The Best Refrigerators for the Garage

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Choosing a garage-ready freezer isn’t as simple as you might think — these areas of the house come with specific needs, and you also need to consider how much space you’re working with. In locations where homes sustain high temperatures daily, household appliances can become stressed, which can have a severe impact on old refrigerators. Whether you’re looking for side-by-side refrigerators or mini fridges, here is a list of the best refrigerators for the garage.

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Best Refrigerators for the Garage

The right refrigerator for your garage will depend on the available space you have and whether it meets all your needs. Below are some of the best fridges available in the market for garage spaces.

LG 24 cu. ft. Top Mount Freezer Refrigerator

Highlights:

With many features such as Internal Water Dispenser Spill Protector, Technology LED Lighting, Tempered Glass Shelves Multi-Air Flow, and more
Offers 24 cubic feet of space — this 33” wide top-mount refrigerator provides plenty of room for your favorite foods while keeping them organized
Features LG’s PrintProof technology, which helps surfaces stay smudge-resistant, and can be easily wiped clean with a soft, dry cloth
Allows you to conveniently fill your pitcher, cup, or sauce pot while the ice maker lets you get ice in a hurry
Designed with contoured doors, clean lines, hidden hinges, and plenty of interior features, making it a true garage-ready refrigerator

No matter where you put it, you can count on the LG LHTNS 24 cu. ft. Top Mount Freezer Refrigerator is highly adaptable, offering 17.6 cubic feet of fridge storage and 6.2 cubic feet of freezer space. As such, it offers more room than every other option in this list and is the best garage refrigerator for families who wish to store bulk drinks and groceries or host parties. It comes with freezer compartments and is Energy Star certified, so you don’t have to worry about your bills getting too high.

What sets it apart from the competition is its cooling system, which helps to maintain a consistent temperature throughout the fridge even when fully stocked. If you need ice, you’ll be pleased to know that you can retrofit the LG ice maker with this option, making it a thoughtfully designed and garage-ready fridge. While it is more expensive than the others in this list, this gorgeous, stainless steel refrigerator comes with a warranty that covers the appliance for 1 year and 5 years for the cooling system and compressor.

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Hisense HRT180N6AWE 18 cu. ft. Top-Freezer Refrigerator

Highlights:

This top-freezer model comes with reversible doors, making it perfect for garage use at a great price point
Offers 18 cubic feet of total storage space, including 13.9 cubic feet for the fridge and 4.1 cubic feet for the freezer; perfect for all your storage needs
Certified to perform between 0 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit, which is a wider range compared to other options in this list
An Energy-Certified option that also comes with a two-year warranty to help cover any defects or repairs
Available in various finishes, including white, black, and stainless steel

If you’re looking for an option that won’t break your bank, then the Hisense HRT180N6AWE provides garage-ready cooling that comes with large door bins and a solid warranty. Unlike other budget options, this model is Energy Star certified, but it does come with a few minor trade-offs for its lower price tag. A few things to keep in mind is the fact that its interior lighting is dimmer and its shelving is made from wire, which is sturdy but harder to clean compared to glass.

Even so, it’s worth taking a look at since it can maintain a steady temperature during both cold and hot days, making it a great garage-ready option. Similar to the option above, this model comes with a basic top freezer with limited storage and a modest capacity, but it is just as flexible. Overall, the Hisense brand delivers consistent performance throughout its products, and their refrigerators are no exception — along with their generous warranty, it comes at a great price point.

Avanti AR52T3SB Mini Fridge Compact Refrigerator

Highlights:

Comes with a compact design and 5.2 cu. ft. of refrigerator space for all your sodas, beers, other beverages, and food items
With a space-saving design that’s ideal for offices, dorm rooms, apartments, and smaller homes
Has adjustable features such as reversible doors, 2 adjustable and removable shelves, a 2-liter gallon, a glass-top crisper, adjustable leveling legs, and more
Features a full-range temperature control and automatic defrost settings
This budget option is also Energy Star certified and comes with a stainless steel finish

While most mini fridges aren’t able to handle temperature swings inside a garage, the Avanti AR52T3SB Mini Fridge Compact Refrigerator can take the heat and cold. Unlike your usual indoor fridge, which would fail in the elements, this model is constructed with 304 stainless steel and can perform well in uncovered areas. This garage fridge features a front-venting design that offers an advantage over other models, allowing you to use it as a built-in unit tucked away in your counter or workbench.

Inside the fridge, you get three chrome shelves along with ample space for all your drinks, food, and other items. And because it’s Energy Star certified, it comes with great features such as an automatic defrost setting, and its handy reversible door allows for flexible installation. However, there is one drawback to this model, which is its minimum operating temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit, so it won’t do well inside unheated garages during cold months.

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GE GTS22KGNRWW Garage Ready Refrigerator

Highlights:

Offers almost 22 cubic feet of storage to fit everything you need, from food to drinks, and all kinds of items
With 15.25 cubic feet for the refrigerator and 6.68 cubic feet for the freezer, there’s plenty of room for your beverages
Compatible with GE’s IM4D ice maker that cranks out 3.5 pounds of ice each day, which is more than other options here
Comes with a functional interior that is divided between deep crisper drawers, adjustable glass shelves, and big door bins
While it’s not Energy Star certified, it comes in great finishes such as slate, white, black, and stainless steel

The GE GTS22KGNRWW 21.9 Cu. Ft. Garage Ready Top-Freezer Refrigerator is a garage-ready fridge, and like most upright freezers, it doesn’t come with a built-in ice maker, but you can purchase a separate kit for it. Installing this kit isn’t hard and can be done using basic tools such as pliers and a Phillips screwdriver, and it comes with clear instructions. With a capacity of 21.9 cubic feet, it’s certainly among the most budget-friendly and spacious options in this list.

This fridge also features digital controls and temperature sensors, and comes in five different finishes. However, some may feel that its incandescent lighting is more dated compared to the bright LEDs of other options. You should also remember that this model needs to be connected to a water line, so you’ll need to turn off the ice maker or your water supply if the garage gets too cold.

Gladiator Garf 17.8 cu. ft. Rolling Freezerless Refrigerator

Highlights:

With a total capacity of 17.8 cubic feet, this feezerless refrigerator still comes with plenty of space for all your needs
Built for the extremes, this model can handle bitterly cold winters and sweltering summers
Rated to work from 0 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s one of the most tolerant and durable refrigerators in this list
Its freezerless design features maximum storage for fresh food, while withstanding the demanding environment you put it in
Comes with a heavy-duty construction that comes in black and white finishes

If you’re looking for an Energy Star-certified option that will fit comfortably inside small spaces, then the Gladiator Garf 17.8 cu. ft. Rolling Freezerless Refrigerator is your best bet. With heavy-duty, locking casters that allow you to easily roll it around for rearranging your space or for cleaning, you can be sure this fridge is also portable. It also features a hammered granite finish along with tread-plate-style handles that give it a rugged look next to your workbench and tools.

It also comes with a foot pedal that allows for hands-free opening, which is perfect for anyone who may have their hands full with grocery bags after unloading the car. This model is also Energy Star certified, which means it can save you more money in the long run. The only trade-off is its lack of freezer space, so if you want to store frozen goods, you may need to invest in upright or chest freezers.

How to Pick Garage Refrigerators

The recommended models above appeal to large families who require plenty of food storage, and will work well for frequent entertainers, gardeners, and small business owners looking for dependable refrigeration outside of climate-controlled areas. Because these units are intended for use inside garages, we didn’t factor in aesthetics since most buyers won’t prioritize looks over functionality. Moreover, these appliances will handle harsher environments and will need more maintenance compared to your typical kitchen refrigerator, so options with generous warranties are important.

Below are just a few of the most important factors for you to consider before choosing the right refrigerator for your garage.

Garage Readiness

The best refrigerator for garage use will offer more than a good finish or a generous capacity. Be sure to look for models with “garage optimized” or “garage ready” labels, all of which are designed to handle the fluctuating temperatures in your space. As such, the Gladiator GARF30FDGB is a standout since it can tolerate extreme temperatures and was designed to perform in environments as cold as 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

Size and Capacity

Much like upright freezers, a garage refrigerator can vary in size, so be sure to think about how much capacity you really need and whether your garage has enough space for it. The option that offers the most capacity above is the LG LHTNS, with 24 cubic feet of storage space, which is ideal for families and entertainers. But for smaller garages, your best option is the Avanti OR543U3S, which is a mini fridge that’s sturdy and compact, perfect for storing your backup beverages.

Energy Efficiency

We all know that an energy-efficient model will use less energy compared to one without an Energy Star certification. Because extreme temperatures can force fridges to work overtime, which can lead to higher electricity bills. Moreover, energy-efficient refrigerators often come with better insulation as well as smart components like LED lighting.

Standout Features

Look for other useful features such as digital sensors and dual-temperature controls, which offer better precision during extreme weather. You will also want to look for options with water dispensers and ice makers for added convenience, which are especially useful when you want to entertain. While stainless steel finishes are the standard, not all can be cleaned and maintained easily, so for a low-maintenance option, fingerprint-resistant finishes are optimal.

Organizational Options

Look for options with sliding drawers, adjustable shelves, and door bins with plenty of space. These can make a huge difference when storing and organizing bulky items like food containers, sheet cakes, or gallon jugs.

Customer Support

Be sure to look for options that come with a warranty and service plan, as well as available extended coverage options from the manufacturer or retailer. Having this can potentially save you time and hassle in case something goes wrong with your purchase.

Conclusion

Whether you want to replace an old fridge or are looking for a second fridge to add to your garage for extra storage, you can’t go wrong with any of the options above. But if you want our best overall pick, we suggest the LG LHTNS, which can withstand a wide temperature range while circulating cold air effectively during hot summer months. But if you’re looking for a smaller option, you can look into any other model suggested here to find which one will work best for you and your needs.

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