Best Refrigerators of 2021

Other than the design and finish, refrigerators tend to look pretty similar from the outside. Our in-depth guides go beyond this to tell you which refrigerators are the best ones to buy. We also have unbiased ratings to help you find the right refrigerator, whether you are wanting to buy a French door, counter-depth, side-by-side, or traditional top-freezer model. You can also find details on the pros and cons of each type.

Our Best Refrigerators of 2021 Rating

Compare the Best Refrigerators of 2021

Best Refrigerators in Detail

Maytag French Door Refrigerator – MFI2570FEZ: The Maytag French Door Refrigerator model number MFI2570FEZ ties for first place as the Best Refrigerator of 2021. It also places first in our rating of the Best French Door Refrigerators. The Maytag French Door Refrigerator is a good choice if you want lots of fridge space, boasting more room in its refrigerator section than any other model in our ratings. The temperature-controlled Wide-N-Fresh deli drawer can hold full-size platters. With a touch of a button, its PowerCold feature can quickly lower the temperature inside, a convenient way to restore safe temps after the doors have been open for a few minutes.

Read more in our Maytag refrigerator review. or check out the top Maytag promo codes here.

Samsung French Door Refrigerator – RF260BEAESR/AA: The Samsung French Door Refrigerator RF260BEAESR/AA shares the No. 1 spot in both our Best Refrigerators and Best French Door Refrigerators ratings. It costs $300 less than Maytag French Door Refrigerator MFI2570FEZ, though it doesn't come standard with an external ice and water dispenser like the Maytag does, and adding one increases the price of the Samsung by $400. The Samsung has one of the largest freezers in our comparison of French door models, and its fridge doors feature six bins, each large enough for a gallon-size container.

Read more in our Samsung refrigerator review or check out the top Samsung promo codes here

Whirlpool Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator – WRB322DMBM: The Whirlpool Bottom-Freezer earns the title as the Best Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator of 2021 and places third overall in our Best Refrigerators rating. It flips a traditional fridge layout upside down, putting the freezer portion at the bottom in a pullout drawer. The Whirlpool Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator keeps your fresh food right at eye level and offers lots of adjustments for both its shelves and its door bins. With this type of refrigerator, however, it can be challenging to organize frozen food in the freezer's two bins in comparison to a side-by-side design. This refrigerator is a great value, thanks to its below-average $1,599 price and lower electricity costs.

Read more in our Whirlpool refrigerator review.

GE Side-By-Side Refrigerator – GSS25GSHSS: The GE GSS25GSHSS places at the top of our Best Side-by-Side Refrigerators of 2021 rating. Its $1,599 price is below average, whether you are comparing only side-by-side models or include all of the refrigerators in our comparison. It also has the largest freezer space in our ratings and a sizable amount of fridge space. Niceties such as a water dispenser in the door, spill-proof shelves, and bright LED lights are standard.

Read more in our GE refrigerator review.

Samsung Counter-Depth Refrigerator – RF22N9781SG/AA: The Samsung Counter-Depth Refrigerator RF22N9781SG/AA probably has just about every feature you can think of and then some. Rating as our Best Counter-Depth Refrigerator of 2021, its unique four-door design has one large refrigerator section spanning the top and one dedicated lower freezer section. The fourth section stores fresh or frozen food or can even be set up as a wine refrigerator. A full-color touch screen comes with an array of apps to order groceries, manage other smart appliances, or play music. At $4,799, this is the most expensive fridge in our comparison.

Read more in our Samsung refrigerator review or check out the top Samsung promo codes here

LG Top-Freezer Refrigerator – LTCS24223S: Not all new appliances have to boast the newest innovations to be appealing, as the LG Top-Freezer Refrigerator LTCS24223S demonstrates. This model follows the traditional layout, placing the freezer portion above the refrigerated space, and is No. 6 in our overall rating. This LG refrigerator is among the least expensive models in our overall comparison. It also has the lowest estimated electricity costs. For these reasons, we name it as the Best Budget Refrigerator.

Read more in our LG refrigerator review or check out the top LG coupon codes here.

Samsung French Door Refrigerator – RF28R7351SG/AA: Samsung's RF28R7351SG/AA has the largest total capacity in our ratings. In addition to its dual refrigerator doors and bottom freezer drawer, this Samsung has a second drawer in between the two. You can use either the interior controls or your smartphone to adjust this zone between freezer and refrigerator temperatures. The Samsung French Door Refrigerator also has a showcase door (so you can see what's inside without opening the full door) and a built-in pitcher that automatically refills with filtered water, but its $3,499 price tag is steeper than most in our comparison.

Read more in our Samsung refrigerator review or check out the top Samsung promo codes here.

LG Door-in-Door Refrigerator – LSXS26366S: The LG LSXS26366S is a side-by-side refrigerator. Its fridge door features a secondary built-in door, giving you quick access to favorite foods without opening the full refrigerator door. This LG refrigerator is exceptionally large at 26.1 total cubic feet. Its price tag of around $2,000 is $326 more than the average price of a side-by-side in our comparison, however.

Read more in our LG refrigerator review or check out the top LG coupon codes here.

GE French Door Refrigerator – GNE25JMKES: The GE Refrigerator GNE25JMKES is the least expensive standard-depth French door refrigerator in our ratings, with a price of around $1,900 for a slate or stainless steel finish (white and black finishes are available for $100 less). It’s a solid choice, offering a respectable amount of room, an internal water dispenser, and turbo cool settings that blast cold air to quickly lower interior temperatures.

Read more in our GE refrigerator review.

How to Find the Right Refrigerator for You

Your refrigerator does more than just keep food cold. It can dispense chilled, filtered water, keep ingredients organized so your dinnertime preparations are a snap, and put favorite snacks within easy reach. High-tech models even entertain, thanks to built-in video screens that play music and cameras that show you what's inside.

"Appliances should reflect the way the homeowner lives and entertains," advises the National Kitchen & Bath Association. For this reason, it's important to go beyond evaluating only the size of refrigerator you need and also consider what other features may be a blessing for your household. We explain the most important elements to consider below and go into detail on prices in our How Much Does a Refrigerator Cost? section below.

Refrigerator space: The most important element inside a refrigerator is its ability to store fresh food. Thinking about how many cubic feet of food you keep on hand seems mystifying, but an easy way to visualize volume is to consider that one grocery bag takes up about 1 cubic foot of space. In our comparison, the total volume of a refrigerator spans between 17.5 and 27.8 cubic feet, with the average being 24 cubic feet. Measurements of the refrigerated space (without the freezer) range from 11.8 to 18 cubic feet and averages about 16 cubic feet.

Layout is also important. Think about how adjustable you want the shelves to be, what kinds of bins in the door are convenient for your household, and the size and number of large dishes (like serving platters) you may want to store inside.

Freezer space: Though not quite as significant as your fresh food spaces, the size and layout of the freezer is also central. Decide if you prefer your frozen foods to be at eye level (like with a top-freezer or side-by-side model) or lower (like with a French door refrigerator). In our ratings, the average freezer volume is 7.5 cubic feet, ranging from about 4.5 to 9.3 cubic feet.

Additional features: Other refrigerator features often get used on a daily basis. Water and ice dispensers in the door are among the most popular. Spill-proof shelves that contain leaks, fast cooling modes that quickly lower interior temperatures, and smart tech that lets you monitor your fridge from afar are among popular features.

Exterior dimensions: Measure your space before you go shopping, as not all refrigerators are the same size. Don't forget to account for open depth as well. This is the distance from the back of the refrigerator to the door's edge when the door is open 90 degrees. If you have a small kitchen or a countertop facing your fridge, look for a model with narrower doors.

Finish: Stainless steel is one of the most common finishes, along with white and black. Black-, slate-, and rose-tinted stainless steel are less common but often sought after. Consider the current style in your kitchen, especially if you are looking to match existing appliances. Remodelers replacing several appliances will get the most bang for their buck by looking at current trends. For instance, the National Kitchen and Bath Association predicts that "whites/off whites will be the most popular kitchen color scheme for the near future," according to a 2020 survey of designers, architects, and other industry professionals.

Energy Star ratings: When a refrigerator is Energy Star-certified, it means your electricity costs to run the appliance will be lower. "Qualified refrigerators are at least 15% more efficient than the minimum federal efficiency standard," states the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, which creates the criteria for Energy Star ratings.

Warranties: A new refrigerator lasts an average of nine to 13 years, according to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. This matches up with the best refrigerator warranties, which cover the compressor for up to 10 years. Coverage under some brands is far less. GE warranties its refrigerators for only a year, for example. Many warranties are a complicated blend of what is covered (between specific parts and labor) and for how long. Separate portions of the warranty coverage may be broken up into one-, five-, and 10-year spans.

Refrigerator Types

The main types of refrigerators are:

Each type has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, though elements such as total volume apply to typical models, and aren't necessarily representative of every individual refrigerator.

Counter-Depth Refrigerators

A counter-depth refrigerator is slimmer than a standard refrigerator. Despite the name, these aren't quite at the same depth as a standard countertop of 24 inches, according to guidelines from the National Kitchen and Bath Association. That's because you need a few inches of clearance for fridge doors to open. The average depth of the models in our rating of the Best Counter-Depth Refrigerators is about 29 inches, which is significantly slimmer than the 34-inch average depth of all fridge types.

Buying a counter-depth fridge is a great way to give your kitchen a custom appearance for less money than if you buy a built-in fridge. You'll often still spend more on this style than you will on a standard-depth fridge. For instance, the standard-depth version of the Samsung Counter-Depth Refrigerator RF22N9781SG/AA retails for $4,599, while the counter-depth model costs $4,799. You will also likely give up some storage space, as this style generally has less room inside.

For more information, see our rating of the Best Counter-Depth Refrigerators of 2021.

French Door Refrigerators

A French door refrigerator has a set of two refrigerator doors on top. The freezer space is underneath in a pullout drawer. The refrigerator space spans the full width of the appliance, leaving lots of room for wide platters and oversized dishes. The model with the most fridge space in our overall Best Refrigerators rating is a French door model: Maytag MFI2570FEZ. Additionally, because this is one of the most popular styles, shoppers have lots of choices between brands, features, and prices when shopping for a French door refrigerator.

One of the biggest downsides of French door refrigerators is the freezer. Its location means you have to stoop to access frozen foods. Most have a large main drawer and a smaller basket, and organizing your food in these roomy open bins is harder than with a freezer that has shelves.

Models in our comparison range between 17.5 cubic feet of overall space (for a counter-depth model) and 27.8 cubic feet (which is much larger than the average of 24 cubic feet). For more information, see our rating of the Best French Door Refrigerators of 2021.

Side-by-Side Refrigerators

A side-by-side refrigerator typically has two large doors that extend the entire height of the fridge. The freezer spans the left side of the fridge while the refrigerator is on the right. This layout means you always have both fresh and frozen foods at eye level, rather than having to stoop to reach one of the zones. Inside, side-by-side refrigerators are spacious and have lots of shelves for easy organization. Outside, the shallow doors don't take up as much space when open, which is helpful when the refrigerator faces another workspace or you have a smaller kitchen.

Side-by-side refrigerators tend to cost less than French door or counter-depth models, and because this is a popular style, there are lots of options to choose between. However, this design isn't as trendy as a French door refrigerator. Its narrower interior spaces can also be challenging when you want to store oversized serving platters or large frozen pizzas.

For more information, see our rating of the Best Side-by-Side Refrigerators of 2021.

Bottom-Freezer Refrigerators

A bottom-freezer refrigerator borrows the layout of a French door refrigerator, with its lower drawer-style freezer, but swaps the double fridge doors out for a single door. The biggest advantages of a bottom-freezer refrigerator are that your food is up high where it's easiest to reach and its prices are much more affordable. For instance, the Whirlpool Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator WRB322DMBM (the only fridge of this type in our ratings) costs about $1,600. In comparison, the average price of a French door model in our ratings is around $2,500, or $900 more.

Water and ice dispensers in the door, a convenience that many households rely on throughout the day, aren't common in a bottom-freezer refrigerator. You'll also want to measure the amount of space you have in front of the fridge to make sure this style will fit, as its door reaches further out into your kitchen than models with double refrigerator doors.

Top-Freezer Refrigerators

A top-freezer refrigerator is the traditional style: a single storage area for frozen foods placed above a single storage area for fresh foods, each with one door. These doors are quite wide when open, which can be a nuisance in cramped kitchens. Top-freezer refrigerators also tend to lack a lot of the bells and whistles available in other types. That said, the best models offer the basics any household can appreciate, such as adjustable shelves, bright LED lighting, and gallon-size bins in the door. If you need a simple refrigerator for a low price, you can't go wrong with a top-rated top-freezer fridge.

How Much Does a Refrigerator Cost?

The average price of a new refrigerator is about $2,300, based on the 14 models in our ratings, with prices ranging between $1,400 and $4,800. If you are remodeling your kitchen, the cost of your new fridge can make up a sizable portion of what you spend. "When projects cost over $4,000, homeowners are 85% more likely to upgrade their kitchens with appliances, compared to consumers completing projects which cost under $4,000," reported the National Kitchen and Bath Association.

Side-by-side refrigerators are one of the least expensive types in our rating of the Best Refrigerators of 2021. Prices for a side-by-side model start around $1,400 and reach as high as about $2,000, which is still below the average price. The most expensive models in our rating include French door refrigerators (topping this range is the $3,500 Samsung RF28R7351SG/AA), though there are also models in this group that cost around $2,000. Counter-depth refrigerators also tend to come with high price tags.

Learn More With Our Refrigerator Guides

Our Refrigerator Reviews

Other Guides from 360 Reviews

For more information on other home products, check out the following guides:

Our 360 Methodology for Evaluating Refrigerators

The following describes our 360 approach to researching and analyzing refrigerators to provide guidance to prospective buyers.

1. We researched the brands and products people care most about.

U.S. News analyzed and compared publicly available data to determine which brands and styles of refrigerators consumers are most interested in. Using a combination of professional and consumer reviews, we found 10 brands and 44 refrigerator models that stood out in terms of volume of searches and consumer data. After this analysis, we narrowed the list down to the 16 best refrigerators of 2020.

We examined various features of the refrigerators to provide the consumer with the most relevant data for making a decision: size and style, energy efficiency, certifications, capacity, and more. While researching the features available in the 16 refrigerator models, we were able to narrow down which specifications are most important to consumers when making a refrigerator purchase. The refrigerators were grouped to compare features and specifications of certain styles and brands. The most prominent styles to compare were French door, side-by-side, and counter-depth refrigerators. With these factors in mind, we created a thorough set of guides that provides a 360 overview of what consumers should consider.

2. We created objective 360 Overall Ratings based on analysis of third-party reviews.

Our scoring methodology is based on a composite analysis of the ratings and reviews published by credible third-party professional and consumer review sources. The ratings are not based on the personal opinions, tests, or experiences of U.S. News. To calculate the ratings:

(a) We compiled two types of third-party reviews and ratings:

***Please note that not all professional and consumer rating sources met our criteria for objectivity. Therefore, some sources were excluded from our model.

(b) We standardized the inputs to create a common scale.

The third-party review source data was collected in a variety of forms, including ratings, recommendations, and accolades. Before including each third-party data point into our scoring equation, we had to standardize it so that it could be compared on an apples-to-apples basis with data points from other review sources. We used the scoring methodology described below to convert these systems to a comparable scale.

The 360 scoring process first converted each third-party rating into a common 0 to 5 scale. To balance the distribution of scores within each source’s scale, we used a standard deviation (or Z-Score) calculation to determine how each refrigerator’s score compared to the source’s mean score. We then used the Z-Score to create a standardized U.S. News score using the method outlined below:

(c) We calculated the 360 Overall Score based on a weighted-average model.

We assigned “source weights” to each source used in the consensus scoring model based on our assessment of how much the source is trusted and recognized by consumers and how much its published review process indicates that it is both comprehensive and editorially independent. The source weights are assigned on a 1-5 scale. Any source with an assigned weight less than two was excluded from the consensus scoring model.

Finally, we combined the converted third-party data points using a weighted average formula based on source weight. This formula calculated the consensus score for each refrigerator product line, which we call the 360 Overall Rating.