10 Best Mini Fridges for Dorms and Small Spaces in 2023

Outfit your college dorm, garage, tiny home or workspace with one of these top-rated machines.

Price and stock could change after publish date, and we may make money off these affiliate links. Learn more.
Updated on August 03, 2023

Our Top Mini Fridge Picks

When you think of a mini fridge, you probably think about shopping for college. And while a mini fridge is absolutely essential for dorm life, these pint-sized machines can be used for so much more at home. They’re great for a guest house or mother-in-law suite. They’re convenient for storing sports drinks and water easily within reach in the garage or home gym. For many homeowners who have a basement or carriage house living space they rent on Airbnb or VRBO, a good mini fridge is a must-have if the rental space doesn't have a full kitchen. And for those living in a tiny house, the mini fridge is the fridge. Take a look at our roundup below for a list of the best of the best, from the quietest model to the best option on a budget to a mini fridge that’s actually cute.

Things to Consider About Mini Fridges

There are a lot of choices and a lot of features to consider when shopping for a mini fridge. The most important thing to note is the temperature. Though they look similar, a beverage chiller and a mini fridge have different cooling settings and a beverage chiller will not keep perishable food at a cool enough temperature to safely store and consume. Additionally, mini fridge freezers aren't built for long-term freezing. This is not where you want to freeze raw meat. It's more for ice cubes, ice cream and microwavable meals.

Other important factors include size, which is measured in cubic feet, and the option to have a freezer component. Most mini fridges range from two to four cubic feet with the smallest around 1.5 cubic feet and the largest around 4.5 cubic feet.

How We Picked

We’ve done the work and combed through the world of mini fridges for you. We focused on the sliding scale of features versus price and nearly every mini fridge in this roundup is under $300. Some are even under $100! We also took customer reviews as well as energy performance into consideration. And when possible, we prioritized models with multiple colorways and finishes such as stainless steel and even a dry-erase door.

Best Overall Mini Fridge for Dorms + Beyond

On the sliding scale of features vs. budget, this Midea mini fridge hits the sweet spot for all-around value. It’s just over three cubic feet, which is fairly large for a mini fridge. It’s less than $260 (with free shipping for Amazon Prime members). And it has two separate doors which are reversible, so, if you move or change dorm rooms, you can change whether the doors open from the left or the right depending on your space — genius.

Best Mini Fridge With a Freezer

This EdgeStar mini fridge is one of the more expensive models in our roundup, but, if you plan on storing several frozen meals or a couple of pints of ice cream, it’s worth the investment. Mini fridge freezers are typically sad little boxes with a sad little flap with only enough room for maybe two ice pops, but the EdgeStar has a huge freezer. It also features a separate freezer door that actually keeps items ice-cold, unlike those sad little freezer flaps.

Best Large-Capacity Mini Fridge

It’s an oxymoron, but there are some great jumbo mini fridges out there. These not-so-small appliances are perfect for rental suites or a guest cottage where you need to create a small kitchenette. One of the best we found is this Frigidaire model. At a whopping 4.5 cubic feet total, this thing can hold a 12-pack of soda and a full gallon of milk with tons of room to spare. The fridge itself is 3.9 cubic feet and the small freezer with flap closure is .6 cubic feet.

Best Budget Mini Fridge

Right now, you can score this Insignia compact fridge for just under $100 at Best Buy. We rarely see mini fridges — even the small ones — drop below $150, so, if you're on a budget, this one is a great value. At just 1.7 cubic feet, this is one of the smallest mini fridges, but it still has enough room for a six-pack of soda and a small carton of milk.

Best Quiet Mini Fridge

If you’re in a dorm or a tiny house and you’re sleeping close to a mini fridge, you don’t want to buy one that makes strange sounds or a loud humming in the night. Enter the Smad Mini Fridge. This compact machine is made with “low-noise technology” and is praised by light sleepers on Amazon. It’s so quiet that the company issued a statement on the product page to clarify that the fridge is, in fact, running, even if you can’t hear anything!

Best Small Mini Fridge

Of course, all mini fridges are small, but if you're looking to go as small as possible, this teeny, tiny fridge from Frigidaire can sit on a desk or stack on top of another appliance such as a beverage chiller or dorm dresser even. This is also a great option if you're looking for a small chiller for beauty products as it takes up much less space on a bathroom counter or under the sink compared to larger mini-fridges.

Best Mini Fridge for Dorms

While any of the mini fridges in this list would make great dorm fridges, this 3.2 cubic feet fridge from Frigidaire is a great size for food storage, has a subtly retro style and boasts an extra fun feature for dorms. The door is actually a dry-erase board, so you can leave reminders to yourself or roommates, jot down notes or just doodle. It comes in white and black and glow-in-the-dark neon dry-erase markers would be perfect for the black finish.

Best Mini Fridge With Two Doors

A mini fridge with a separate freezer door is super handy because you can grab what you need from each compartment without letting all the cold air out, but the extra drawer usually comes at a higher price. However, we found this stainless steel two-door model from Walmart for less than $275!

Best Retro-Style Mini Fridge

Instead of a basic white box, why not have fun with a 50s-inspired, throwback-style fridge? There are so many adorable, retro-style refrigerators on the market, but we love this 3.1 cubic feet fridge from Galanz because, unlike other brands, it features a separate freezer door and a little more space. Plus, it comes in a few fun colors if neutrals aren't your thing.

Best Multipurpose Mini Fridge

If you're willing to splurge a bit, let your coffee table double as a refrigerator. Available in white and black, this next-level coffee table from Sobro may be pricier than a traditional mini fridge, but it features a pull-out drawer to keep your snacks and drinks perfectly chilled, four USB ports for charging, two outlets, a Bluetooth speaker system, LED lights and a touch screen control top. Food and a fully charged phone at the ready? You might never leave the couch.

Next Up

10 Essential Cookbooks for College Students

Help your student learn to fend for themselves with these brilliant (and budget-friendly) cookbooks.

25+ Dorm Room Organizers You Need for College

Back-to-school season is almost here. Get ahead of the game and see which organizers are essential for students living on campus.

The Best Bean Bag Chairs of 2024 for Every Space

Bean bags with back support? The future is now.

18 Best Photo Displays for Your College Dorm Room

Perk up those stark white walls with these charming corkboards, photo grids, string light garlands and more.

10 Apartment-Sized Sofas for Every Style Under $1,500

Got a small space and a small budget? You don't have to break the bank to buy your dream couch.

The Best Futons for Every Budget and Style

Make any room guest-ready with a versatile futon that transforms from seating to a bed in mere seconds.

The Best Twin XL Sheets for Your College Dorm

Cozy up your dorm room for the semester ahead with these bunk-ready twin XL sheet sets.

Dorm Room Essentials: Your Complete Guide to a Designer College Space on a Budget

Heading off to college? Pack these dorm room essentials with our easy-to-follow checklist for bedding, decor, storage, kitchen and more.

The Best Dorm Bedding Sets for College

Don't sleep on these dreamy deals and outfit your dorm bed to perfection.

15 Dorm Kitchen Essentials That Every Freshman Needs

In other words, the kitchen gear you need when you've hit your Cup Noodle quota for the week.

Go Shopping

Get product recommendations from HGTV editors, plus can’t-miss sales and deals.

On TV

Follow Us Everywhere

Join the party! Don't miss HGTV in your favorite social media feeds.