
Compact refrigerators are a great convenience for college students living in dorms, professionals with room at their desk, and those who enjoy cold snacks and drinks during home recreation.

The mini fridges are a great place to stash your lunch, cool your favorite drinks, and store extra groceries when you need more space than your primary fridge allows. Small, space-saving refrigerators are very important to those who live in apartments or homes where space is limited.
Small refrigerators have less storage space than their traditional counterparts, but otherwise have many of the same features, including crisper drawers for fruits and vegetables and freezer space. You probably won't be able to buy a mini fridge with its own ice maker, but you can buy one with space for a couple of ice cube trays.
Begin your search for a small refrigerator by identifying the primary purpose of the appliance. Do you want a place to store drinks in your home theater? Are you looking for a fridge that fits in a dorm room? The second step is to establish your budget.
As you review the options, you'll find that there is a range of prices. Setting a price range keeps you on track financially and helps you stay focused on what you need from the appliance, rather than giving into impulse buying.
Small Refrigerators FAQs
1. What is a small refrigerator?
2. What can compact refrigerators do?
3. What do small refrigerators include?
4. Where can you buy mini fridges?
5. How much does it cost?
How We Came Up With Our List

A top-quality refrigerator does more than act as a cold storage location. When reviewing small refrigerators, we looked at the options from several angles.
How loud or quiet does the fridge run? Are they energy efficient? Are there any unique features? What were the main highlights and points of concern for previous users? How did the cost of the appliance compare to the quality of the refrigerator?
Our ratings are influenced by the reviews of customers and come from the point of view of a consumer. We compared several top models available on today's market, looking for great products at competitive prices. We invested time in our research, focusing our efforts on providing you with an unbiased list of the best small fridges in 2018.
Overall Price Range of Small Refrigerators
Most of the fridges we considered fall into the $100 to $250 range. Naturally, there are more expensive options, but you can get a pretty good mini fridge without spending several months' worth of paychecks.
You should probably keep a few things in mind as you approach this purchase. One of the most important steps to take is to measure your space and then measure it a second time.
Make sure you look up the exterior dimensions of the unit before you make a purchase. Small fridges come in many sizes, and you don't want to end up with a four cubic foot fridge when you really need a much smaller 18 cubic inch fridge.
The next factor to consider is whether you want a freezer. At first, this seems like a simple question. Why wouldn't you want a freezer? It's important to remember that any freezer space means less available room for refrigeration.
Finally, consider what you're most likely to store in the fridge. If you regularly buy milk, be sure to purchase an appliance that can hold those tall milk cartons.
If you have a lot of vegetables and fruit on your grocery list, you should look for a fridge with a crisper drawer. A compact fridge is probably best if you just need somewhere to stash your lunch and a few drinks under your desk.
Top Ten Mini Fridges for 2018
- 2.6 cu.ft. interior capacity
- Energy Star compliant
- 8 can door storage;Smooth back design
This refrigerator offers 2.6 cubic feet of cool storage space. The energy guide rating estimates $30 yearly energy cost and 253kWh of yearly electricity use. Customer reviews were consistently positive with very few complaints. We give this fridge 5 out of 5 stars.
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Price:
Where To Buy:
Warranty:
$200 - $250
Amazon
Limited appliance warranty covers the first 18 months of use by original owner with some exclusions.
- Soft Dial & Easy Control
- Energy Star. 2-Litre Bottle Rack
- Table Top Function
If you're looking for something a little bit stylish, this tiny fridge is a great option. It offers 4.4 cu. ft. of storage and can be coordinated with similarly designed appliances from the Daewoo collection. We give this fun refrigerator 5 out of 5 stars.
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Price:
Where To Buy:
Warranty:
$250 - $300
Amazon
Warranty must be requested from customer service
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- Arctic Blue Interior LED Light
- Adjustable Front Leg
- Adjustable Tempered Glass Shelves
We absolutely had to include this Marshall appliance, inspired by the iconic JCM800 head. It looks (and feels) like a Marshall amp. When you open the fridge door, you'll be greeted by an arctic blue interior that is lit by LED lighting. We give this fun unit 4.9 out of 5 stars.
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Price:
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Warranty:
$320 - $380
Amazon
Limited non-transferable warranty from Marshall USA
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- Adjustable Temperature Ranges: Refrigerator Compartment 32' to 50' F / Freezer Compartment -11.2' to 5'F
- Features Adjustable Legs and a Reversible Door that can Open from Left or Right
- Interior Light,Dimension : 18.5x19.37x32.95 (W*D*H).
This tiny fridge is available in 1.6 cubic feet and 2.4 cubic feet. Either way, it offers a tiny freezer compartment and a reversible door. We give this fridge 4.9 out of 5 stars.
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Price:
Where To Buy:
Warranty:
$180 - $230
Amazon
1-year full warranty parts and labor.
5-year warranty for compressor, excluding labor and gas recharging cost
- Easily Write and Erase right on the Fridge. The Front Door is a Dry Erase Board!
- 3.2 Cubic Foot Fridge and Freezer
- Reversible Door. Door basket for 2 Litre bottles
Keep track of your grocery list and to-do items right on the front of this fridge. It has a 3.2 cubic foot capacity with plenty of room for your two-liter bottles. We give this fun unit 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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Price:
Where To Buy:
Warranty:
$180 - $220
Amazon
Contact the seller directly for warranty information.
- 3.2 Cu Ft Capacity, Compressor Cooled with Space Saving Flush Back Design (Black)
- Built in Can Dispenser and Freezer Compartment. Dimension: 20 inch L x 18 inch W x 32 inch H
- Slide Out Tempered Glass Shelves; Adjustable Thermostat
This compact 3.2 cubic foot fridge is a fun addition to your home, apartment, rec room, or office. It's available in eight colors and offers a built-in can dispenser and freezer. We give this fun refrigerator 4.4 out of 5 stars.
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Warranty:
$120 - $170
Amazon
Limited product warranty is available through RCA.
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- 1-7/10-cubic-foot refrigerator with stainless steel door
- Softline and reversible door; flushback design
- Slide out shelves; invisible door handle
This popular mini fridge has been around for several years and is still a popular option among buyers. We give this little favorite 4.3 out of 5 stars.
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Price:
Where To Buy:
Warranty:
$100 - $130
Amazon
Contact the seller directly for warranty information.
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- True Separate Freezer & a Cool Retro Look
This compact, mid-size refrigerator is available in 3.1 and 4.4 cubic foot units. It's great for entertaining, for storing college meals, and for keeping your lunch safe during the work day. This fridge can fit under counters and has both UL and ESTAR approval. We give it 4.3 out of 5 stars.
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Price:
Where To Buy:
Warranty:
$240 - $280
Amazon
1-year limited warranty
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This shiny Silver Mist beauty has a 4.5 cubic foot capacity and includes a freezer compartment inside the unit. Choose the Frigidaire FFPS4533QM if you want a full-functioning separate freezer. We give this dependable classic 4 out of 5 stars.
Key features
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Price:
Where To Buy:
Warranty:
$150 - $190
Amazon
Contact the seller directly for warranty information.
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- Tool Box Fridge with 3.2 Cu Ft Capacity
- 4 x Caster Wheels Allows for Ultimate Mobility. 2 removable wire shelves
- Includes; Crisper, Door Can Dispenser and Drip Tray
We had to add one more fun design to our recommendations. This 3.2 cubic foot fridge looks like a red garage tool box on caster wheels. We give this addition to your work area a solid 4 out of 5 stars.
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Price:
Where To Buy:
Warranty:
$130 - $170
Amazon
Manufacturer's warranty must be requested from customer service.
Comparison table
Product | Image | Rating | Price |
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The Verdict
Our overall favorite was the Danby Designer Compact Refrigerator. It offers great performance and a beautiful design. It runs quietly and has excellent energy efficiency ratings. Previous buyers were very happy with their experiences.
It's not quite as entertaining as some of our other choices, but it does offer several attractive features and should make an excellent addition to your home, office, or rec room.