Most ice makers don't need their own circuit.

Most ice makers don’t need their own circuit, but built-in ones often do.

A small countertop ice maker plugs into a regular outlet and draws very little power. Sharing that outlet with other small appliances is usually fine. You don’t need to call an electrician for one of those.

Built-in ice makers — the kind that go under your counter or into a cabinet — are a different story. They draw more power and manufacturers often require a dedicated circuit in the installation instructions. That’s not a suggestion; it’s how you avoid tripping breakers and keep the warranty valid.

The fridge’s ice maker? It runs off the refrigerator’s circuit. No separate circuit needed.

Quick rule: if it plugs into an outlet and sits on your counter, share away. If it’s installed into your kitchen, check the manual and assume it wants its own circuit. When in doubt, follow what the manufacturer says — that’s who decides if your warranty holds.

Future You doesn’t want to explain to a repair tech why the ice maker keeps tripping the same breaker as the toaster.