Shipping your baby off to college is one of the hardest things for a parent to do, and all the shopping can add to the stress! A mini-fridge is essential for a dorm room and can be used for snacks, drinks, or even makeup if your girl is super serious about her makeup! In this article, we’ll be putting an end to your search by reviewing 6 of the best mini fridges for dorms.
Let’s jump right in!
1. BLACK+DECKER Compact Refrigerator
With 1,000+ positive reviews, the Black+Decker Compact Refrigerator is relatively compact — small enough to fit underneath a desk or snug in a corner and comes in three different colors including black, gray, and white (with some colors being more expensive than others).
This 2.5 cubic feet mini fridge has ample storage space for a mini fridge and features 2 center glass shelves, making three rows for food storage, a shelf in the door and 2 vertical door shelves for soda cans, 2-liter bottles, or tall bottles. This mini fridge also has a full-width freezer compartment (a little over a foot wide and nearly 5 inches tall) with an ice tray.
The door is reversible and the Black + Decker features a flat back design for versatility so that you can place it just about anywhere in your dorm. And if you need it to fit under your desk, the leveling legs are adjustable to lower and increase the height. It also doesn’t take up too much floor space with dimensions of 17.5″ x 18.5″ x 26.6″.
The temperature can also be controlled with the convenient internal dial Thermostat Control. Set the mini fridge down to as low as 32 degrees Fahrenheit to chill your food at the perfect temperature. And, whenever it comes time to move out of your dorm or go back home for the holidays, you can empty this mini fridge and set it to it’s automatic defrost function.
What We Like:
- Comes in black, white, or gray
- Compact and can fit under a desk or in a corner
- Full-width freezer with ice tray
- Two glass shelves and ample storage
- Reversible door and flat back design
- Temperature can be raised or lowered manually
- Automatic defrost mode
- Relatively affordable
- Adjustable legs
- Runs quietly
What We Don’t:
- No internal light
2. RCA Single Door Mini Fridge with Freezer
Moving on to our second best mini fridge for dorms, the RCA Single Door Mini Fridge is a highly-rated and slightly larger mini fridge than our first pick.
With an internal capacity of 3.2 cubic feet, this mini fridge offers ample room and versatility. It comes in a modern, sleek stainless steel build, and features a full-width top freezer, 2 shelves (making three rows for food storage), a full-width door shelf, a vertical soda can in-door rack, a half-length in-door shelf, and an in-door shelf for 2-liter bottles or tall bottles.
The door is reversible so that you can place this mini fridge practically wherever you need it. It also runs surprisingly quiet and doesn’t take up too much floor space with its dimensions of 17-1/2” D x 18.5/8” W x 31.5/8” H. The design is also simple and modern, with an “invisible” handle and a single internal dial to regulate the temperature.
What We Like:
- Surprisingly spacious
- Lots of smart storage
- Runs quietly
- Reversible door
- Doesn’t take up too much floor space
- Simple design
What We Don’t:
- No internal light
3. Midea 3.1 Cu. Ft. Compact Refrigerator
The first mini fridge on our list with a separate freezer and fridge compartment, the Midea 3.1 cubic feet Compact Fridge is a super option for those concerned about ample storage space and organization. It’s available in three different colors, including black, stainless steel, and white, and has a modern “invisible handle” design.
The internal temperature of the freezer ranges from -11.2 degrees Fahrenheit to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, and the internal temperature of the fridge can range between 32 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on what foods you like to eat and what temps they need to be stored at for optimal shelf life.
Both doors are reversible so that you can place this mini fridge wherever you need in your dorm. Storage is excellent in this mini fridge and includes a crisper drawer, 2 shelves, a verticle soda can rack, a shelf for 2-liter or tall bottles, and a mini shelf in the door. The freezer provides ample space and is full-width with an in-door shelf. This mini fridge also has an internal light so that you can see what you’re grabbing (even if it’s in the middle of a long study night).
What We Like:
- Modern design — “invisible handle”
- Comes in 3 different colors: black, white, and stainless steel
- Separate freezer and fridge compartment
- Ample internal space
- Doesn’t take up too much floor space
- Has an internal light
What We Don’t:
- A tad on the pricey side
4. TACKLIFE Mini Fridge with Freezer
Another excellent mini fridge option with awesome storage space (similar to the Midea) is the TACKLIFE Mini Fridge. It’s a single door mini fridge with a full-width freezer compartment and is pretty compact with dimensions of 18.3 x 17.3 x 32.7 inches and an internal capacity of 3.2 cubit feet.
The door features ample storage space and includes a verticle canned soda rack, a shelf for tall drinks, another mini shelf to the right of the soda rack, and a full-width shelf at the top of the door. The inside of the mini fridge has a crisper drawer at the bottom and 2 glass shelves that are removable. You can control the temperature with a single dial located on the freezer compartment.
The TACKLIFE Mini Fridge runs super quietly, making it a great option for a small dorm or for under your desk or next to your bed. The door is also reversible and can be placed either on the left or right side of the fridge for your convenience. The stabling legs are also adjustable so that you can customize the height. This mini fridge also comes with a scratching board to remove ice whenever you need to defrost the mini fridge manually.
What We Like:
- Excellent internal storage space
- Crisper drawer for fruits, veggies, and cheese
- Fits virtually anywhere
- Reversible doors
- Adjustable legs
- Runs quietly
- Full-width freezer
What We Don’t:
- Manual defrosting
- No internal light
5. Cooluli Vibe White 15 Liter Compact Dry Erase Whiteboard Mini Fridge
Very compact and great for tiny dorms, the Cooluli Vibe Mini Fridge is super cute and doubles as a whiteboard! It’s perfect for traveling, also, and can be used in vehicles as well as indoors. It comes in two colors, black or white, and has a 15-liter capacity. This unit measures 10.5″ W x 12.75″ D x 14.75″ and only weighs 9 measly pounds.
This mini fridge has two shelves to separate (albeit, very small) groceries and the inside of the door has two small shelves for storage, as well. Now, keep in mind that this mini fridge isn’t great for lots of food or drinks. It’s best suited for mini water bottles and snacks rather than meals. All of the shelves and baskets can be removed and reconfigured to give you the most space and versatility.
The outside of this mini fridge is magnetic and a whiteboard so that you can jot down quick reminders, hang pictures, or decorate your mini fridge for your dorm. If you choose the black mini fridge, it doubles as a chalkboard. A handle is located at the top of the mini fridge for easy portability.
What We Like:
- Compact and great for very small spaces
- Available in black or white
- Doubles as a whiteboard for notes
- Handle for portability
- Great for snacks and drinks
What We Don’t:
- Not great for those looking to refrigerate meals
6. Bossin 3.2 CU. FT Compact Refrigerator
Finishing off at the end of our list, the Bossin Compact Refrigerator is roomy, cute, and great for any sized dorm. Its dimensions are 20.08 x 19.09 x 33.46 inches. It comes in three adorable, vintage colors including black, red, and mint green, and has a glossy finish. It’s worth noting that the mint green and red mini fridges are slightly more expensive than the regular black.
This mini fridge has a two-door design with the freezer on top and the fridge on the bottom. It has an adjustable temperature control with 7 dial positions ranging from cold to coldest. The freezer can get down to -1 degrees Fahrenheit and the fridge can range between 32 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
It has two shelves and a crisper drawer in the fridge section, and the shelves are movable and can be replaced in different height positions. The freezer is spacious enough to fit a whole chicken (and more) and has a row of shelving in the door for extra storage. It also comes with an ice tray and an ice shovel for the freezer.
What We Like:
- Comes in cute, vintage colors
- Roomy; lots of storage space
- Two-door design with freezer on top and fridge on the bottom
- The temperature dial ranges between 7 positions from cold to coldest
- Moveable glass shelves
- Retro silver handles
- Internal light
What We Don’t:
- The temperature dial can be a tad touchy
Why You Need a Mini Fridge in Your Dorm
No matter how much room you have in your dorm, having a mini fridge is always a good idea. Here’s why:
- They don’t take up much space. Mini fridges are usually 1 to 4 feet tall, a foot or two wide, and a foot or two deep. You can easily place a mini-fridge in a corner, under a desk or raised bed, or in some cases, on top of a counter or desk.
- You’ll always have cold drinks and food around. No need to constantly go to the cafeteria or borrow from your neighbor when you have your own cold drinks! You’ll always have what you need with a mini-fridge in your dorm.
- You won’t have to share food with your roommates. We all know how frustrating it can be to find out your food and drinks are missing thanks to your roommates. When you have your own mini fridge in your room, you can keep food separate and have your stash to yourself (finally).
What to Look for in a Mini Fridge
Not all mini fridges are created equal.
1. A Full-Width Freezer
When you’re living in a dorm, you’ll want a mini fridge that gives you as much room as possible for the foods you love. Having a mini fridge with a full-width freezer will give you more room for frozen products because it expands across the entire width of the mini fridge. Some mini fridges only have a tiny compartment for freezing food, so if you plan on having quite a bit of frozen food, choose a full-width freezer.
2. Convenient Shelving and Storage
You’ll obviously want at least 1 or 2 shelves inside your mini fridge to separate and organize your food. But there are also other storage features that some mini fridges have that you should consider, like a rack in the door for holding cans or 2-liter bottles. This frees up space and increases the amount of food and drinks you can have in your mini fridge, which is always a plus when you’re living in a dorm.
3. Good Insulation
Some mini fridges are just made of terrible quality, which is why it’s important to find a mini fridge that has good insultion. A mini fridge with a door (or doors) that keep tightly shut is the difference between fresh and spoiled food and a well-regulated internal temperature.
Final Thoughts
When it comes down to it, our top pick out of our best mini fridges for dorms list has to be the Midea 3.1 Cu. Ft. Compact Refrigerator. It has a super sleek appearance, ample room, and a separate freezer and fridge compartment (our favorite feature!). Though it’s a tad on the pricey side, we feel that all of the space and features make up for the cost.
No matter which best mini fridge for dorms you choose, we know you’ll love it!
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