How to choose the best refrigerator for you: what to check before you buy

Why the adverts and the shop are not enough

Refrigerator adverts show the best result a fridge can reach. The detailed specifications often say something different. For example:

• The capacity figure (in litres or cubic feet) includes space taken by shelves and drawers, so the usable space can be smaller.
• A fridge that fits the gap may need extra space around it for air, or for the doors to open fully.
• Some fridges are only designed to work in a room within a certain temperature range, which matters in a hot kitchen, a garage or an unheated room.

So check the same things for every fridge, using the maker's own specifications and installation guide, and check the exact model number you would buy.

Before you look at any fridge

Write down your answers to these four points. They decide which checks in the list matter most to you.

• Your space. The width, depth and height available, the doorways on the way in, and which side the door should open.
• The room. How hot or cold it gets during the year, and whether there are power cuts where you live.
• How you shop and cook. How many people, how often you shop, how much frozen food you keep, and large items such as trays or bottles.
• Your budget, including running costs. The price of electricity where you live matters, because a fridge runs all the time.

The checklist

The checks are in three groups. Must have means a problem here can make it hard to use or costly to fix. Nice to have means it makes a real difference for many people. Optional means it only matters to some people. When you open the checklist in NeutralPick, you can move any check to a different group to match your answers above.

• Must have
• Fits your space, including room for air and doorsWhat are its exact dimensions, how much space does it need around it for air, and will the doors open fully where it stands?The installation guide lists the gaps needed. Without them, a fridge can use more energy and wear out sooner.
• Enough usable space for what you buyWhat are the fridge and freezer capacities (in litres or cubic feet), and do the shelves and drawers suit the food and bottles I buy?Makers rarely list usable space, and shelves, drawers and ice makers take some of it. Look at photos of the inside, or see one in a shop.
• Energy use you can affordHow much energy does it use per year in kilowatt-hours (kWh), according to its energy label or the maker's specifications?A fridge runs all day for many years. Multiply the yearly kWh by your electricity price. Compare figures from the same country's label; tests differ.
• Works in the room where it will standWhat room temperature range is it designed for, and does it suit my kitchen, or a garage or other room if it will go there?Often shown as a climate class (SN, N, ST or T) or a temperature range in the manual. Too hot and food may not stay cold; too cold and the freezer may thaw.
• A warranty that applies where you liveHow long is the warranty in my country, does it cover the compressor and labour, and how quickly does a repair person come?The compressor (the motor that does the cooling) is the costliest part. Some makers cover it longer, often for parts only. Your country's consumer law may give you more.
• Nice to have
• Quiet enough for your homeHow loud is it, in decibels (dB), according to the maker or an independent test?Matters in open-plan homes and small flats. A lower number is quieter.
• Defrosting you are happy withDoes the freezer defrost itself (frost-free), or does it need defrosting by hand, and how often?Defrosting by hand takes time. Frost-free models can use a little more energy.
• Keeps food at a steady temperatureHow steady is the temperature in independent tests, and how long does the freezer stay cold in a power cut?Steady temperatures keep food fresh longer. Some specifications list how many hours the freezer stays frozen in a power cut (in the EU: 'temperature rise time').
• Spare parts and repairs for yearsFor how many years will spare parts such as door seals, shelves and the thermostat be available, and can independent repair people get them?Door seals and shelves wear or break. Being able to replace them keeps a fridge working for longer.
• Doors that suit your kitchenCan the door hinges be moved to the other side, and is the handle placed so I can open it easily?If the door opens the wrong way for your kitchen, it gets in the way every day.
• Optional
• Water and ice dispenser, if you want oneIf it has a water or ice dispenser, does it need a water pipe connected, and how often must the filter be replaced?Dispensers take up space inside and add running costs for filters. Some need a plumbed-in water pipe.
• Works without the appDoes every setting work from the fridge itself, without the app or an account?Some settings are only in an app. Check what still works without it.

Claims to look at carefully

Adverts and product pages often describe the points below in vague terms. When you see one, look for the specific information shown here. If you cannot find it, assume the answer is "no" or "only partly".

• A large capacity figure. Look for the usable fridge and freezer space, and photos of the inside.
• "Energy-efficient". Look for the yearly energy use in kWh, on the label used where you live.
• "Keeps food fresh for longer". Look for independent tests of temperature stability.
• The price. Add delivery, removal of your old fridge, water filters if it has a dispenser, and the cost of the electricity it will use over the years.

What to do with what you found

1. Put all the fridges side by side.
2. Look at the Must have checks first. If a fridge gets a No on one of your must-haves, remove it, however good the rest looks. Look closely at any Partial.
3. If two fridges are close, read reviews from owners who have used them for a year or more, especially about noise and reliability.
4. Before you buy, measure your space and doorways again, and check the shop's delivery and return terms.

Why use NeutralPick to compare refrigerators

• The same checks for every fridge. You fill in the same checklist for each fridge you are considering, so you compare them in the same way.
• Everything in one table. You see every fridge side by side, check by check, instead of switching between shop pages and notes.
• Nobody can pay to influence it. There are no adverts, no paid placements and no "featured" products. No maker or shop can pay to be shown to you or placed higher.
• Free, with no account. You don't need to sign up or pay anything.

Start with this checklist See an example comparison