What to Buy Appliances Large Appliances The 9 Best Refrigerators for Every Kitchen These top models offer all the essential features you want and some you didn't know you needed. By Jennifer Zyman Updated on March 1, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews Factors to Consider FAQ Our Expertise We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Food and Wine / David Hattan It can be overwhelming to find the best refrigerator for your household. There are more brands and configurations than ever, and the options seem endless as kitchen technology constantly evolves. Today’s refrigerators have features to let you know if the temperature dips, if the door is open, and even to notify you if you are low on milk. Some refrigerators have built-in Keurig machines, and others keep things basic with a standard water dispenser. Depending on your home, you'll likely have specific features (and dimensions) in mind. A refrigerator is one of the most expensive appliances in your home, so you’ll want to feel confident it’ll go the distance. A broken refrigerator is any homeowner's worst nightmare, and the food waste can be just as upsetting as the repairs. We researched and evaluated hundreds of models to choose the best option for every kitchen for all budgets and needs. Certain manufacturers dominate the landscape, but we narrowed it down to our favorites and identified criteria to help your shopping process. Knowing what to look for (and avoid) in kitchen appliances is always a good idea. We’ve found the best refrigerators for everyone, according to your kitchen preferences. Our Top Picks Best Counter-depth: Bosch Counter-Depth Refrigerator at Ajmadison.com Jump to Review Best Top Freezer: Samsung 21.1 Cu. Ft. 33-Inch Top-Freezer Refrigerator with FlexZone at Samsung Jump to Review Best Side-by-side: Whirlpool Side by Side Refrigerator at Ajmadison.com Jump to Review Best French Door: GE Profile 27.9 Cu. Ft. Smart 4-Door Refrigerator at Amazon Jump to Review Best Bottom Freezer: LG Electronics Bottom Freezer Refrigerator at Ajmadison.com Jump to Review Best Smart: Samsung 3-Door French Door Refrigerator at Ajmadison.com Jump to Review Best Door-in-Door: LG Electronics Refrigerator with InstaView Door-in-Door at Home Depot Jump to Review Best High-End: Dacor 42 inch French Door Refrigerator at Ajmadison.com Jump to Review Best Design: Café 4-Door French Door Refrigerator at Ajmadison.com Jump to Review Best Counter-depth Bosch 800 Series Counter-Depth Refrigerator Best Buy View On Ajmadison.com View On Best Buy View On Home Depot Pros: The Home Connect app lets you conveniently manage your Bosch refrigerator from your smartphone or table. Cons: Some components, like the deli drawers, feel flimsy. The Bosch 800 Series Counter-Depth Refrigerator is an actual counter-depth fridge. The fridge sits flush with the countertop and has hide-away feet and hinges, so it looks like an actual built-in. The stainless steel wall and LED illumination give the split shelves a high-end look and excellent visibility for all your perishables. Adjustable shelves and a proprietary flex bar allow you to customize the storage to how your family eats. The internal water dispenser is hidden inside the unit, dispensing water with the push of a button. The internal purified water dispenser allows the unit's exterior to remain sleek and minimalist. The ice maker makes pyramid-shaped ice and is accessible via a pull-out bin with a scoop. This Bosch has a FarmFresh System, which guarantees superior food preservation from smart airflow patterns. Since many fridges have some connectivity these days, it is no surprise that Bosch also provides a Home Connect system. You can manage all aspects of your refrigerator, like its temperature, even when you are not home. Price at time of publish: $3,849 Total capacity: 20.4 cubic feetDimensions: 72" H x 35 5/8" W x 30 29/32" DIce/water dispenser: BothAvailable finishes: Stainless steel and black stainless steel Best Top Freezer Samsung RT21M6213SG 21.1 Cu. Ft. 33-Inch Top-Freezer Refrigerator with FlexZone Samsung View On Samsung Pros: It is an affordable refrigerator from a top brand that will last many years. Cons: This Samsung is more basic and lacks extra features other fridges offer. This Samsung Top-Freezer Refrigerator is a simple refrigerator that will do the job well. It would be at home in any kitchen or garage where you need a solid refrigerator with a top freezer. This Samsung model has a built-in ice maker, but you can also purchase it without one if you need more freezer space or plan to use this as a second fridge. The price is undoubtedly suitable for a double fridge. The freezer has adjustable shelves and door storage. What makes this refrigerator unique in its category is its FlexZone system, which allows you to choose whether you want the top door to be a fridge or freezer. That means you can change the fridge's purpose based on your needs — super cool and convenient for entertaining. The same technology also helps keep your food fresh by maintaining the proper humidity for the environment. The exterior has a fingerprint-resistant coating and recessed/reversible handles, making it sleek. The door is also reversible, so you can flip the hinge side depending on your space. Price at time of publish: $1,215 Total capacity: 21.5 cubic feetDimensions: 67.75” H x 32.875” W x 31.875” D Ice/Water dispenser: Ice makerAvailable finishes: White, stainless steel, and black stainless steel Best Side-by-side Whirlpool WRS588FIHZ 28 cu. ft. Side by Side Refrigerator Best Buy View On Ajmadison.com View On Best Buy View On Home Depot Pros: Whirlpool owners find the brand extremely reliable, and customer service is a pleasure. Cons: Owners have reported the ice maker can sometimes malfunction. The Whirlpool Side-by-Side Refrigerator is one of the most popular side-by-side fridges, and for a good reason. Whirlpool is a trusted brand and has excellent feedback from fridge owners across the board. This model features an in-door ice maker unit, which creates more storage space in the freezer by adding another shelf. The ice dispenser and the ice and water dispenser have an LED night light, so you’ll never be fumbling in the dark when filling a glass at midnight. The water is purified, and the air is, too, with a patented "FreshFlow" air filter, which users should replace every six months. The gallon door bins are adjustable, so you can customize them based on what you need to store. This unit features wall-to-wall frameless glass shelves for even more storage. The standard depth side-by-side fridge finish is fingerprint and smudge resistant, so you can keep it looking spotless. The price is hard to beat from a brand known for its longevity and excellent customer service. Price at time of publish: $1,599 Total capacity: 28.4 cubic feet Dimensions: 70” H x 35.625” W x 36.75” DIce/water dispenser: BothAvailable finishes: Stainless steel and white Best French Door GE Profile PVD28BYNFS 27.9 Cu. Ft. Smart 4-Door French Door Refrigerator with Door-in-Door Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Wayfair Pros: GE is known for having good customer service, and the fridge’s backlight makes it easy to view all items inside. Cons: Repairs can be quite costly at this price point. The GE Profile French Door Refrigerator is one of the most sought-after refrigerators on the market due to its track record for performance. The refrigerator features an LED light wall in the back to illuminate the contents. It features a door and door so you can easily access your most used items like milk. The door and door feature also has a rotating bin to easily access items in the back. The exterior of the French door refrigerator is fingerprint-resistant stainless steel, so you can easily keep it clean. The indoor ice and water dispenser have autofill technology to serve just the right amount of purified water for your container. The interior has soft-close drawers and adjustable temperatures. It also has a removable bin caddy for can drinks and an easy clean liner. This GE model has built-in Wi-Fi, so you'll receive an alert in case of the temperature drops because someone left the door open or due to power loss. Aside from all these bells and whistles, owners report extreme satisfaction with this model. The GE brand is incredibly reliable if you're looking for something that lasts. Price at time of publish: $2,995 Total capacity: 27.9 cubic feetDimensions: 70” H x 35.625” W x 36.75” DIce/water dispenser: BothAvailable finishes: Matte white, matte black, platinum glass, and stainless steel Best Bottom Freezer LG Electronics LRDCS2603S 25.50 cu. ft. Bottom Freezer Refrigerator in PrintProof Stainless Steel Lowes View On Ajmadison.com View On Home Depot View On Lg.com Pros: The fridge has tons of storage for a bottom freezer model. Cons: The brand has less longevity than some competitors, and larger models can decline in performance over time. The LG Bottom Freezer Refrigerator Is a solid choice from a trusted brand for a bottom freezer refrigerator, and owners report satisfaction with their purchases. The print-proof stainless steel bottom freezer refrigerator Has a commercial feel with Industrial handles. The doors have auto-closing hinges. The interior tempered glass shelves have a spill protector and can be adjusted as needed. The freezer drawer has a divider and an ice maker with a 12-pound storage capacity. The LG proprietary "Door Cooling" technology directs airflow to the front of the fridge, so it cools faster. There's a fresh air filter to keep the interior smelling fresh, which should be replaced every six months. It also has standard features like a notification if the door is left open too long. Price at time of publish: $1,979 Total capacity: 26 cubic feetDimensions: 69.88” H x 32.75” W x 34.88” DIce/Water dispenser: Ice makerAvailable finishes: Stainless steel and black stainless steel Best Smart Samsung RF27T5501SR 26.5 cu. ft. Large Capacity 3-Door French Door Refrigerator with Family Hub AJ Madison View On Ajmadison.com View On Home Depot View On Samsung Pros: The Family Hub is one of the most impressive smart refrigerator systems we evaluated. Cons: We wish the cameras also showed you what is in the doors. The Samsung 3-Door Family Hub French Door Smart Refrigerator is a wonder for any tech-savvy family. We love futuristic features like the ability to scan the ingredients of your fridge and suggest recipes your family might like. The Smart Hub does much more than that, though. It can also play music while you cook or connect to smart cameras in your house so you can see what your kids are doing in the playroom. You can also use it to do the basics, like controlling your fridge's temperature and monitoring it when you are not at home. It is also gorgeous, with sleek modern doors and handles and a minimalist water dispenser built into its french doors. The exterior is fingerprint and smudge resistant, with a beautiful look that could fit any kitchen, no matter the style. The freezer has an easy open handle and can store up to 4.2 pounds of ice. Price at time of publish: $3,399 Total capacity: 26.5 cubic feetDimensions: 70” H x 35.75” W x 35.4” DIce/Water dispenser: BothAvailable finishes: Black stainless steel and stainless steel Best Door-in-Door LG Electronics LFXS26596S Refrigerator with InstaView Door-in-Door Amazon View On Home Depot View On Lg.com Pros: The InstaView technology allows you to check out the content of your fridge without sacrificing cooling power. Cons: The freezer can be awkward for storing large items like pizza boxes. The LG Electronics Refrigerator with InstaView Door-in-Door allows you to check what is in the fridge without even opening the door. You tap the smart door twice, and the viewing window illuminates how much milk and butter you have left. The refrigerator has a door-in-door function, so you can access more frequently used items without letting more cool air escape. The French door fridge also allows for more storage space, and the full-width drawer can customize storage from cheese to an entire sheet cake. The crisper drawers have adjustable humidity to tailor to specific ingredients. The exterior has a print-proof finish, so the fridge will be one less thing to worry about while cleaning. There are dual ice makers, a water dispenser, and a filtration system. It also has further intelligent features, including Wi-Fi connectivity and a notification system if someone leaves the door open. Price at time of publish: $3,399 Total capacity: 26 cubic feetDimensions: 69.75” H x 35.75” W x 34.88” DIce/water dispenser: BothAvailable finishes: Stainless steel or black stainless steel. Best High-End Dacor DRF427500AP 42 inch French Door Refrigerator Dacor View On Ajmadison.com View On Appliancesconnection.com Pros: The ice maker can make both standard cubes and cocktail ice. Cons: The price could be prohibitive for many consumers. The Dacor Contemporary French Door Panel Ready Refrigerator screams top-of-the-line with every feature. The interior is all stainless steel with integrated LED lighting lending a cool commercial vibe and a compartment for just about everything. The all-stainless interior also lends another layer of cooling to the digital compressor, another exceptional feature of this unit. Many fridges only have a standard A/C compressor. All of the features are on the inside, so the exterior remains sleek. It can be covered in panels–it's panel ready–or you can get the stainless or graphite stainless steel model. It has an internal water dispenser and dual ice makers. The controls only appear when pressed, which adds yet another layer of minimalism to this pricey beauty. A "FreshZone" compartment allows you to convert the space to a freezer or fridge based on your needs. Price at time of publish: $11,499 Total capacity: 23.5 cubic feetDimensions: 83.375" H x 41.75" W x 23.8125" DIce/Water dispenser: Internal water dispenser and ice makerAvailable finishes: Panel Ready, Silver Stainless, and Graphite Stainless Best Design Café CVE28DP4NW2SKU Smart 4-Door French Door Refrigerator Best Buy View On Ajmadison.com View On Best Buy View On Home Depot Pros: The autofill function on the water dispenser has sensors to avoid overfilling, and the multiple finishes can fit several kitchen styles Cons: Some owners report the units can be loud, and the freezer can be temperamental. With the Café Smart 4-Door French Door Refrigerator, produce stays fresh in a humidity control zone with dedicated "wet" and "dry" zones. The drawers have adjustable dividers so you can customize your storage, which is a dream for any Home Edit fan. The refrigerator drawers have a removable grey liner so you can keep everything tidy — everything has a place. Aside from the superior functionality, the Café is all about design and style. The back of the refrigerator is illuminated by a contemporary LED light tower which illuminates the fresh food section making everything easy to find. The freezer has a dedicated slim tray drawer, which is the perfect size for frozen pizzas or other flat items like a pie you may quickly freeze before baking. The refrigerator has a purified water dispenser and also dispenses ice. In addition to its many smart features like autofill technology, Café refrigerators have built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, which can send alerts to your device if the internal temperature changes. If this isn't the model for you, there are numerous Café offerings with cool modifications, such as a Sabbath or Shabbos mode on multiple models, including this one. Price at time of publish: $4,133 Total capacity: 27.8 cubic feetDimensions: 69.875” H x 35.625” W x 36.25” DIce/Water dispenser: BothAvailable finishes: Matte white with brushed bronze handles, Stainless steel with brushed stainless handles, and Matte black with brushed stainless handles. Factors to Consider Capacity Depending on your needs, refrigerators come in all sizes, from tiny mini fridges that are less than a cubic foot of capacity to nearly commercial-sized versions that can have as much as 30 cubic feet of storage. Determining your capacity needs should be about your daily usage since the larger the capacity, the higher the price. Most standard-sized fridges for kitchens will have around 20 cubic feet of capacity. Existing Space It is essential to correctly measure the space where your fridge will live, especially if you need it to slide into a built-in area with existing cabinetry or near a doorway for proper clearance. It will also be essential to ensure that the door swing opens in the appropriate direction. Many versions can be switched from right to left opening, with plenty of clearance for the door. Err on the smaller side if you are concerned, especially since sliding a fridge into a too-tight space can damage it. You also need to ensure that you have access to the coils and compressor for regular cleaning and the recommended airspace listed for your unit. Utility Many fridges offer extra benefits, such as reconfigurable interiors, ice and water through the door, and some will even help you keep track of inventory. All of these are upgrades and come with upcharges. The best advice is only to get the bells and whistles you will use, and don’t ever skimp on basic utility (like capacity) in favor of fancy functionalities. Design Some fridges are stand-alone, and many have freezers attached. Freezers can be side-by-side, bottom or top, and fridges can be single-door or French-style doors. They come in stainless steel, black, white, or other colors or can be panel-ready to blend into your cabinetry. Some are counter-depth for a smooth finish with your cabinetry. Choose the design that best suits your kitchen. If all of your other appliances are stainless, matching that material will be a good seamless look. If you want your fridge to disappear, think about a paneled door to match your cabinets; if you want it to pop, go for a color. Some fridges have a glass door option, which can be great for keeping the cold in while you make your decisions, but then eliminates on-the-door storage and might require you to keep the contents a bit neater. Frequently Asked Questions How many watts does a refrigerator use? “The wattage depends on the amps and volts,” says Richard Rudnicki, Product Manager at SMEG. “Refrigerators are 120 volts, but the amps may vary due to the feature set. For example, SMEG USA’s refrigerators have FAB28: 255 watts, FAB32: 140 watts.” Most fridges will have energy ratings listed, and some will have an Energy Star designation meaning they will be energy efficient. How long do refrigerators last? “About 10-12 years, depending on use, environment, etc.” Says Rudnicki. Fridges kept in garages or exposed to a greater range of environmental changes will have more wear and tear, as will ones that get moved frequently. Maintenance also will impact longevity. If possible, clean the coils and compressor every six months, more regularly, if you have pets or your home has a lot of dust. What is a standard-size refrigerator? “Size; height, width, and depth depend upon the type of refrigerator; French Door, Side by Side, Top Freezer, Bottom Freezer,” says Rudnicki. Generally, standard fridges will range from 24-40 inches wide, between 62-72 inches tall, and 29-36 inches deep, depending on the model and style. Our Expertise Jennifer Zyman is a Senior Commerce Writer for Food & Wine and a former restaurant critic with a culinary school degree and over 15 years of food writing experience. Her work has appeared in Atlanta Magazine, Bon Appetit, Eater Atlanta, The Kitchn, Local Palate, National Geographic, Simply Recipes, Southern Living, and Thrillist. She wrote this story using testing data, research, and culinary expertise from Stacey Ballis. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit