This review covers 6 of the most reliable mini fridges that we purchased and tested side-by-side comparisons. Whether you want one with a unique stylish retro style or to provide the largest capacity, our picks will help you pinpoint the right one for you.
Here are the most reliable mini fridges you can buy in 2024:
- Best For Small Rooms (Single Door Mini Fridge): BLACK+DECKER BCRK17B
- Stylish Retro Style (Single Door Mini Fridge): Frigidaire EFR182
- Largest Capacity (Single Door Mini Fridge): BANGSON Mini Fridge with Freezer
- Energy-Saving (Dual Door Mini Fridge): Midea WHD-113FB1
- Easy To Clean (Dual Door Mini Fridge): Euhomy RF-S
- Quiet (Dual Door Mini Fridge): HAILANG HLbcd-90S
| 6 Most Reliable Mini Fridges | ||
|---|---|---|
Best For Small Rooms | BLACK+DECKER BCRK17B
| |
Stylish Retro Style | Frigidaire EFR182
| |
Largest Capacity | BANGSON Mini Fridge with Freezer
| |
Energy-Saving | Midea WHD-113FB1
| |
Easy To Clean | Euhomy RF-S
| |
Quiet | HAILANG HLbcd-90S
| |
Best For Small Rooms: BLACK+DECKER BCRK17B
- Very compact - the measurement of 17.5
- The freezer is quite small
With the measurement of 17.5" x 18.5" x 19.7" and the capacity of 1.7 cubic feet, this bite-sized mini fridge from BLACK+DECKER makes it perfect for college dorm rooms, small offices, and petite apartments.
It's quiet, affordable, and supported by the manufacturer's 2-year warranty for the compressor part.
Despite the modest size, it offers enough room for your snacks, leftovers, and fresh produce.
The transparent glass shelves are adjustable and removable, which is an added bonus for optimizing the interior space. The adjustable temperature control and leveling legs make it handier.
| BLACK+DECKER BCRK17B Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 18.5 x 17.52 x 19.72 inches |
Capacity | 1.7 Cubic Feet |
Freezer Capacity | 0.33 Cubic feet |
Annual Energy Consumption | 201kWh. |
Highlight Features | the measurement of 17.5" x 18.5" x 19.7" removable shelves adjustable temperature control |
We found the compact size of the BLACK+DECKER BCRK17B to be great for small rooms.
Stylish Retro Style: Frigidaire EFR182
- Unique retro style – retro Frigidaire nameplate & stainless-steel door
- Easily blending with any décor - invisible door handle
- Unable to adjust the temperatures
When talking about mini fridges, most shoppers might only consider its brand and functionality. But in fact, the design is also crucial as it makes or breaks the overall style of your room.
If you are looking for a stylish retro mini fridge with great performance, then the Frigidaire EFR182 is the shiniest contender.
The Frigidaire nameplate is very retro, the stainless-steel door is attractive, and the invisible door handle gives a clean look to nicely blend with any decor.
| Frigidaire EFR182 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 18.5 x 20 x 18.5 inches |
Capacity | 1.8 cu. Ft. |
Freezer Capacity | 0.1 Cubic Feet |
Annual Energy Consumption | 1825 Kilowatt Hours |
Highlight Features | retro Frigidaire nameplate & stainless-steel door invisible door handle |
If you are seeking a single-door mini fridge with stylish retro style, consider the Frigidaire EFR182
Largest Capacity: BANGSON Mini Fridge with Freezer
- Very large & spacious - 3.2-cubic-foot capacity
- Space-saving – the footprint area of 17.4 x 18.7 inches
- Able to keep your vegetables separately – a transparent vegetable compartment
- It’s very tall
Of all the single-door mini fridges that we tested, the BANGSON is the largest.
It provides a well-organized 3.2-cubic-foot capacity and features two removable shelves, four door storage racks that can hold up to 14-330ml beer cans, and the best part is a transparent vegetable compartment to keep your veggies longer.
The freezer capacity is also larger than other picks, which is an added bonus.
Regardless of the added capacity, this mini fridge still keeps a petite stature to not ramp up your space.
| BANGSON Mini Fridge with Freezer Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 17.4 x 18.7 x 33.07 inches |
Capacity | 3.2 Cu. Ft. |
Freezer Capacity | 33.07" inches high and 18.7" inches wide. |
Annual Energy Consumption | 201 kWh |
Highlight Features | 3.2-cubic-foot capacity the footprint area of 17.4 x 18.7 inches a transparent vegetable compartment |
The largest capacity makes the BANGSON Mini Fridge with Freezer perfect for those who want extra room for chilling their food and beverage without compromising their space.
Energy-Saving: Midea WHD-113FB1
- Energy-saving - the 5-star Energy Star design
- Convenient for night-use – interior light
- Very tall
If you're seriously concerned about the operation cost of a mini fridge, then the Midea WHD-113FB1 will let you enjoy peace of mind due to the 5-star Energy Star design.
While a conventional dual-door mini fridge consumes around 320-500 kWh yearly, this option only does at 270kWh.
It also offers wide temperature adjustment ranges as well as separate controls for the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment. As an added plus, the interior light gives you quick access at night.
| Midea WHD-113FB1 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 18.5 x 19.37 x 32.95 inches |
Capacity | 3.1 cu. ft. |
Freezer Capacity | 0.9 cubic feet |
Annual Energy Consumption | 270 Kilowatt Hours Per Year |
Highlight Features | the 5-star Energy Star design interior light |
The Midea WHD-113FB1 is Energy Star certified, a feature not found on any other dual-door mini fridges this compact and affordable.
Easy To Clean: Euhomy RF-S
- Easy to clean – removable shelves and a pull-out vegetable drawer
- Fast-cooling - the world's most advanced 3D refrigeration technology
- More space for frozen foods - 0.96 cu. ft. capacity
- Wish the pull-out crisper had a hanger
- The interior light isn’t LED
The Euhomy RF-S is one of the largest dual-door mini fridges with fast-cooling capabilities by adopting the world's most advanced 3D refrigeration technology.
But the best part is the transparent glass shelves and the pull-out vegetable drawer. They all are removable, which makes cleaning quite effortless and quick despite the large capacity.
The extra-large freezer is our other favorite feature. It provides ample room to hold a whole pizza and other frozen foods whilst keeping a modest stature to fit a dorm room.
| Euhomy RF-S Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 19.4 x 19.9 x 33.5 inches |
Capacity | 3.2 Cu. Ft. |
Freezer Capacity | 0.96 Cu. Ft. |
Annual Energy Consumption | 358 kWh |
Highlight Features | removable shelves and a pull-out vegetable drawer the world's most advanced 3D refrigeration technology 0.96 cu. ft. capacity |
If you want something spacious, well-organized, and easy to clean, check out the Euhomy RF-S
Quiet: HAILANG HLbcd-90S
- Very quiet – noise levels of under 35dB
- Compact – the measurement of 17.68in. × 18.31in. × 33.9in.
- Unable to optimize the interior space - The back of the refrigerator compartment is curvy
We were impressed by how quiet the HAILANG HLbcd-90S.
When turning on, its compressor isn't as loud as other counterparts that we tested (if not considered that it's very quiet - under 35dB at low temperature settings). But reassured, it’s cold enough to freeze ice cream, OJ, and ice cubes.
Another notable feature is its compact size, 17.68 × 18.31 × 33.9 inches, to fit nicely into a small apartment.
| HAILANG HLbcd-90S Specifications | |
|---|---|
Dimension | 17.68in. × 18.31in. × 33.9in. |
Capacity | 3.2 Cu. Ft. |
Freezer Capacity | 1 cu. Ft. |
Annual Energy Consumption | 328 kWh |
Highlight Features | noise levels of under 35dB the measurement of 17.68in. × 18.31in. × 33.9in. |
Those shoppers who are looking for an ultra-quiet dual-door mini fridge for bedroom will rejoice when discovering the HAILANG HLbcd-90S
How To Choose The Most Reliable Mini Fridge?
Size
Don’t you know that mini fridges are divided into four different size groups? Then, below is the measurement of each, their storage capacity, and whom they are best for.
Mini Fridge Size | Storage capacity | Best for |
Mini (<15”) | Beauty and skin care products Or, some snacks Or, a few cans of beverages Or, leftover of the day | Personal use |
Small (15” to 30”) | Some snacks Or, a few packs of beverage | 2-3 users Or, a small office |
Medium (31” to 40”) | Leftovers of several days And/or packs of drinks | 4-6 users Small offices Apartments |
Large (>41”) | A lot of snacks Packs of beverage Bottles of wine A few day’s leftovers | >6 users An office (as the secondary storage) |
In summary, to find the right size of mini fridge for you, consider these elements:
- Where to place the machine?
- The installation style
- How much do you intend to store inside?
Small mini fridges of 15”-30” in size are regularly installed under the kitchen counter. If you plan to pick this size, remember to carefully measure the existing space and add an extra ¼” gap on each side and behind of the machine for ventilation.
Energy Consumption
A standard mini fridge consumes around 230-310kWh/year, according to Consumer Reports. Some might require more than that while others are more efficient.
Nobody wants to pile their energy bills, so how to pick the most energy-efficient mini fridge?
Consider:
- An Energy-Star-certified model
- A model with an “Energy Saver” switch
Bonus: An Energy-Star certified mini fridge consumes 9% lower energy than a non-Energy-Star model.
Which Brands Make The Most Reliable Mini Fridge?
BLACK+DECKER
Black+Decker Inc. has been one of the most renowned manufacturers of home appliances, power tools, and more in America.
Started in 1910, they are also the longest brand in this industry, which explains why they have owned a lot of patents to make their products really outstanding from the rest.
Frigidaire
If you want the most reliable, energy-efficient, low-maintenance mini fridges, Frigidaire is a great address. Additionally, their products are at a broad range of price points to suit the budget of everyone.
Midea
In the low-range mini fridge category, Midea is a solid choice. Started in 1968, this Chinese electrical appliance manufacturer has been listed on the Fortune Global 500 since July 2016. They have owned 60+ overseas branches and 200+ subsidiaries overseas.
FAQs
Can mini fridges be left on all the time?
Yes, they can. Mini fridges must be left on 24 hours/day to keep your foods staying fresh, so make sure it meets all the safety standards to prevent any fire hazard.
Where should you not put a mini fridge?
You should not put a mini fridge near a heat source like a radiator or cooker because the created mechanics could lead to damages on the machine.
Can you put milk in a mini fridge?
Yes, you can. But take note to put milk towards the center of the mini fridge and avoid the door rack to keep it staying fresh as much as possible.
How long do mini fridges last?
Mini fridges last around 6-14 years.
How much does it cost to repair a mini fridge?
It costs around $150-$250 for a service charge and $45 to $125 per hour to repair a mini fridge.
Conclusion
That’s all for this post!
Hopefully, the six picks above help you determine the most reliable mini fridge that fits your budget, preference, and demand. We’d like to hear more from you, so please do not hesitate to share your thoughts with us.
Thanks for reading!
