We’ve spent hours researching models from top appliance brands, evaluating their quality, features, energy efficiency, and overall value. Our best overall pick, the Whirlpool WRB322DMBM Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator, has a 6.45-cubic-foot freezer (which is plenty of storage for a family of four), LED interior lighting, and a temperature system that cools food quickly. Here are the best bottom-freezer refrigerators. What do buyers say? 10,000+ Home Depot reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above. The Whirlpool WRB322DMBM tops our list of the best bottom-freezer refrigerators, because it offers plenty of capacity with user-friendly features, like two tiers of storage in the freezer basket, a factory-installed ice maker, and adjustable shelves in the refrigerator compartment. This popular kitchen appliance has 22.07 cubic feet of total capacity, making it roomy enough for storing all of your weekly groceries. The 15.6-cubic-foot refrigerator compartment is at eye level and has five shelves. And if you’ve ever struggling to fit a tall bottle on the shelf, it’s worth noting that four of those shelves are half-width ones that can be adjusted anywhere on the rail system lining the back of the refrigerator. This gives you the flexibility to organize your refrigerator contents. The bottom freezer compartment has 6.5 cubic feet of space, which is more spacious than what you’ll find on some other models. It’s well-organized, too—thanks to the two-tier design that uses a basket to keep smaller items contained and within reach. In the freezer compartment, you’ll also find a factory-installed ice maker. Most bottom-freezer refrigerators lack a through-the-door ice and water dispenser, and that’s true of this model too, but at least you can have ice cubes ready for use in your beverages or cooler. Price at time of publish: $1,799 The refrigerator compartment claims 13.1 cubic feet of the total capacity and the bottom freezer takes up the remaining 5.6 cubic feet of space. Organizational features include gallon storage on the refrigerator door, three spill-proof refrigerator shelves (including two that are adjustable), and dual humidity-controlled crisper drawers for produce. Take note that there is no deli drawer for storing meats, cheeses, or other snacks. The freezer compartment has two tiers of storage to keep smaller and larger frozen items separate and accessible, though. Available in a sleek stainless steel finish, this model will blend in with other modern kitchen appliances. However, unfortunately, it’s not a fingerprint-resistant stainless steel finish, so be prepared to wipe the exterior of the fridge on a regular basis to erase smudges and handprints. As mentioned, this is an energy-efficient model, boasting an Energy Star certification and a CEE Tier I rating. Price at time of publish: $999 The LG LRDCS2603S doesn’t have just sheer size on its side. It also uses innovative technology to keep your refrigerator running efficiently. For example, this model uses LG’s Smart Cooling technology to monitor refrigerator temperatures and adjust compressor operation to maintain target temperatures. It also has vents that direct cold air to the door of the refrigerator, keeping condiments, dairy, and beverages stored in the door bins chilled and ready for serving. It’s available in two sleek finishes that are resistant to fingerprints and smudges: stainless steel and black stainless steel. A hidden digital control panel makes it easy to adjust the temperature settings of the fridge or freezer, but you can also do so using the LG ThinQ app on your smartphone. This is one of the only bottom-freezer refrigerators we recommend that also has smart technology built in, further enhancing its appeal. Price at time of publish: $1,800 SMEG, an Italian appliance maker, constructs this compact refrigerator of steel, but it’s finished in an array of eye-catching colors, like blue, green, orange, red, and pink, plus classic colors like cream, black, and white. Use the retro-styled chrome handles to open the fridge and freezer compartments. The 8.26-cubic-foot refrigerator stores fresh foods on two adjustable glass shelves and also offers a LifePlus 32-degree Fahrenheit cooler drawer for storing cheese, meat, fish, or other fresh foods. This drawer has its own temperature control, which can be set between 28 and 37 degrees. Inside of the 3.43-cubic-foot freezer are three drawers for storing your frozen goods, but take note that the small capacity means you’ll only have room for the essentials—and likely no space for large, bulky items like a turkey or frozen pizza boxes. Keep in mind that, while it does have compact dimensions, it’s not a counter-depth model. While it’s true that this refrigerator is smaller than other bottom-freezer refrigerators, it’s a popular choice for its retro design and will make a real statement in your kitchen. Price at time of publish: $4,000 This counter-depth refrigerator has 17.7 cubic feet of total storage, including a 4.7-cubic-foot bottom-freezer compartment. The freezer is smaller than some other models of bottom-freezer fridges, but it stands out for its use of sliding drawers to divide your frozen favorites. The bottom drawer is the deepest and will accommodate frozen turkeys or whole chickens. A medium and small drawer complete the freezer setup and hold frozen meals, bags of veggies, or treats like ice cream and popsicles. The 13 cubic feet of fridge space isn’t short on organization, either. The best part is the full-width storage drawer that can be adjusted to three preset temperatures, optimized for the storage of snacks, beverages, or meats. Other notable features of this counter-depth, bottom-freezer refrigerator include enhanced air circulation for more efficient operation and a fast cooling function for the fridge and freezer. Select the Turbo Cool option from the digital control panel, and the refrigerator will direct cold air to more quickly drop the internal temperature and preserve food. In summary, this counter-depth refrigerator is compact, but well-equipped for storing fresh and frozen foods. Price at time of publish: $1,800 This narrow fridge with a bottom freezer provides 11.9 cubic feet of space for your groceries. It’s a good match for households with one or two people, but might be too small for large families. Some surprising features that make the most of the 7.71 cubic feet of space in the refrigerator include a bottle rack that holds up to five wine bottles, but folds out of the way when not in use. There’s only one full-width produce crisper drawer, but this leaves space for another full-width drawer with adjustable temperature settings for deli items, beverages, or meats. The freezer compartment has 4.19 cubic feet of storage room. Unlike some other compact, bottom-freezer refrigerators that have three drawers to keep all your frozen goods contained, this model has a pull-out drawer with a smaller basket on top. This design gives you more room for larger, bulkier frozen items in the bottom of the freezer drawer. The top basket is good for keeping smaller items organized, but if you add the optional ice maker, you’ll lose out on some storage space in the basket. Price at time of publish: $1,914 When shopping for a bottom-freezer refrigerator with a dispenser, look for an option that is easy to use. Some models have a water dispenser inside the fridge compartment, which keeps the exterior of the appliance streamlined, but requires you to open the door to the refrigerator every time you want to fill a glass with water. Most people prefer the one-handed convenience of a through-the-door dispenser, like you’ll find on the Whirlpool French Door Refrigerator. Equipped with a dual ice maker, this model has an in-door ice maker to fill your glass with small cubed or crushed ice, and a second ice maker in the freezer compartment to create additional ice for coolers, ice chests, or entertaining. The 7.77-cubic-foot bottom freezer of this refrigerator gives you plenty of space for storing all of your frozen favorites with two tiers of storage, too. There is even a special slot for storing pizza boxes upright, rather than resorting to stacking them underneath all your other freezer foods. Moving up to the refrigerator compartment, you’ll find 19 cubic feet of space and five glass shelves, plus two produce drawers. Unique storage features include a slide-out shelf for platters or casseroles, a full-width deli drawer, and a drawer for storing beverage cans. While this refrigerator costs more than many other bottom-freezer refrigerators, it also has more capacity than most of these models. When you combine the capacity, organization features, and convenience of a through-the-door ice and water dispenser, there’s a lot to appreciate about this appliance. Price at time of publish: $3,299 This bottom-freezer refrigerator offers 21 cubic feet of total interior space, making it more than equipped for an average family’s weekly groceries. The bottom freezer compartment is 6.04 cubic feet, leaving 14.93 cubic feet for storage of fresh foods. In the refrigerator, adjustable glass shelves and a sliding snack drawer give you the flexibility to arrange the space in a way that works for your shopping habits. The freezer drawer offers two tiers of storage, with an upper and lower basket. Price at time of publish: $1,798 This refrigerator also utilizes sliding shelves and drawers to maximize its 11.3 cubic feet of capacity. The freezer compartment is on the small side, measuring just 3.8 cubic feet. However, you can organize all of your frozen goods using three drawers that fully extend out, accommodating pizza boxes, meats, ice cream cartons, and more. The 7.5-cubic-foot refrigerator has edge-to-edge glass shelves for more room for fresh foods, plus a sliding shelf that gives you easier access to smaller items at the back of the refrigerator. The appliance lacks an ice maker or water dispenser. However, it’s Energy Star certified and operates efficiently with the help of a series of air vents dispersed throughout the refrigerator and freezer compartment. Price at time of publish: $1,043 Most bottom-freezer refrigerators have a capacity between 11 and 26 cubic feet. Compact models for apartments or condos will have reduced dimensions and capacities to fit into tight spaces. This usually means sacrificing space in the fridge and freezer compartments. Take note that some of the smallest bottom-freezer refrigerators use drawers to organize frozen foods as well, rather than the pull-out freezer basket you’ll find on full-sized models. Full-sized bottom-freezer refrigerators usually have between 17 and 27 cubic feet of storage space. Our “best overall” pick, the Whirlpool WRB322DMBM, falls right in the middle of this range at 22 cubic feet. Full-sized options are available in both counter-depth and standard-depth dimensions, so you can find a model that works with your kitchen layout. You might opt for a counter-depth option, like the GE GBE17HYRFS, so your appliance doesn’t impede on a walkway in your home and is flush with your countertops.
Energy Efficiency
Buying an energy-efficient, bottom-freezer refrigerator helps reduce operational expenses. Look for models that are noted as Energy Star-certified if energy efficiency is important to you—like our “best budget” pick, the Midea MRB19B7AST. Often, these models cost as little as $60 a year to operate. In addition, CEE is another common energy rating. Usually, a CEE Tier 1 rating is on par with Energy Star certification. By shopping for bottom-freezer refrigerators with one or both energy certifications, your appliance is more eco-friendly and budget-friendly. Keep in mind that most models (even those that aren’t Energy Star-certified) have an available estimate of energy usage on their product listing, so you can compare the operating costs between them.
Dispenser and Ice Maker
Most bottom-freezer refrigerators don’t include an ice and water dispenser, unless you opt for a French door refrigerator, like the Whirlpool WRF767SDHZ. However, a factory-installed ice maker is a more common option on bottom-freezer refrigerators. This ice maker is usually located in the freezer compartment and deposits ice into a bin, where it can be retrieved for drinks, coolers, ice chests, or any other use. When deciding if you want a bottom-freezer refrigerator with an ice maker, keep in mind that it will take up some space in the freezer section of the appliance. If maximizing frozen food storage is important to you, you may want to skip the convenience of a factory-installed ice maker.
Storage Features
While the basic function of a bottom-freezer refrigerator is the same across all models, you can shop for additional features that make the appliance more convenient or accessible. For example, some bottom-freezer refrigerators are equipped with special storage compartments to make the most of available space. For example, the Whirlpool WRF767SDHZ has a designated slot for storing pizza boxes that won’t cause them to be buried underneath other frozen items. Other bottom-freezer refrigerators use two tiers of storage to keep larger and smaller items separated in the freezer compartment. This can make it easier to find what you need without unloading the entire freezer drawer.
Standout Features
Easy-open Freezer Handle
It can be challenging to open the freezer portion of a bottom freezer refrigerator due to the weight of both the materials and your frozen food. Models with an easy-open freezer handle allow you to gently lift the handle, before easily sliding out the entire compartment. This feature is convenient for larger households with high-capacity models, which are naturally bulkier and more packed.
Bottle and Can Storage
Special storage for wine bottles and beer, seltzer, or soda cans is a convenient feature in many new refrigerators on the market. It keeps you from adjusting door bins to fit these taller items, or designating another spot in your refrigerator for drinks. In addition, this organizational feature eliminates the need for a different wine or beer cooler; however, it isn’t suitable for wine connoisseurs who separately chill their whites and reds.
Advanced Cooling
Some bottom-freezer refrigerators have advanced cooling functions. While the feature may have different names depending on the manufacturer, the purpose is to more rapidly lower the temperature of the fridge or freezer compartment, which can help to quickly chill fresh or frozen foods. This is handy if you made a long trip home from the grocery store, or if you want to quickly cool beverages or cold appetizers before company arrives. The GE GBE17HYRFS, our pick for the “best counter-depth” model, is equipped with Turbo Cool and Turbo Freeze functions. When activated, this setting sends cold air through the vent system and lowers the temperature of the fridge or freezer.
Wi-Fi Capabilities
While the specific functions vary by model, a refrigerator with Wi-Fi usually enables you to monitor operation or adjust the temperature settings of the fridge or freezer using your smartphone. Other additional smart features may include the ability to increase ice production, which is handy if you are expecting company and want to make sure there will be enough ice on hand, or diagnose problems with the appliance.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Erica Puisis, who specializes in researching large and small home appliances, including refrigerators of all types and other kitchen appliances. She has been writing for The Spruce since 2017. To find the best options for bottom-freezer refrigerators, she considered popular models from manufacturers like LG, Samsung, Whirlpool, GE, and more. The capacity of the freezer and refrigerator compartments, storage and organization options, and any available smart features were key aspects of the research process, as these points are most likely to impact the usability of the appliance. For this article, Erica also spoke to Kerrie Kelly, a Sacramento-based interior designer. Kelly also is a member of the National Kitchen and Bath Association and serves as a Global Connect Advisor. Kerrie shared tips on selecting and purchasing a refrigerator, including the importance of choosing a model that reflects your lifestyle and fits in your space.
