“Garage refrigerators are a great option for adding additional food storage to your home—perfect for those with large families or those who like to buy in bulk,” says Rex Freiberger, CEO of Gadget Review. But you can’t stick just any appliance in a garage. A standard fridge works in a climate-controlled space where temperatures never dip below 50 degrees or rise into sweltering, triple digits. Garages, as we all know, can easily reach extreme temperatures, especially as the seasons change. That’s why it’s smart to pick a model that is not as sensitive to outside temperature fluctuations. “Trying to use a standard refrigerator in your garage will often result in much higher energy bills and, eventually, temperature fluctuation-related repairs," Freiberger explains. To help you find an appliance you can reliably use in the garage, we spoke to an appliance expert and scouted fridge manufacturers that are “garage-ready.” We took a deep dive on fridge features, such as slide-out shelves, door pockets, and hidden coils, to put together a list of the most reliable models. Here is a definitive list of the best garage refrigerators you can buy. The exterior design is a step up from other garage-friendly models, too. While the curved front may take up a little bit of extra space, it’s a nice touch—especially in glossy white. The fridge also has hidden coils, so you can tuck the machine just about anywhere and not have to look at condensers. This is also important for the longevity of the appliance, because it helps prevent dust from accumulating, which can be a maintenance headache especially for a garage fridge. Price at time of publish: $948 At a total of 21.9 cubic feet, the machine has more space than most. Inside, you’ll find adjustable glass shelves and door pockets for storing trays and taller, skinnier bottles. The shelf on the top freezer is adjustable, so you can accommodate bigger boxes of frozen items. Though a decent size, the freezer is relatively basic. It doesn’t have an ice maker or a light, so it may be hard to see contents while poking around at night. At the same time, having fewer bells and whistles means there will be fewer issues to fix later on down the line. Price at time of publish: $1,199 Inside, you’ll find a large refrigerator with 15.2 cubic feet for chilling and a freezer with 5.2 cubic feet for freezing and preserving. There’s plenty of dedicated space to keep things organized—the fridge has crispers, a deli drawer, and a dairy compartment, as well as gallon door bins. The freezer has plenty of space, too. You’ll find two full-width freezer door racks and a one half-width shelf inside. If there’s any downside to the space inside, it’s that the gallon door bins aren’t adjustable, so you’ll have to work with what’s already there. Price at time of publish: $1,029 Another nice perk: This fridge has an optional ice maker, so you can pop it in and out as needed. Put it in when you need ice, or take it out if you’d rather have the space. Samsung’s ice makers are known to be problematic, though, so don’t let this be the one and only selling point for you. This fridge is much more attractive than most garage options, too. It has a slim profile and comes in a sleek stainless steel finish. When opened, the fridge has a bright LED light that lights the whole thing up, so you can see what’s inside during the day and at night. Price at time of publish: $850 As any garage appliance should be, this one is incredibly heavy-duty. It can operate in extreme temperatures and sits on durable casters, so even if it’s full, you can move it around as needed. The machine also has a tread pedal, so you can open it even with your hands full—perfect when you’re toting a lot of items in and out of the garage. Price at time of publish: $1,800 The small refrigerator is also energy-efficient, using only about 226 kWh of electricity per year—significantly less compared to other models of its size on the market. Of course, there are some drawbacks, namely, that it manually defrosts and its shelving isn’t adjustable. This may present an issue for bulkier items, but it is perfectly suitable for small containers of fruit or leftovers. Price at time of publish: $248 When selecting the right size for you, first consider your space. How much room do you have to devote to the appliance? Fridges with roomier capacities typically have a larger overall footprint and are a bit bulkier. About 20 cubic feet is standard, but there are smaller and larger options, too. If you need lots of fridge space, but a freezer isn’t as important, you may even consider a model without a freezer to maximize cubic feet where you need it most.
Freezer Location and Organization Options
Temperatures in a garage often fluctuate greatly based on the weather. It’s imperative that you choose a garage-ready option, which means the appliance is meant to operate even under extreme temperatures. That’s why we chose Kenmore Top-Freezer Refrigerator as our top pick. The fridge is certified by Energy Star and has energy efficient lighting that meets EPA standards and can be placed in a garage that get as cold as 39 degrees—with no additional adaptors. The fridge even has hidden coils, so you can tuck the machine just about anywhere and not have to look at condensers. That is important for the longevity of the appliance, because it helps prevent dust from accumulating. The number of available refrigerators diminishes greatly when you need this key feature, so once you narrow down your options, then start looking for the most functional of the bunch. Are you planning to store all kinds of things—drinks, veggies, meat, and more? You’ll want to look for fully adjustable options. Many do have adjustable shelves, but some lack options, particularly on the door.
Ice Maker
In a second fridge, an ice maker may or may not be an important feature to you. It’s worth noting: Most garage-ready refrigerators are relatively basic and don’t come with ice makers. Others have compatible ice makers that are sold separately. A very select few have them built in.
Standout Features
Reversible Door: A reversible door can make your fridge more flexible to install in your space. And if you have a small garage, it can make or break your ability to have a fridge there, since it makes the appliance much more accessible in a tight space—install it with the door open to the left or right, whatever works best. It’s an easy process. You just have to switch the hinges by attaching them with screws—the holes are typically pre-existing. Interior Light: An interior light makes it easier to see what’s inside of the appliance. It’s not a total necessity, but it’s definitely helpful, especially in a dimly-lit garage at night. Some have a single bulb, while others have a brighter LED strip. And don’t forget to check the freezer. Some models have a light in the fridge but not the freezer. Energy-Star Certified: When you’re running multiple refrigerators, you may notice an uptick in your energy bill—especially if the machine is working harder to maintain itself in extreme weather. Look for a model that’s Energy Star-certified to ensure that you’re operating the most efficient appliances.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Brigitt Earley, a freelance writer with nearly 15 years of experience writing about consumer products like home appliances. To curate this list, Brigitt scoured the most popular retailers to find garage-ready refrigerators. Then, she researched each one, reading all of the specs and hundreds of reviews. Brigitt also interviewed experts like Rex Freiberger, CEO of Gadget Review, to find out what is most important when shopping for a garage fridge. She further analyzed each product being considered to ensure the final list contained only the most reliable, quality options on the market today.
