Best refrigerators 2024: our expert's top picks

The secret to loving your kitchen is having one of the best refrigerators. Whether you’re looking for color and chrome or smart technologies and a viewing window, there’s a variety of sizes and models on the market.

As the focal point of your kitchen, it’s important that your refrigerator can look good whilst keeping food fresh and safe. It needs to be efficient, smart, practical, and reliable, because you never appreciate a good fridge until you don’t have one.

I’ve thoroughly researched the best refrigerators on the market. I looked for refrigerators that made bold claims about their cooling capacities, then examined if they lived up to them. After scouring reviews from users and professionals, I’ve collated this list of the best fridges to give you a helping hand.

The quick list

If you're looking for the best refrigerator, but you don't have much time, these are our top picks. If there's one which piques your interest, we go into more detail below.

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The best refrigerators we recommend in 2023

The best refrigerator overall

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Samsung has taken all the frustration out of busy lives with this refrigerator. The huge 26.5 cubic feet capacity and wide drawers can fit whole melons and large platters, so that you'll never struggle for space, whether you've done a full food shop or you're hosting a dinner party.

The most impressively unique feature is the interior camera. If you've ever accidentally doubled-up on foods, because you didn't know what was in the refrigerator, you'll appreciate this function. Having a fridge like this means that when you’re in the grocery store and can’t remember what you need you can use the camera to check stock. That’s not all - this refrigerator offers a timer, a note board, a shared calendar, and links to your doorbell. It's the organizing hub you always needed at home.

Note that the ice dispenser has a water filter which you’ll need to replace every three months. It’s optional and inevitable with filters, but is an ongoing cost. The ice maker is a little clunky for storing food around too.

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The best refrigerator for families

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Aside from stellar customer reviews, this is the refrigerator that I saw time and time again praised as the underdog of all the best models on the market. Although looks aren't everything, refrigerators can become a focal point. This sleek, stainless steel design will look premium in any kitchen. However, if your kitchen is open-plan, be warned, some reviewers say that this can get noisy.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Frigidaire is how consistently it can maintain its target temperature across all compartments. Frigidaire credits its TwinTech cooling system for this excellence and the reviewers back up that this is no gimmick.

My single criticism of this refrigerator is the near $4,000 price tag. Although this is a large lump sum, this is actually exceptional value for all the extra features. The ice and water dispenser is one of the best, a customizable compartment which can soft freeze or store your wines at the perfect temperature, and the whole model has plenty of adjustable storage. 

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The best refrigerator for smart features

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If you want a hands-off, smart refrigerator, look no further. The main feature is a panel on the door which becomes a window when tapped, so you can see inside if needed. The same panel opens as a small door, giving you access to cartons and jars without opening the whole refrigerator. Not only is this super convenient, it also saves your fridge from warming up every time you want to grab a drink.

The LG takes hands-free to a whole new level with its useful features. If you have your hands full, swipe your foot under the fridge and it will open. Similarly, the freezer drawers slide out when the freezer is open. If that wasn’t smart enough, LG has a smart app for troubleshooting and monitoring the filter and any problems. 

When tested against other smart refrigerators, such as the Samsung this was less energy efficient. It’s still not bad, but not at the top of the market. If you want all the additional features, it can get a little expensive too.

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The best counter-depth refrigerator

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Bosch is reliable when it comes to good refrigerators. Whilst the Bosch 800 came a close second for the best counter-depth option, this French door model won overall. 

It has a built-in look when positioned alongside countertops and is great for energy efficiency. People liked the adjustable bar and shelves, especially in conjunction with the adjustable temperature drawer. In controlled tests it held a consistent temperature well. The Home Connect act is really useful: you can create an inventory of your groceries and get a notification before your food goes off; it will notify you if your refrigerator temperature has changed significantly; and it can troubleshoot any issues. 

Considering that this is a French door refrigerator , it should have a bigger capacity. Compared to the Samsung 28 cu ft, this is expensive for its limited refrigerator real estate. However, when you look at the efficiency, it performed better: this Bosch is estimated to use 568 kWh per year as opposed to Samsung’s 716 kWh. 

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The best bespoke refrigerator

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If you're looking to have a truly unique décor, this is the refrigerator for you. Walking into the kitchen, the refrigerator is often a focal point, struggling to blend seamlessly into well-considered décor. Thankfully, Samsung has thought about this. This refrigerator comes in a range of colours, from stainless steel and black to sunrise yellow and rose pink. 

You can mix and match and add an interior beverage center, which is an incredibly popular addition amongst users. It's an additional cost, making this an expensive purchase, but it's worth it. Rather than have an eyesore drinks dispenser, this keeps everything cool, behind the sleek front. Customers loved the app, which notifies you on a range of topics, including if you've left the door open. Often, bespoke sizes don't sit flush with counters, but lots of customers were really pleased with the size and capacity of this refrigerator.

A few customers found that the freezer was too aggressive, over-freezing and icing up their food. You'll also want to install it carefully; if you don't leave a gap behind the refrigerator, the doors won't open fully.

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The best refrigerator for efficiency

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Beko have been pushing the boundaries for sustainability time and time again with their appliances and this refrigerator is no exception. The crisper drawer uses light technology to change color, reflecting the sun's natural light. They claim that this helps to preserve the vitamins in your fruits and vegetables, keeping them fresher for longer. 

It also has an energy star rating, so will be easy on you utility bills too. Even though this doesn't have a large footprint, most reviews commented on the storage capacity of this refrigerator. The adjustable shelves, which are even sturdy on the door, ensure that you can maximize storage options, even in the freezer. Lots of customers also complemented the brushed stainless steel finish, which requires minimal upkeep.

All efficiencies considered, if you're a larger household or are looking for more capacity, this might not be the best option for you. Whilst it's compact and efficient, lots of customers who have children said that they wished they had more room.

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The best value refrigerator

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Maytag always brings reliable performance across their range of products. Reviewers all commented on the temperature control of this refrigerator: it maintains a cool, constant temperature throughout the appliance, including the door shelves. This is really useful for a number of people. If you're often in and out of the refrigerator, you'll value an appliance that can keep things cool. Also, if you want to put dairy products in the refrigerator doors without worrying about them getting too warm, this is perfect.

The deli drawer is a well-designed feature, because you can store wide plates and platters without any awkward positioning. With a reasonable fridge and freezer capacity, there’s more than enough room for all of your groceries and then some extra treats as well. Some users thought that the refrigerator would benefit from adjustable sections, but didn't find this particularly limiting, because of the generous depth and overall dimensions of this appliance.

The digital interface is really useful when it works, but a number of users found it a little tricky to use. However, it looks good alongside the stainless steel finish, which is fingerprint resistant.

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The best side-by-side refrigerator

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KitchenAid always delivers on quality, so we expect great things from this refrigerator. It’s pretty basic, but it does these basics well. As an appliance essential, it scored big points for freezer space, adjustable shelves, and general dimensions. Many customers enjoyed the pressure in the water dispenser which is enough to fill up your glass quickly, but not so much that you end up with water on the floor.

The dedicated refrigerator has drawers and shelves which you can re-organise to suit your needs. A handy air filter keeps odors minimal and the drawers absorb ethylene to help slow the ripening of fruits and vegetables. This isn’t something many users noticed, but it’s a subtle helping hand which you probably would only notice if it wasn't there. 

Reviewers commented that this was compact inside, so even if you use the storage and organization well, you'll struggle if you have a big family. It also doesn’t have a dual ice-maker either, so, if your mind is elsewhere you might end up with a glass of ice rather than water.

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The best bottom freezer refrigerator

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Smeg makes a second appearance in our roundup, and while I like to give a range of brands, I couldn’t miss this off the roundup. As expected with Smeg, this is a stylish refrigerator. Even though it has an E energy rating, which is quite low, users commented on a good temperature regulation throughout the fridge.

For more heat-sensitive products, such as dairy or meat, there is a special cooler drawer with separate digital temperature control, so you can easily adjust the temperature of the whole fridge, or drawer separately. 

Whilst the different adjustable compartments are great, the refrigerator is still very slim. There isn’t room for bulky foods, but this doesn’t mean that it’s a counter-depth design either. It’s almost the worst of both worlds. You also won’t have a water or ice dispenser, which it would be reasonable to expect for the price. Some users commented on the gurgling noise which it makes occasionally and that the shelves can be a little awkward to move.

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The best bottom-freezer refrigerator

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This refrigerator is good value. The variety of features means that you can make the most of your refrigerator’s capacity. The adjustable shelves readily cater for tall bottles and large boxes; the crisper drawer is a cool space to store fresh fruit and vegetables; the deli drawer suits wider platters and plates; and the butter keeper is a hygienic place to put your dairy products too.

This comes in a range of finishes, so you can tailor it to suit your interior style. Having an ice maker is rare in top-freezer fridges, but is very useful for freeing up storage space in the freezer. 

Although this isn’t the most expensive freezer on the market, it’s more expensive than similar fridges like the Frigidaire 20.5 cu ft Top Freezer Refrigerator, which I didn’t include because it lacks an ice maker. A few users commented that it is noisier than the standard fridge. Other reviewers suggested that the ice maker is slow, so maybe keep some ice in the freezer just in case. 

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The best refrigerator for small kitchens

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Smeg wins big points for style. This fridge harks back to retro 1950s style and the early days of kitchen appliances. The basic models make a true style statement, but if you want to take things to another level, Smeg collaborated with Dolce and Gabbana on an infamous $10,000 hand-painted version of this fridge. It's truly iconic. 

More generally, the full-sized fridge is capacious but compact. At 60 x 23.6 x 30 in, it's  smaller than the other refrigerators in this roundup, but if you buy it knowing you're opting for a smaller size, you won't have many complaints. I was surprised to find that many people actually called this 'roomy' in their reviews. I'd put this spacious feeling down to the adjustable shelves, there is a crisper drawer, and an integrated freezer. 

You can coordinate the color with your kitchen, or other Smeg appliances too. A word of caution for when you're installing the refrigerator, leave a 175mm gap for the hinge door to open: it’s a pain if you can’t open the door properly. In the latest energy efficiency test, Smeg got an E. Although it's much better now, some reviewers say that older models are  inefficient.

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The best French door refrigerator

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It seems to be unanimously agreed that this refrigerator is beautiful. Almost every review comments on how good it looks, many enjoy simply looking at the refrigerator, especially in the customisable colors. However, beauty is not the only selling point. 

The autofill water dispenser fills containers with filtered water using dispensers to stop when your glass is full. It’s surprisingly useful. As is the convertible drawer which has a range of settings, including soft freeze. Reviewers often suggested that this was a useful place to store drinks at lower temperatures than a generic refrigerator.

Some users said that the ice box was a little small and that the overall refrigerator capacity was on the lean side. Lots of reviews also commented on how delicate the refrigerator feels or how often they find themselves cleaning it: I think this care derives from having a beautiful refrigerator though.

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How to choose the best refrigerator for you:

Refrigerators are often the focal point of a kitchen, so you’ll want to choose carefully. Consider five factors before buying:

Consider your kitchen
Think about your layout before buying a refrigerator. Make sure it fits your kitchen and that it sits flush with your countertops. Double-check that you have space for the doors to open. Once you do you want one with a built-in look, or should it make more of a statement? If you want it to be flush with your counters, that’ll be important too.

Capacity
It matters how big your refrigerator is. If you’re a big family, consuming lots of fresh food, you’ll want a refrigerator which maximizes space. Couples and smaller families should look for a compact fridge that won’t dominate the kitchen.

Features
This follows on from the point before, but think about what your refrigerator can do for you. If you want an ice maker and water filter, that can be a priority. If you’re more likely to be hosting dinner parties and want wide shelves for platters, that’s a good feature too. My favorite feature is Samsung’s camera; it’s a great feature to stop you buying more than you’ll need. However, don’t get carried away with features that you don’t need. If you don’t drink, having wine and champagne storage is superfluous. If you won’t use smart technology, you’ll be pointlessly paying a premium.

Style
These are big appliances, so it’s important that you like the look of them. Consider built-in vs freestanding fridges, too. Built-ins look better, but cost more, and freestanding fridges are cheaper, but may not look as good. Some designs are more customisable than others, but, you’ll often be able to select the right finish and color for you.

Efficiency
Refrigerators have the potential to use a lot of electrical power. Bosch tends to perform well when it comes to efficiency, but you should always check the rating before buying.

How we researched the best refrigerators for you:

We would love to fill a home with all these refrigerators - and more - so that our experts could interrogate each and every features. However, in this instance, it was not possible to. In the absence of in-person tests, I have read through thousands of customer and expert reviews, as well was watching videos and speaking to people with experience of these appliances. I've also visited show homes where some of these refrigerators are on display, so that I know what they look like in-person too. With hundreds of hours dedicated to refrigerator research, I know these appliances as well as, if not better than, many people who have them in their homes. If there's a useful feature, I know about it. if there's an annoying quirk, I know about that too. All this means that when you end up with one in your home, there will be no nasty surprises.

Refrigerator FAQs

Our verdict

You can’t go wrong with any of these refrigerators. They make bold claims and live up to them. For me, the Samsung Smart has to be the most useful. The camera feature would be a game-changer for doing the groceries. I love the look of the Café, but know that I would find a high-maintenance refrigerator too much of an extra stress. I would admire all of the others in any kitchen regardless.