According to CNET's team of experts, the best refrigerators of 2025

So choosing a refrigerator is really the degree to which it fits your space, budget and aesthetics and how it functions in life. There are top or bottom freezers, side-by-side doors and French door models, available in almost every major brand in every size. Ice and water distributors have become commonplace, and now there are more bells and whistles, such as Wi-Fi connectivity, smart features and technology that allow you to see inside the refrigerator without opening the door.
size: Determining the right size refrigerator is the most important decision you will make. There is nothing worse than consistently refrigerated amounts with perishable and frozen foods, but sometimes you only have too much work space to use. The capacity of the refrigerator will be limited by the space boundaries. You can always buy a refrigerator for less space you have, but don't learn the tough way to have a solid, loose equipment like a refrigerator, even if it's only a quarter-inch problem, it won't magically squeeze into the space you need. Refrigerator widths range from 24 inches to 36 inches and above, with 30 inches and 36 inches models being the most popular and most.
Once you know the maximum measurements, such as layout and standards – considerations with inverse depth will affect the overall capacity of the refrigerator. You will usually pay more for an inverse depth refrigerator that creates a simplified aesthetic in the kitchen, even if this will give you less storage space.
style: The style and layout of the refrigerator are also a big consideration.
- French door The model is currently the most popular refrigerator, with a clean appearance and a tendency to keep the temperature better, as you don't necessarily open the full width of the refrigerator every time you want to grab something.
- Bottom freezer It tends to give you more freezer storage than top freezers, which can be a consideration if your lifestyle tends to freeze convenient meals. If you get to the refrigerator more than the refrigerator, some people also like the bottom freezer, which can interact more with items you often grab at the eye level. Top freezer models still exist, but mostly outdated.
- side by side The refrigerator offers a stylish option for narrower spaces compared to the top/bottom model and gives you more freezer space. This also means that their non-frozen foods tend to have smaller spaces, and that consistent temperatures and energy savings may also be lower due to the length required to maintain two different temperature zones.
- Inverse depth refrigerator Not as deep as standard refrigerators, so they don't stick out as much and can give your kitchen a more custom feel. Therefore, they will usually be wider or higher to compensate for the loss of depth. The standard countertop is about 24 inches, and the inverse depth refrigerator measures 31 to 33 inches.
Special features: All these little extras like automatic ice makers, water filters and touch view doors are good, but they are extra paying. If you are an ice demon, for example, you might want to pop up a refrigerator that makes custom ice. If not, choose a more basic refrigerator with fewer special features and spend your kitchen money elsewhere.
LG's expensive mood fridge has all the bells and whistles, including a light panel that can be coordinated with the music.
price: The full-size refrigerator starts at about $600 and then starts to rise from there. There is a smart refrigerator with lighting scheme, transparent doors and built-in camera, but that will cost you thousands of dollars. Most quality refrigerators land between $800 and $2500, so be prepared to be in that range for a reliable model housing with a good design and sufficient capacity.