 573.3 million USD and commanding 39.6% Europe share, 28.7% North America share. Single-cylinder machines added 227.4 million USD in 2025, favored by small vendors. Multi-cylinder floor units represent 61.2% of the soft serve segment.
Hard Ice Cream Makers (≈39–42% of units): This includes batch freezers and hard ice machines, making up the rest of the 9.92 billion USD market. Hard models are preferred in artisanal parlors and supermarkets, especially in Europe and North America.

By Application

Commercial Use (≈58%–60% share): soft serve market alone reached 573.3 million USD in 2023, covering catering and entertainment venues. QSR channels, such as convenience stores and theme parks, contribute heavily.
Household (≈1.2 billion USD in 2024): countertop ice cream makers accounted for 1.2 billion USD in 2024. These personal-size units meet demand for DIY frozen desserts.
Others (Hospitals, Schools, Corporate):
Not individually quantified but growing in adoption due to demand for on-site desserts and event services, often combining soft and hard options.

Ice Cream Makers Market Regional Outlook

The ice cream makers market is significantly region-oriented. Europe leads the soft serve segment with 39.6% share, matched by North America at 28.7%, together accounting for 68.3%. Asia-Pacific’s commercial sector was 153.23 million USD in 2022, rising to 200.33 million USD by 2029. The household segment reached 1.2 billion USD in 2024. The global total equipment market was 9.92 billion USD in 2023.

North America

In 2025, North America held 28.7% of the soft serve segment. The region contributed significantly to countertop sales, with 660 million USD made in 2024. The robust quick-service landscape supports this trend.

Europe

held 39.6% share in 2025 for soft serve. This region shows strong demand among tourism and artisanal businesses, with premium multi-cylinder and batch-freezer demand growing.

Asia-Pacific

The commercial soft serve machine market was 153.23 million USD in 2022, with projections reaching 200.33 million USD by 2029. Single-cylinder units contributed 227.4 million USD in 2025.

Middle East & Africa

Although specific data is limited, the region is experiencing growth in compact and voltage-compatible machines due to café and kiosk expansion.

List of Top Ice Cream Makers Companies

TAYLOR
Carpigiani
Electro Freeze
Gram Equipment
Stoelting
Nissei
Bravo
Frigomat
CAPLE
Unold
Cuisinart
DONPER
Spaceman
De?Longhi
Guangshen
Shanghai Lisong
MKK
Jiangmen Jingling
Hommy Enterprise
Jiangsu Xuemei

Taylor – a dominant force in commercial soft serve with global deployments.

Carpigiani – leader in soft serve and hard-ice equipment globally.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

The Ice Cream Makers Market is experiencing robust growth fueled by increasing consumer demand for frozen desserts across commercial and residential settings. Strategic investment analysis reveals a surge in capital flows towards product innovation, automation, and energy efficiency. In 2023, over $410 million was allocated globally to R&D and manufacturing upgrades in the ice cream equipment sector, with North America and Europe accounting for nearly 68% of that investment. Companies are primarily investing in compact, high-efficiency ice cream makers to meet growing consumer expectations for convenience and sustainable operations. One of the most notable areas of investment is the commercial segment. In 2024, more than 23,000 commercial ice cream makers were sold globally, indicating increased activity in restaurants, cafes, ice cream parlors, and entertainment venues. This has encouraged brands like Carpigiani and Taylor to expand their production lines. Carpigiani alone announced a 20% increase in production capacity at its Italian manufacturing site in late 2023. Similarly, Chinese manufacturers such as DONPER and Shanghai Lisong are investing in scalable production lines to meet growing demand from Southeast Asia and Africa. Opportunities are also rising in the household segment, where the demand for user-friendly and portable ice cream makers is surging. In 2023, the household segment contributed to over 1.2 billion USD in retail equipment value, with more than 6.5 million units sold globally. Key players like Cuisinart and Unold are responding with automated models featuring built-in refrigeration, touch screens, and app connectivity.

These enhancements present a strong opportunity for brands to differentiate their offerings in a highly competitive market. Investors are particularly drawn to IoT-enabled machines. By 2024, approximately 18% of newly launched commercial units featured smart monitoring, self-cleaning functions, and remote diagnostics. This trend opens up investment potential in cloud-based software, predictive maintenance solutions, and integrated POS systems within retail environments. The Asia-Pacific region presents a major opportunity for expansion. Countries like India, Thailand, and Indonesia saw a combined 11.6% increase in ice cream equipment imports in 2023. The rise of quick service restaurants (QSRs), growing disposable incomes, and urbanization are catalyzing long-term market prospects. Local governments are also supporting food service expansion through infrastructure investment and SME funding, boosting equipment uptake. Sustainability remains another promising investment opportunity. Over 67% of commercial outlets in urban Europe are now demanding eco-friendly equipment with energy consumption below 1.2 kWh/kg of product. Manufacturers investing in green technology, like solar-powered compressors and eco-refrigerants (e.g., R290), are likely to gain significant market advantage. Overall, strategic investments in automation, smart technologies, sustainable engineering, and regional capacity expansion are unlocking lucrative opportunities in the global Ice Cream Makers Market, positioning it as a high-potential segment for stakeholders.

New Product Development

New product development in the ice cream makers market is accelerating rapidly, driven by evolving consumer preferences, technological advancements, and the growing demand for compact, energy-efficient, and multi-functional appliances. As of 2024, more than 35% of newly launched models featured at least two smart or automated functionalities such as pre-programmed cycles, self-cleaning systems, or Wi-Fi connectivity. Leading companies are investing in research and innovation to develop models that align with trends in healthy eating, plant-based diets, and convenience. One of the key innovations gaining traction is the development of multi-mode machines that can produce various frozen desserts, including gelato, sorbet, frozen yogurt, and soft or hard ice cream. In 2023, Unold introduced a household machine capable of switching between gelato and standard ice cream modes with a touch-panel interface, achieving a 9-minute freezing time using an inbuilt compressor. Similarly, Carpigiani unveiled a commercial model with enhanced digital calibration for precise overrun control, making it easier to serve products with specific textures and air content. The integration of smart technologies is transforming user experiences. More than 18% of commercial machines launched globally in 2024 include IoT features that allow operators to monitor machine performance, schedule maintenance, and receive real-time alerts via connected devices.

Companies like Taylor and Stoelting have introduced models with integrated diagnostics and touchscreen controls, which reduce downtime and optimize ingredient usage, directly impacting operational efficiency. Another area of focus is sustainability. Manufacturers are actively incorporating eco-friendly refrigerants such as R290 and R600a, which have low global warming potential. Over 60% of new commercial ice cream makers in Europe and North America now include these alternatives. In addition, there is a shift toward low-energy motors and recyclable exterior materials, aligning with consumer demand for green technology. For example, Jiangmen Jingling’s 2024 release boasts 20% lower energy consumption per batch, making it appealing to eco-conscious foodservice businesses. In the household segment, compact and quiet models have gained popularity. Cuisinart launched a noise-reduction model in 2023 with under 55 dB operational volume, targeting urban customers. Features such as child locks, LED indicators, and detachable mixing paddles have also become standard among premium-tier machines. Furthermore, product personalization is emerging as a differentiating factor. Bravo and Frigomat have launched programmable machines that allow customization of cycle times, temperature, and mix density. This appeals to artisanal producers and QSRs looking to craft unique, signature offerings. Overall, new product development in the ice cream makers market is highly innovation-driven, with manufacturers focusing on performance, digital control, environmental impact, and flexibility to meet a diverse and evolving global customer base.

Five Recent Developments

Commercial soft serve segment totaled 573.3 million USD in 2023.
Home-use countertop machines achieved 1.2 billion USD in 2024.
Single-cylinder soft serve machines reached 227.4 million USD in 2025.
Europe’s soft serve share was 39.6% in 2025, with North America at 28.7%.
Global ice cream machine market amounted to 9.92 billion USD in 2023.

Report Coverage of Ice Cream Makers Market

The comprehensive ice cream makers market report spans a wide range of critical metrics, including machine unit volumes, value estimation, segmentation, regional deployment, company profiles, innovation trends, and service dynamics. It begins by detailing that the global ice cream machines market was valued at approximately 0.99 billion USD in 2024, encompassing both soft and hard ice cream equipment, while the broader ice cream equipment matrix—including processing, dispensing, and packaging—totaled 8.8 billion USD in 2023, with a projected increase toward 13.8 billion USD by 2033. Segment coverage highlights that soft ice cream machines dominated the landscape, holding around 58% to 61% of unit volume in 2025 and contributing to 610 million USD in market size in 2024, with the commercial soft‑serve subset alone accounting for 573.3 million USD in 2023. In contrast, hard ice cream and batch‑freezer equipment constituted the remaining 39–42% of units, catering primarily to artisanal parlors and supermarket chains. Application-wise, segmentation ranges from commercial catering and entertainment venues (≈40–60% of unit usage) to household countertop devices, which generated around 1.2 billion USD in value in 2024, and “other” applications including schools, hospitals, and plant use. The report further provides detailed pricing tiers across models: soft‑serve single‑cylinder units were valued at 227.4 million USD in 2025, while multi‑cylinder floor systems commanded 61.2% of soft‑serve segment revenue, with price bands from 1,320 USD to 5,700 USD. It includes geographic breakdowns showing Europe holding a 39.6% share of soft‑serve market units in 2025, North America at 28.7%, and Asia‑Pacific’s commercial segment progressing from 153.23 million USD in 2022 to an anticipated 200.33 million USD by 2029, while the Middle East & Africa region—though smaller—demonstrates increasing traction through compact and voltage‑adapted machines. The report incorporates a detailed competitive analysis featuring top players such as Taylor, Electro Freeze, Stoelting, Spaceman, Donper, Carpigiani, Cuisinart, and others, collectively covering over 60%+ market share.

It reviews recent developments like self‑cleaning units, solar‑ready and energy‑efficient models, modular designs, IoT-enabled diagnostics, and multifunction capabilities, including integration of frozen yogurt and gelato production into soft‑serve platforms. Packaging and sustainability trends are also addressed, with 67% of outlets adopting eco‑friendly packaging. Through an inclusive methodology spanning historical data from 2019‑2023 and forecasts through 2030–2033, the report offers quantitative tables and qualitative insights covering market drivers (e.g., personalization demand, impulse dessert consumption), restraints (e.g., equipment cost and seasonal variability), opportunities (e.g., portable units, emerging economies), and challenges (e.g., part supply and regulatory variability). Supporting chapters analyze distribution channels—online, supermarkets, specialized outlets—and provide country‑level implications for the US, Canada, Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Brazil, and selected MEA countries. This robust coverage ensures stakeholders have visibility into unit and value dynamics, segmentation, pricing, regional splits, key corporate strategies, technology evolution, and operational/service considerations essential for investment, product development, and strategic positioning in the global ice cream makers market.