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8 Best Tiny House Refrigerators for 2023
You’ll probably cook in your tiny home kitchen every day, so it’s one of the most important spots to consider when planning out your floorplan and appliances, like a refrigerator. Finding the best tiny house kitchen fridge can be tough given the storage space and energy constraints, but we’re here to help.
You’ll first need to decide whether you want an electric or propane refrigerator for your tiny house — we’ll walk you through some of the key differences between the two. Plus, you’ll find an outline of some fridge characteristics you should be on the hunt for while you shop. You’ll then be able to browse the list hopefully knowing exactly what to look for!
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Types of refrigerators:
Electric: You’re probably used to using electric fridges, since they’re the most common in traditional homes or apartments, but you can usethem both on and off-grid. They’re easy to set up and use, since for the most part you can keep your food cool after just plugging it in.
If you’re worried about using too much electricity in an off-grid home, you can find energy efficient fridges for a higher upfront cost, or, opt for a fridge that runs on solar power to harness electricity from nature.
Propane: These fridges can be a bit more expensive, but they’re the best for anyone who wants to live completely off-grid and who might have limited access to power. In some areas, propane can be bought more cheaply than other cities, so check out how much it’ll be beforehand to get a full idea of the upkeep costs.
Keep in mind that the propane burner box inside these fridges generates some carbon monoxide — see our frequently asked questions at the end of this page to learn more about how they work. You’ll need to set up a venting system to keep everyone in your tiny home healthy and safe.
What makes a good tiny home fridge?
That’s a loaded question! There are many key characteristics to consider, like the size and interior capacity of the fridge, how energy efficient it is, how much noise it makes, or how well it fits within your budget. Some can even be built into your cabinets to save space. What’s good for one shopper might not be so great for the next.
With that in mind, we put together this list below of some of the best tiny house refrigerators for 2022 based on some of these different characteristics and what kind of tiny home owner they’d be great for.
Here’s our list of best tiny house refrigerators for 2022!
1. Best built-in tiny house fridge and freezer: Summit Appliance 24″ Counter Depth Bottom Freezer 11.6 cu. ft. Refrigerator
Product specifications
- Fridge Capacity: 8.2 cubic feet
- Freezer Capacity: 3.5 cubic feet
- Powered By: Electricity
- Dimensions: 74.38” x 23.63” x 27.25”
- Weight: 175 lbs.
- Warranty: 1 year limited
The Good
- Stylish stainless-steel design
- Precise and smart adjustable thermostat temperature controls
- Thin, but has a roomy interior
- Adjustable shelves
The Bad
- Might be louder than you’re used to
This bottom freezer refrigerator is designed to be built into your cabinetry — they can blend in seamlessly and have a high-end look. This one from Summit Appliance has a sleek stainless-steel design, and has plenty of useful features, including adjustable spill-proof glass shelves, large crisper drawers with humidity controls, and fridge and freezer boost controls that can cool each one down more quickly after being opened.
This model is thinner than many other kitchen fridges, too, so it’ll be easier to fit into your floor plan — you don’t need to sacrifice fridge space just because you’re working with a smaller kitchen. It’s on the pricier end of the spectrum, but if you’re ready to invest, you probably won’t regret it.
2. Best freestanding tiny house fridge and freezer: Galanz GLR10TRDEFR True Top Freezer Retro Refrigerator
Product specifications
- Fridge Capacity: 7.42 cubic feet
- Freezer Capacity: 2.42 cubic feet
- Powered By: Electricity
- Dimensions: 23.74” x 27.48” x 61.81”
- Weight: 125.7 lbs.
- Warranty: 1 year limited
The Good
- Good build quality
- Runs relatively quietly
- Fits in smaller areas, but has a spacious interior
- Available in many sizes
- Multiple Color Options
- It’s Energy star rated
The Bad
- Some buyers received a faulty fridge
If you’re looking for a well-rounded small fridge for your tiny home that has plenty of space for food, but doesn’t take up too much kitchen space, consider this choice from Galanz. It’s a freestanding fridge with swing doors and bright internal lighting, and there’s a spacious freezer on the top. It also runs pretty quietly compared to other fridges, so you won’t be kept up all night listening to a loud hum. The glass shelves are adjustable to accommodate different foods and drinks, which is helpful.
This fridge is relatively energy efficient, too, and uses a low energy consumption compressor. Bonus: it also has a fun retro design, and you can choose from four different color options, like white, blue, or a vibrant red. You can also choose from five different sizes, so it’s easy to match this fridge to your kitchen.
3. Best tiny house propane refrigerator: Unique Off-Grid White 8-cu ft Standard-Depth Propane Top-Freezer Refrigerator
Product specifications
- Fridge Capacity: 6.3 cubic feet
- Freezer Capacity: 1.7 cubic feet
- Powered By: Propane
- Dimensions: 65.5” x 23.75” x 29.25”
- Weight: 192 lbs.
- Warranty: 1 year limited
The Good
- Perfect for off-grid homes and cabins
- Reversible doors
- Roomy interior
- Smudge-resistant finish
The Bad
- Expensive compared to some other options
Many off-grid tiny homes will require some creative power solutions, and propane fridges are a great choice for anyone who can’t supply enough electrical power to their kitchen. If you’re wondering about the ignition and the interior lights, they’re powered by battery. This fridge is perfect for cabins and lake houses, too, and it has a stylish design that’ll look great in most kitchens.
This fridge is decently spacious with 8 cubic feet capacity in total, and the glass shelves inside are adjustable, so you can configure it to best suit your needs — you won’t need to struggle to fit large bottles in your fridge anymore.
4.Best undercounter mini refrigerator: Danby Entertainer 117 Cans (12 oz.) Freestanding Beverage Refrigerator
Product specifications
- Fridge Capacity: 3.1 cubic feet
- Freezer Capacity: N/A
- Powered By: Electricity
- Dimensions: 33.5” x 17.5” x 19.68”
- Weight: 72.75 lbs.
- Warranty: 1 year
The Good
- 4 adjustable shelves
- Perfect for a small kitchen
- Easy installation
- Bright blue LED lighting
- Handle-free design
- One of the most compact refrigerators on our list
The Bad
- No freezer
- Very limited space
- Has a weird humming sound
Here’s a great mini fridge to consider if you don’t have the room for (or just don’t want) a full-sized one. You can either install it as a freestanding fridge or under a counter if you’d prefer to save some space in your kitchen. It’s designed for drinks (storing up to 117 12 oz. cans!) but since the shelves are all adjustable, you can move them around to make room for your food, too.
Don’t feel limited to just installing it in your kitchen, either. The reversible doors and sleek design make it easy to install anywhere in your home, like in a living room, game room, garage, den or basement. Fresh drinks will always be cool and ready.
5. Best small fridge and freezer: Costway Refrigerator Small Freezer Cooler Fridge Compact 3.2 cu ft. Unit
Product specifications
- Fridge Capacity: 2.2 cubic feet
- Freezer Capacity: 1 cubic foot
- Powered By: Electricity
- Dimensions: 19” x 17.5” x 34”
- Weight: 52 lbs.
- Warranty: 60 days
The Good
- Small and out of the way, but still has a freezer
- Very light fridge
- Isn’t too noisy
- Affordably priced
- Sleek design
The Bad
- No separate temperature controls for fridge and freezer
For those very tight on kitchen space, here’s a space saving fridge from Costway that will fit neatly into most setups. It’ll keep all your drinks and a small amount of food cold and fresh, and there’s still a freezer for storing meat or your favorite ice cream. You’ll also find a full shelf, small shelf, and a crisper in there, so there’s lots of storage options.
Be warned, this fridge is only for those that know they have a small space. If you’re an avid cook, though, and tend to store lots of fresh food in your home, you might want to spring for one of the larger fridges listed here — if you have enough space for one.
6. Best mini fridge with the smallest capacity: Caynel Portable Mini Fridge
Product specifications
- Fridge Capacity: 4 Liters
- Freezer Capacity: N/A
- Powered By: Electricity
- Dimensions: 10” x 7” x 11”
- Weight: 4.75 lbs.
- Warranty: 1 year
The Good
- Fun and compact design
- Energy efficient
- Can warm things up, too
- Available in six cute colors
- Functions perfectly as a backyard’s fridge
The Bad
- Not large enough to use for cooking in your kitchen
This is a very small fridge, but that might be exactly what you’re looking for. It can be used for small items from cans of soda to skincare, and while it’s definitely not large enough to store foods to cook, it’s portable and great to travel with. You can also store it neatly on a countertop, to save space elsewhere, then bring it on the road stocked with snacks.
Also fun: it comes in a variety of lively colors, and you can also use it to warm your foods up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Any way that you use it, it’s energy efficient and environmentally friendly since there’s no freon used to cool things, which you might find in other portable mini fridges or air conditioners.
7. Best energy saving refrigerator: GE Appliances 28″ Energy Star Top Freezer 17.52 cu. ft. Refrigerator
Product specifications
- Fridge Capacity: 13.49 cubic feet
- Freezer Capacity: 4.03 cubic feet
- Powered By: Electricity
- Dimensions: 66.875” x 28” x 30.5”
- Weight: 165 lbs.
- Warranty: 1 year limited
The Good
- Energy efficient, and can save money in the long run
- Sleek design
- Glossy appearance that’s easy to clean
- Operates quietly
- Reversible door
The Bad
- On the pricey side
If you’re worried about power consumption and want an efficient fridge, choose an Energy Star-certified model like this one from GE Appliances. It’ll save you money and energy in the long run, without sacrificing any quality. It’s also built with temperature controls on the front, so it’s easy to change the temperature for both the fridge and freezer.
Inside the fridge, you’ll find movable racks so it’s easy to adjust based on the size of your food items, and the LED lighting has a more natural looking light, which can help you spot which fruits and vegetables need to be used up first.
8. Best tiny house refrigerator with ice maker: Whirlpool WRS571CIHZ 21 Cu. Ft. Stainless Counter Depth Side-by-Side Refrigerator
Product specifications
- Fridge Capacity: 20.6 cubic feet
- Freezer Capacity: N/A
- Powered By: Electricity
- Dimensions: 68.9” x 36” 29.8”
- Weight: 320 lbs.
The Good
- Built-in water and ice dispenser is convenient
- Lots of fridge and freezer space
- Frameless glass shelves
- Flexible storage options
The Bad
- Large and expensive
With a fridge like this Whirlpool model, you won’t need to open the fridge door to get filtered water and fresh ice. This has the most storage on this list, but also uses the most power and takes up the most room, so it’s great for tiny home owners who love to cook and are going to dedicate plenty of space to their kitchen.
Inside the unit is a smart temperature management system that senses and adapts the temperature to make the perfect environment for whatever’s in there, and most of the bins inside are adjustable so you can make all your food and packages fit properly.
We hope that you found this list of tiny house refrigerators helpful, and that you’re well on your way to planning your dream tiny home kitchen! Whether you’re looking for a dishwasher, dryer washer combo, other kitchen appliances or even a toaster oven – SuperTinyhomes is your guide to all things tiny homes!
Our Frequently Asked Questions about Tiny House Fridges
Every kitchen needs a great fridge to keep your food cold and fresh, whether its full sized or tiny. Even if you just need to store drinks and snacks, you’ll appreciate having one available. As you’ve probably noticed, there are many different fridges available, so it’s easy to find one that’ll suit your specific needs.
If you need help planning the rest of your tiny kitchen, check out our roundup of the best tiny home cooktops and ovens, and if you haven’t yet decided on a bedroom, here are some tiny house bed ideas.
Each of these are a type of cooling system that have some pros and cons, but in most cases, compressor fridges will be the way to go. They keep the inside of your fridge cool using a compressor, that’s powered by either electricity or a battery. They’re generally more efficient and can maintain lower temperatures inside, and if you’re in a mobile tiny home, they work great either flat or on an incline. They tend to be noisier than absorption fridges, though, you might need to use a solar battery since they rely on so much power.
Absorption cooling systems instead uses ammonia, gas (like propane), and heat to create the cooling action inside. You won’t need a lot of power to run them, usually just a battery for the ignition or lighting, and the system doesn’t make any sound while running. You’ll have troubles running these fridges on an incline, though, and you’ll need to keep in mind the cost of propane.
There isn’t really a hard and fast rule for deciding what tiny house refrigerator dimensions you should go with; everyone’s needs are going to be a bit different. There are, however, a few things to keep in mind.
Anyone who loves to cook is going to need plenty of space to store fresh food. You don’t want to get a fridge so large that you fill to the brim, though, only to realize later on that most of your food in the fridge went past the expiration date. Try to gauge how often you cook and how many things you tend to store to the fridge size you pick.
Also, think about the size of items you buy — if you often buy large soda bottles, for example, make sure you pick a fridge with adjustable shelves to fit them all. Or, if you like to keep lots of frozen meat on hand, make sure you pick a fridge with a roomy freezer.