The 10 Best Beer Fridges of 2022
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The freestanding Whynter Beverage Refrigerator tops our list for its ample storage and compact footprint.
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For beer lovers, nothing beats a perfectly chilled brew. You could certainly store your favorite lagers, pilsners, and IPAs in your kitchen fridge, but if you want to keep a steady supply of cold ones on-hand, having a separate refrigerator will give you ample space for your bottles and cans.
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When buying a beer fridge, you’ll want to consider the unit’s size and capacity to ensure you have enough space. You’ll also want to think about whether this fridge will be standalone, installed under a countertop, or completely portable. If you have other special requirements, like locking doors, a digital display, or adjustable temperature control, be sure to keep an eye out for those options.
If you’ve been wanting to add a beer fridge to your home — or even to your BBQ or camping arsenal — keep reading. The Whynter BR-1211DS Beverage Refrigerator is our top pick thanks to its ample storage and compact footprint. Read on for the full list of the best beer fridges for every budget.
Whynter 121-Can Freestanding Beverage Refrigerator
Best Overall
Pros: With a fairly small footprint for its size, this fridge holds over 100 cans of beer and uses a cooling fan to control temperature.
Cons: The LED lighting isn’t bright enough to illuminate the inside of the cabinet all the way.
This freestanding fridge from Whynter offers plenty of storage space, fitting up to 121 standard-sized cans of beer or cider. It features a powerful compressor with a cooling fan that forces cold air to be evenly distributed around the interior, letting your beverages get cold faster than units without a fan. The touchscreen controls let you adjust the temperature, which ranges from 34 to 43 degrees Fahrenheit. This refrigerator also has four sliding shelves and a bin to hold odd or oversized cans and bottles.
Keep an eye on your beer stash through the double-paned tempered glass door so you can monitor when you need a restock. And since this cooler comes equipped with a lock and key, you can keep its contents secure when you need to.
Price at time of publish: $403
Footprint: 3.4 cubic feet
Dimensions: 33 x 19 x 18.25 inches
Installation Type: Freestanding
hOmeLabs Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler
Best Value
Pros: The auto-defrost function of this cooler ensures your drinks won’t freeze over.
Cons: This fridge doesn’t cool as evenly or as quickly as some higher-end models.
For the budget-conscious, this beverage refrigerator from hOmeLabs provides enough storage for 120 standard cans without breaking the bank. It features a digital display and touch temperature controls and also comes equipped with an auto defrost function, so it doesn’t get icy even when it's set to 34 degrees Fahrenheit (the unit’s lowest setting). There are three adjustable and removable chrome shelves to accommodate both cans and bottles and even a bottle or two of wine.
This refrigerator is equipped with LED lighting and a memory setting that will restore the preset temperature if you lose electricity. It also comes preset with a left hinge setup for the glass door but can be reversed for a right hinge opening if necessary. This fridge delivers many of the same features as higher-end models at a great value, so if cost is a major factor in your selection, this is a solid pick.
Price at time of publish: $352
Footprint: 3.2 cubic feet
Dimensions: 19 x 33 x 17 inches
Installation Type: Freestanding
Smith & Hanks BEV145SRE 178 Can Capacity Beverage Cooler
Best Splurge
Pros: This fridge can be used as a standalone unit or as a built-in unit beneath kitchen counters.
Cons: While the shelves do pull out for easy access, shelf dividers are not included.
This beverage refrigerator by Smith & Hanks is a worthy splurge thanks to its sleek design and versatile installation capabilities. You can use it as a freestanding fridge, but the front air vents also allow it to be used as a built-in unit as well. It boasts 5.12 cubic feet of space, which is enough to hold 178 standard cans of your favorite beers. This model’s temperature ranges from 36 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit, giving you the ability to use it for wine and Champagne in addition to beer.
The wood-accented shelves are adjustable to accommodate tall or odd-shaped bottles and cans, and they easily pull out for easy access. However, the shelves do not include dividers, so bottles and cans can tip over rather easily. This high-end unit also includes an auto-defrost system to prevent drinks from freezing and soft LED lighting to illuminate the interior.
Price at time of publish: $899
Footprint: 5.12 cubic feet
Dimensions: 32.5 x 23.75 x 23 inches
Installation Type: Built-in or standalone
Antarctic Star Mini Fridge
Best Compact
Pros: This compact fridge holds up to 100 standard cans, and the black exterior is easy to keep clean.
Cons: This unit’s lowest temperature setting is 40 degrees, which may not be cold enough for some.
If you don’t have a ton of space, this beverage cooler by Antarctic is big enough to hold up to 100 cans and can be easily tucked into the corner of an office or garage. Its temperature ranges from 40 degrees to 61 degrees Fahrenheit, cold enough for beers and sparkling water, but can also be used for wine that needs to be held at cellar temperatures. It features three adjustable chrome shelves that are also removable when you need to make room for larger vessels. The double-paned tempered glass door lets you see into the fridge while also ensuring excellent insulation.
Price at time of publish: $270
Footprint: 2.6 cubic feet
Dimensions: 17.5 x 19 x 25 inches
Installation Type: Freestanding
Cooluli Classic Mini Fridge
Best for Portability
Pros: You can plug this lightweight fridge into the wall or a car outlet.
Cons: This fridge’s lowest temperature is 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
This compact fridge is excellent for portability, weighing just over 10 pounds. It has handles on both sides and comes with both an AC cord for a regular outlet and a DC cord for a car outlet. The unit has enough room to hold up to 18 standard cans and chill them to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. This refrigerator also operates very quietly thanks to the thermoelectric cooling system.
The two shelves are not adjustable, but they are removable if you need to make room for taller or larger bottles, while door pockets offer some additional storage. It’s the ideal size for tailgates and road trips and also has dual voltage options. While it likely isn’t a fridge that will last for a lifetime, it’s a great choice for creating a drink station anywhere you want one.
Price at time of publish: $100
Footprint: 1.18 cubic feet
Dimensions: 10.5 x 15 x 13 inches
Installation: Freestanding
Titan Signature 24 in. French Door Beverage and Wine Cooler
Best For Beer and Wine
Pros: This model features dual zones and lots of storage space.
Cons: This fridge has a large footprint and requires plenty of space.
If your beverage needs include both wine and beer, this fridge was designed for you. Made of stainless steel, this sturdy fridge can function as a freestanding unit but can also be installed under the counter for seamless integration. Each side of this unit has its own temperature control, ranging from 38 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can adjust each section as needed. In the event you lose power, the Smart Memory feature will help the refrigerator return to temperature after a restart, ensuring there’s no big temperature fluctuation that could potentially damage your wine or beer.
The three adjustable wire shelves in the beverage zone can hold up to 64 standard cans of your favorite beer, while six stainless steel shelves in the wine zone can hold up to 20 bottles of wine. The tempered glass doors can be locked, and an alarm feature will let you know if a door has been inadvertently left ajar. While it is a pricey unit, it has all the bells and whistles you need to keep wine, beer, and other beverages protected and perfectly chilled.
Price at time of publish: $1,881
Footprint: 10.9 cubic feet
Dimensions: 24 x 34 x 24 inches
Installation Type: Built-in or freestanding
NewAir Large Beverage Refrigerator Cooler with 224 Can Capacity
Best Large
Pros: This unit holds up to 224 standard cans while having a comparatively small footprint.
Cons: While the shelves are adjustable, this fridge works best for storing cans versus bottles.
Avid beer drinkers who like to have a variety of microbrews and premium imports in addition to supermarket favorites will enjoy this spacious beer fridge. It has room for 224 standard cans of beer and features adjustable shelves to customize your configuration. The unit’s temperature goes from 37 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit controlled by a touch digital display, and it also has an automatic defrost feature to prevent ice from forming. This cooler is outfitted with three black chrome shelves that can be adjusted or removed to make room for larger bottles.
This model features red, white, and blue LED lights so you can select a color to match your mood or opt to have it cycle through all three. Parents will appreciate the inclusion of a bottom lock to keep their adult beverages secured. Use this generously sized fridge as a freestanding unit or add it to your kitchen as a built-in unit — either way, you’ll never run out of room for your favorite brews.
Price at time of publish: $713
Footprint: 5.72 cubic feet
Dimensions: 25.5 x 23.5 x 34.25 inches
Installation Type: Built-in or freestanding
EdgeStar KC2000 Full Size Kegerator and Keg Beer Cooler
Best for Kegs
Pros: This kegerator is on casters, making it easy to move even when it’s full.
Cons: Since the exterior can heat up in warm temperatures, this fridge should only be used indoors.
Buying your favorite beer by the keg is an excellent idea — not only is it more eco-friendly than cans or bottles, but you’ll also ensure a fresh pour every time. Once you start buying kegs regularly, you’ll need a kegerator to keep your beer at the perfect temperature. This standalone unit fits both quarter- and half-sized kegs and comes equipped with a single tap to easily dispense your brew. It features an external CO2 tank mount for easy access and comes with all the components needed — tubing, faucet wrench, regulator, and more — required for painless installation.
Other useful features include a manual temperature control knob, leveling legs, and casters to make it easy to move from one room to the next.
Price at time of publish: $599
Footprint: 11.81 cubic feet
Dimensions: 51 x 20 x 20 inches
Installation Type: Freestanding
Mobicool MCF40 Electric Cooler
Best for Camping
Pros: A powerful compressor keeps things cold, plus this cooler can be plugged into a wall or your car.
Cons: Although this cooler is technically portable, it’s fairly bulky at 25 pounds.
Bringing cold brews on your camping trip is a snap with this electric cooler from Mobicool. It comes in four retro colors and can hold up to 48 cans. A powerful compressor unit allows the cooler to stay extra chilly, and it can be plugged into a regular outlet or car outlet to keep it running. A digital display and touchpad allow you to control the cooler’s temperature, which can go all the way down to 12 degrees Fahrenheit.
This unit weighs about 25 pounds, which might be a bit heavy to take on a camping excursion that requires hiking, but it’s perfect for car camping (and glamping) or even to supply ice-cold brewskis for your next backyard BBQ. While it’s a bit on the pricey side as far as a cooler goes, it eliminates the need for ice and holds 50 percent more than similarly sized traditional coolers.
Price at time of publish: $240
Footprint: 3.37 cubic feet
Dimensions: 23 x 14.4 x 17.6 inches
Installation Type: Freestanding
Wine Enthusiast Bar Cabinet with Integrated Beverage Cooler
Best for Entertaining
Pros: This stylish cabinet keeps your beverages cold and doubles as a home bar cabinet.
Cons: The large footprint can be limiting depending on available space.
With two integrated fridges, this stylish bar is the ultimate piece of furniture for entertaining. Built with a mix of reclaimed elm, iron, and glass, this bar cabinet features an upper section with an adjustable shelf and ambient lights — perfect to display glassware and show off an assortment of your favorite bottles. There are also two drawers to tuck away napkins, stirrers, and other drink accessories.
The bottom doors open to reveal two separate beverage coolers that can hold 20 bottles of wine plus an assortment of bottles and cans, so everyone can enjoy their drink of choice at the optimum temperature. The upper and lower sections both have separate locks so you can secure their contents. While this cabinet only comes in one style and color, it can fit into many design schemes. It’s quite an investment, but a functional piece that will make stylish entertaining a breeze.
Price at time of publish: $3,295
Footprint: 28.3 cubic feet
Dimensions: 60 x 37 x 22 inches
Installation Type: Freestanding
Our Favorite
The Whynter BR-1211DS Beverage Refrigerator is our top choice for anyone looking to pick up a sleek yet reliable fridge to keep their beers frosty. We love how quickly and evenly this unit distributes cold air and find that it holds a generous amount of cans (121 to be exact) for its size.
Factors to Consider
Size/Capacity
When buying a beer fridge, your main concern should be space — internal capacity as well as its overall footprint. If you tend to go through a lot of beer at once, you’ll want a large-capacity fridge that can keep a generous amount of cans cold. If your cold beer needs aren’t too high, you can get away with smaller and more compact models. Since all of these fridges feature doors that open outwards, you’ll also want to be sure you have enough clearance for the doors and their hinges.
Cooling System
There are two types of cooling systems used for these types of refrigerators: compressors and thermo-electric systems. Compressors tend to be a bit louder, but also more powerful and effective in cooling and maintaining low temperatures. Thermo-electric coolers are usually pretty quiet, but they usually don’t get ice-cold. If you need your beer to be downright icy, opt for a compressor-type unit.
Standout Features
Other options we find useful when purchasing a beer fridge are the auto-defrost feature, digital display, and LED lighting to help you see inside your beer fridge when it’s dark. If you want to keep the contents of your beverage cooler secure when you’re not around, look for a model that features a locking door.
Our Expertise
Bernadette Machard de Gramont is an LA-based freelance writer specializing in food, wine, and kitchen products. After a two-year stint at Williams Sonoma headquarters in San Francisco, she now researches and tests a variety of cookware, bakeware, and wine tools, and interviews field experts for their insight.
