And rather than the mini fridges adding unmanageable extra costs onto your bills, there are plenty of energy-efficient choices which can be super affordable to run. These fridges’ portability also makes them a great match for anyone who moves around a lot, or for those stuck for space in dorm rooms or offices. Even if you’re just keeping it within your home, the design of mini-fridges makes it easy to pick up and plugin within another room if you want to. There are plenty of cool features that make the best mini fridges a great investment for the summer months when you might be entertaining; from glass doors to show off your choice of beverages, to built-in freezer sections for stashing popsicles and ice cream. For more appliances to make you the best host around, check out our guide to the best wine coolers (opens in new tab).
1. Haier HC33SW20RB: Best mini fridge overall
The space-saving Haier HC33SW20RB mini fridge is relatively inexpensive and only costs an estimated $29 per year in electricity to operate. You can take out its two sliding glass shelves and arrange them as you please or remove one so you can fit big or odd-size items inside. Also, its door doubles as a useful storage space with two full shelves, two half shelves, and an area that fits a 2-liter bottle. The door’s top shelf includes a canned beverage dispenser with sections to hold each can. Its two lower half shelves can store condiments, while the bottom shelf fits more cans and a tall bottle. The Haier mini fridge’s door is reversible – you can unscrew it and fasten it to the other side. Since it’s compact and can swing open either to the left or the right, this mini fridge fits in most homes, dorm rooms, and offices. This Haier mini fridge doesn’t have an interior light or an auto-defrost feature, and it only comes in black. Still, the HC33SW20RB makes up for these shortcomings with its all-around versatility and usefulness.
Read our Haier HC33SW20RB review (opens in new tab)
2. Black & Decker BCRK25W: Best mini fridge for value
The reasonably priced Black & Decker BCRK25W mini fridge’s interior is only 2.5 cubic feet, but thanks to its design, it still fits a good amount of food and drinks. The door can hold a two-liter bottle, other drink containers and soda cans as well as food. However, the door’s top shelf is a bit short, so it’s best for things like condiments and small jars. You can also store food in the fridge’s full-width freezer, which fits frozen meals, snacks and an ice cube tray. Measuring only 17.5 x 18.5 x 26.6 inches, you can put this compact fridge on a countertop or in a rec room or dorm room. It weighs just 46.3 pounds, so it’s easy to move. The BCRK25W also runs quietly, so it shouldn’t disturb your sleep if you place it in a bedroom. In addition, you can reverse the door – since it can swing to the left or the right, the fridge fits in more places. The Black & Decker BCRK25W doesn’t have an auto-defrost feature. However, it is Energy Star certified.
Read our Black & Decker BCRK25W review (opens in new tab)
3. Magic Chef MCBR440S2: Best mini fridge for offices
The Magic Chef MCBR440S2 mini fridge has a 4.4-cubic-foot interior, which is enough room to store plenty of food and drinks. There’s even a crisper to keep produce fresh, and the drawer is transparent so you don’t have to open it to see what’s inside. The fridge’s internal light makes it easy to see food on the two glass shelves, which you can arrange in five positions. The freezer extends across the entire top of the appliance, so there’s plenty of space for frozen meals and the included ice cube tray. The door has compartments that can hold a gallon of milk, a 2-liter soft drink bottle, and more. Despite its roomy interior, this Magic Chef mini fridge is compact, measuring 9.5 x 33.1 x 22 inches. You can store it under a counter, in the corner of a den or office, or in a dorm room. Further, the door is reversible – it can swing open to the right or the left, depending on which side you attach it to the fridge. This makes it easier to find a place to set it up. The Magic Chef MCBR440S2 is a bit on the expensive side compared to other models we reviewed. Still, it is worth the money if you need a mini fridge with lots of storage space.
Read our Magic Chef MCBR440S2 review (opens in new tab)
4. NewAir AB-1200: Best mini fridge for beer
The NewAir AB-1200 is a stylish black mini fridge with stainless steel trim and a fun glass door. It does one thing very well: It can hold 126 canned drinks and keep them nicely chilled, with temperatures that can go as low as 34 degrees Fahrenheit. You can store beverage cans on their side or standing upright, and you can re-arrange the five chrome racks to suit whatever it is you’re cooling. If you choose, you can place wine bottles lying down inside this mini fridge to keep them cool and their corks moist. Dry corks are bad for wine since they can let air inside the bottle, exposing the wine to oxygen and spoiling its flavor. You also can store bottled beer. You get a generous 3.4 cubic feet of interior space with this mini fridge and it operates at a quiet 35 decibels.
Read our NewAir AB-1200 review (opens in new tab)
5. Koolatron KWCA4: Best portable mini fridge
The Koolatron KWCA4 is a cute, but tiny bright red mini fridge that holds only six soft drink cans and features a Coca-Cola logo and bear holding a bottle of Coke on the front door. You can plug this amusing, retro-style little refrigerator into a typical 110-volt AC electrical outlet or the 12-volt DC outlet in your car. Unlike regular mini fridges that use compressors for cooling, this one uses a thermoelectric system with a fan to draw heat out of the device and a set of grilles on the back that keep the interior cool. You can get your canned beverages chilled as low as 32 degrees Fahrenheit below the ambient temperature. Even though it uses a fan, this is a quiet machine, and it is certainly a conversation piece.
Read our Koolatron KWCA4 review (opens in new tab)
How much do mini fridges cost and are they worth it?
The price range for a good mini fridge can fall anywhere between $70 to $350, with running costs varying across each model. Our top pick, the Haier HC33SW20RB, costs $29 a year to run, giving you an idea of how much more you may have to factor into your energy bills. The same rough figure can be applied across models with the same size, features, and quality, though it’s always worth checking out a specific fridge’s Energy Guide before you make your final choice. Of course, a mini fridge will never be able to live up to the same amount of storage space that a full-sized appliance can, but they do win out when it comes to portability and saving on space. If you’re moving to college or setting up an office, then these compact fridges can provide you with refreshments where a normal refrigerator wouldn’t be appropriate. Or, if you’re struggling to fit all your groceries into your traditional kitchen model, then one of these mini fridges as a secondary space can take some of the strain off, and mean you won’t have to spend big on another large appliance.
Can you buy mini fridges with freezer compartments and glass doors?
Just because you’re buying a mini fridge doesn’t mean you’ll have to miss out on some of the snazzy features you can expect from a full size model. If you’re also lacking space in your regular freezer, rather than binning your ice lollies or frozen vegetables, you can buy mini fridges that create extra space with built-in freezer compartments. These can come in pretty handy if you’re using your mini fridge as a drinks cooler, as you can stock the freezer with ice and serve almost instant chilled drinks with little hassle. As well as finding a home for your excess frozen goods, there are also mini fridges out there that have glass doors. Whether your intention is to show off your drinks collection or simply to ponder over your next snack without letting cold air out into your room, these models save on energy costs while also making a cool addition to any apartment or games room.
Which is the best mini fridge for beer?
Our top pick when it comes to choosing the best mini fridge for beer is the NewAir AB-1200, an appliance, which is dedicated to storing up to 126 cans of whatever beverage you like. It has five removable racks so you can customize the space too, such as taking out a shelf in order to make space for larger bottles if you want to. There’s also a handy metal gate built into the bottom of this mini fridge, to prevent any cans from rolling away in the process of retrieving a drink. Positive user reviews also commented on how quiet this mini-fridge was to run, which is a huge plus if you want to put it in an area where you’ll be socializing. Though the NewAir AB-1200 is most certainly the best purchase for anyone who wants a place to store their beers, it’s also relatively expensive. If you’re prepared to scale back on the fancy features, then the Koolatron KWCA4 is an affordable, if not a bit gimmicky alternative, which holds six cans and is extremely inexpensive.
