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The Best Mini Fridges to Fit Any Space
Some of these small refrigerators even come with their own freezers.
We updated this story in May 2023 to ensure all tested and vetted picks were available, in stock and correctly priced.
A mini fridge is a dorm bedroom must, the perfect addition to your home coffee bar and a great tool for storing beauty products in the bathroom. And keeping a mini fridge at your desk is always a great idea if you have food allergies or someone keeps on stealing your lunch from the office fridge. Whether you need to keep your favorite sparkling waters or canned cocktails cold, store milk and creamers for your morning coffee or chill your jade roller, a mini fridge will come in handy.
Food safety tip: we recommend keeping a refrigerator thermometer in your mini fridge to ensure that it's always at a safe temp (38°F or below) for storing perishables.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, we have a long history of testing refrigerators, evaluating more than 50 fridges in the past 10 years, including mini fridges. When it comes to mini fridges, we look for models that are easy to set up and that keep items properly cold — or even frozen. We also look for handy features like removable shelves, interior lighting and crisper drawers.
Our top picks:
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- 5
You can read more about how we evaluate mini fridges in our Lab — plus everything you need to know to shop for your perfect mini fridge — at the end of this guide. Need a full-sized refrigerator instead? Check out our guides to the best full-size refrigerators, smart refrigerators and built-in refrigerators.
GE Double Door Mini Fridge
Pros
- Built-in can dispenser on the door
- Removable glass shelves
- Interior light
Cons
- Not suitable for outdoor or garage use
We've tested many GE fridges over the years that have earned top marks for temperature maintenance and uniformity, so we feel confident recommending this mini fridge. The GE Double Door Mini Fridge has a separate freezer on top with plenty of storage (even on the door), and the refrigerator includes a clear crisper drawer and shelving and a can rack on the door. You can even remove the glass shelves to create more room if you have larger soda bottles or just want to stack beer cans high. And when this mini fridge is open, an interior light automatically turns on for great ease of use. Keep in mind the brand doesn't recommend keeping this appliance outdoors or in your garage.
| Type | Mid-size with freezer |
|---|---|
| Weight | 56 pounds |
| Dimensions | 33 3/8" x 18 3/4" x 20 1/8" |
| Capacity | 3.1 cubic feet |
Frigidaire 1.6 Cu. Ft. Compact Refrigerator
Pros
- Adjustable thermostat
- Reversible door
- Comes in seven different colorways
Cons
- Very tiny freezer
At just around $100, the Frigidaire Single Door Mini Fridge is our best value pick. This pick is ideal for smaller spaces, yet it still offers enough room to store cans of soda and plenty of snacks. We love that there is quite a lot of door storage and that the door is reversible to help the fridge work in your space. And this mini fridge comes in seven (!) different colors to match your space. One reviewer from Amazon says, "I like everything about this refrigerator, especially the color. I have it in my bedroom to keep cold water. This way I don’t have to go up and down stairs." There's even a small freezer compartment for a little ice cube tray or an ice roller but take note that it is very small.
| Type | Cube with freezer |
|---|---|
| Weight | 30 pounds |
| Dimensions | 18.3" x 19.6" x 17.5" |
| Capacity | 1.6 cubic feet |
COSTWAY Compact Refrigerator
Pros
- Removable shelves
- Top freezer with separate door
- Can rack
Cons
- Heavy
The ultimate dorm bedroom addition, this Costway option is just like your regular fridge, only smaller. Reviewers even say it's just as quiet, which is great if you're trying to get plenty of sleep before finals. It has a separate freezer, an ice tray, a crisper drawer, a can rack and shelving on the door and an internal thermometer so you can easily adjust the temperature. The glass shelves are adjustable to make room for tall items and removable for easy cleaning. This mini fridge also comes in three different colors — black, stainless steel and white — to match your bedroom aesthetic.
| Type | Mid-size with freezer |
|---|---|
| Weight | 52 pounds |
| Dimensions | 19.5" x 19" x 34" |
| Capacity | 3.2 cubic feet |
Insignia Mini Fridge
Pros
- Can fit in small spaces
- Adjustable thermostat
- Three removable shelves
Cons
- No freezer
Standing at just over 27 inches tall, this mini fridge provides enough space for snacks and drinks and can fit nicely under most desks or inside a cubicle. The adjustable thermostat aims to ensure an ideal temperature for your food, so you don't have to rely on a lunch box with an ice pack. Inside are three removable and adjustable shelves. The door also has storage for up to eight canned drinks as well as space for up to two larger bottles. Keep in mind that one tester noted that most tall cans will not fit in the rack and that the can rack is ideal for 12-ounce cans. There also isn't a freezer.
| Type | Cube |
|---|---|
| Weight | 44 pounds |
| Dimensions | 31 3/8" x 19 1/8" x 27 5/8" |
| Capacity | 2.6 cubic feet |
Galanz Retro Compact Refrigerator
Galanz Retro Compact Refrigerator
Pros
- Affordable
- Multiple colors and sizes to choose from
Cons
- Plastic handle does not seem sturdy
The Galanz Retro Compact Refrigerator is one of our largest picks, with a roomy interior and three levels of storage plus plenty of door storage (even a can rack!). While this mini fridge does not offer a freezer, it does offer a small chiller compartment to freeze a compact ice cube tray. It also comes in red, black and green and five different sizes if the 3.3 cubic foot model isn't the right fit for your space. Take note: We found the handle difficult to attach and that it isn't very sturdy.
| Type | Mid-sized |
|---|---|
| Weight | 46 pounds |
| Dimensions | 17.6" x 21.02" x 35.43" |
| Capacity | 3.3 cubic feet |
hOmeLabs Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler
hOmeLabs Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler
Pros
- Glass window in door
- Adjustable shelves
- White LED interior light
Cons
- Items against the back wall of the mini fridge may freeze slightly
While all of our mini fridge picks store beverages well, HomeLabs Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler is the ultimate mini fridge for drinks. It has the capacity to store 120 cans or you can adjust the shelves to fit bottles or tall cans. The best feature? The door has a glass window so you keep stock of what's inside your mini fridge without opening it up — and also show off your drink selection for guests. Some other great features are its white LED interior light, easy-touch temperature controls and auto-defrost feature. One of our editors just added this model to their basement and it's been performing well. Some reviewers from Amazon noted that items that were up against the back wall of the mini fridge froze slightly, which is good to keep in mind when filling it.
| Type | Cube |
|---|---|
| Weight | 68 pounds |
| Dimensions | 17.3" x 18.9" x 33.3" |
| Capacity | 3.2 cubic feet |
Smeg Mini Refrigerator
Pros
- Well-made interior
- Retro style
- Comes in a variety of colorways
Cons
- Pricey
The Smeg Mini Refrigerator is an Italian-made, 1950s-inspired mini fridge that comes in a variety of colors (black, white, red, cream and orange). We love the sturdy handle, which makes the unit easy to open, and the adjustable door bins, which are perfect for fitting taller bottles. Take note that while the hinge is not reversible, you can choose a left or right hinge when you order.
| Type | Cube |
|---|---|
| Weight | 50 pounds |
| Dimensions | 19 11/16" x 15 7/8" x 29 1/8" |
| Capacity | 1.34 cubic feet |
Cooluli Mini Fridge Electric Cooler and Warmer
Cooluli Mini Fridge Electric Cooler and Warmer
Pros
- AC, DC and USB power options
- Also great for storing beauty products in your bathroom
- Handle for carrying
Cons
- Not suitable for perishables
This one takes the idea of mini to a whole new level: It weighs only 4 pounds! What makes it ideal for road trips is that it can be powered through your car's DC adapter or a USB port; there's also an AC cord for indoor use. It also has a handle built into the top for easy toting. Though we have not tested this pick, we like that it also includes a warming function. One caveat is that the coldest temperature this model can achieve is 40˚F, so it's best for cooling — not chilling or keeping perishables at a safe temperature (35 to 38˚F is an ideal range to store perishables).
| Type | Portable |
|---|---|
| Weight | 4 pounds |
| Dimensions | 7. 25" x 10. 25" x 10. 75" |
| Capacity | 0.14 cubic feet |
How we test mini fridges
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, we have a long history of testing refrigerators, testing and evaluating more than 50 fridges in the past 10 years, including mini fridges.
For full-size refrigerators and mini fridges, we rate the ability to regulate temperature and humidity for grocery list staples like lettuce, deli meat and frozen foods. We assess the uniformity of temperatures in the refrigerator and freezer compartments, as well as temperature variations in single areas over time.
In addition, we evaluate each refrigerator's ease of use, including the helpfulness of the manual, the type and ease of use of the controls and the comfort of grasping or using the door handles. We score interior features including the types of shelves in the refrigerator cavity and on the doors, the ease with which the freezer (if included) and drawers (if included) could be opened and the presence or absence of a crisper or other storage options.
If we haven't tested a specific mini fridge model yet, we rely on our knowledge base from in-Lab and at-home consumer testing, as well as our product experts' extensive research and industry experience. We're also able to recommend models based off of full-sized fridges that tested well for us and recognize models with the details that stand out most.
What to look for when buying a mini fridge
✔️Types: There are four common mini fridge types that you can choose from when purchasing a mini fridge.
- Portable: These petite mini fridges are great for cars, storing beauty products or very small spaces. These generally have a handle on top for easy carrying and can fit roughly six cans of soda inside.
- Cube: These mini fridges usually do not have a freezer and while larger than a portable mini fridge are still rather lightweight. These models are great for offices, small dorm rooms and hotel rooms.
- Mid-size: These mini fridges usually come with a freezer on top or provide even more space than a cube mini fridge. These are great for a home bar where you need more space for wine bottles or a freezer stocked with ice.
- Under-the-counter: These are very similar to a mid-size mini fridge, but they are designed to slide beneath a countertop. They tend be on the pricer side, but they can take your home bar up a notch.
✔️Price: Mini fridge prices can range from less than $50 for a portable model to over $1,000 for a mid-sized mini fridge. If there isn't a certain aesthetic you are trying to achieve with your mini fridge, we recommend sticking to a model under $500.
✔️Size and capacity: Mini fridges, also known as compact refrigerators, vary in size from 0.14 cubic feet to 3.3 cubic feet. Mini fridges can range in size from a small 7.25" x 10.25" x 10.75" to a large 19.5" x 19" x 34". It’s best to measure the size of the space you have available first before making a purchase.
✔️Temperature range: The optimal holding temperature of your refrigerator is between 35˚F and 38˚F to keep food out of the "danger zone," the temperature range in which bacteria can multiply rapidly, which spans between 40°F and 140°F, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Freezers should ideally maintain a temp of 0˚F or lower.
✔️Storage: If you plan on storing your lunch and a few cans of seltzer at your desk or need to keep your skincare products fresh, a smaller model, like our picks from Cooluli or Cooseon, will likely do the trick. If you are purchasing a mini fridge for a dorm room or wet bar area, choose a mini fridge with a separate freezer and features like a pull-out drawer to make organization easier. If you want to be able to store tall items like wine bottles or liter bottles of soda, be sure to choose a fridge that can adjust to fit larger items.
✔️Color and Style: Mini fridges have come a long way and are now available in a variety of styles and colors. In our research, we found classic designs that look like miniature refrigerators and also mini fridges with a retro twist. Consider your decor if the fridge will live in a well-trafficked area.
Do mini fridges keep food at a safe temperature?
The short answer is: some do. While some models are only intended for storing a few cans of soda or skincare products like the model from COOSEON, others do recommend that you store perishables.
If you expect to store perishables like leftovers or milk, add a thermometer inside to monitor the temperature and ensure it stays below 38°F. The coldest part of your mini fridge will also be towards the back of your mini fridge (not near the door), place anything that you need to keep a food safe temperature like dairy or meat towards the back for good measure.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, Eva Bleyer has tested many types of kitchen products from blenders to kitchen scales. She earned a B.S. in Food Studies, Nutrition and Public Health from New York University and trained in culinary arts at the Natural Gourmet Institute. Eva thinks a mini fridge is a great addition to anyone's home bar (whether for coffee, booze or both).
Eva (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she tests kitchen gear, home appliances and culinary innovations. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor of science in food studies, nutrition and public health and is a trained chef through the Natural Gourmet Institute. Eva has more than 10 years of experience in the food industry, working as a food stylist, personal chef and marketing manager.
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