9 Small but Mighty Refrigerators Under $500
Solid refrigerator options for an extremely tight budget.
No kitchen is complete without a proper refrigerator that can accommodate all the foods and beverages your household needs. But large refrigerators can be expensive – some modern, high-capacity, high-tech refrigerators can cost several thousand dollars. Unfortunately, even standard refrigerators (with capacities of 14–20 cu. ft.) can be pricey, with many costing $1,000 – $2,000. Don't give up hope just yet – there are affordable options if you're willing and able to sacrifice some fridge space. If you're looking to score a refrigerator for under $500, some apartment-size refrigerators and mini fridges (with capacities of 3–8 cu. ft.) should fit the bill. In this guide, we'll introduce you to nine of our best-rated refrigerators under $500.
Tip!
Want to learn more about refrigerators before you buy? Check out our Refrigerator Buying Guide for more tips and tricks.
9 Small but Mighty Refrigerators Under $500
1. Danby 7 cu. ft. Refrigerator With Top Freezer
This apartment-size top-freezer refrigerator is one of the best refrigerators available at this price point. Acknowledging its limited capacity, this refrigerator's interior was designed to be versatile – it has a large bottom drawer, movable shelves, and door compartments. When the refrigerator door is closed, the internal components of this fridge fit together like a puzzle to allow for controlled airflow even when the fridge is completely full. We can't ignore the benefits of the self-defrosting top freezer, either – on a refrigerator this size, a freezer that doesn't require any frost maintenance is an invaluable asset. The exterior of this refrigerator is stunning, finished with a sleek, smudge-resistant coat of stainless metal. If $500 is all you have to spend on a refrigerator, a purchase of this Danby refrigerator is money well spent.
This Premium top-freezer refrigerator has most of the benefits of the Danby but at a lower cost. Its interior was designed with adjustability in mind – the fridge temperature is controlled by a dial, the shelves are adjustable and removable, and the vegetable crisper even has its own humidity controls. The freezer also has its own separate dial for temperature control. This apartment-size refrigerator is easy to clean and ENERGY STAR–certified for its energy efficiency. It's a winner on all fronts!
The first mini fridge on this list, the BLACK+DECKER 3.2 cu. ft. Freestanding Mini Fridge holds its own against its larger peers. Boasting 4.7 stars with almost 500 reviews, this mini fridge is one of the best refrigerators under $500 if 3.2 cu. ft. of storage space is all you need. It may be small, but it was designed to hold as much as possible without sacrificing functionality. This mini fridge has adjustable, removable shelves and its door has special racks to hold both canned and bottled drinks. It also has a small but mighty freezer compartment with included ice cube trays, an incredible feature for a fridge of this size. Did we mention that it's under $200?
Looking for a stylish, affordable way to store drinks, surplus produce, and small frozen items? This retro top-freezer mini fridge from Galanz fits the bill. This refrigerator comes in two stunning shades – hot-rod red and vinyl black – that are accented by polished silver hardware. This incredible fridge looks like it could have come straight out of the 1950s, but that's not all. Its interior also demands attention. With its own mini top freezer, removable storage bins on both the fridge and top-freezer doors, adjustable and removable shelves, a vegetable crisper, bright interior lighting, and an easy-to-adjust internal thermostat, this little refrigerator can easily accommodate a wide range of food and drink storage needs.
With 4.4 cu. ft. of storage space, this Keystone mini fridge can store a bit more than the BLACK+DECKER mini fridge we introduced earlier. Perfect for a dorm room, a rec room, or a small lounge space that could benefit from its own supply of fresh food and chilled drinks, this mini fridge is a formidable alternative to larger, more expensive refrigerators. Its three-shelf interior can be customized to accommodate items of differing heights, and its door has several racks of different sizes to hold bottles, cans, and miscellaneous condiments. It has easy-to-use temperature controls for refrigeration and freezing (yes, it also has a little freezer!), though it doesn't defrost automatically. Reviewers have applauded this fridge's ease of use, quietness, and surprising capacity in spite of its size.
With a capacity of 7.4 cu. ft., this Premium apartment-size refrigerator is one of the largest refrigerators under $500. Like the other apartment-size top-freezer refrigerators on this list, this Premium fridge was designed to be as functional as possible in spite of its small size. Thanks to its adjustable, removable shelves, you'll be able to manipulate this fridge's interior to accommodate items of varying sizes with ease. This fridge's spill-proof glass shelves were designed for easy cleanup. A separate crisper drawer ensures that all of your produce will stay fresh. Built-in door shelves allow you to store loose drinks and condiments without cluttering the main refrigerator compartment. Temperature management is easy using this refrigerator's accessible controls – and did we mention how gorgeous its black finish is? This refrigerator was designed to be exactly as deep as a standard cabinet, so it will stand completely flush with your existing kitchen components. At just over $400, this refrigerator is one of the best for your money.
With 4.5 stars and over 500 reviews, this Danby mini fridge is a stellar refrigerator for under $500. This mini fridge is unique because, unlike one-compartment mini fridges, its refrigerator and freezer are actually separate compartments, each with its own swinging door. As a top-freezer mini fridge, this Danby model is more versatile than its fellow mini fridges but just as affordable (if not more so). It has all the benefits of the other refrigerators on this list – customizable shelves, door shelves, a veggie crisper, a bright interior light – with a sleek, modern metallic exterior that sets it apart. The small size, affordable cost, and surprising capacity and versatility of this refrigerator make it an absolutely perfect choice for an office rec room, bar, basement hangout, garage, or even as a stand-in while you save up for a full-size fridge.
At just under $500, this mini fridge is one of the more expensive mini fridges on this list, and for good reason: With a capacity of 5.6 cu. ft., this mini fridge is one of the largest one-compartment mini fridges available. This fridge was designed to be installed perfectly under your existing countertop, but if you don't have a space available, that's completely fine – this fridge can be used as a freestanding appliance as well. Its adjustable shelves, door-storage compartments, ice cube trays, and wide crisper drawer make it a formidable alternative to a full-size refrigerator – this fridge can handle almost anything you can throw at it. Reviewers have noted their pleasant surprise at the size of this mini fridge, commenting on its perfect performance in their home bars and outdoor kitchen spaces.
Sleek and attractive, this Danby apartment-size refrigerator is easy to maneuver and easy to place – at under 24" wide, it will fit nicely in most narrow, unused spaces in your home. With the combined capacity of its top freezer and refrigerator compartment coming out to 7.3 cu. ft., this fridge is also larger than some of its more expensive counterparts. It contains three adjustable, spill-proof glass shelves that can be removed for easy cleaning and a gorgeous clear, glass-covered vegetable crisper that will keep your produce fresh for days. Its door was designed for secure bottle storage, and there's no ignoring the benefits of having just over 1.5 cu. ft. of (automatically defrosting) freezer space. Despite its size, this Danby fridge is one of the absolute best refrigerators under $500.
