Best fridges 2024: Which? Best Buys and expert advice

Whether you're looking for a small model to slot under a worktop, or an integrated fridge to hide behind your cabinet doors, if you choose a Which? recommendation, you can be sure you're getting one of the best fridges around.

That's because we assess every fridge in detail in our labs, from how well it will chill your food and maintain a stable temperature to how easy it is to use and clean. We also investigate how much it'll add to your energy bill.

This guide examines the different fridge types, how much you should expect to pay and key features to look out for. It also reveals the best fridges we've tested.

Head to our fridge reviews to see all the models we've tested.

Best fridges

These fridges are the best freestanding models we recommend right now.

Looking for a specific type of fridge? Jump straight to our top recommended models by type:

Best integrated fridge
Best under-counter fridge
Best energy efficient fridge

Which members can log in to view our recommendations below. Sign up to Which? and get full access to these results and all our reviews.

Table last updated April 2024.

Head to our fridge reviews to read test results for of all the models we've seen in our lab.

Video: how to buy the best fridge

Watch our video below for tips on choosing your next fridge.

Fridge types explained

If you’re replacing your old fridge, you’ll probably want the same type, whether that's a tall freestanding, tall integrated, freestanding under-counter or integrated under-counter model.

If you’re redesigning your kitchen, it’s worth deciding early on which type you want, when you’re planning the layout. Do you want an integrated fridge that’s hidden away behind kitchen cupboard doors, or a freestanding one you can put anywhere? Or perhaps you want a small under-counter fridge with ice box to fit neatly beneath a worktop.

Freestanding fridges

These models are the most widely available and cheapest, and you can put them anywhere in your kitchen. Under-counter models fit under your work surface, or you can tuck a tall one away in the corner.

Pros:

• Usually the lowest-priced models 
• Lots of choice of models, colours and finishes
• Easy to move if you redesign your kitchen or move house

Cons: 

• Can spoil the look of your kitchen 
• Take up additional floorspace in your kitchen.

See all of our freestanding fridge reviews to pick the best one within your budget.

Integrated fridges

If you don’t want large white appliances on view in your home, then consider an integrated or built-in fridge. These sit behind cupboard doors and blend in with your kitchen units. 

You can buy either a tall or under-counter integrated fridge, and some are designed to fit above waist height into a tall bank of cupboards.

• It's built into your kitchen and hidden from view, and can blend seamlessly into the decor
• It's slimmer than some models, and won’t protrude into your kitchen.

Cons: 

• There are fewer models to choose between, compared with freestanding fridges
• Integrated fridges are much more expensive to buy
• They tend to use more energy than freestanding models, so running costs are higher.
• If you want to redesign your kitchen in the future, you'll need to work around your built-in fridge.

Take a look at all of our integrated fridge reviews to find the best one for you.

Other types of fridge

Fridges with ice boxes

• The icebox is handy if you need to keep frozen food accessible
• It allows you to keep your chilled food and frozen food together in one place 
• It's useful for chilling drinks quickly, and costs about the same as fridge-only models.

Cons: 

• The ice box takes up space, so there’s less room for chilled food
• They’re more expensive to run than fridge-only models
• They’re not that popular, so there are fewer options to choose from.

Head to our reviews of fridges with an ice box to find the best model for you.

Larder fridges

These models don’t have an integrated freezer compartment or ice box. You can buy a tall or under-counter model, either freestanding or integrated.

Pros:

• Offer maximum storage space for chilled food
• Usually the most economical to run
• No freezer compartment to worry about defrosting

Cons: 

• You can't make ice or freeze any leftovers
• You can't store frozen food or ice inside

Take a look at all our larder fridge reviews.

Looking for a wine fridge instead? See our guide to the best wine fridges. 

Best fridge features to consider

The fridge features you choose will depend largely on your budget, as most of the nice-to-haves will bump up the price. But which features are worth paying more for?

We think the following features will come in handy and shouldn't make much difference to the overall cost.

• Adjustable shelves give you the flexibility to set the space as you want it
• Salad crisper drawers that slide smoothly, but don’t slide all the way out too easily as this can cause you to drop the drawer and all its contents.
• Adjustable door racks, so you can create more space if you need to store tall bottles

Besides these three features, you should also evaluate the following list to work out which are most important to you.

Capacity

The average under-counter fridge, whether built-in or freestanding, will give you around 90 litres of usable space. You’ll get more than double that in the average tall fridge, which might be more suitable if you live in a large household, or prefer to do big weekly food shops.

Chilling speed

The faster that food is chilled, the less time potentially harmful bacteria has to eat into the lifespan of your groceries. We’ve found that some fridges take several hours longer to chill than others, which won’t help to keep food fresher for longer. Some models come with a super-chill setting, designed to provide a burst of chilling power when you need it. This might be useful when you’re unloading a big shop, but it will force the fridge to work harder, consuming more energy.

Colour

White is by far the most common colour for a fridge, but other colours are available. We’ve tested silver, stainless steel and black fridges in all shapes and sizes. If you’re looking to add a splash of colour to your kitchen, retro models tend to be available in colours such as red, cream and blue.

Dimensions

Fridges are often  50-60cm wide and 60-70cm deep. Under-counter models are usually 85cm high or less, while tall models are usually 150-190cm in height. It is possible to buy models that are 86-150cm high.

Door features

If you’re tight on space and want to keep your fridge in a corner, you may want to buy a fridge with a reversible door. Hi-tech models come with a door alarm to alert you when the fridge door has been open too long, or if you haven’t closed it properly.

Ease of use and cleaning

The worst fridges have weak or poorly designed shelves, awkward drawers that don’t pull out smoothly, and nooks and crannies that can harbour spillages and crumbs. We test every fridge for ease of use and ease of cleaning, so you can pick one that won’t end up leaving you frustrated.

Ice box

A fridge with an ice box can be handy if you only need a freezer for the bare essentials, or if you own a separate freezer that’s always full and need a bit more space. Our tests show that ice boxes usually freeze items in good time, although you’ll get 25 litres of space at most.

LED control panel

Most fridges come with a plastic thermostat dial to adjust the temperature. Some models come with a sleek control panel with LED screen to access settings such as super-cool and which tell you what temperature your fridge is currently at.

Running costs

Annual running costs vary significantly based on the fridge’s size and efficiency. The most economical under-counter fridge we’ve tested costs just over £18 a year to run, while the most expensive costs just over £48 annually. The least economical tall fridge we’ve seen costs over £83 to run each year, so it's worth bearing in mind as the least energy efficient models can be costly. Save money over your fridge’s lifespan by using our reviews to pick out an efficient model.

Shelves and drawers

We count the number of shelves, drawers and door racks in every fridge we review, so you know exactly what your storage options are. We also check for less common features such as bottle shelves, humidity-controllable crisper drawers for fresh produce and chiller drawers for meat, fish and seafood.

Some brands offer feature-packed fridges that cost a lot more, too. Our guide will help you decide which fridge brand to buy.

What size fridge should I buy?

The exact fridge size you buy will depend on the space you have to house it in your kitchen. Whatever type of fridge you're looking for, it's important to get the dimensions right.

Check whether you need to add extra space at the sides, back and/or top to allow air to circulate. Some models don't need this extra space, but some need as much as 5cm on either side - so check carefully before you buy.

Fridge storage space

Manufacturers measure volume with all the shelves, drawers and door racks taken out. When we test fridges, we leave everything in place and measure the space you can actually use for storing food.

We find big differences between manufacturers' claimed capacities and real storage space; the worst offenders can differ by more than 25%. This means that even fridges with the same dimensions can hold different quantities of food.

So check our capacity sizes before you buy to make sure you're getting the maximum amount of storage space for your money. You'll find real sizes listed on the technical specification tab of all of our fridge reviews.

Large or small, you'll need to keep it clean. Find out how to deep-clean your fridge.

How much do I need to pay to get a good fridge?

The average price of the fridges we've reviewed is around £720 at the time of writing, but you don't have to spend that much to get a great one.

We've tested some outstanding tall Best Buy fridges that cost less than £500, and plenty of other good options within this price range. But, we've also found some Don't Buys at lower price points, so you need to pick carefully if you're after a cheap fridge.

There are times when it's worth spending a bit more. A number of the best tall freestanding fridges we've tested, for example, fall into the £500 to £900 price band.

On average, you'll need to spend a bit more to pick up an excellent tall integrated fridge, but that's no big surprise as these types generally cost more than freestanding models. That said, there are some fantastic bargains out there, too, and our reviews can really help you sift through the duds.

Paying more can unlock some cool features, such as a water dispenser in the door, a super-cool function that adds a boost of power to speed up the cooling process, and warning alarms that alert you to an open door or rising temperature inside.

Want to buy a decent fridge without spending over the odds? Visit our fridge reviews and use the Great Value filter.

Fridge energy label changes

From 1 March 2021, a new energy label came into force, which replaced the confusing A+, A++ and A+++ ratings and reset the scale from A to G. This is designed to reinvigorate the sustainability race for manufacturers by completely emptying the top A rating to leave room for improvement.

The new label for refrigeration (above) states the capacity of chilled and/or frozen compartments in litres; there is also a new measure for noise emissions.

Can I buy a sustainable fridge?

Much of the environmental impact of a fridge comes from the fact that it's on all day, every day.

When you're looking to replace a faulty model, buy one that’s energy efficient not only to reduce your carbon footprint but also save money along the way.

Not all energy-efficient fridges are good chillers, and some are from brands that develop faults quicker than average.

That's why we've started recommending Eco Buy fridges. We've carefully chosen models that balance good chilling performance with energy efficiency and brand reliability.

To see all the most sustainable models we've tested, go to our fridge reviews and use the Eco Buy filter.

What should I know before buying a fridge for my garage?

Every fridge has a climate class, which tells you the range of room temperatures it’s designed to work in. In the shop, you'll see the climate class denoted by letters – we've put these below, along with our explanation of what temperature each class relates to:

• 10-32°C: SN (subnormal)
• 16-32°C: N (normal)
• 16-38°C: ST (subtropical)
• 16-43°C: T (tropical)

The two you’re most likely to come across are SN and N. Both work effectively in room temperatures up to 32°C, but only SN models are designed to work in rooms that get as cold as 10°C. It’s possible for kitchens to reach such chilly temperatures during cold winter months.

Unless the manufacturer states otherwise, using a fridge outside of its designated range could damage it and invalidate your warranty – which is why you'll struggle to find ones suitable for the garage.

Regardless of climate class, we test every fridge in room temperatures as high as 32°C and as low as 10°C, as this is how hot and cold in can get in your kitchen at different times of the year.

The worst models struggle to maintain a safe and stable temperature in these conditions, potentially reducing the lifespan of your food.

Go to What temperature should a fridge be? to learn more about fridge temperatures.