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The most important element of any refrigerator is that it keeps food at a stable and chilled temperature and offers accurate settings for precise control. And along with your washing machine and dryer, your refrigerator needs to fit into your space perfectly and suit your food storage needs, so you’re not cramming everything in or left with empty shelves.
We’ve done the research to find the best refrigerator you can buy with a range of price options to suit every budget. We’ve searched the market and compared a shortlist of models, considering capacity, energy consumption, and any special features. Finally, we compiled our research and selected the best refrigerators to suit a range of food cooling needs, including the latest smart tech, and extra features such as water and ice dispensers.
The quick list
This model takes the top spot because of its unmatched versatility. There’s a full width shelf for which you can adjust the temperature to suit your produce. While another slides under itself to make way for taller items. The water dispenser even runs automatically.
This Maytag refrigerator provides a split capacity of 20.5 cu ft, with a generous capacity for an affordable price. It houses a 14.4 cu ft refrigerator and a 6.1 cu ft freezer. It doesn't offer the bells and whistles that others promote, but its does the job of chilling and freezing food at a good price.
For a sleek and practical design and a solid performance, this LG model is best. The water and ice dispenser is contained inside the appliance which has generous storage. It is also Energy Star Certified.
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I've been through quite a few refrigerators in my time. Many of them have lasted for years, and have seen me through lots of different life stages. While my first refrigerator was perfect for two, I then needed to invest in a larger appliance when my family came along. Now I'm back to where I started and don't need as much capacity. Apart from size, there's also lots of other features and functions to think about, including the flexibility of space, and added features like chilled water dispensers and ice makers, and even smart features. I've pulled together a round-up of the best refrigerators for whatever life situation you need covered.
The best refrigerators you can buy today
The best refrigerator overall
The best refrigerator overall, the GE Profile PFE28KYNFS French door refrigerator, is beautifully designed, has well-thought-out storage, and boosts 27.7 cubic feet of space. It has a smudge-proof stainless steel finish to keep it looking smart and is also available in slate or black stainless steel.
Features
Apart from looking cool, this French-door refrigerator will keep you cool. It has a cubed and crushed ice dispenser and an autofill water dispenser. When you place a glass in the water dispenser, it fills it automatically, so you don’t have to stand and press a button as it dispenses. This is one of the only refrigerators with an advanced water filter that removes pharmaceuticals such as ibuprofen, chlorine, and lead. Plus, if you are looking for an energy-efficient appliance, this GE refrigerator is Energy Star certified.
This refrigerator has an average rating of 4.3 stars out of 3,773 reviews at Home Depot. Users say they "love the auto fill feature" and it has "exceptionally well-designed storage, but comment that it "can be loud".
Refrigerator
With 18.5 cubic feet of space, you’ll find lots of features inside for organizing and protecting food. It has a full-width shelf with temperature control; at the coldest setting, it will keep meat fresher longer, and on the warmer setting, it’s ideal for stashing party trays or a cake when you’re entertaining. One of the shelves slides under itself to make room for a tall item like a pineapple or a giant soda bottle.
Freezer
Here, you’ll find two baskets with dividers to keep your food from getting lost in a giant bin. This allows you to easily dive in and find whatever you are looking for. And with 9.17 cubic feet of space, there’s plenty of room for those extra sweet treats.
Best value
The Maytag MRT311FFFZ is the refrigerator to get if you want a great deal and don’t always need a large freezer. Its design has a premium appearance, with a sleek handle-less design, which is perfect for tight spaces.
Features
It does lack the features of other models — you won't get an ice maker or water dispenser, but it does a good job at keeping food chilled or frozen, without a big expense. And it certainly packs a punch with handy door and shelf shelving, giving the options to hold tall and short items, with a real winner being the two crisper drawers. The door hinges can also be switched to the reverse side for convenience.
This refrigerator has an average rating of 3.9 stars out of 89 reviews at Best Buy. Users choose it who are either looking for a basic refrigerator or one that is compact, and say it's "small but gets the job done... I like how it has no handles so it takes up less space."
Refrigerator
This Maytag refrigerator has a capacity of 14.4 cubic feet — 4.1 cubic feet less than our best refrigerator overall. However, what’s smart about the design is that it's ideal for small spaces, or as a second refrigerator for a garage. It comes with three adjustable shelves, a dairy center, gallon storage door, crisper, and a deli meat drawer.
Freezer
The freezer sits at the top of the appliance and has a capacity of 6.1 cubic feet. It's ideal if you don’t need much freezer space and are more interested in what the refrigerator can offer. It also includes one shelf and storage shelfing within the door.
Best French door
This LG French-door refrigerator is a popular appliance that offers the capacity you typically get with a standard-depth refrigerator, but with a built-in look, which will sit flush with your countertop. Although it has slightly less space than the GE Profile PFE28KYNFS, voted our best refrigerator overall, it still offers a total capacity of 26.5 cubic feet.
Features
This elegant French-door refrigerator offers the convenience of a water dispenser hidden inside the appliance to keep the external look sleek. It also features a smudge-resistant finish and smart pull handles to make getting in and out of the freezer easy. It can also be connected to the ThinQ app, allowing you to get notifications about usage and maintenance.
This refrigerator scores 4.7 stars out of 623 reviews at Best Buy. Users say they "it's amazing in terms of how much food we can store" and "I enjoy the hidden water dispenser on the inside".
Refrigerator
The storage is exceptional and is highly praised by reviewers, providing 17.8 cubic feet of space. The refrigerator has four shelves, two crisper bins, a glide n’ serve drawer, and six door bins, each holding two gallons. It also houses the internal water dispenser. LG offers a 3-layer Fresh Air Filter with a dedicated fan that pushes cleaner, fresher air into the fridge to keep everything super fresh.
Freezer
The freezer drawer, with an 8.7 cubic feet capacity, provides plenty of space to keep your frozen food organized. It also contains an automatic ice-making compartment, providing you with large cubes.
Other models I recommend
How we decide
We conducted extensive online research to find the best refrigerators. We took our time reading up countless reviews to find those with the highest and most consistent ratings. Any faults or recurring problems were an immediate red flag during this research. Those models which were shortlisted demonstrated the highest reputation from consumers and came strongly recommended.
Once we had this list, we also factored in the specifications of every model. We looked at capacity, energy consumption and added features, such as ice and water dispensers. In doing this, we were able to find the models that have the most to offer. During our research, we made sure to consider and include different sizes of refrigerators and alternative layouts to suit all kinds of homes.
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Size (inches) | Refrigerator capacity (cu ft) | Freezer capacity (cu ft) | Ice/Water dispenser | Energy consumption (kWh/year) |
GE Profile PFE28KYNFS | 69.8 x 35.7 x 36.3 | 18.5 | 9.17 | Yes/Yes | 725 |
Samsung RT18M6215SR | 66 x 28 x 31 | 12.7 | 4.9 | Yes/No | 448 |
LG LRFLC2706S | 70.4 x 35.75 x 29.25 | 17.8 | 8.7 | Yes/Yes | 632 |
Samsung RS27T5200SR | 70.063 x 35.88 x 33.5 | 17.9 | 9.5 | Yes/Yes | 728 |
GE GIE18GSNRSS | 67.4 x 28 x 32.5 | 13.5 | 4 | No/No | 443 |
Samsung Family Hub Refrigerator RF32CG5900SR/AA | 70 x 35 ¾ x 36 ¼ | 20.8 | 9.2 | Yes/Yes | 781 |
LG LRDCS2603S | 69 x 32 x 34 | 17.2 | 8.3 | Yes/No | 562 |
Bosch Counter-Depth Refrigerator B36CT80SNS | 72 x 28.5 x 35 | 15 | 6 | Yes/Yes | 570 |
Refrigerator sales and deals
If you’re thinking about buying a new refrigerator, be sure to check out our best refrigerator sales and deals page first. We’re constantly updating this with the latest offers and some of our favorite brands have made an appearance.
How to choose
Refrigerator Type
There are four main types of refrigerators:
- French Door: This is the most popular model, with two doors that open the refrigerator compartment. This feature makes it easier to access the fridge, such as when a kitchen island might prevent you from fully opening a full-size door. These refrigerators also have the freezer section on the bottom.
- Side-by-side: These two-door refrigerators have the freezer compartment on the left side and the refrigerator compartment on the right. This style makes it easier to reach items in the freezer — you don't have to bend down — but makes it harder to fit in wider items, such as pizza boxes and sheet cakes. For this reason, you need to watch you don't overfill your freezer.
- Top freezer: As the name suggests, the freezer is on the top, with a single door below for the refrigerator. These models make it easier to get to the freezer, at the expense of having to bend down to reach the lower drawers of the refrigerator.
- Bottom freezer: With the freezer on the bottom, this style of refrigerator makes everything in the main compartment at waist level or higher. It's better for those who don't use their freezer as often. Freezers which are located towards the bottom tend to be easier to defrost manually. So you're less likely to worry about how to defrost a freezer. Ever wondered how long will food last in your freezer? We've got the answer.
Standard vs. counter depth
Many refrigerators come in two sizes: standard and counter depth. Counter-depth refrigerators are not as deep, so their front edge will be aligned with your countertop and kitchen cabinets. While more stylish, this makes them both smaller and more expensive than standard-size refrigerators.
Finish
Stainless steel is currently the most popular finish for all kitchen appliances — black stainless steel is even trendier — but you can also get refrigerators in more traditional white or black. Higher end models can also be outfitted with cabinet-like exteriors, so that they blend in with the rest of your kitchen's decor.
Is it magnetic? Keep in mind that many stainless steel models are not magnetic, so you'll have a harder time posting your kids' artwork and report cards, not to mention those takeout menus.
Will it fit?
There's nothing worse than ordering a fridge, only to find out it won't fit through your front door. Before buying a refrigerator, be sure to measure every opening it will have to go through. Since you can remove the doors from a refrigerator, you have a little more leeway.
As a general guide, refrigerators are usually between 24 inches to 36 inches wide, but do check the height, to make sure you’ve got enough clearance. Plus, it’s worth checking how much space you need around the appliance to ensure there’s adequate air flow and that you can open the door sufficiently to pull out the drawers once it's installed.
If you're replacing a refrigerator, measure your current model; you'll know that a fridge that size will fit.
What is the average cost of a good refrigerator?
The price of refrigerators really can vary in price, with entry level models starting from less than $400, ranging all the way up $3,000 for the most premium designs. For that reason you should have a budget in mind before you start browsing and consider which features you actually need. A touchscreen display looks incredible, but it will soon mount up the price.
You shouldn't have to spend too much to get a reliable refrigerator. Every model we've included in this guide gets our backing, but if you're on a budget, we would recommend reducing the size or features available on your refrigerator to ensure that you're still getting a high-quality refrigerator that will stand the test of time.
When to replace a refrigerator
Most brands will offer a one year warranty with a refrigerator, although the National Association of Home Builders says the lifespan of this product should be around 13 years. Extended warranties are available, however we don’t recommend these because it tends to cost more than any potential repairs. If your repair costs more than half the value of a new refrigerator, we recommend simply replacing it.
The most common refrigerator fault is that it’s struggling to keep the food chilled. Don’t pick up the phone to call a repairman just yet, as this could be fixed easily. The first step is to give both the gasket and coils a quick clean. You should also take a look at what temperature the refrigerator is set to — you might be able to lower it from here. If, on the other hand, your refrigerator is too cold, you can check the internal temperature setting once again. Otherwise, you might have to call in a professional. This problem could be caused by a faulty ice and water dispenser, which you should repair if possible. If the condenser is the problem and your refrigerator isn’t new, then it might be best to replace it.
A refrigerator is constantly running, so it naturally uses up more energy than other appliances. Modern designs are much more energy efficient however, so if you replace an older model, you might notice a difference on your bills. If you’re shopping for a new refrigerator, it’s worth buying one which is Energy Star certified as these are roughly 9% more efficient, which will save you about $200 over its lifetime.
Features to look for
The latest refrigerators come with lots of design features to improve their efficiency and to make them more convenient.
Humidity-controlled bins: Some feature specific produce bins with humidity controls and drawers which can maintain colder temperatures. This will make your meat and vegetables last much longer as both can be stored at the ideal temperature.
Exterior doors: Other models come with small compartments or drawers which can be opened without opening the whole refrigerator. This is ideal for grabbing snacks and means the fridge can better maintain its temperature. Look out for compartments which can be switched from fridge to freezer too.
Ever wondered if you should keep eggs in the refrigerator? The answer might surprise you.
Reversible doors: If you’re tight for space, reversible doors can be a very useful feature. This essentially means you can remove the fridge/freezer door and install it on the opposite side, so you can open it from left to right, rather than right to left for instance.
Glass doors: You will find this premium feature on LG’s InstaView models. You can essentially see straight into the refrigerator without opening the door by knocking twice — useful for retaining the temperature.
Touch screen: The latest refrigerator designs from Samsung come with touch screen displays. These can do all sorts, from ordering groceries and displaying your calendar to playing music and connecting with your smart home system. These aren’t the cheapest, but they’re certainly impressive.
Water/ice dispensers: Some Water dispensers can automatically fill a glass and some ice dispensers can produce crushed or shaved ice. The possibilities are endless! Many more colors are available these days as well — you don’t have to have a stainless steel finish!
"Smart" features: Smart fridges are much more common too. These can be controlled from your smartphone and will let you know when they detect a fault. Some can even self-diagnose, so the serviceperson will arrive with the right parts.
Next: These are the 11 foods that you should never put in the fridge. And don’t make these 7 refrigerator mistakes.
Also, have you ever wondered if you should keep eggs in the refrigerator? The answer might surprise you.
