The Best Dorm Mini Fridges that Don't Break the Bank

If you have a child preparing to go off to college or you're planning for the big move yourself, then you know there's plenty of college dorm room essentials you'll need. While shower caddies and mattress protectors are usually at the top of the list, many kitchen necessities are almost forgotten about, including mini fridges. And, yes, you definitely need a mini fridge for college. Whether you opt for a small cube-sized fridge or you max out your space (ideal if you're living in a suite-style dorm), a mini fridge is worth the investment.

But, fortunately, it doesn't have to be a big investment. While a regular-sized fridge can cost thousands, mini fridges can come at pretty reasonable prices, including under $100. All of the mini fridges that made this list combine efficiency, durability, and bargain pricing so you can cut down time on shopping and spend all the family time before they fly the coop.

But before hitting "buy now," you may want to do a bit of research on mini fridges.

What Size Fridge Is Good for a Dorm?

Well, that depends on your college or university. Any form of student housing is going to inform parents and students of the maximum fridge size they can bring. Here are the most common you'll come across:

• Cube (1.6-1.7 cubic feet)—a cube fridge is small but mighty, usually consisting of one interior shelf and in-door storage. If your student is planning on refrigerating just the necessities, this should do just fine.
• 2.5-2.6 cubic feet—this is a nice mid-size model that allows for a freezer compartment option or not. This size fridge would provide enough room for one person, but you might be a bit cramped with two.
• 3.3 cubic feet—we consider this the ideal size for most dorm mini fridges. You can find fridges in this size with freezers or not and either should provide enough room for two people.
• 4+ cubic feet—lucky you if your dorm allows for a fridge this large! Take advantage of it and make the most of all the extra fridge space you can get, especially if you have 2+ people sharing.

What to Look for When Buying a Mini Fridge

Now that you've determined the size you're shopping for, there are a few other things to evaluate, the first of which being whether or not you'd like a freezer. Mini fridges can come one of three ways—without any freezer compartment, an upper freezer or chilling compartment included in the main fridge area, or a separate freezer on a two-door fridge. If you plan on storing multiple frozen meals or half-gallon tubs of ice cream, then you might want to opt for a separate freezer door. Otherwise, a freezer compartment should suit you fine.

Next up, you'll want to look for reversible door hinges. This allows you to switch the way the door opens, which is a nice feature when you're not sure exactly how your dorm will be laid out.

Now that you know exactly what you want, you're ready to get shopping!