The Best Soap Dish in Australia: 7 Picks That Actually Keep Soap Dry (2026)

What is the best soap dish in Australia right now?

The best soap dish for most people is the IMEEA brushed stainless steel dish. It is rust-proof SUS304 steel, it has a two-piece design where the bar sits on a tray above a lower base that catches the drained water, and it looks like something from a designer bathroom rather than a ten dollar buy. For the best value, the Joseph Joseph Slim Compact is the most-reviewed dish here with more than 3,800 ratings and a clever sloping base. On the tightest budget, the Joseph Joseph Quick-Drain is the cheapest pick at around eight dollars and still drains beautifully.

• Best overall: IMEEA Brushed Stainless Steel Soap Dish, around $17.90, 4.6 stars
• Best value and most reviewed: Joseph Joseph Slim Compact, around $14.97, 4.5 stars from 3,800-plus ratings
• Best budget pick (cheapest here): Joseph Joseph Quick-Drain, around $8.00, 4.6 stars
• Best for the shower: Coipdfty Silicone Self-Draining Soap Dish 2-Pack, around $32.29, 4.6 stars
• Best looking ceramic: Umlaca Marble Leaf Soap Dish, around $17.99, 4.3 stars
• Best minimalist design: Umbra Touch Soap Dish, around $10.00, 4.6 stars

Last updated June 2026. Prices and ratings move, so check the live figure on Amazon before you buy.

How did we choose these soap dishes?

NestPath is run by and for Australian first-home buyers, so we focus on what is genuinely in stock here and what real buyers say, not on what an overseas review site rates. We research and study products rather than lab-test them, and our method for this guide was simple and repeatable.

• We started from the soap dishes ranking and selling on Amazon Australia, then cross-checked each one against live listing data for price, availability and star rating.
• We only included dishes that are in stock in Australia with a real customer rating and at least a handful of verified reviews, so nothing here is a phantom listing.
• We read through the Australian reviews on every pick to find the recurring praise and the recurring complaints, then reported the flaws honestly rather than hiding them.
• We weighted drainage and easy cleaning most heavily, because a dish that traps water or cannot be rinsed out is the single most common reason people end up with mushy soap and mould.
• We balanced the list across materials and price points, from an eight dollar plastic dish to weightier stainless steel and ceramic, so there is a sensible pick whatever your bathroom and budget look like.

Which soap dish is best overall for an Australian bathroom?

The IMEEA brushed stainless steel soap dish is our top pick because it solves the two things that kill cheap dishes: rust and trapped water. It is made from SUS304 stainless steel, the grade used in good kitchen sinks, so it will not rust or stain even in a steamy bathroom. The clever bit is the two-piece build. The soap sits on an upper tray with gaps, and any water that runs off drips into a lower base, so your bar is never sitting in a pool and your vanity stays dry.

At around $17.90 it is not the cheapest dish here, but it punches well above that price. Australian buyers repeatedly describe it as heavier and more solid than they expected, with one calling it "best quality stainless with a good weight" and another noting it "looks amazing" with no sharp edges. The brushed silver finish is neutral enough to suit chrome, nickel or matte black tapware, which is why it works so well as the one dish you leave out on display. It measures roughly 14 by 9 centimetres, so it comfortably holds a full-size bar or a shampoo bar, and the two pieces pull apart for a quick rinse under the tap.

One reviewer who bought two, one for the kitchen and one for the bathroom, summed up the appeal: the dish is deep, it holds the soap away from the draining water, it is easy to clean and it looks attractive. That is exactly what you want from a soap dish you only buy once. It carries a 4.6 star rating, tied for the highest of any pick in this guide, which tells you the satisfaction holds up across hundreds of buyers.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It is a touch pricier than the plastic options, and a few buyers felt that for a soap dish it was "a bit expensive," even while rating it five stars. The brushed finish can show water spots and the odd fingerprint if you never wipe it, though a quick buff fixes that. And like any steel dish it can feel cold and utilitarian next to a soft ceramic piece, so if you want warmth and colour, look at the ceramic and silicone picks further down.

What is the best value soap dish?

The Joseph Joseph Slim Compact is the best-value pick and the most-reviewed dish in this entire guide, with more than 3,800 ratings behind its 4.5 star average. Its trick is a unique sloping base: the soap sits on an angled surface so water runs straight down and away from the bar, draining into a hidden channel rather than pooling underneath. The whole thing dismantles, so you can pop it open and rinse out that channel when it gets grimy, which is the single feature most cheap dishes lack.

What makes it such good value at around $14.97 is how much it does in so little space. It holds a full-size soap bar but takes up a tiny footprint, which is exactly what you want on a small ensuite basin or in a crowded shower caddy. One Australian buyer who uses it for a shampoo bar called it "perfect for keeping the bar dry between washes," and another noted it retails for around $25 in shops, so the Amazon price is a genuine saving. The grey and white colourway is understated and the design genuinely looks more expensive than it is.

Joseph Joseph is a British design brand with a strong reputation for clever, well-made bathroom and kitchen accessories, and the volume of happy reviews here reflects that. If you want one dish that just works, drains itself, splits apart to clean and disappears into a small space, this is the safe, sensible buy. It is the kind of unglamorous product you forget about precisely because it never gives you trouble.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The most common note from buyers is that it is smaller than they expected, so if you use chunky artisan soap bars, measure first. One detailed reviewer with a tiny ensuite found the rubber underside "isn't that grippy on porcelain," so on a very smooth basin it can slide a little. And the plastic, while perfectly solid, looks a fraction less premium in person than in the photos. None of that stops it doing its job, which is why it still earns a strong rating across thousands of buyers.

What is the best cheap soap dish under $10?

The Joseph Joseph Quick-Drain is the cheapest pick in this guide at around $8.00, and it is the dish to buy if you want maximum drainage for minimum spend. It uses a removable draining rack: the bar rests on a raised grid that keeps it completely out of the water below, then the whole inner tray lifts out so you can rinse away any soap scum in seconds. For a dish this cheap, that two-part design is unusually thoughtful.

It is an Amazon's Choice item with a 4.6 star rating from more than 1,100 buyers, and the Australian reviews are full of the same simple praise: "the soap does not stick to the bottom, that is the reason we bought it," and "keeps the soap dry, works very well." One parent liked that the clever design made it "easy for our toddler to grab and wash his hands" because the soap never glues itself to the dish. Another buyer uses these for shampoo and conditioner bars and found them "a great size." The non-slip base keeps it planted on a wet sink, and the white finish is clean and unobtrusive.

It is made from ABS, a tough plastic, so it will not rust and it shrugs off knocks. This is the dish to grab for a kid's bathroom, a laundry, a holiday rental or anywhere you want effective drainage without spending much. It does the core job, keeping the bar dry, as well as dishes that cost several times more, which is exactly why it is our budget winner.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It is compact, so very large soap bars can overhang the rack a little. The look is purely functional white plastic, so it will not be a styling centrepiece the way a ceramic or steel dish can be. And because the rack and base are separate pieces, there is one extra part to keep track of, though that same split is what makes it so easy to clean. For eight dollars, these are easy trade-offs to live with.

What is the best soap dish for the shower?

For the shower, the Coipdfty silicone self-draining dish is our pick, and it comes as a two-pack so you can do the shower and the basin at once. Silicone is the right material for a wet shower because, unlike ceramic, it will not crack if it slips off a wet ledge, and unlike untreated wood or bamboo it will not go mouldy. These have a waterfall drainage channel that funnels water off the back, plus grooves that stop the bar sliding and a suction base for tiles or glass.

At around $32.29 for two, they are not the cheapest option per dish, but the flexibility is the point. The food-grade silicone is soft, easy to peel clean and quick to dry. Australian buyers like that they stay put and drain well: one noted "it doesn't slide around on the edge of the basin" and "prevents soap from sitting in a puddle," and another who had a bamboo dish go mouldy in a week switched to silicone and reported no more mould and easy cleaning. The suction cups are optional, so you can stick them to a shower wall or just sit them on a shelf.

The 4.6 star rating across more than 1,000 buyers is reassuring for a shower product, where heat, steam and constant wet are brutal on cheaper materials. If you use bar soap in the shower and you are tired of a slimy ledge, a flexible silicone dish with a real drainage channel is the most forgiving choice you can make. They double neatly as a holder for a sponge or a razor too.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The honest catch is the price for what is, as one buyer put it, "a chunk of silicone," so the per-dish cost feels high until you remember you get two. The suction cups grip best on smooth, dry tile or glass and can let go on a textured or constantly wet surface, so some buyers just sit them flat instead. And silicone in plain white is practical rather than beautiful, so this is a function-first pick rather than a decor statement.

What is the best ceramic soap dish?

If you want a dish that looks like a boutique homewares buy without the boutique price, the Umlaca marble ceramic leaf dish is the one. It is genuine porcelain ceramic with a white marble finish, shaped like a leaf with a 45-degree drainage angle built in, so water runs off the bar and out rather than pooling. Ceramic has real heft, which means it stays put on a basin by its own weight with no suction cups or rubber feet needed.

At around $17.99 it brings a designer look for not much money. Australian buyers love how it presents: "looks better in person," "every bathroom should have one of these," and "brilliant little item for draining soap." The unglazed underside keeps it from sliding, and the smooth glazed top wipes clean with a rinse. The marble pattern reads as expensive and suits a styled vanity, whether your bathroom leans modern or traditional. It is a lovely middle ground between cold steel and plain plastic.

Ceramic is also the most hygienic surface to keep clean because nothing soaks in: soap residue rinses straight off the glaze. The leaf shape is more than decorative, the raised veins act as the drainage ridges that hold the bar above any runoff. With a solid 4.3 star average, it is a charming, practical upgrade for anyone who wants their soap dish to look intentional rather than purely functional.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It has the smallest review count of our picks, so it is newer to the market than the Joseph Joseph and Umbra dishes, though the feedback so far is strong. Being ceramic, it can chip or crack if you drop it on a hard floor, so it suits a basin or a benchtop more than a slippery shower ledge. And one buyer wished for a more grippy surface, so on a very smooth basin give it a steady spot rather than the edge.

What is the best minimalist soap dish?

The Umbra Touch dish is the pick for clean, minimalist bathrooms, and it is backed by one of the largest review counts in this guide at more than 2,300 ratings. It has a soft-touch matte finish that feels smooth and a little rubbery, and an oval body with raised ridges moulded into the base. Those ridges are the whole trick: they hold the bar up so the underside dries instead of sitting in pooled water, and they keep the soap from sticking to the dish.

At around $10.00 it is one of the more affordable picks, and Umbra is a well-known modern homewares brand, so the design language is deliberately simple and uncluttered. Buyers overseas and in Australia describe it as looking "like stone," easy to clean and pleasingly understated, with the high ridges keeping the soap "never in the wet." The compact oval takes up little bench space and the matte white suits a pared-back, Scandi-style bathroom where you do not want hardware shouting for attention.

It carries a 4.6 star rating, tied for the highest in this guide, which is impressive given how many people have bought it. If your taste runs to soft shapes, matte finishes and nothing fussy, the Touch is a quietly excellent choice that drains properly and disappears into a calm bathroom rather than dominating it.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It is plastic, so the occasional buyer who expected something heavier felt it was "just a plain plastic dish" at the price. The ridges drain well but do not catch and hold runoff the way a two-piece tray does, so on a flat shelf a little water can escape onto the surface. And the soft-touch finish, while lovely to handle, can pick up colour from heavily dyed soaps over time. For a tenner and a top rating, it remains very easy to recommend.

Is a novelty ceramic soap dish worth buying?

A fun, characterful dish like the HeaHap ceramic duck can absolutely earn its place, especially in a kid's bathroom or a guest powder room where you want a bit of personality. It is a cheerful duck-shaped ceramic holder with a textured surface meant to keep the bar ventilated and a self-draining design, and at a glance it doubles as a piece of decor rather than just a soap rest. With a 4.4 star average from more than 450 buyers, plenty of people are delighted by it.

That said, it is the most novelty-led pick here, and the honest reviews show why it sits as the "also consider" option rather than a top recommendation. At around $25.65 it is one of the dearer dishes in this guide, and the practical feedback is mixed. Some Australian buyers love how it looks and how it drains, calling it "cute and quality." Others were less impressed with the function: one found "water pools in the main body of the duck and leaks out the base" because the drain plug was not tight, and another was surprised the build felt more plastic than the heavy ceramic they pictured.

So buy it with your eyes open. If you want a charming gift or a playful touch in a children's bathroom and you are happy to tip out any trapped water now and then, it is a delight. If your priority is flawless, fuss-free drainage, one of the stainless steel, silicone or ceramic-leaf picks above will serve you better day to day.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The drain plug on the base can sit loose, so water can pool inside the body and seep out if you do not empty it. A few buyers expected heavier ceramic and felt the material was lighter than the listing implied. And at this price you are paying partly for the novelty shape rather than pure performance, so it is best chosen for charm first and function second.

What should you look for in a soap dish?

The single most important feature is drainage. A soap dish only works if it keeps the bar out of standing water, because soap dissolves wherever it stays wet. Look for one of three drainage designs: a two-piece tray that lifts the bar above a lower water-catching base, a sloped or angled surface that runs water off to one side, or raised ridges that hold the bar up with air gaps underneath. Any flat saucer with no drainage will turn your soap to slime, no matter how nice it looks.

Material decides how it ages. Stainless steel will not rust if it is a good grade like SUS304 and is the most hard-wearing choice. Ceramic is heavy, hygienic and looks premium but can crack if dropped. Silicone is soft, shatterproof and ideal for the shower. Plastic, especially ABS, is cheap, light and rust-free but looks more basic. Untreated wood and bamboo look lovely but need careful drying or they go mouldy fast, which is why we have steered toward materials that cope better with constant moisture.

Then think about where it lives. A basin dish can be heavier and prettier because it never gets knocked. A shower dish should be shatterproof and ideally able to grip or suction onto a wet surface. Easy cleaning matters too: a dish that splits into two pieces, or one with a smooth glazed surface, is far easier to keep free of soap scum and mould than one with deep crevices you cannot reach. Finally, match the size to your soap. Compact dishes suit slim supermarket bars, while chunky handmade soaps need a larger, deeper dish.

How do you keep a soap dish clean and your soap lasting longer?

Cleaning a soap dish is the difference between soap that lasts a fortnight and soap that lasts six weeks. The buildup you scrape off the bottom of a neglected dish is dissolved soap that has gone back to mush, and it is the perfect breeding ground for that pink or grey film. A few simple habits keep both the dish and the soap in good shape.

• Rinse the dish under hot water once or twice a week, and if it splits into two pieces, pull it apart so you can reach the hidden water channel where scum collects.
• Let the bar dry between uses by choosing a dish with real drainage and not leaving the soap sitting in a closed, wet container. Air is what keeps a bar firm.
• For stubborn soap film, a quick scrub with an old toothbrush and a little white vinegar or dishwashing liquid cuts through the residue without scratching the surface.
• Keep the bar away from the direct spray in the shower if you can, on a ledge or wall dish rather than under the showerhead, so it is not melting under running water every time.
• If you use bar shampoo or conditioner, give those dishes the same drying treatment, as they tend to be softer and dissolve even faster than hand soap.

Stainless steel and glazed ceramic are the easiest surfaces to keep spotless because nothing soaks in. Silicone peels clean and can usually go in the dishwasher. Plastic dishes wipe down quickly but can stain over time from coloured soaps. Whatever you choose, a thirty second rinse now and then is all it takes to keep your soap dry, your bar lasting and your bathroom looking cared for.

You will also want these bathroom basics

A soap dish rarely travels alone. If you are sorting out the bathroom, these are the small upgrades that make the biggest difference to how tidy and pleasant the room feels day to day. Each link goes straight to a current Amazon Australia option.

• A matching soap dispenser to pair with your bar soap dish for hand wash at the basin.
• A rust-proof shower caddy to corral shampoo, conditioner and your shower soap dish in one place.
• A quick-dry bath mat so the floor stays dry and safe right where the drips land.
• A toothbrush holder to finish the vanity set and keep brushes off the bench.
• A bathroom storage basket for spare soap, flannels and the bits that clutter a benchtop.
• Microfibre cloths for the weekly wipe-down that keeps steel and ceramic streak-free.
• A fresh set of bath towels to tie the whole bathroom refresh together.

How do the picks compare, and which should you skip?

If you only remember three names, make them the IMEEA stainless steel for the best all-round dish, the Joseph Joseph Slim Compact for the best value, and the Joseph Joseph Quick-Drain for the cheapest reliable option. Those three cover almost every bathroom and budget. The IMEEA wins overall on rust proof build and a true two piece drain; the Slim Compact wins on its huge base of happy buyers and space saving design; the Quick-Drain wins on sheer value at around eight dollars.

Beyond the top three, choose by setting. Pick the Coipdfty silicone pair if your soap lives in a wet shower and you want something shatterproof that grips. Pick the Umlaca marble leaf or the Umbra Touch if looks matter most and the dish sits on a basin you keep clean. The HeaHap duck is the one to approach with care: it is genuinely charming for a kid's bathroom or as a gift, but if flawless drainage is your priority, one of the others will frustrate you less. There is no truly bad dish on this list, only the right one for where you are putting it.

The good news is that this is a low-stakes, high-reward purchase. Even our dearest pick costs about the same as a couple of coffees, and the right dish quietly pays for itself by stretching every bar of soap you buy. Match the material to the room, keep it rinsed, and you will not think about your soap dish again for years, which is exactly how it should be.

Frequently asked questions about soap dishes

What is the best material for a soap dish?

For durability and rust resistance, good-grade stainless steel like SUS304 is the best all-round material, which is why our top pick is steel. Ceramic is the most premium-looking and very hygienic but can crack if dropped. Silicone is the best choice for the shower because it is soft and shatterproof. Plastic is the cheapest and never rusts, while untreated wood and bamboo look great but need careful drying to avoid mould.

What is the best soap dish for keeping soap dry?

The dishes that keep soap driest use proper drainage rather than a flat surface. A two piece design that lifts the bar above a water catching tray, like the IMEEA stainless steel or the Joseph Joseph Quick-Drain, keeps the bar out of any pooled water. Angled or self-draining designs and dishes with raised ridges also work well. The key is air underneath the bar so it can dry between uses.

Do ceramic soap dishes prevent mushy soap?

A well-designed ceramic dish does, as long as it has drainage built in. A flat ceramic saucer with no slope or ridges will still leave soap sitting in water and going mushy. Look for a ceramic dish with an angled surface or raised veins, like the leaf-shaped Umlaca pick, so water runs off and the bar dries. The glazed ceramic surface itself is easy to rinse clean and does not absorb soap.

How do I stop my soap dish going mouldy?

Mould grows on the soap residue that collects in a wet dish, so the fix is regular rinsing and good drainage. Choose a dish that drains water away, rinse it under hot water once or twice a week, and pull apart any two-piece design to clean the hidden channel. Avoid untreated wood and bamboo in the shower, as those are the most mould-prone, and let the dish dry out rather than leaving it constantly wet.

Where can I buy a soap dish in Australia?

Soap dishes are widely available in Australia from Amazon AU, Kmart, Bunnings, Bed Bath N Table and homewares stores. Amazon AU has the widest range with verified star ratings, which is what we drew on for this guide, and prices there start at around eight dollars for an effective dish. Buying online lets you compare drainage designs and real buyer reviews before you commit, which is harder to do on a shop shelf.

How much should I spend on a soap dish?

You do not need to spend much. An effective, well-draining soap dish starts at around eight dollars, like our budget Joseph Joseph Quick-Drain pick. Spending fifteen to twenty dollars gets you nicer materials such as stainless steel or marble-look ceramic that look good on display and last for years. Above that you are mostly paying for design or brand, so a mid-priced dish is the value sweet spot for most homes.

Pair your soap dish with the rest of the bathroom

If you are setting up or refreshing a bathroom, a soap dish is just one piece of the puzzle. These NestPath guides cover the other buys that make the room work harder, each researched the same way for Australian first-home buyers.

• The best soap dispensers in Australia to pair with your bar soap setup.
• Bathroom storage ideas for keeping a small bathroom tidy and clutter-free.
• The best shower caddies in Australia to organise the shower around your soap.
• The best bath mats in Australia to keep the floor dry and safe.
• The best shower heads in Australia for an easy upgrade to your daily wash.
• The best bath towels in Australia to finish the refresh in style.

About the author

Anish Puri founded NestPath in 2026 after going through the Australian first-home-buyer process himself. NestPath focuses on Australian first-home buyers because the existing review sites are American, generic, or both. Anish handles editorial selection across the homeowner hub. Reach out: hello@nestpath.com.au