There are many types of refrigerators on the market.
Depending on the needs of your home or kitchen, you will have plenty of options to choose from.
With the number of options out there, it won’t be hard for you to find something that is going to work for your specific needs.
We have created this list of 30 types of refrigerators so you can fully understand what your options are before making a purchase.
30 Types of Refrigerators
1. French Door Refrigerators
GE Profile PVD28BYNFS 36" 4-Door French Door Refrigerator with 27.6 cu. ft. Total Capacity in Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel
A French door refrigerator is going to have two doors on top that open side by side and then a freezer drawer on the bottom.
The French door refrigerators are good from an energy standpoint because you can open one and not the other door.
This allows part of the fridge to maintain its temperature while you are grabbing what you need.
Many people feel that French door refrigerators are easier to work with and organize, but they can also be a bit expensive.
2. Compact Refrigerator
It is not always necessary for your home to have a full size refrigerator.
Sometimes you may find that large areas of your fridge are never filled with food, making it a smarter choice to have a smaller refrigerator.
The compact refrigerator is also a great choice for those who are looking for an option for a garage or a pool house.
The compact refrigerators are usually stackable with a small freezer on top and the larger refrigerator section on the bottom.
3. Wine Refrigerators
A wine refrigerator is a great choice for those who are having a hard time storing their good wine in the fridge.
It is always a good idea to keep wine at a more constant temperature.
When it is stored in the fridge you will find that the constant opening and closing of the doors are going to cause the wine to change in temperature.
These refrigerators are smaller, but they are usually very efficient.
4. Apartment Size Refrigerators
Frigidaire EFR751, 2 Door Apartment Size Refrigerator with Freezer, 7.2 cu ft, Platinum Series, Stainless Steel, 7.5
An apartment size refrigerator will be smaller than the standard size.
This is a perfect fridge for one or two people.
If your home has an accessory apartment or an efficiency, the apartment size fridge is a great choice.
Most of the apartment size refrigerators are stackable with a small freezer on the top and a refrigerator on the bottom.
Some of these are not all that deep, so be sure to measure your space first.
5. Large Capacity Refrigerator
SAMSUNG RF28T5001SR 28 Cu. Ft. Stainless Large Capacity French Door Refrigerator
A large capacity refrigerator is perfect for a family.
With a fridge this size, you can store plenty of food for a long period of time.
If you like to shop once per week and keep everything in the fridge for the entire week, this is the one you will want.
The freezer drawer is deep and will hold quite a bit of extra food.
6. Can Refrigerator
NewAir Large Beverage Refrigerator Cooler with 224 Can Capacity - Mini Bar Beer Fridge with LED Lights - Adjustable/Removable Shelves And Bottom Key Lock - Cools to 37F - Stainless Steel
A can refrigerator is a great choice for those who drink beer or soda.
With a can refrigerator, you will have the perfect storage space for 30 or more cans.
The compact size and unique way of arranging the cans help you to get quite a bit of space out of the can refrigerator.
You will notice that these come in a few different colors, and they usually have a glass door that allows you to see what you have left in the fridge without opening it.
A can refrigerator is an inexpensive way to keep your main fridge organized and free of cans.
7. Retro Fridge
Galanz GLR12TBKEFR Refrigerator, Dual Door Fridge, Adjustable Electrical Thermostat Control with Top Mount Freezer Compartment, Retro Black, 12.0 Cu Ft
Refrigerators have changed in design quite a bit through the years.
If you want something in your home that resembles the days of the past, the retro fridge is a great choice.
This model is going to look a bit like a blast from the past, yet it still functions in the same way a modern fridge does.
This is a fun type of refrigerator to put in your basement if you have a game room or area where people tend to congregate and spend time.
8. Side by Side
Frigidaire, Stainless Steel FFSS2315TS 33 Inch Side Refrigerator with 22.1 cu. ft. Capacity
A side by side refrigerator has the freezer and the fridge located right next to each other.
With these models, the freezer tends to be a little easier to organize and work with than the options with the freezer drawer.
If you are particular about how your fridge is kept, the side by side could be an option that you will want to consider.
9. Top Freezer
Frigidaire FFHT1425VV 28 Inch Freestanding Top Freezer Refrigerator (Brushed Steel)
A top freezer is what many people consider to be a traditional refrigerator.
With a top freezer, you will have access to the freezer at eye level and it will be easy to fit quite a bit into the freezer.
The only downside to the top freezer is that the bottom of the fridge can end up being a bit more difficult to reach.
This is why you will often see drawers on the bottom of the top freezer refrigerator.
10. Adjustable Temperature Refrigerator
Galanz GLR33MGNR10 Retro Compact Refrigerator, Single Door Fridge, Adjustable Mechanical Thermostat with Chiller, Green, 3.3 Cu Ft
People have a variety of reasons for needing a compact refrigerator.
Depending on what you are storing in this fridge, it can make sense to have some different temperatures.
If you plan on storing fruits and vegetables, you may only want to keep things cool.
However, if you are storing meat, you will have to keep the refrigerator at a certain temperature to prevent spoiling.
Adjustable temperature refrigerators come in a variety of sizes.
11. Bottom Freezer
Galanz GLR74BS1E04 Bottom Refrigerator, Adjustable Mechanical Thermostat with True Freezer, Versatile Door Storage, 7.4 Cu.Ft, Stainless Steel Look
A bottom freezer fridge is very similar to the French door in that the freezer will be on the bottom.
Some of these freezers will be drawers and others will open the same way that the fridge opens with a door on a hinge.
Some people find that these drawers are much easier when you are looking to store larger items.
The problem with the bottom freezer fridges is that they are harder to organize.
Since you have to stack the food on top of each other, you may often forget what you have stored in there.
12. Mini Fridge with Freezer
RCA RFR322 Mini Refrigerator, Compact Freezer Compartment, Adjustable Thermostat Control, Reversible Door, Ideal Fridge for Dorm, Office, Apartment, Platinum Stainless, 3.2 Cubic Feet
A mini fridge with a freezer is a great choice for those who are living in a dorm room.
Something like this is going to help you store a decent amount of food as well as a few frozen meals.
The mini fridge is a good choice for a camping cabin or a single person who doesn’t eat at home all that often.
If you have a large family and need a lot of space, this is not the best choice.
13. Mini Two Door Fridge and Freezer
RCA - 2-Door - Compact Refrigerator/Freezer - Reversible Doors - Adjustable Thermostat - 3.2 Cu. Ft. - Black,
The compact refrigerators on the market often have a small built in freezer.
The built in freezer is going to be very small from a capacity standpoint, and it will not have room to store all that much.
There are, however, mini fridges that have both a fridge and a freezer.
The plus side to this is that the freezer will work more like a real freezer and keep the food temperatures very cold.
14. Beer & Wine Refrigerator
Phiestina Wine and Beverage Refrigerator | 30 Inch Built-In Dual Zone Wine Beer Cooler Refrigerator | Free Standing French Door Drink Fridge with Digital Memory Temperature Control
For many years, refrigerators were sold as either beer or wine refrigerators.
However, there was a growing need for a fridge that could handle both beer and wine.
These options have room for the bottles on one side and the cans on the other.
If you do a lot of entertaining in your home, this is a great option to consider.
These refrigerators are not a good choice for those who need a place to store food.
The organization of the fridge is not geared towards food storage.
15. Smart Refrigerator
GE Profile PVD28BYNFS 36" 4-Door French Door Refrigerator with 27.6 cu. ft. Total Capacity in Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel
A smart refrigerator is the way that almost all refrigerators are moving.
Depending on how smart the fridge is, there could be options that have an LCD screen on the door or an app that has some programmability.
The smart refrigerator takes a bit of time to get used to, but it is something that everyone can learn how to use.
Some smart refrigerators can even tell you when it is time to purchase your next round of groceries.
16. Portable Mini Fridge
AstroAI Mini Fridge, 4 Liter/6 Can AC/DC Portable Thermoelectric Cooler and Warmer Refrigerators for Skincare, Beverage, Home, Office and Car, ETL Listed (White)
A portable mini fridge is perfect when you are headed on a picnic.
These come with a rechargeable battery that will keep food cold while you are away from your home.
The portable mini fridge will probably only hold about six cans or so.
This is not a fridge that you can use to replace the refrigerator in your home.
17. Refrigerator with Ice and Water
Kenmore 36" Side-by-Side Refrigerator and Freezer with 25 Cubic Ft. Total Capacity, White
One of the many refrigerator features that you can choose is to have ice and water in the door.
Everyone should consume plenty of water during their day, and to have a fridge that gives you easy access to water and ice is going to be really smart.
The water in the door has a filter that will help to make sure it stays fresh and clean tasting for years to come.
Many of these refrigerators will give you access to different types of ice, both crushed and cubed.
18. Dual Temperature Refrigerator
Phiestina Dual Zone Wine Cooler Refrigerator, 33 Bottle Free Standing Compressor Fridge and Chiller for Red and White Wines, 16'' Glass Door Wine Refrigerator with Digital Memory Temperature Control
The dual temperature refrigerators are typically used for storing both red and white wine.
Since these wines need to be stored at different temperatures, it is important to use a refrigerator with more than one temperature zone.
Having the dual temperature refrigerator also helps to make sure that you don’t have to purchase two individual units.
The more units that you purchase, the more expensive it is going to be for you.
19. Skincare Refrigerator
Relavel Skincare Fridge Mini Fridge 6 Liter/8 Can AC/DC Power Portable Cooler Warmer Makeup Refrigerator Beauty Cosmetic Fridge for Makeup Accessories and Tools Great for Bedroom, Office, Car, Dorm
Certain skincare products need to be kept at a specific temperature.
If the products are not kept at the proper temperature, they are not going to last.
The skincare refrigerator is usually built with a single shelf and some organizational features on the door.
These are small enough to keep on the counter of your bathroom so that you have easy access as you are getting ready in the morning or going to bed at night.
Adjustable temperatures also help to make sure your product does not deteriorate.
20. Gas or Propane Powered Fridge
SMETA 110V/Gas Propane Refrigerator Fridge Up Freezer Propane Fridge Large Storage for Off Grid, 9.4 Cu.Ft, White
Not all refrigerators are going to work well running on electricity or battery.
This is a great option if you are putting your fridge in a home that mostly uses gas or propane for power.
Another place where you can use this is if you have built a cabin and mostly use propane as a way to cook or heat the home.
21. Swing Door Refrigerator with Lighting
True GDM-49-HC-LD Glass Swing Door Refrigerator W/ LED Lighting
The swinging door refrigerator like this one is going to be used mostly in commercial settings.
If you own a shop or you want to make a neat display in a basement or garage, the swing door refrigerator will be a good choice.
The light inside this fridge really helps it stay nice and bright while you are searching for the food or drink that you are looking for.
Most standard kitchens will not have room for an option like this.
22. Insta View Door Refrigerator
LG LMXS28596S 28 Cu. Ft. Stainless French-Door Smart Wi-Fi Enabled Refrigerator
The insta view door makes it so that your refrigerator looks like a nice clean finished panel, but when you press the door panel, a visual of the inside of your fridge pops up.
This is a nice choice when it comes to energy savings.
When your kids want to stand there and look for a snack for six minutes, they can do so without ever having to open the door.
This functionality and technology in refrigerators continue to push towards increased energy efficiency.
23. Two Drawer Freezer Design
Forno Bovino 33" Inch W. Refrigerator 19 cu. Ft. Frost Free Design Stainless Steel Touch Control French Doors.
Many refrigerators have a bottom freezer drawer.
However, there are some that have two freezer drawers.
Having the two drawers makes quite a bit of sense as it will make it so that you can easily keep your deep freeze products in the very bottom, and the everyday items in the next drawer up.
The top of the refrigerator is the part where you keep your regular items.
These drawers are not all that large individually, but if you organize them right, you can get a lot of food in there.
24. Eraser Board Mini Fridge
Chefman Mini Portable Eraser Board Personal Fridge, Cools & Heats 4 Liter Capacity, Chills 6 12oz cans, 100% Freon-Free & Eco Friendly, Includes Plugs for Home Outlet & 12V Car Charger, Black
The idea of having a dry eraser board on the fridge is not only seen in these mini models.
For many years, people have been putting notes on their fridge as reminders or to leave a note for their family members.
Being able to write directly on the fridge is a nice benefit that you can achieve with an eraser board fridge.
These mini fridges are great for small apartments or dorm rooms.
25. Reversible Door Fridge
A reversible door fridge is a great choice if you have a unique place where you need to place your fridge.
Sometimes the space requirements for a fridge can be greatly affected by which way the door opens.
Having the ability to reverse the door of the fridge can help to save space and increase functionality.
It’s important for your fridge to always be able to open fully so that you can reach everything you need.
26. Bar Back Refrigerator
KoolMore BC-3DSW-SS Refrigerator, Triple Door, Stainless Steel
A bar back refrigerator is a great choice if you are putting in an outdoor kitchen.
These are typically smaller in size, but they are going to accommodate quite a few cans and bottles.
The doors to the bar back refrigerator are going to be glass so that you can see inside it.
This makes it important to keep these neat and organized so that they look great.
Since these are usually quite wide, you can store quite a bit in them.
27. Commercial Refrigerator
Arctic Air AWR25 White Single Solid Door Reach in Commercial Refrigerator - 25 cu. ft. Capacity, 115v
Although most homeowners don’t need a commercial refrigerator, if you do quite a bit of cooking and entertaining, you may appreciate having one of these.
A commercial refrigerator tends to have quite a few features, and it holds its temperature really well.
The commercial refrigerators also tend to be a little more expensive than some other options on the market, but in the end, they will help to preserve food for a very long time.
28. Solar Refrigerator
A solar powered refrigerator takes the energy from the sun to keep your drinks and food cold.
The best way to use these types of refrigerators is on a camping trip.
You would think that the heat from the sun is going to make it harder for the cooler to keep the temperature down, but these refrigerators are very well designed.
The solar refrigerator can be a great choice to have in case of an unexpected power outage.
29. Vehicle Refrigerator
Domende 12 Volt Portable Refrigerator 54 Quart Car Fridge with Compressor (-4 ºF to 68 ºF), Vehicle, Car, Truck, RV, Electric Cooler Freezer for Driving, Camping, Travel, Fishing, 12/24V DC Outdoor
A vehicle refrigerator is a great choice for travel.
If you are headed on a car trip or going camping, the vehicle refrigerator is a smart choice.
Keep in mind that you can also typically charge your phone on these types of units.
If you want to adjust the temperature of a vehicle refrigerator, it should be easy to do.
30) Countertop Display Refrigerator
KoolMore CDCU-3C-WH Commercial refrigerators, White
Putting a refrigerator on your countertop to display is mostly a choice that is used in commercial settings.
However, if you have a need for a display type refrigerator, there are options out there.
Most of these are of commercial quality, and they work quite well to both look and function at a high level.
Regardless of the type of refrigerator your home needs, there are endless options and features out there to choose from.
Conclusion
Finding a refrigerator of the best quality can be time consuming.
With all of the options that you have to choose from, you will have to spend some time narrowing down what it is you are looking for.
Hopefully, this list has helped you to see what there is out there and what could work best for you.
The most common types of refrigerators are the side by side or top and bottom full size.
Although these are the ones that you will see in the majority of kitchens out there, they are not the only things that exist on the market.
Regardless of your unique kitchen needs, chances are there is a refrigerator to suit your needs.
Leave a Reply