Best Fridges / Refrigerators

Based on 2,107 reviews
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Smart Fridge

Mitsubishi Electric Multi Drawer MR-WX Series

Mitsubishi Electric Multi Drawer MR-WX Series 🏆 2026

4.8 
Summary
  • Fridge Capacity 230 L to 378 L
  • Freezer Capacity 89 L to 151 L
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john b.WA3 posts
 

This fridge is next generation, really good ice maker system, so easy to use with no plumbing required. Excellent layout and easy to clean. The extra… Read more

features including the veggie drawer with the special light to extend the life of the veggies and the hot dish freezer plate etc,etc. The reason I purchased this fridge is the technology of the second to none cooling system and all the features bundled into this fridge. Well done Mitsubishi.

  • Fridge Capacity 360 L
  • Freezer Capacity 159 L
Eisen
 

How do i change temp? I have looked all inside bottom and top and found nothing? Is it on the water system? Please help me if it is on the water system I think i messed it up Show details

  • Fridge Capacity 418 L
  • Freezer Capacity 232 L
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Nicole7 posts
 

Disappointed, but it looks nice from the outside! – Have always highly recommended this fridge to everyone in the Facebook groups I'm in. We have an issue with the seals (which seems like a common… Read more

fault), and despite Harvey Norman ringing their representative and him assuring us it would be under warranty, Mitsubishi have said nope, sorry! Won't be recommending it anymore. I don't see them taking accountability for their design fault so I would hate to persuade someone to buy this expensive fridge and then be in my position in 2 years.

Hisense HR6CDFF French Door Series

Hisense HR6CDFF French Door Series

3.9 
Summary
  • Fridge Capacity 290 L to 427 L
  • Freezer Capacity 71 L to 134 L
TerrenceQLD17 posts
  Verified

Very nice fridge, full width shelves for easy pizza storage. It does fit nicely in the fridge spot but needs room on the sides as the doors need… Read more

about 75mm on each side to open. Auto defrost is a little noisy. Sounds like it has a dialup internet modem included. Freezer has door pockets which is rare from what I've seen on other brands, very handy for small packets. Will definitely buy again when the time comes.

LG Top Mount GT-442 Series

LG Top Mount GT-442 Series

4.0 
Summary
  • Fridge Capacity 305 L to 306 L
  • Freezer Capacity 136 L
Alan M.QLD
 

Average - door closing and sealing issues – It’s good in many ways, however like others here I find that things at the very back of the fridge will freeze which is annoying. Also like others,… Read more

sometimes when the fridge door closes, the pressure from it makes the freezer door pop open but only a few mm - so sometimes you may not notice, and it’s not enough to set off the open door alarm, so they freezer will defrost or get condensation in it. Also it doesn’t auto-close itself! All fridges I’ve had in past if you leave open, the door will start to pull itself shut. This one doesn’t do that. It stops before fully closing and again - it’s not closed so letting cold air out, but it’s close enough that it doesn’t set the door alarm off. Frustrating!

  • Fridge Capacity 433 L
  • Freezer Capacity 181 L
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TomWAWA8 posts
  Verified

FaultCode20 Flapper Heater - Wire broken! The fridge beeps 20 times (exact) when opening the door for this fault, the code is also shown on the… Read more

diagnostic display (see graphics how to read that one).

What I did to repair: Remove the cover at the bottom of the flapper (1 screw), and you see a pair of wires going to the bottom end of the heater built into the flapper. Turns you can pull down the heater - pulling it down just a little makes it much easier to disconnect the plug. Once disconnected, I measured resistance of heater as 38ohm. Odd, because other sources (including AI and youtube videos) suggest it should be 15ohm...

Next I remove the cover at the top of the left door - there you can unplug the connector, and access the wire going to the heater. A paper clip slides nicely into the end of the connector (both top and bottom end), and I was able to confirm that one of the wires has an open circuit with my multimeter. Pulling (hard) on that wire reveals where the wire is broken.

I removed the flapper (first remove the spring), and then you can see where the wire comes from: from behind the door seal (see photo). With the wire separated at the break, I pushed some heatshrink over one end, soldered them back together, and moved the heatshrink to cover it up. That fixed it! (fingers crossed this lasts the remaining life of the fridge)

Final comment to Fisher & Paykel: the flimsy thin/poor quality wire is pre-programmed to fail eventually, as it has to make the 90deg move of the flapper every time you open/close the left door.

  • Fridge Capacity 422 L
  • Freezer Capacity 265 L
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Splitpin8440 posts
 

Good fridge – Good fridge only problem is handle wear, pretend chroming is wearing off where people grab.

  • Fridge Capacity 422 L
  • Freezer Capacity 246 L
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Mingo Innes
 

Vibration & inverted handle fault – Good fridge freezer but has a few faults. Water and ice maker, although a little noisey has always worked well. 1 - random vibration after a couple… Read more

of years is very loud. 2 - cup style handles in the doors are a fault - any liquid accidentally split in these does not drain but does somehow seep through and rust the outter lining surrounding the handle. The handle should be inverted.

  • Fridge Capacity 360 L
  • Freezer Capacity 159 L
jmbau74 posts
 

Like the fridge, but reassembling it after cleaning is IMPOSSIBLE! Looks good, works well, is nice and quiet. BUT, if you take anything out of it and… Read more

then try to reassemble? A nightmare. Yes, there are videos and instructions. The videos are poor quality, too fast and ignore or skip over essential bits. A power failure happened while I was away and the freezer had to be taken apart to clean. I discovered later that F&P ‘do not recommend’ that you do this. What you are supposed to do when you have a freezer part full of tomato gunk that defrosted, ran everywhere inside and then refrozen is ignored. I had to finally get a technician in at considerable expense to do it, after I and others had spent enormous time and effort trying to follow the skimpy instructions. I am now stuck again, dammit, after the veggie containers needed to be thoroughly cleaned. I simply canNOT figure out how to get 2 little plastic clips back and into their places and nothing will work until or unless I do. It’s enough to make me buy a new fridge and no, I won’t be buying F&P again. Pity, I was a long term customer until this fridge. Terrible.

  • Fridge Capacity 162 L to 390 L
  • Freezer Capacity 68 L to 144 L
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Shayne W.
  Verified

For cheap price I give 2 stars, otherwise 1. Ours lasted 4 years until the design flaw created a refrigerant leak. I would suggest everyone check theirs, rusted through. Why wouldn't they just use copper tube here. Shelves are also brittle Show details

  • Fridge Capacity 360 L
  • Freezer Capacity 159 L
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$2,099Bing Lee
PeterVIC4 posts
 

DUMB smart fridge – Smart- dumb fridge ! Great fridge with a “dumb as “ open door warning.. why would anyone design a fridge to prevent the door from closing , so it can… Read more

warn you the door didnt shut ,, stupid stupid. . The door always stops 200mm open, so you have to give it a second push . A smart fridge would always close !! I would never buy again for this reason only . And it cant be adjusted.

  • Fridge Capacity 347 L to 362 L
  • Freezer Capacity 167 L
Hisense HR6FDFF French Door Series

Hisense HR6FDFF French Door Series

3.0 
Summary
  • Fridge Capacity 373 L to 436 L
  • Freezer Capacity 194 L to 210 L
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Gina SSA3 posts
  Verified

9yrs on and still going strong.So quiet & remains a consistent temperature throughout the fridge & freezer. Easy to clean inside outside. I use Hillmark steel clean for the stainless steel. Show details

  • Fridge Capacity 248 L to 250 L
  • Freezer Capacity 89 L to 92 L
inky11 posts
 

westinghouse refrigator • WTB3400WG – Failed after 6 years - needs replacement, can smell gas.(edit - wasn’t gas, must have been food etc). The motor had failed, more expensive to replace… Read more

than renew! Repairman said it very common with this frig. So just hope the replacement (similar) model will last longer than 6 years. prior to it failing the performance was ok, keeping drinks quite cool was the main function.

Panasonic 407L Bottom Mount

Panasonic 407L Bottom Mount

4.0 
Summary
  • Fridge Capacity 273 L
  • Freezer Capacity 134 L
PJ P.QLD2 posts
 

Runs at a loud operating noise level – The fridge keeps everything nice and cold , good outlay but operates at a very noisy sound level. Show details

Panasonic
Panasonic    

Hi PJ, Have you called our customer service team to… Read more

  • Fridge Capacity 344 L
  • Freezer Capacity 142 L
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Quan T.QLD2 posts
 

Replacement of door handles – If you break your handles on your electrolux fridge just order a replacement set from https://www.ebay.com.au/str/motivetronics Really easy fix as it is just two screws.

  • Fridge Capacity 311 L
  • Freezer Capacity 142 L
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Des CNSW4 posts
 

Westinghouse fridge - Not made to last – Nice looking fridge but looks are worth nothing when a compressor on a 4 year old fridge dies. The warranty for the compressor component is useless… Read more

as the labour cost are huge, so effectively you are forced to by a new fridge. The Westinghouse/Electrolux customer service I experienced was the worst I have ever dealt with. Terrible communication and zero empathy. I will never buy Westinghouse or Electrolux again as they belong to the same group and are useless. The products cost a lot and don't last. Not long before my fridge died, my Electrolux microwave died just outside of warranty and I had the replace that too. Clearly they are not making anything to last anymore. All I can say is stay away from Westinghouse and Electrolux!

Westinghouse
Westinghouse    

Hi Des, Denise from Electrolux here. We would… Read more (+1 reply)

  • Price (RRP) $1,650
  • Household Size 2-3 people
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Mick3 posts
 

The team at Majestic provided truly great customer service and were incredibly helpful with all our questions. Put simply it was exceptional service throughout from visiting the warehouse to delivering the fridge. Show details

  • Fridge Capacity 358 L
  • Freezer Capacity 166 L
Therasew Wehbe3 posts
 

purchased this fridge less than five years ago, and it has already broken down—well before the warranty has expired. That in itself is unacceptable… Read more

for what should be a long-term appliance. What makes this worse is the terrible service I’ve received trying to get it repaired. I contacted the repairs team and have been repeatedly put off, with no real sense of urgency or accountability. I’ve now been told I have to wait three weeks just for a repair to be organized. Not completed—just organized. I’ve explained multiple times that this is a fridge, a basic household necessity, and that we can’t go without one for weeks. They clearly do not care. Their attitude shows a complete lack of respect for the customer and no understanding of how important timely service is when it comes to appliances like this. This has been an incredibly frustrating experience, and I would strongly caution anyone against buying this product. Poor build quality, and even worse after-sales support. Avoid.

Electrolux
Electrolux    

Goos morning Julie from Electrolux here. We are… Read more (+1 reply)

  • Fridge Capacity 395 L
  • Freezer Capacity 141 L
BarbSchroQLD38 posts
  Verified

After an extensive search, I was thrilled when I found this Westinghouse Top Mount fridge/freezer to replace my similar 28 year old Sharp fridge.… Read more

This one is more superior in design, functionality and appearance, just hope it matches the life expectancy of my old fridge.

This fridge is fantastic value considering the quality and features, such as: - the brushed stainless steel finish, worth the extra cost for its elegant look and easy cleaning. - very spacious interior with a generous height between the adjustable clear glass shelves that enable placing various sized containers or food items anywhere and still be easily seen wherever they are. - functions efficiently throughout without freezing any food placed at the back of the fridge. - being handles free, the fridge looks seamless and there’s no risk of handles breaking off. - no annoying alarm if the fridge door is left open for longer than the manufacturer’s deemed correct time. - brilliant operations – no noise from motor running, doors close gently, large crisper glides smoothly, generous bottle and container compartments. - the rear rollers make it easy to move the fridge for cleaning or placing it elsewhere. - the 2 year warranty is peace of mind and shows the manufacturer’s confidence in the product.

After two months of use, I love everything about the fridge but think it would have been helpful if there was lighting in the freezer section as well but not a deal breaker for me. Feedback from my friends and family has all been very positive.

Buying from AppliancesOnline couldn’t have been easier with next day delivery, the special sale price of $1,241 included cost of delivery, free connection and removal of my old fridge. The delivery guys kept me fully informed about arrival time, they were friendly, courteous and when finished, they took the packaging with them. I highly recommend AppliancesOnline and have and will continue praising them to my friends and family.

  • Fridge Capacity 237 L to 238 L
  • Freezer Capacity 85 L to 103 L
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Mike Taylor
 

We’ve had our Westinghouse refrigerator for perhaps 10 years now and granted it still goes but I can’t wait for it to finally stop working so I can… Read more

get rid of it. The freezer draws have completely disintegrated and constantly drop everything on the floor every time It’s opened. Perhaps an example of the lowest cost cheap plastic materials and fittings that seem to be used throughout. I’m really not the type of person to make a report like this on anything but given a fridge is meant to be long lasting, reliable and durable given its use profile and given this one has really annoyed me from so early on I feel it’s worth letting people know my experience so they don’t make the same mistake

  • Fridge Capacity 377 L to 407 L
  • Freezer Capacity 217 L to 243 L
Linda R2 posts
 

the WSE6200SA has already broken after only 8 years, (2018 to 2026) repairer said it needs a new compressor and too expensive to fix. I previously… Read more

bought the WSE6100SF in 2013 and it is still going in 2026, that's over 13 years old and still going. Doesn't look like its a good idea to buy westinghouse anymore, they are not lasting long anymore .

  • Fridge Capacity 341 L to 395 L
  • Freezer Capacity 119 L to 141 L
TonyNSW
 

Poor Lifespan – 4 years in and suddenly the freezer wont get cold enough. I suspect the motor for the fan has died. Paid $1,099 for it back in 2020 and its already… Read more

out of warranty, which means i'll have to pay a $165 flat rate(+ parts costs) to call someone out to fix it. I'll be looking into my options under Australian Consumer Law as this is a unreasonable amount of time for a refrigerator.

  • Fridge Capacity 361 L
  • Freezer Capacity 167 L
$1,243Bing Lee
John F.NSW
 

Was a good fridge but has suffered multiple failure at barely 3.5 years old. Will cost approx. $830 to fix. [Name Removed] @ Electrolux customer care… Read more

call centre in The Phillipines just said sorry sir its out of warranty. Not interested in helping. Unfortunate experience as our last westinghouse fridge lasted 16 years.

Westinghouse
Westinghouse    

Hi John Vivian from Electrolux here. We would… Read more

LG 279L Top Mount GT-279 Series

LG 279L Top Mount GT-279 Series

3.7 
Summary
  • Fridge Capacity 207 L
  • Freezer Capacity 72 L
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OzpaulNSW5 posts
 

Fridge died after 2 years! Do not buy one!! – Bought this brand new to fit a narrow space and has worked fine for us, but after just over two years, it suddenly stopped cooling the fridge… Read more

compartment and we lost a heap of food. There are online LG guides on things to check/try to get it to restart (so they know their products have these failures!) but nothing makes any difference. Waste of money!

  • Fridge Capacity 307 L
  • Freezer Capacity 135 L
Stephen
  Verified

Disaster - don't buy – We bought this fridge freezer in the UK and had it shipped to Spain. Within 1 year the cooling broke down and F&P refused to honour their 5 year… Read more

warranty as we had moved country. A €500 repair later the fridge was working... for 2 months then it broke down again with the same fault. No cover from F&P or the local authorised repairer. Never again.

LG Top Mount GT-515 Series

LG Top Mount GT-515 Series

3.2 
Summary
  • Fridge Capacity 360 L to 361 L
  • Freezer Capacity 155 L
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Erika L D.VIC10 posts
  Verified

We bought this fridge in 2021, and four and a half years later, after paying nearly a thousand dollars for what we assumed was a top fridge with a… Read more

good guarantee, it stopped working. After alot of phone calls to LG Customer Care and deciding to get the fridge independently assessed by a good reliable fridge repair service centre we knew what was the fault, a long slow leak of the gas over many months and so it would need regassing and a very thorough gas leak repair to repair it at the source. We spent a few weeks doing our homework about all of this and realised that even though LG said if its a fridge fault we'd be covered with a warranty if they said no it isn't its due to a power outage or hot weather (which had not affected the fridge in its 4 or more years). Due to a lack of trust with what LG staff said and did and realising they could charge us for the call out fee up to $200 and that their repair may just patch it up like regas but not take it away to a workshop to fix it, we decided not to go through LG, would be like gambling our money we may need for a new fridge. We spoke to a good fridge repair mechanic who said I can repair it but will cost between $600-$800. So we knew this was nearly the cost of a new fridge with a 3-5 yr warranty. We have learnt so much now about fridges and the ins and outs of all of this type of thing. After reading the reviews here that helped us to make the best choice. We had no fridge for a week and half just putting our food on ice, chucked out heaps, got a new hire fridge for a few weeks until we bought a new fridge after listening to what brands are good and this one has a service centre here in Melbourne and Australian staff, not out sourced, even LG outsource their repairs we discovered. So hope this review helps someone else. We did not expect to fork out nearly a thousand dollars again for a new fridge within five years, our last fridge went for over 20 years. Buyer beware in this day and age. Buy from a store that if you have a problem will go into bat for you, like the John Alan Betta Home Living Store at Ferntree Gully in Melbourne who are excellent and good prices too, gave us alot of help and information. Sorry about the tome, it was nearly a months journey through this. Sadly our in perfect condition fridge apart from the gas leak has been picked up and taken to be made into scrap metal. Which happens to tons of very good fridges not made to last deliberately and the consumer pays the hefty price. What a waste.

LG 332L Top Mount GT-332 Series

LG 332L Top Mount GT-332 Series

3.5 
Summary
  • Fridge Capacity 247 L
  • Freezer Capacity 85 L
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DanNSW2 posts
 

Fridge a bit noisy for the price, also break down 6 months after warranty is expired (3 years and six months life as I extended the warranty for one… Read more

year).

I tried to contact LG to get the spare part to fix it and they couldn’t help find it, redirected to the “authorised repair centre “ and even then can’t find the right part after multiple interaction and picture send it back and forth.

Costumer support doesn’t really offer any support, you get more lifespan from cheaper brand.

Very disappointing, definitely will stir away from the brand for future.

Whirlpool 595L French Door WQ70900SXX

Whirlpool 595L French Door WQ70900SXX

4.3 
Summary
  • Household Size 5+ people
  • Fridge Capacity 387 L
  • Freezer Capacity 208 L
AdamVIC12 posts
 

Dissapointing warranty service – Buyer beware! Trying to get warranty on this fridge has been extremely difficult. No body ever calls us back, even though they say they will.… Read more

Request to speak to a manager were ignored. 3 weeks after lodging the warranty we still don't have a fridge and are told it will be another week. At this stage we just need a fridge and have requested a refund so that we can just go and buy a new fridge, but this required manager approval, but he won't return our calls. Wont be buying Whirlpool again.

UPDATE 7 Weeks have now passed with countless hours and outright lies from Arisit (The warranty provider) and the replacement fridge has finally been delivered.... To the wrong service agent. And yes we had to chase it up with the courier to find this out. Arisit should have know this was the wrong service agent as he refused the job request 7 weeks ago, and would not answer any calls from Arisit. One can only wonder how long the fridge would have sat in someone's driveway if we had not contacted the courier directly. Given the incredible effort we have made to progress the warranty claim this far, I feel certain that the warranty would never have been honoured if we had just lodged via standard process. There is no way to contact Whirlpool to let them know about this warranty service disaster. I hope that they are reading this and reach out to us. we have lost a lot of food and during a hot summer 2 months is a long time to be without a fridge... Stay tuned for the next exciting episode of Whirlpool warranty disaster.

Whirlpool
Whirlpool    

Hi Adam, We are sorry for the experience that you had… Read more (+4 replies)

Hisense HRBM483B

Hisense HRBM483B

4.7 
Summary
  • Price (RRP) $1,899
  • Household Size 4-5 people
  • Fridge Capacity 344 L
  • Freezer Capacity 139 L
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Liam OQLD
 

Good product but could be improved on – Pros: - silent operation - great size/space - looks great Cons: - no door open beep - door doesn't "fall" closed on its own, making door open beep… Read more

all the more important - can't seem to get it level/stable, so it makes a lot of creaking noises when opening and closing the door (feels flimsy) - outside gets marked/dirty easily

I really wanted to love this fridge - replaced a 10+ year old Fisher and Paykel of similar size. But the old unit was more solid feeling and had the door open warning beep.

The lack of a warning beep and the fact it catches and doesn't easily close automatically, means this fridge is not great for families with children.

A french door fridge surrounded by wooden cabinetry.

Types of fridges

There are a variety of different fridge types to suit different needs and kitchens.

Top mount fridges • See all

Top mount fridges have a freezer compartment that sits above the fridge cavity, which increases the accessibility of frozen food while limiting the amount of freezer space available.

Pros
Generally the cheapest type of fridge to buy.
The cheapest type of fridge to run.
There's a wide range to choose from.
Cons
Elderly or less mobile people may find it difficult to bend down to access the fridge, which is the compartment that's used the most often.

Bottom mount fridges • See all

Bottom mount fridges have their freezer section at the base of the unit, and tend to be more expensive than top mount designs. It has less freezer space than other types of fridges, and will require some bending and crouching to access the slide-out freezer drawers. Everyday fridge items are very accessible.

Pros
Logical and ergonomic layout, as the compartment you use most is at eye level.
More range as the popularity of these fridges is growing.
Cons
More expensive to purchase than top mount models.
Slightly more expensive to run than top mount fridges.
Can take longer to chill foods.

French door fridges • See all

French door fridges have a bottom mount freezer below a two door fridge. These fridges are wide, spacious, and are typically the most expensive type of fridge. The two fridge doors and large bottom mounted freezer drawer allow for huge storage space.

Pros
Often have many features, like ice and water dispensers.
Have lots of storage.
A logical fridge layout that has the most used compartments at an easy to access height.
Fridge and freezer are wide enough to fit bulky boxes and large plates.
Cons
Typically more expensive to buy.
Quite large, so may not be able to be fit in tight spots.
Features like ice makers and water coolers can take up considerable fridge space.

Upright fridges • See all

Also called fridge-only fridges, these only have one compartment. The lack of freezer makes it cheaper than other models, and would be best used as a second unit or to fit a specific refrigeration-only need.

Pros
Can be kept separate to freezer which may be handy for smaller kitchens.
Good storage capacity.
Cons
If you need a freezer as well, having both an upright fridge and a separate freezer take up more space overall.

Side-by-side fridges • See all

Side-by-side fridges have a dedicated fridge and dedicated freezer section that stand beside each other. They are a big, wide and expensive model of fridge, often fitted with modern design features and built-in water and ice dispensing.

Pros
Often have many modern design features, such as built-in water and ice dispensers.
Have large storage capacity.
This type of fridge is easiest for shorter people or people in wheelchairs to access both compartments.
Suitable for narrow kitchens or those with limited space where you cannot have a fridge with a large swinging door.
Cons
Ice and water dispensers can take up considerable freezer space.
Compartments are quite narrow so may not be able to fit things like large platters or pizza boxes.
Due to their large size, they may not be able to be fit into tight spots.
Temperature at top and bottom of fridge can be inconsistent.

What to consider when choosing a fridge

Size

Most kitchens have designated fridge cavities, so you should measure this space and check it against the dimensions of any fridge you're considering buying. Ensure that the fridge can also fit through the doorways leading to the kitchen. You will need 25mm of additional free space around the top, back and sides of the fridge to allow for excess heat to escape.

Finding the right fridge capacity for your household size or refrigerating needs is also crucial. It's harder to cool air than liquids and solids, and so it will be more energy efficient (and typically cheaper) to have a small fridge thats full, instead of a big fridge that you're only using half the space of. With that being said, if you're tossing up between different fridge capacities, it's a safer bet to go with the larger one.

As a general guide:

While smaller fridges don't offer the same features as larger fridges, they're also cheaper to buy and run.

Design and layout

Make sure that the fridge door opens in the right direction for your kitchen - some models even have reversible doors. You should also make sure that the handles are accessible and that the fridge is easy to open for everyone in your household.

Think about whether the layout of the fridge the ratio of fridge to freezer space is right for you and your food. The shelves should be easy to remove for cleaning or repositioning.

Compartments

Fridges will usually have a range of compartments suited to different types of food, such as:

  • A crisper, which is a well-sealed compartment that keeps vegetables fresh.
  • A dairy compartment, which is slightly warmer than the rest of the fridge and is useful for keeping butter and harder cheeses slightly soft.
  • A chiller, which is used for storing meat, fish, and poultry, and is usually close to 0°C and has its own temperature control.
  • A quick-chill area or compartment that's used to cool down food and drinks quickly.

Features

Some fridges have functional features that can make them easier to use.

  • Adjustable shelving: This lets you choose your own layout configuration so that you can make the most of the space depending on what you specifically need to refrigerate.
  • Child lock: Some fridges have a child lock that prevents little ones from tampering with temperature controls and keeps them out of certain compartments, such as medicine compartments.
  • Anti-bacterial coating: This is sometimes found on fridge walls and doors, and helps prevent the growth of unwanted bacteria in your fridge.
  • Water and ice dispenser: These are a common additional feature, and are able to be plumbed in or not depending on your preference.
  • Internal LED light: This illuminates the fridge's contents so that you can easily see what you've got, particularly at night.
  • Temperature controls: While most fridges have variable temperature, some give you the option of quick cooling, or will automatically adjust its temperature settings to save power.
  • Rollers: Rollers or adjustable feet make the fridge easier to move.

For those looking for the ultimate luxe appliance, a few very expensive smart fridges are also Wi-Fi connected, can play music, show what's inside the fridge when you're away, and show online recipes.

You don't need a fridge that's decked out with all the features on offer; choose only the additions that make sense for your needs and budget.

Energy efficiency

Larger fridges will use more energy than smaller ones, but a fridge's energy star rating can tells you its relative energy efficiency based on its size. The more stars it has, the less it will cost you to run.

The energy efficiency of your fridge will be clearly marked in the product's information. Typically, top and bottom mount fridges are more efficient than French door or side-by-side models.

The number on the energy rating label will also tell you the energy consumption in kWh per year (circled in the image below). Multiply this number by the cost of your energy per Kilowatt hour to give you a rough estimate of what your fridge will cost you to run per year.

An energy efficiency label marking 2.5 out of 6 stars and an energy consumption of 458kWh per year.

Image source: energyrating.gov.au.

Finish

There are a variety of finishes to choose from to suit your kitchen's aesthetic.

  • Stainless steel is a sleek fridge finish, but it more easily shows fingerprints and other marks, although some are advertised as fingerprint-resistant. Stainless steel fridges are generally more expensive and are usually not magnetic.
  • White fridges are easier to keep clean than stainless steel ones, and are usually cheaper.
  • Black fridges or dark finish fridges are gaining popularity, and don't tend to show fingerprints as much as stainless steel.
  • Glass fridges are a very new kind of fridge design which uses glass instead of metal - and no, these don't let you look into your fridge when it's closed. These don't show fingerprints as much as stainless steel finishes.

Noise level

Not all people see fridge noise as an issue - whether it's an issue will depend on the layout of your kitchen and how close it is to your lounge and bedrooms. Fridges generally make around 35 decibels of noise, which is comparable to whispering.

Cost

Fridges can cost anywhere from $250 (for bar fridges and more basic models) to upwards of $5000. Generally speaking, the more money you fork out, the more features and better energy efficiency you'll get.