Refrigerator Buying Guide – Which Refrigerator is Right for Your Home?

Some appliances you can live without, but a refrigerator isn't one of them. Every household has one (unless you happen to own a root cellar), but if you're building a new home or need to replace your old fridge, it's time to go refrigerator shopping. Today's refrigerators come with a huge variety of options, so buying one isn't as simple as you might think. That's why we created this guide—to help you find the best refrigerator for your household!

How to choose a good refrigerator

A good refrigerator for you might be completely different for someone else. Choose a refrigerator based on your household's needs so you don't pay for features you won't use.

• First, measure how much space you have for a refrigerator or fridge-freezer combination, and decide which side you want the doors to open.
• Available space also determines the type of appliance – options range from small refrigerators with a freezer compartment to large side-by-side models.
• Smaller appliances are usually enough for 1–2 people, but if you cook a lot at home, buy in bulk, or prepare large batches at once, it's worth investing in a larger appliance even for a smaller household – if you have the kitchen space.
• You can filter our refrigerator selection by size, built-in compatibility, energy class, and noise level.
• If you're not looking for a budget solution and want to keep food fresh as long as possible, pay attention to the refrigerator's air circulation technology and different storage solutions.
• Choose a WiFi-enabled refrigerator if you want smart features that make daily life easier and save electricity.

Should you choose a separate fridge and freezer or a fridge-freezer? What about side-by-side?

The type of refrigerator, freezer, or combination you choose depends primarily on available space, but also on your needs. If you cook a lot, shop infrequently, and prepare large batches of food at once, you'll need more space. Extra freezer space is especially useful if you forage for mushrooms and berries or hunt. On the other hand, if you rarely cook at home and don't need much fridge and freezer space, there's no point paying for the electricity a larger appliance consumes.

Different refrigerator options from smallest to largest are: compact refrigerator (also available with a freezer compartment), mini fridge, fridge-freezer, side-by-side, and separate refrigerator and freezer.