We conducted hours of research on the best kegerators, evaluating each model on performance, capacity, and portability. Our best overall pick is the EdgeStar KC1500SS 15" Built-In Stainless Steel Kegerator because it is packed with features like interior LED lighting, a digital display, and it has a slim profile so it can squeeze in a variety of areas. Ahead, find the best kegerators to keep cold beer or soft drinks on tap. This kegerator does have a small capacity given its high cost, but it works with a variety of kegs including a slim quarter keg, sixth barrel keg, or Cornelius keg. If you want something that looks and performs great but doesn’t need a lot of space, this is the best choice. You’ll just have to keep some extra kegs on hand in another fridge if you’re looking to host a large party. This model doesn’t take specialty CO2 cartridges, so you can find replacements easily. The Pressurized Growler Tap System only works with growlers and isn’t compatible with any larger kegs. You also need to provide your own CO2 canister in order to start using it. This unit has two taps, a reinforced steel floor, and a digital thermostat display inside and outside the kegerator itself. It is expensive, so this is best for someone looking to invest in building an outdoor bar for a pool or outdoor patio area. You will need to have a lot of ice on hand for this portable kegerator to work. The CO2 keeps the line pressurized and the beer flowing, but ice is required to make sure it is cold. “This is slightly counterintuitive, but gas (like CO2) dissolves into liquid more easily when that liquid is cold, so keeping your beer cold is of paramount importance, and having a thermometer will help guide you,” says Seitz. He adds that setting the pressure between 5-10 PSI is usually a best practice. In general, the longer and more narrow the tubing is between the keg and faucet, the less foaming you’ll have. You also want to check that your beer stays cold as it moves through the tubing. “You want to make sure cooling from the refrigeration basically “hits” the tubing all the way to the faucet if possible. Inevitably in the life of a kegerator/refrigerator, the cooling mechanism will become dirty and dusty, and reduce the cooling effectiveness. If you are handy and can get to the cooling coils, you can lightly dust off the coils with a soft painter’s brush,” he adds.
Number of Taps
Most kegerators can have between one and three taps, with the dual and triple options often costing quite a bit more. This means that you can have multiple types of beer or other beverages available at once, depending on the size and capacity of your kegerator. Single tap kegerators are generally easier to find and more affordable.
Compatible Keg Size
Before choosing a kegerator, make sure that it works with the size of the keg you intend to buy. Some specific brands, such as Heineken, have specific keg sizes that may not work with all kegerators. Keg size indicates both the base and height of the keg, not just the capacity. “Even our highest-consuming customers always ordered beer in 5.1-gallon keg sizes (also called a “sixtel” because it is one-sixth of a barrel (common unit of volume measurement in the brewing world),” says Seitz. “The reason why these super-fans always order in 5.1-gallon keg sizes is because they know that fresh beer (especially hoppy beer) always tastes better fresh than old stale beer that has been sitting in a keg for too long.” He adds that ideally, you want to be turning over a keg once a month, so pick the smallest container size you feel comfortable with, turn your kegs over often, and support your local brewery when you can.
Installation Type
Free-standing kegerators are easy and portable but often require some clearance to properly ventilate and keep your beer cold. Built-in kegerators have front ventilation but can’t be moved. For the best of both, look for a front ventilated kegerator with caster wheels, should you want to move it later.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was researched and written by Katie Begley, a freelance writer specializing in home and family products. Katie has been writing for The Spruce since 2019. She spent hours testing, researching, and compiling data on kegerators for this roundup. She considered each model’s ventilation, refrigeration system, and portable design. For this article, she also included reviewer feedback, personal experience, and expert insights, including those of veteran bartender and North Carolina bar manager Brent Michaelwoods. Additional insight was provided by Michael Seitz, co-founder of Barebottle Brewing Co.
