Quick Answer: Kenmore sells two standalone countertop ice makers: the KNMR1271, rated for 26 lbs of bullet ice per 24 hours with a 6-minute first batch, and the KNMR1334, a 40 lb/24hr “Crunchy Chewable” nugget model. Both are made by Koolatron, which holds the exclusive global license for Kenmore small kitchen appliances — confirmed via Koolatron’s own product listings and Amazon storefront. The KNMR1271 typically lists around $98-124, meaningfully less than Koolatron’s own nearly-identical house-brand KIM26 ($180-220, reviewed separately on this site), despite carrying a longer 2-year warranty.
Kenmore hasn’t manufactured its own appliances in years. The brand — once Sears’ flagship in-house label — is now owned by Transformco and licensed out category by category to outside manufacturers. For small kitchen appliances, including ice makers, that licensee is Koolatron: the same company this site already reviewed under its own name. That makes Kenmore’s ice maker lineup a useful case study in what a legacy brand name is actually worth at the checkout.
The two Kenmore ice makers at a glance
| Spec | Kenmore KNMR1271 | Kenmore KNMR1334 |
|---|---|---|
| Ice type | Bullet, 2 selectable sizes | Nugget / soft pebble ("Crunchy Chewable") |
| Rated output | ~26 lbs / 24 hrs | ~40 lbs / 24 hrs |
| First batch | 9 cubes in ~6 minutes | Ready in ~6 minutes per listing |
| Design | Front-load, pull-out drawer, fits under cabinets | Front-load, fits under cabinets |
| Self-cleaning | One-touch | One-touch |
| Finish | Black stainless steel | Stainless steel |
| Warranty | 2-year | 2-year |
| Typical price | About $98-124 | Varies by retailer — check current listing |
| Made by | Koolatron (exclusive Kenmore small-appliance licensee) | Koolatron |
Kenmore KNMR1271 Front-Load Ice Maker
- Front-load pull-out drawer design for filling and unloading, sized to fit under standard cabinets.
- Two selectable bullet sizes, one-touch self-cleaning, and a 2-year warranty — a full year longer than Koolatron's own house-brand equivalent.
- Sold through Amazon, Wayfair, and Walmart as of this review, not a limited or discontinued listing.
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One licensee, two brand badges, two prices
Kenmore stopped being Sears’ in-house manufacturing arm long before Sears itself went bankrupt in 2018. Today the Kenmore trademark belongs to Transformco, which licenses it out by product category to whichever manufacturer wants to build under that name — Whirlpool has historically supplied Kenmore’s laundry lineup, for example. For small kitchen appliances, that licensee is Koolatron, confirmed as the brand’s exclusive global partner for the category via Koolatron’s own product listings and its official “Koolatron: KENMORE” storefront on Amazon.
That’s the same Koolatron already covered on this site under its own name — the KIM26, a 26 lb/24hr bullet-ice machine reviewed in our Koolatron ice maker review. Specced side by side, the Kenmore KNMR1271 and the Koolatron KIM26 land in the same territory: 26 lbs/24hr rated output, a roughly 6-minute first batch, two selectable cube sizes, one-touch self-clean, a choice of stainless finish. The meaningful difference isn’t the machine — it’s the badge and the price. Koolatron’s own-name KIM26 typically runs $180-220. The Kenmore-badged KNMR1271 typically lists around $98-124, and still carries a 2-year warranty versus the KIM26’s 1-year standard coverage. The usual assumption is that a recognizable legacy name like Kenmore commands a premium over an unfamiliar house brand — here, it’s the reverse.
Kenmore vs. the budget bullet-ice competition
- vs. Koolatron KIM26 (same manufacturer, house brand): Nearly identical specs, but the Kenmore badge costs $80-100 less and carries a longer warranty. See our Koolatron ice maker review for the full KIM26 breakdown.
- vs. Silonn SLIM21 (cheapest self-cleaning pick): The Silonn SLIM21 still undercuts Kenmore on price (about $69-90 vs. $98-124) with a matching ~26 lbs/24H output, but lacks Kenmore’s front-load drawer and 2-year warranty.
- vs. Avalon Bay AB-ICE26S: The Avalon Bay AB-ICE26S runs about $129 for similar bullet output without the dual-size selection Kenmore offers.
- Full brand rankings: see our best ice maker brands guide for how Kenmore compares against every major name on this site.
Who should buy the Kenmore ice maker?
Buy the KNMR1271 if you want a straightforward bullet-ice machine with a longer-than-average 2-year warranty at a genuinely competitive price — it beats its own manufacturer’s house-brand version on both counts. Buy the KNMR1334 if chewable nugget ice at a higher 40 lb/24hr output matters more than price, though you’ll want to confirm current pricing at your preferred retailer since it varies more than the bullet model. Skip either if the absolute lowest price is the only criterion — the Silonn SLIM21 still undercuts the KNMR1271 by $10-30.
The bottom line
Kenmore no longer builds its own appliances — Koolatron does, under an exclusive license, for every small kitchen appliance carrying the Kenmore name. That includes both of Kenmore’s ice makers: the 26 lb/24hr KNMR1271 bullet model and the 40 lb/24hr KNMR1334 nugget model. The interesting finding isn’t that a legacy brand is now a badge on someone else’s factory line — it’s that the badge is actually the cheaper way to buy that factory’s own hardware, at $98-124 with a 2-year warranty versus Koolatron’s own $180-220, 1-year-warranty KIM26.
Last updated: September 28, 2026.