How Much Does a Refrigerator Cost?
Read this guide to help you decide on your fridge budget.
While most commercial refrigerators fair evenly in categories like size and installation type, others include top-of-the-line details that make those pricey accessories worth the splurge. Whether you're feeding a family of five or looking for something compatible with van life, there are many different refrigerators to choose from, all at widely different prices depending on what you prioritize. Which begs the question, “how much does a refrigerator cost?” Keep reading to learn more about refrigerator price and what factors impact the cost.
How Much Does a Refrigerator Cost?
Refrigerator Door Types
Freezer Space
Refrigerator Features
Included Refrigerator Components
How Much Does a Refrigerator Cost?
The standard price of a refrigerator often depends on the door design, size, and the type of features you're looking for.
Budget-Friendly Refrigerators
Budget-friendly refrigerators range between $500 and $1,000. These refrigerators have basic temperature controls and are unlikely to include any special features.
Mid-Range Refrigerators
These refrigerators usually fall within a price range of $1,000 and $2,000. Mid-range refrigerators come with handy features like a built-in water and ice dispenser, configurable shelves, and temperature controls.
High-End Refrigerators
High-end refrigerators typically cost between $2,000 and $10,000. These refrigerators typically include luxury-level features, such as advanced temperature controls, glass doors, or smart connectivity that pairs your refrigerator with other smart appliances on your home's network.
The price of a refrigerator can vary based on different door designs.
French Door: The most popular choice, refrigerators with French doors provide short, wide spaces that split in the middle and open outward. Most French door refrigerators come with one or two freezer drawers on the bottom and give you a great visual when you open the doors. The layout is the main focus with a French door fridge. You have access to everything at once and stay organized without having to move things out of the way to see. These grand opening styles usually go for around $2,000.
Side-by-Side: Another double door option, side-by-side refrigerator doors are made with two tall, but narrow, compartments. This design allows you to open only one side, so that you’re not letting as much cool air out and forcing the refrigerator to work harder. Ultimately, this means you’ll save energy in the long run.
Freezer position and storage space can affect the refrigerator price.
Top Freezer: Dividing the fridge/freezer separates the refrigerator into two designated spaces: top and bottom. Some fridges have a Flexzone feature – a versatile top door with different temperature settings that can be a fridge or freezer and help maximize food storage. Single door fridges with top freezer costs anywhere from $500 – $1,000, depending on the size.
Shop Refrigerators With Top Freezers
Bottom Freezer: This type of freezer is good for small to average size families – get the most out of your storage space with the depth to stack food and convenient top drawers. With its modern design, a bottom pull-out freezer drawer is also great for small areas since there’s no outward swinging door. Bottom freezers are typically more expensive than a top freezer starting at $1,500 and going all the way up to $3,000.
Special features like smart-home compatibility can drive the refrigerator price up, but can be well worth the investment for the convenience.
Door-Ajar Alarm: While it may seem like a nuisance when you have a ton of groceries to put away, refrigerators with a door ajar alarm are a huge plus. When the door is open, the magnet and sensors can determine if you’re out of reach and an alarm will sound after about two minutes. The alarm helps save money on your energy bill and prevents food from spoiling, saving you another trip back to the store.
Smart Features: Not unlike many kitchen appliances these days, there are several “smart refrigerator” options that have lots of helpful features, such as Wi-Fi compatibility. Many fridges are compatible with a downloadable app that sends you updates regarding potential problems like filter changes or temperature drops before they turn into major issues.
Fridges with a door-within-door feature allow you to instantly see what foods are inside so you can remember to eat them before they go bad, saving you the added cost of buying them again. The showcase door provides quick-access items that are frequently reached for without needlessly opening the entire door and letting warm air rush in. See-through fridges make it easier to efficiently grocery shop and only spend money on groceries that you actually need, preventing you from wasting money on extra food.
Typically smaller, around 24”, and single door units, solar-powered fridges are the perfect appliance for those wanting to go off the grid. Save power and money with a fridge that’s powered by solar panels but is still reliable for keeping your groceries cold and fresh. These smart features usually end up tacking on an additional $1,000 to the refrigerator’s cost making it the most expensive option averaging around $3,000.
Aesthetics: When buying a fridge, sometimes it matters more what’s on the outside. Different refrigerators vary in price based on stylish elements including color, era-specific aesthetic, or smudge-proof features. Use your refrigerator as a focal point to add some personality to your kitchen.
Dispensers: Water and ice dispensers, which are typically included together on French door or side-by-side door refrigerators, are deal breakers for some. Although this luxury may cost a little extra, many fridges offer internal or external water dispensers and some even have ice makers that yield different kinds of ice cubes. The added convenience of these dispensers are valued at around $2,000, which is about $1,000 more than fridges without.
Auto-Fill Water:A newer, tech-centric component, refrigerators with an auto-fill water feature lets you walk away while the dispenser automatically fills any container. Sensors are used to detect the container’s size and to dispense water until the container is up to 90% full.
Ultimately, Some refrigerators boast features that may have you paying more upfront, but will end up saving you money. Browse all fridges/freezers to determine which one best fits your lifestyle and really decide how much does a refrigerator cost. It may end up paying for itself.
