Best Refrigerators of 2022

There are several things to consider when shopping for a new refrigerator, including size, design, price, and finish. The good news is that we've done much of the work for you, analyzing the best refrigerators on the market to help narrow down the search. Our ratings include French door, top-freezer, side-by-side, and counter-depth models. Once you’ve found your appliance of choice, see our guide to the Best Places to Buy a Refrigerator to decide how you want to purchase.

Our Best Refrigerators of 2022 Rating

Compare the Best Refrigerators of 2022

Best Refrigerators in Detail

LG 26.2-Cubic-Foot Smart French Door LFXS26973 Refrigerator: Our pick for the No. 1 refrigerator of 2022 is the LG LFXS26973. With a score of 4.3 out of 5, this 26.2-cubic-foot fridge isn’t the biggest on our list, but it is still relatively large and features design elements that provide plenty of room. It has bins that can fit gallon-sized containers and a drawer beneath that runs the full width of the fridge. There is a water and ice dispenser in one of the French doors, and this refrigerator also has a second ice maker in the freezer drawer.

This smart fridge has Wi-Fi connectivity that you can sync with LG’s ThinQ smartphone app which allows you to adjust refrigerator and freezer temperatures remotely and will alert you when the doors have been left open. The app also has a Diagnosis feature that can help identify issues that may require a technician.

This model, which also ties at No. 1 in our Best French Door Refrigerators of 2022 rating, comes in stainless steel or black stainless steel finishes – both fingerprint-resistant – and retails for $2,849. This price is about average among the appliances in this rating.

Read more in our LG refrigerator review.

Samsung 27.7-Cubic-Foot Four-Door RF28R7551 Refrigerator: The Samsung RF28R7551 comes in at No. 2 in our rating of the Best Refrigerators of 2022 and ties for No. 1 in our rating of the Best French Door Refrigerators of 2022. This French door refrigerator actually has four doors. There's a refrigerator section with double doors on the top, a FlexZone drawer below that, and a freezer drawer on the bottom. The FlexZone drawer is a jack of all trades with four different temperature settings and an adjustable divider. These features make it perfect for entertaining when you have varying types and amounts of food.

In addition, this Samsung refrigerator also has what the company calls a Family Hub. This consists of a 21.5-inch touch screen on which you can view a calendar or weather updates and post notes to the family. The hub also lets you see inside the refrigerator, make shopping lists, and find recipes. Both standard- and counter-depth models are available. Choices of finish include three types of fingerprint-resistant stainless steel: regular, black, and Tuscan. On the downside, the starting price is relatively high at $3,899, making this one of priciest models in our rating.

Read more in our Samsung refrigerator review.

Whirlpool 25.2-Cubic-Foot French Door WRF535SMH Refrigerator: The Whirlpool WRF535SMH ties for the No. 3 slot in our rating. With 25.2 feet of capacity, it’s about average in terms of available interior space among the refrigerators in our rating. However, it’s well below average in price.

This Whirlpool doesn’t have features like Wi-Fi connectivity, fast chill, or even an external water and ice dispenser. However, it does have a filtered water dispenser inside, humidity-controlled crisper drawers, gallon-sized door bins, and a full-width, temperature-controlled drawer that can be used to store cheeses, deli meats, or party platters. It comes in white, black, fingerprint-resistant stainless steel, and fingerprint-resistant black stainless steel finishes, with prices starting at $1,799.

Read more in our Whirlpool refrigerator review.

Café 27.8-Cubic-Foot Smart Four-Door CVE28D Refrigerator: GE Appliances’ Café brand includes this customizable, four-door French-door refrigerator. The CVE28D model is tied at No. 3 in our Best Refrigerators of 2022 rating and tied at No. 4 in our Best French Door Refrigerators of 2022 rating. At 27.8 cubic feet in capacity, it is one of the larger units in our ratings.

The four-door design includes a middle convertible drawer with movable dividers and five temperature settings from 23 to 42 degrees Fahrenheit – Soft Freeze, Meat, Beverage, Snacks, and Wine. The freezer section at the bottom has three levels and sliding shelves to accommodate larger items like pizzas.

The main section of the refrigerator is illuminated by an LED light on the entire back wall for easy visibility. Other features include a Humidity Control System in the vegetable drawer to keep leafy greens fresh longer, as well as a hands-free filtered water dispenser on the door with an Auto Fill function to avoid overfilling containers.

The fingerprint-resistant exterior of Café’s CVE28D model is customizable with three base colors offered: matte black, matte white, and stainless steel. Unlike other refrigerators in our rating, this one allows you to choose among four hardware options available in brushed tones of black, bronze, copper, and stainless steel. The least expensive combination is the stainless-steel base with brushed-stainless hardware, which costs $4,199, making it the most expensive refrigerator in our Best Refrigerators of 2022 rating. The price of other combinations varies up to $5,078.

Read more in our Café refrigerator review.

Maytag 24.7-Cubic-Foot French Door MFI2570FE Refrigerator: With a starting price of $2,299 and a capacity of 24.7 cubic feet, the Maytag MFI2570FE is about average in both cost and size compared to the other models in our rating. It comes with features that are common for most modern, mid-range refrigerators, like an in-door water and ice dispenser, humidity-controlled crisper drawers, and a full-width deli drawer. It also has a PowerCold feature which quickly cools the fridge back down to the right temperature if it rises as you’re unloading groceries.

Read more in our Maytag refrigerator review.

Samsung 17.6-Cubic-Foot Top-Freezer RT18M6215 Refrigerator: Starting at $899, the Samsung RT18M6215 is the lowest-cost refrigerator in our rating. It’s a top-freezer model, which is typically less expensive than French door models. It’s fairly small, with just under 18 cubic feet of capacity, making it the smallest refrigerator in our ratings as well.

While it doesn’t have Wi-Fi capabilities or other bells and whistles, this top-freezer model does include several features. The freezer is equipped with Samsung’s FlexZone capability, which allows you to adjust the temperature to use the space as a freezer or a refrigerator. The fridge also has adjustable shelves, a reversible door, and a full-width deli drawer. This is a good option for someone looking for a budget-friendly refrigerator to fit a small space.

Read more in our Samsung refrigerator review.

GE Appliances 27.9-Cubic-Foot Smart Four-Door PVD28BYNFS Refrigerator: The PVD28BYNFS from GE tops all the refrigerators in our ratings when it comes to space, with a total capacity of 27.9 cubic feet. This four-door French door refrigerator has a fridge on the top half, a freezer drawer on the bottom, and a middle drawer with four controls to set the best refrigerator temperature for various items like meat, snacks, and drinks. This smart refrigerator has built-in Wi-Fi that allows you to monitor temperature and interior brightness from your smart device. Additionally, this fridge features an interior LED light wall and in-door water and ice dispenser with hands-free auto-fill functionality.

The GE Appliances 27.9-Cubic-Foot Smart Four-Door PVD28BYNFS Refrigerator is one of only two models in our ratings with a door-in-door layout. The door-in-door feature is designed for convenient access to items located in the door bins by opening a smaller door within the main door of the refrigerator. The rotating door bin makes it even easier to quickly grab items through the door-in-door feature. This refrigerator costs $4,199 and lands as one of the most expensive models in our Best Refrigerators of 2022 rating.

Read more in our GE refrigerator review.

LG 26.1-Cubic-Foot Door-in-Door LSXS26366 Refrigerator: The LG LSXS26366 also has a door-in-door design feature to provide easy access to frequently used items without the need to open the whole door. This model is one of two side-by-side refrigerators in our rating, a layout that has the refrigerated section on one side and the freezer section on the other, split vertically. This layout is good if you want to have frozen foods at eye level. One drawback to the popular bottom-freezer design is that frozen items can pile up in the freezer drawer, requiring you to dig to the bottom to see everything. The freezer in a side-by-side model features shelves that run the full height of the appliance for easy organizing.

This LG side-by-side refrigerator has a storage capacity of 26.1 cubic feet, a bit more than the average 24.85 across all refrigerators in our rating. It comes in stainless steel and black stainless steel, with prices starting at $2,099, several hundred less than the average cost of $2,562 for the models we rated.

Read more in our LG refrigerator review.

Samsung 27.8-Cubic-Foot Food Showcase RF28R7351 Refrigerator: The Samsung RF28R7351 has one of the largest capacities among the refrigerators we rated, with a total capacity of 27.8 cubic feet across the refrigerator, freezer, and middle drawer. It’s also available as a counter-depth model for an additional $100.

This four-door French door fridge has Wi-Fi connectivity and Samsung’s virtual assistant, Bixby. This enables you to use a smartphone app to remotely monitor the refrigerator, adjust the temperature, and make shopping lists. The Samsung 27.8-Cubic-Foot Food Showcase Refrigerator is one of the few models in our rating that is Americans With Disabilities Act compliant, with easy-to-reach controls.

It also features a door-in-door element that Samsung calls the Food Showcase Door. This allows you to open the outer portion of the door to access items in the drawer bins. Prices start at $3,399.

Read more in our Samsung refrigerator review.

Insignia 18.1-Cubic-Foot Top-Freezer NS–RTM18 Refrigerator: With a price tag of about $600, the Insignia NS–RTM18 has the lowest price in our rating. With 18 cubic feet of capacity, it’s a small and simple model that may be perfect for small apartments, guest houses, or as a second fridge in a garage or basement.

It features standard crisper drawers, and its shelves and door bins are adjustable, which is not the case for all refrigerators. This top-freezer model does not automatically come with an ice maker, though one can be purchased separately.

Read more in our Insignia refrigerator review.

GE Profile 27.7-Cubic-Foot French Door PFE28K Refrigerator: The GE PFE28K, which features three doors, is on the more expensive side compared to other refrigerators in our rating, with prices starting at $3,299. However, some of its perks include a large capacity of 27.7 cubic feet, a Turbo Cool setting that quickly adjusts the refrigerator’s temperature, and an in-door ice and water dispenser with auto-fill.

In addition to these features, it has a temperature-controlled drawer that spans the entire width of the refrigerator. It also allows for customizable storage with adjustable door bins and shelves. It comes with the option of fingerprint-resistant stainless steel finishes.

In addition to fridges, GE also makes other appliances for the home. Notably, one of its washers makes our Best Washing Machines of 2022 list.

Read more in our GE refrigerator review.

Whirlpool 21.4-Cubic-Foot Side-by-Side WRS321SDH Refrigerator: The WRS321SDH from Whirlpool – which also makes washers and dryers – is one of the smaller models in our ratings, measuring slightly less than 33 inches wide and roughly 33.6 inches deep. With a capacity of 21.4 cubic feet, it doesn’t offer as much storage space as some of the other models in our rating. It’s one of the lower-priced options in our rating, with prices starting at $1,399.

The refrigerator section of this side-by-side model is wider than the freezer part. The refrigerator door features a built-in caddy for storing cans or bottles in order to free up shelf space. The exterior of the fridge has a water and ice dispenser in the door, along with a smudge-proof finish.

Read more in our Whirlpool refrigerators review.

Best Counter-Depth Refrigerators of 2022

Counter-depth refrigerators are those designed to be more in line with the depth of standard counters, allowing for clean lines and a smooth look to the kitchen. However, the shallower depth means that there’s less overall space in the refrigerator. Despite this, counter-depth fridges usually cost more than standard-depth ones.

None of the models in our rating of the Best Refrigerators of 2022 are specifically counter-depth models. However, two top-rated models, the Samsung RF28R7551 and Samsung RF28R7351 are both available in counter-depth versions for an additional fee. Learn more about counter-depth refrigerators in our guide to the Best Counter-Depth Refrigerators of 2022.

Best French Door Refrigerators of 2022

The double-door design of French door refrigerators allows for the refrigerator space to span the width of the appliance, unlike side-by-side models, and keep refrigerated goods at eye level, unlike top-freezer models. French door models often have split shelving, allowing for various configurations so you can make the most of your space. Most of the models in our Best Refrigerators of 2022 rating are French door models. You can learn more about them in our full rating of the Best French Door Refrigerators of 2022.

Best Side-by-Side Refrigerators of 2022

While French door models might be the most popular among new buyers, side-by-side models may be the best choice for you. These models feature a refrigerated section and a freezer section that both run the full height of the appliance. This limits your ability to store wide items, such as large pizza boxes or party platters, but it also means you can keep both refrigerated and frozen foods at eye level.

Bottom-freezer models often utilize a freezer drawer, which can be difficult to organize. For more, see our rating of the Best Side-by-Side Refrigerators of 2022.

How to Find the Right Refrigerator for You

Your refrigerator does more than just keep perishable food cold. Some models make ice, filter water, and dispense both. Some newer models even have screens where you can post notes, create shopping lists, and show you the contents. When looking at available features, consider that a refrigerator should function around your life, providing space to store prepared ingredients for meals, party platters for entertaining, or snacks for kids. "Appliances should reflect the way the homeowner lives and entertains," advises the National Kitchen & Bath Association.

Kitchens in particular can function as the social center of a home, where families cook together or friends gather for dinner parties or happy hours. And the refrigerator is front and center. Because of this, you’ll want to consider appearance in addition to features and size. You’ll also, of course, want to keep cost in mind. Here, we’ll go into more details about things to consider when looking for a new refrigerator.

Refrigerator space: The most important function of a refrigerator is its ability to store food, so capacity is obviously a primary consideration. In fact, many retailers list capacity right in the name of the refrigerator model. Still, it can be difficult to picture just what 26.4 cubic feet looks like. One way to visualize the space is to consider that one grocery bag takes up about 1 cubic foot of space. Among the refrigerators in our rating, total capacity ranges from 17.5 to 27.8 cubic feet.

You’ll also want to think about the layout of the refrigerator and what storage options it has. If you want to store tall containers, you might want to look for refrigerators with adjustable shelves. If you have kids, you might want a deli drawer or bottom bins to store snacks in an easy-to-reach spot.

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 about 7.6 cubic feet, ranging from about 4.1 to 9.2 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: While white appliances were previously the norm, stainless steel is becoming a more common finish choice. Most fridges now are available in stainless steel, with white still being a common option as well. Black-, gray-, and rose-tinted stainless steel models are gaining in popularity, though they aren’t as widely available. When shopping for a new fridge, think about the style of your kitchen and whether or not you want it to match your current 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. Additionally, refrigerators may be covered under some home warranty plans.

Retailers: For a big-ticket item like a refrigerator, you may want to see your options in person before you commit. However, browsing a single store won’t present you with all the options available on the market. Online comparison shopping can give you a sense of your choices for design, features, colors, and price. To combine these methods, you can do your research online and then find a store that carries the products you want to compare. The websites of major retailers usually feature a store locator so you can find a convenient location.

To help you in your buying process, we’ve examined the Best Places to Buy a Refrigerator. Read our guide to learn more.

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. Both models in our rating of the Best Counter-Depth Refrigerators measure 31 inches deep, compared to the 36-inch depth of the same models in standard depth.

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 27.7-Cubic-Foot Four-Door French Door Refrigerator retails for $3,899, while the counter-depth model costs $3,399. 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 2022.

French Door Refrigerators

A French door refrigerator might appeal to those who require a lot of room to store groceries. With this style, the double-door refrigerated section sits on top of the freezer, which you can access via a pull-out drawer. This gives the refrigerator more width, whereas a side-by-side model positions two narrower refrigerator and freezer sections next to each other. The refrigerator with the highest capacity in our rating, the 27.9-cubic-foot GE Appliances Smart Door-in-Door PVD28BYNFS, features a French door style.

French door refrigerators tend to not take up as much space when opened, which could make them a good fit for those with smaller kitchens. However, shoppers on a budget might want to consider other styles. An average French door refrigerator from our rating costs almost $1,400 more than the average price of a side-by-side alternative.

Though the French door style places items in the refrigerator section at eye level, the placement of the freezer section at the bottom may make it less easily accessible. As a result, it may be harder for some to organize and sort through their frozen items.

Side-by-Side Refrigerators

If you’re someone who tends to forget what you have in the freezer, a side-by-side refrigerator might be the right option for you. This style allows you to put both fresh and frozen foods at eye-level since both the refrigerator and freezer sections are next to each, split vertically. This also means you don’t always have to stoop to see what’s in one section, as you would with other models that divide the appliance horizontally.

The design of these types of fridges doesn't allow for as much wide space as other models, so it’s not the best option if you want to store large platters, cakes, or whole pizzas. However, some people may find the many shelves helpful for organization. The shallow doors of a side-by-side fridge make them good for tight kitchen spaces since they don’t take up as much room when open.

For more information, see our rating of the Best Side-by-Side Refrigerators of 2022.

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.

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 cost of a refrigerator in our rating is about $2,450. Prices range from about $600 to almost $3,900.

When a refrigerator comes with a lot of extra features, this will likely increase the price. For example, some of the more expensive models in our ratings include Wi-Fi capabilities, touch screens, in-door water and ice dispensers, and other additions that you might not find with a lower-priced refrigerator.

The price of the refrigerator may also depend on its style. French door refrigerators are some of the most expensive in our rating, costing about $3,080 on average. For comparison, an average side-by-side refrigerator costs about $1,700. The two least expensive refrigerators in our rating are top-freezer models.

If a refrigerator is available in multiple finishes, then a stainless steel finish may be cheaper than other colors offered.

A new refrigerator can be a significant contributor to the overall cost of renovating your kitchen. "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.

Best Refrigerators Coupons and Discount Codes

To save on top-rated refrigerators, view LG coupon codes, Samsung promo codes, and Maytag promo codes.

Learn More With Our Refrigerator Guides

Reviewed Refrigerators

Other Ratings From 360 Reviews

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 12 brands and 45 refrigerator models that stood out in terms of volume of searches and consumer data. After this analysis, we narrowed the list down to the 12 best refrigerators of 2022.

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, smart features, 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.