- Every kitchen needs a good refrigerator but finding one that’s energy-efficient, budget-friendly, and spacious enough to hold your weekly grocery haul is key.
- Our top pick is the Samsung 24.6 cubic foot French Door Fridge because it has lots of useful features and looks and performs like a much more expensive fridge.
When I was growing up, my family always had a standard white, freezer-on-top refrigerator. At some point, many of my friends started getting fridges with built-in water and ice dispensers on the door. I was enamored with this high-tech feature and never tired of helping myself to a glass of water.
Of course, refrigerators have come a long way since then. Recently, at The Home Depot, my eight-year-old daughter and her friend amused themselves for half an hour playing with a futuristic Samsung Family Hub Smart Refrigerator. They used their fingers to draw pictures and make notes on the whiteboard and then recorded silly messages and played them back as other customers giggled. Other high-tech features on this fridge include three built-in cameras so you can see the inside of your fridge from anywhere and have the ability to stream music or watch TV right there on your appliance.
It’s fun stuff, but smart fridges are expensive, and not everyone needs the advanced features. Most people just want an energy-efficient fridge with sufficient storage and a reasonable price tag, which is why our picks range from $700 to $2,000 with plenty of mid-range options in between.
When choosing a fridge, you should consider which style you prefer. The most popular style of fridge is one with French doors and a bottom freezer. Other common options include the classic freezer on top, or the side-by-side freezer and fridge.
It may sound obvious, but make sure you measure carefully to ensure that a new fridge fits into your allotted space. You should also measure all doorways and other possible obstructions like kitchen islands to make sure the fridge can actually get into your kitchen. You’ll also want to consider inside capacity (measured in cubic feet) so you get enough space.
Most new refrigerators are much more efficient than older models. Still, it’s a good idea to look for the EPA Energy Star rating. The Energy Star Product Finder allows you to compare different features among refrigerator models to optimize your purchase.
Here are the best refrigerators:
Prices and links are current as of 4/8/20. We are currently testing new refrigerators for a larger update to this buying guide.