Unfortunately, refrigerators are large and expensive, so you aren’t likely to have multiple of them in your home in all the places you may want to enjoy an item stored there. One easy way to help keep food and drinks cold in any space is with the addition of a mini fridge. Whether you’re looking to keep your lunch fresh while at work or a place to chill your favorite wine bottles, this list has plenty of smaller refrigerator options to cool just about anything. When shopping for the best mini fridge, you will want to find one that is sized appropriately for your space while offering enough storage capacity to fit your individual needs. It should also include features like temperature control and auto-defrost. Our top overall pick for the best mini fridge is the Black+Decker 1.7 Cubic Foot Single Door Mini Fridge BCRK17W because it gives you enough room to store all your essentials, is easy to clean thanks to the removable glass shelf, and fits seamlessly into any space in the home. These are the best mini fridges you can buy online. Keep in Mind: Though described as ultra-quiet, it does make some noise when the compressor kicks in, which may be distracting if you are sensitive to sound. Other convenient features of our overall pick for the best mini fridge include a reversible door, which allows this mini fridge to conveniently slip into any space in your home, dorm, or office. It includes leveling legs for extra sturdiness and an adjustable temperature control that gets down to 33.8°F at its lowest temperature. The included mini ice tray is also a fun bonus. At 1.7 cubic feet, this is not the largest mini fridge on our list, so it might not be the best option to use in communal living or working spaces. Price at time of publish: $150 Product Details: Dimensions: 17.5 x 18.5 x 19.7 inches | Capacity: 1.7 cubic feet | Voltage: 110 | Warranty: One-year warranty for parts and labor and two-year warranty for compressor Keep in Mind: You do not get any freezer space with this model. The adjustable thermostat ranges from 32°F to 39°F, letting you optimize cooling for your food items. We also like that it has a reversible door, which makes it easy to fit into any room layout. The flat back also enables flush placement against walls, further minimizing its footprint. Keep in mind that there is no freezer space with this model. You will want to consider a different option if you are looking for a place to hold frozen dinners and ice trays. Price at time of publish: $100 Product Details: Dimensions: 18.15 x 17.5 x 19.5 inches | Capacity: 1.7 cubic feet | Voltage: 115 | Warranty: One-year warranty for parts and labor Keep in Mind: It is not the best option for very narrow spaces. While this fridge is far from the cheapest option on our list, when it comes to aesthetics, you will have to look hard to find a better-looking appliance. The exterior is available in five vibrant colors, including red, mint green, cream, white and black. All color options feature Smeg’s signature ’50s inspired stainless steel handle. Keep in mind the door on this fridge is not reversible, but it is available with left- or right-hinge options. You will also need to leave a gap of at least 12.5 inches on the hinge side of the refrigerator to allow the door to open properly. Price at time of publish: $1,260 Product Details: Dimensions: 19.11 x 15.7 x 29.1 inches | Capacity: 1.34 cubic feet | Voltage: 110 | Warranty: One year Keep in Mind: This fridge was designed specifically for chilling beverages. It won’t work for fresh food, such as meats, fruits, and vegetables. The easy touch temperature control cools down to 34°F, and the large digital temperature display allows for quick monitoring and setting of any temperature. We also like the auto-defrost feature that kicks in when the inside temperature reaches freezing, thus preventing ice buildup in your fridge. An additional memory function automatically restores the preset temperature of your cooler in case it becomes unplugged, or in the event of a power outage. Keep in mind this fridge was designed specifically for chilling beverages. It is especially great for cans but spacing can become awkward when trying to store taller bottles. Price at time of publish: $360 Product Details: Dimensions: 17.3 x 18.9 x 33.3 inches | Capacity: 3.2 cubic feet | Voltage: 115 | Warranty: Check directly with manufacturer Keep in Mind: You’ll need to run it on the coldest setting for a few days before being able to store any perishable items in it. The exterior, which is available in three different color options (white, black or clean steel), boasts a laminated vinyl finish that minimizes fingerprint marks. You also get recessed handles on both the freezer and refrigerator doors, adding to its clean aesthetic and compact profile. Thanks to an automatic defrost function in the refrigerator, your perishables will always remain frost-free, but keep in mind that the freezer requires manual defrosting. Before adding food, you’ll also want to run the fridge on its coldest setting for a few days when you first plug it in, so it can get to the desired temperature. Price at time of publish: $409 Product Details: Dimensions: 18.8 x 20.1 x 33.4 inches | Capacity: 3.1 cubic feet | Voltage: 120 | Warranty: Check directly with manufacturer Keep in Mind: There is only room for eight bottles, which might not be convenient for those with an extensive wine collection. On the outside, this is a good-looking wine fridge, featuring a sleek black body and elegant double pane glass window on the door. Inside, four chrome wire racks provide efficient storage for up to eight 750-milliliter and 1500-milliliter bottles, while soft LED lighting (with on/off control) helps display your wine collection in style. There is little to dislike about this wine fridge, though keep in mind that it only stores eight bottles. We also wish it came in additional color options. Price at time of publish: $200 Product Details: Dimensions: 17 x 10 x 17 inches | Capacity: Eight bottles | Voltage: 115 | Warranty: Three-year limited warranty Keep in Mind: Measuring less than 1 cubic foot, you will be compromising on space for the portability factor. Featuring a thermoelectric system that switches from cooling to heating when you need it, the Cooluli Infinity easily adapts to your needs. In fridge mode, it cools down to 35°F to 40°F, providing excellent storage space for food, drinks, breast milk, insulin and other essentials. The powerful, yet incredibly quiet, cooling system is also designed to prevent frost buildup, helping keep all your items intact. The Infinity also gives you the bonus of warm mode, heating up to 149°F to keep meals warm while on the go. When it comes to storage, this fridge comes with two removable shelves as well as a door caddy to hold slimmer items. On the exterior, this is a stylish compact unit featuring a durable tempered glass front, and the molded foldaway top handle makes transport a breeze. We also love that it comes in a wide variety of colors to fit any aesthetic, including classic white, gold, and a fun green checkered pattern. Price at time of publish: $80 Product Details: Dimensions: 11.4 x 9.4 x 13.5 inches | Capacity: 0.5 cubic feet | Voltage: 100 | Warranty: One year Keep in Mind: Zero handle and a clunky power cord make this a less travel-friendly option. Its compact design features a 4-liter interior capacity with one shelf and additional door storage, perfect for keeping your favorite skin serums, makeup products, and face masks. On the exterior, the door doubles as a mirror, providing an easy way to freshen up your face anywhere in your home (or on the go). A bonus heat function can keep coffee, tea, or moist towels warm for a relaxing experience. As a traditional mini fridge, this little appliance comfortably stores up to six standard cans. Plugs for both standard home outlets and car chargers are included for added convenience. Keep in mind that with no handle, a bulky power cord, and mirrored exterior, this fridge is not ideal for frequent travel. You will want to be extra careful when moving it around to avoid breaking it. Price at time of publish: $56 Product Details: Dimensions: 7 x 9.5 x 10 inches | Capacity: 4 liters | Voltage: 120 | Warranty: One year
What to Know About Mini Fridges Before Shopping
Size and Storage Capacity
Mini refrigerators will typically range between 17 to 35 inches in height, 18 to 24 inches in width, and 17 to 26 inches in depth. This gives them an average capacity of about 1.5 to 4.5 cubic feet. Dimensions for countertop mini fridges will fall on the lower range of this scale and will usually max out at less than 2 cubic feet when it comes to capacity. So, if you are looking to get a bit more bang for your buck, consider a freestanding mini fridge.
Power and Energy Usage
Most mini fridges run on standard 120-volt A/C electric power. In general, mini fridges consume less energy than standard size refrigerators. The average mini fridge uses between 50 and 65 watts. But this is not universal. Some models, such as those that are Energy Star rated, will use less than that while others can go over that range—sometimes consuming up to 100 watts of energy.
Intended Use
Having a mini fridge in your home, dorm or office will help you stay hydrated and satiated throughout the day, without the frequent need to step out for snacks or refreshments. You can use a mini fridge to store homemade lunches, snacks, frozen dinners, sodas, beer, and wine. Smaller, countertop mini fridges are also convenient for holding breast milk, insulin, and other medicines or to help extend the life of your favorite skincare products.
Your Questions, Answered
What’s the best way to clean a mini fridge?
According to Marshall Tilden, chief revenue and education officer at Wine Enthusiast, the best way to clean a mini fridge is to 1) prepare a cleaning solution of 3 to 4 tablespoons of baking soda mixed with warm water, 2) wipe down the inside with a sponge or soft cloth that is dampened with the cleaning solution, 3) rinse with clean warm water, and 4) dry with a soft cloth.
How do you defrost a mini fridge?
“To defrost a mini fridge, make sure that you have removed all items from the fridge itself then unplug the unit,” Tilden says. “Most times if you leave the door open, and place a number of dry, absorbent towels in front of (and/or underneath) the mini fridge, it will do the trick. “However, if there is still built-up ice in the mini fridge, you can use a box fan or hair dryer to melt the remaining ice. Also, you can dab it with a bit of rubbing alcohol for those well-formed ice clusters that are being a bit stubborn.”
Where should you put a mini fridge?
“You want to keep a mini fridge out of areas that are extremely warm or under 40℉,” Tilden says. “Because most fridges will only cool and will not get warm, any ambient temperature that is close to freezing could cause a mini fridge to ice over.” In warmer temperatures over 90℉, Tilden warns mini fridges will have a hard time holding the interior temperature. “It is also important to remember that the compressor, which powers a mini fridge, can make a bit of noise and is not ideal for living areas that you prefer to stay on the quieter side.”
Who We Are
This article was written by Adria Greenhauff, who has been writing about food and lifestyle topics for over a decade. To come up with this list of the best mini fridges, she researched the top mini fridges on the market, looking at size, features, price, and more. She also interviewed Marshall Tilden, chief revenue and education officer at Wine Enthusiast, who has extensive experience in sourcing and maintaining mini refrigerators for a wide variety of living spaces.
