The best mini fridges to keep snacks and more within reach

Whether it's for your dorm room or the family room, these mini refrigerators come in clutch for easily accessible snacks, drinks, and even skincare.
By Ashley Keegan  on 
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.

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.

This sleek, stainless steel mini fridge is basically an exact replica of a full-size refrigerator, right down to the humidity-controlled crisper drawer, temperature control, and LED lighting inside. It boasts two full-width glass shelves that can be adjusted — or completely removed — to make room for all the items you need to store, and it's super spacious without taking up a huge footprint. The separate freezer alone has more space than some ultra-mini fridges on this list, providing enough room for an ice cube tray, frozen meals, and multiple cartons of ice cream, all at once. It’s also designed with a reversible door to cater to the needs of your small space, and integrated door shelving with room for tall bottles.

Buying Options

The Good

The Bad

Details

If you're looking for a fridge to complement a particularly stylish space, this retro mini fridge is a super cute choice in a small handful of color options. Its rounded edges and streamlined handle amp up the retro vibes of yesteryear, but don't worry — it's a completely modern appliance throughout. Inside, it has removable glass shelves to help you configure the space to your needs, and you can set your preferred temperature (from "cool" to "coldest") with the temperature control dial. There isn't a separate external door for the freezer compartment, but there is a small, dedicated space to stash a few frozen food items behind an internal door.

Buying Options

The Good

The Bad

Details

If you're looking for a mini refrigerator built primarily to accommodate your beverages — including adult libations — this wine-cooling beverage fridge is the optimal choice. It has a vibration-free thermo-electric system, so it won't shake up all the sediment in your wine bottles (i.e., you can pop those corks right out of the fridge, without having to wait for the sediment to settle). It also has an adjustable thermostat with fridge temperature control from 40–61°F, and its glass door provides an airtight seal to maintain the ideal humidity level within. It has soft blue LED lighting along the top of the interior, which creates a beautiful showcase for your beverages without harming any wine that's in there. And, best of all, it has ample capacity for up to 26 standard bottles of wine, but can easily accommodate soda cans, beer, hard seltzers or even water bottles, if that's more your preference.

Buying Options

The Good

The Bad

Details

This compact mini fridge — the smallest on our list — is only big enough to store the equivalent of six 12-ounce cans, but it makes the most of every inch of its small frame. It has a removable shelf that makes it easy to organize your storage space, whether it’s needed for food, drinks, medications, or cosmetics. Its built-in handle makes it easy to transport, and you can plug it into your home power supply or connect to a 12-volt power supply in a vehicle. The AstroAI mini fridge cools up to 40 degrees below ambient temperature (that's the temperature of the environment where the compact fridge is stored, whether that's your bedroom, your bathroom, your car — wherever), and can also keep items warm up to 150°F. Plus, it's freon-free and environmentally friendly!

Buying Options

The Good

The Bad

Details

This cube fridge is a reliable, mid-sized option for height-restricted spaces, or for use cases where you don't need a ton of room to store your snacks and beverages. It has a removable glass shelf and storage space on the door for taller items, and its freezer compartment is tiny but suitable for stashing a small ice cube tray or a couple of frozen meals. Its door is also reversible so you can open it from the left or the right, and its recessed door handle ensures that there's nothing jutting out into your space, ready to knock you in the shin as you pass by. This makes it a great choice for dorm rooms, and it's short enough that it can even double as a nightstand.

Buying Options

The Good

The Bad

Details

While it's technically not the cheapest mini fridge on our list, we do like this option from RCA for anyone on a budget as it provides the best value for its ample size and features. It has two adjustable shelves and lots of compartments on the door to accommodate large bottles or multiple cans, and it also has a small freezer compartment. (They refer to it as an "ice cube chamber," so you know it's tiny — but should be sufficient for a couple of frozen food items.) It's also designed with a reversible door to suit your space constraints, and it's available in some super-bright color options if you're looking to make more of a design statement in your space.

Buying Options

The Good

The Bad

Details

This cute CROWNFUL mini fridge is super small and highly portable, but it offers enough space for the equivalent of 12 standard-sized soda cans. On the outside, it has a built-in, flip-up handle for carrying. Inside, there are two removable shelves to suit your needs, and a basket on the back of the door for storing tall, slim items. The CROWNFUL mini fridge is a good choice for stashing beverages in your home office or den, or for keeping your wide variety of sensitive cosmetic products in the bedroom or bathroom. Via the internal fridge temperature control, it cools down as much as 42 degrees below the ambient temperature or keeps items warm up to 149°F (a great option for warming baby bottles). Plus, it has an environmentally friendly, freon-free design, and it comes with both AC and DC adapters to plug into electrical outlets at home, or take it on the road and plug it into a 12-volt car charger.

Buying Options

The Good

The Bad

Details

With its ingenious LED-lit mirrored door, this compact mini fridge is the optimal choice for those seeking refrigeration for their cosmetics and other skincare products. It would look perfect perched atop a vanity or bathroom counter — but it's also super portable, so it's a great choice for personal travel or for makeup artists who need to tote sensitive ingredients around for clients. It has enough space inside for the equivalent of six soda cans, so you can store all your serums and facial masks with ease. Plus, not only can it cool, but it also has a heat function which would be great for warming towels for a relaxing at-home spa experience.

Buying Options

The Good

The Bad

Details

Topics Kitchen

Mashable Image
Ashley Keegan

Ashley Keegan is a freelance contributor to Mashable.


Recommended For You

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for March 7
Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for February 28
Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for March 5
Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for March 3
Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

More in Life
The best laptops you can buy in 2024 for work, school, and gaming
a 15-inch m3 apple macbook air sitting on a wooden table in starbucks

15-inch M3 MacBook Air review: Read this before you even think about buying
15-inch M3 MacBook Air on a table

XREAL (formerly Nreal) Air AR glasses are so cool but need some serious work
pair of tinted AR glasses with smaller lenses inside

RayNeo Air 2 XR glasses capitalize on the hype without delivering on promises
woman's hand holding dark, reflective XR glasses

Galaxy S24 Ultra review: I’m a Samsung stan, but iPhone 15 Pro Max is testing me
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for March 9
A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.'

Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for March 9
a phone displaying Wordle

NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for March 8
A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.'

Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for March 8
a phone displaying Wordle

21 of the best ChatGPT courses you can take online for free
ChatGPT on phone
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!