Whether you use it to store food, drinks, or even skin care products, having a mini fridge is the ultimate convenience. These small-scale refrigerators come in several different sizes to fit a variety of needs and spaces, and they can even be a stylish addition to your room.
Why are mini fridges popular?
Mini refrigerators have found popularity for their ability to fit in small spaces where you wouldn’t otherwise be able to fit a standard-sized refrigerator. Maybe the space you have isn’t wide enough, or maybe you don’t have room for such a tall appliance. Or, maybe you just have a super tiny kitchen or a studio apartment that lacks the space for big appliances like a refrigerator or full-size oven. (In which case, might we suggest adding an air fryer to your cart, too? You can thank us later.)
Whatever your particularly need may be, mini fridges offer the perfect fit for these small spaces — dorm rooms, in particular. We all know dorms are short on space to begin with, so trying to put a full-sized appliance in there is out of the question. (Not to mention the nightmare it would be to bring it in on move-in day!) Fortunately, mini fridges come in a bunch of sizes that are much easier to transport, and they make it easy for college kids to keep midnight munchies and study snacks close at hand.
A great mini refrigerator can go far beyond the dorm room, though. They’re also an awesome choice for keeping snacks and cold drinks conveniently accessible in all the best hangout areas in the home. You can put a mini refrigerator in your living room, den, basement rec room, or bedroom for easy access to snacks while binge-watching your favorite shows; in your home office to keep you focused but also well-fed through the workday; in your guest room for a pampered hotel vibe; as a backup refrigerator in the garage; or even in the bathroom to stash your temperature-sensitive cosmetics and skincare products.
Some mini fridges are even compact and portable enough to be used in your car, whether you need snacks to power through a long daily commute, or you’re heading out on an epic road trip. And some people even set up a mini refrigerator for their kids in a functional toddler kitchen, which has taken hold of the parenting corner of TikTok. It’s a Montessori method of education and a mini fridge is just the right size to aid in little ones’ learning.
Do mini fridges offer everything regular-sized fridges do?
Some mini fridges are designed with all the bells and whistles of a standard, regular-sized fridge, such as a separate freezer compartment that’s big enough to store cartons of ice cream and frozen meals, and a crisper drawer to keep produce items fresh. The smaller a mini refrigerator is, however, the less likely it is to have these familiar features. Overall, most mini fridges provide a shelf or two of storage space for food and drinks, some space on the back of the door for cans or taller items, and a relatively tiny freezer compartment for little more than an ice cube tray. Speaking of which, one thing you definitely won’t find in a mini fridge is an ice maker. (Fortunately, countertop ice makers are a thing if your beverage-sipping requirements include a steady supply of ice cubes!)
What is a good size for a mini fridge?
The size of a mini refrigerator is usually listed in cubic feet, but in the case of some super-small mini-fridges, you might see the size listed in liters or even maximum can capacity for better visualization of the minimal space within. But when it comes to deciding the best size for your mini refrigerator, that really depends on how you intend to use it and, more importantly, the physical constraints of the room you’re placing it in.
If you’ll be using your mini refrigerator as your primary food storage receptacle, you’ll want to get one that’s as big as the space will allow. In general, the most popular mini fridge size tends to be about 3.2 cubic feet, which offers plenty of space for storing leftovers, fresh produce, drinks, and snacks, and usually offers a fair amount of freezer space. (Some even have a double-door design that allows access to a separate freezer compartment.)
If you need to go a little smaller — in a dorm room, for example — it’s common to find a mini fridge that’s about 1.7 cubic feet to just under 3 cubic feet in size. The smaller end of that range is typically a “cube fridge” style that’s ideal for spaces where you don’t have a lot of room height-wise, like under a desk or a table. These shorter cube fridges can also double as a nightstand in a dorm room, or act as a platform for a microwave.
If a 1.7 cubic foot mini fridge is still too big for your needs, you could opt for a compact mini fridge. These little guys are typically the ones whose sizes are listed in liters or can capacity (most commonly 6- or 12-can sizes). They’re perfect for special use cases like storing medicine and skincare products in a bedroom or bathroom as they’re just the right size for sitting on top of a dresser, vanity, or countertop. They usually don’t get super cold — so it wouldn’t be ideal to store food in them long-term — but they’re perfect for keeping moisturizers, serums, sunscreen, and liquid makeup items at their optimal temperature for freshness, and for chilling your jade roller or gua sha. (And just take a second to imagine how refreshing it would feel to apply a properly chilled facial mask — top-tier beauty routine upgrade, for sure.)
These ultra-compact mini-fridges also tend to offer the capability of warming, which would be great for heating up baby bottles or warming towels for some luxurious spa-like pampering right at home.
Are there mini fridges for storing beverages only?
There are also mini refrigerators designed specifically for keeping bottles of wine optimally chilled — but they’re also great for storing canned beverages like soda and hard seltzers, and bottles of beer and water too. These beverage fridges, however, are not suitable for storing food as they typically don’t get cold enough to do so safely.
What should I look for in a mini fridge?
When choosing the right mini refrigerator for you, make sure it will fit your space. Then make sure it has the features you need for the items you want to store (such as a generous freezer compartment to support your ice cream addiction).
Also, consider a mini fridge with a reversible door, especially if you plan to use it in dorm rooms throughout your college years. You’ll be moving from space to space each year and it would be hard to predict ahead of time exactly where you’ll be able to place your mini refrigerator. A model with a reversible door, however, will ensure that you have the ability to open the door from the left side or the right side, depending on your space constraints. A mini fridge door without a protruding handle is also a great choice in tight spaces like these, unless you enjoy having random bruises on your shins.
With all that in mind, we’ve rounded up the best mini fridges here for a wide range of uses, spaces, and styles.