Best Smaller Mini-Fridge: BLACK+DECKER BCRK17B Compact Refrigerator

Mini-fridges come in two basic sizes: small (1.7 cubic feet) and large (3.3 cubic feet).

Smaller mini-fridges are great for bedrooms to hold medication, beverages or anything that needs to be cooled (breastmilk, skin care products, etc).

For the best smaller mini fridge (1.7 cubic feet), we’d go for Black+Decker’s BCRK17B . It’s quiet (great for bedrooms), affordable and well made.

What We Liked

• Surprising amount of storage. Holds more than you’d think!

• Quiet!

• Legs can be leveled.

• Good temp control—yes, you can adjust the temperature.

• Includes ice tray.

• Can store items in the door.

• Excellent for dorm rooms especially if you are a light sleeper.

What Needs Work

• Must periodically defrost the freezer area. This is true for almost all mini-fridges we researched, unfortunately.

• Door rails sometimes fall out. Even folks who love this fridge tell us that is frustrating.

• Pricey.

Best Larger Mini Fridge: hOmeLabs Mini Fridge

Larger mini fridges are great for holding beverages and snacks in a rec room, basement man cave or grad student apartment.

For the best larger mini fridge with 3.3 cubic feet of capacity, we’d recommend hOmeLabs model HME030210N.

We’ve had good feedback from readers on the hOmeLabs brand in general—we recommended their dehumidifiers in another article that was one of our most popular posts. We think this brand makes durable and quality appliances . . . and this mini fridge continues that streak.

What We Liked

• Excellent for beverages thanks to a canned beverage dispenser in the door.

• Stainless steel look fits nicely into most decors.

• Great capacity—yes, it will hold more than 30 beer cans with ease.

• Reversible door.

• Three temperature modes.

• Wide freezer compartment runs the width of the fridge.

• 3 removable glass shelves.

• Lightweight. This model is 45 lbs.—that’s about 6 pounds less than the smaller Midea model we recommend below (51 lbs).

What Needs Work

• Ice build-up on freezer compartment. Unfortunately, this is a common drawback with all the mini fridges.

• Loud = may not be best choice for a bedroom.

• No light.

Best Fridge For Bedroom: Midea 301 Cu. Ft. Compact Refrigerator

If you need a larger mini fridge (3+ cubic feet) for a bedroom, we think the Midea model WHD-113FSS1 is the best bet. It combines the best storage design plus quiet operation.

What We Liked

• Interior light is great for bedroom use at night!

• Freezer area is more like a real fridge—it has a separate door that seals in the cold.

• Great for grad student apartment.

• Large capacity with two glass shelves. We liked the in-door storage design.

• Reversible doors.

• Adjustable legs.

• Accurate temp control.

• Beverage can dispenser in door.

•  Quiet!

• Fruit/veggie crisper drawer.

What Needs Work

• Pricey.

• Not frost free—yes, you still  have to periodically defrost the freezer compartment.

• Ice build-up in freezer area is annoying.

• Harder to fill up can dispenser than other models, in our opinion.

Best For Dorm Rooms: Euhomy Mini Fridge with Freezer

Excellent quality and good interior storage design are what lead us to recommend this fridge for dorm rooms or apartments. No, isn’t as quiet as the Midea fridge we recommended elsewhere in this article—but it should work well for all except the lightest of sleepers.

This fridge has an impressive amount of freezer storage space—yes, it can hold a gallon of ice cream. Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Good quality and durability.

• Seven levels of temperature control. That’s better than other models we researched (some of which only have three settings).

• More room inside than you might think.

• Two glass shelves.

• Humidity controlled crisper drawer.

• Interior light.

• Includes ice cube tray.

• Adjustable legs for leveling.

• Separate door for freezer compartment.

What Needs Work

• A bit noisy.

• Any item touching the back wall of the fridge may freeze.

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research into products and then evaluate the best options with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!