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The fridge is the most important appliance in the kitchen, but people don't always put too much thought into choosing one. Given their long lifespans, it makes sense to assess the type, functionality and size of fridge that would be best for you, so we've got some helpful information to help make your decision.
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The first consideration is size. Most kitchens have designated fridge cavities so you should measure this space since it can be the main limiting factor when purchasing. Don't buy a fridge that won't fit in your kitchen or through doorways when being installed. You will need 25mm of additional free space around the top, back and sides of the fridge to allow for excess heat to escape.
Finding the right fridge capacity for your household size or refrigerating needs is also crucial. Its harder to cool air than liquids/solids, and so it will be more energy efficient (and typically cheaper) to have a small fridge thats full, instead of a big fridge that you're only using half the space of. You're able to filter for household size, capacity and dimensions on the left of your screen. As a general guide: 1-2 people will use 200-400L, 3-4 will use 520-600L, and 5 or more people will use 700L.
Also consider the type of fridge that's best for you.
Top Mount Fridges are a popular and affordable type of fridge. Its freezer compartment sits above the fridge cavity, which increases the accessibility of frozen food while limiting the amount of freezer space available.
Bottom Mount Fridges have their freezer section at the base of the unit, and tend to be more expensive than Top Mount designs. It has less freezer space than other types of fridges, and will require some bending and crouching to access the slide-out freezer drawers. Everyday fridge items are very accessible.
French Door Fridges are wide, spacious and typically expensive types of fridge. The two fridge doors and large bottom mounted freezer drawer allow for huge storage space, and they often come with a range of modern design features and built-in water and ice dispensing.
An Upright or Fridge Only fridge has only one compartment. Its lack of freezer makes it cheaper than other models, and would be best used as a second unit or to fit a specific refrigeration-only need.
Side-by-Side Fridges have a dedicated fridge and dedicated freezer section that stand beside each other. They are a big, wide and expensive model of fridge, often fitted with modern design features and built-in water and ice dispensing. Though they have ample and accessible storage space, they may use more energy and make more noise than other fridges.
Think about what space you have to open the door, as cabinetry and walls can often get in the way. Some doors only open to the right or left, while others come with reversible fittings - and all of this information should be available when looking at a specific model.
The energy efficiency of your fridge will be clearly marked in the product's information. Typically, Top and Bottom Mount fridges are more efficient than French Door or Side-By-Side models.
Modern fridges come in a range of styles and finishes. Traditionally, the exterior material of your fridge get trendier and more expensive as they get darker - with white being the cheapest. You should be able to find a finish that fits your kitchen's aesthetic.
Finally, these are some popular and functional features to consider. Some fridges have adjustable shelving that can make a huge difference in your use of storage. Child proof features allow you to keep kids away from temperature controls and certain compartments. Many modern fridges come with an antibacterial wall and door coating to stop bacteria forming in your fridge. Water and ice dispensers are a common additional feature, and are able to be plumbed in or not depending on your preference. A good internal LED light can make all the difference, as can the right crisper. Some temperature controls are very advanced, and allow for quick cooling and automatic adjustments to save power. A few very expensive Smart fridges are also Wi-Fi connected, can play music, show what's inside the fridge when you're away, and show online recipes.
The above could be considered nice to have, and you should choose only the additions that make sense for your type of fridge and budget.
127 listings
- Award Winner 2019
Top Mount Fridges / RefrigeratorsSamsung SR400LSTC
- Review Summary
- Specifications
- Build Quality2.6 (12)
- Value for Money2.9 (13)
- Ease of Use3.5 (12)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 3.3 (12)
- Noise Level3.1 (13)
- Internal Layout3.4 (7)
- Dimensions 1715 x 675 x 668 mm
- Energy Rating3.5 star(s)
- FeaturesDoor Alarm and Frost Free
- Colour / Finish Easy Clean Steel
- Handle Type Recessed
- Smart Fridge No
- Shelf MaterialGlass
- Number of Shelves3
- Number of Fruit & Vegetable Bins 1
- Total Capacity 400 L
Is part of...
Samsung 400L Top Mount · includes 2 listings
Top Mount Fridges / RefrigeratorsHisense HR6TFF350S (350L, Stainless)
- Review Summary
- Specifications
- Build Quality3.5 (2)
- Value for Money4.0 (2)
- Ease of Use4.0 (2)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 4.0 (2)
- Noise Level4.0 (2)
- Internal Layout5.0 (1)
- Dimensions 1698 x 595 x 675 mm
- Energy Rating3 star(s)
- FeaturesFrost Free
- Colour / Finish Stainless Steel
- Handle Type Recessed
- Smart Fridge No
- Shelf MaterialGlass
- Number of Shelves3
- Number of Fruit & Vegetable Bins 1
- Weight70.4 kg
- Total Capacity 350 L
Is part of...
Hisense 350L Top Mount · includes 2 listings
Top Mount Fridges / RefrigeratorsSamsung SR399WTC
Price (RRP) $1,199.00
- Review Summary
- Specifications
- Build Quality4.0 (2)
- Value for Money3.5 (2)
- Ease of Use5.0 (2)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 3.5 (2)
- Noise Level4.0 (2)
- Internal Layout3.0 (1)
- Dimensions 1715 x 675 x 668 mm
- Energy Rating3.5 star(s)
- FeaturesDoor Alarm and Frost Free
- Colour / Finish White
- Handle Type Recessed
- Smart Fridge No
- Shelf MaterialGlass
- Number of Shelves3
- Number of Fruit & Vegetable Bins 1
- Total Capacity 400 L
Is part of...
Samsung 400L Top Mount · includes 2 listings
Top Mount Fridges / RefrigeratorsHisense HR6TFF350 (350L, White)
- Review Summary
- Specifications
- Build Quality4.3 (3)
- Value for Money5.0 (3)
- Ease of Use4.7 (3)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 4.3 (3)
- Noise Level5.0 (2)
- Internal Layout4.0 (2)
- Dimensions 1698 x 595 x 675 mm
- Energy Rating3 star(s)
- FeaturesFrost Free
- Colour / Finish White
- Handle Type Recessed
- Smart Fridge No
- Shelf MaterialGlass
- Number of Shelves3
- Number of Fruit & Vegetable Bins 1
- Weight70.4 kg
- Total Capacity 350 L
Is part of...
Hisense 350L Top Mount · includes 2 listings
Top Mount Fridges / RefrigeratorsHisense HR6TFF230 (230L, White)
- Review Summary
- Specifications
- Build Quality4.3 (4)
- Value for Money4.3 (4)
- Ease of Use4.8 (4)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 4.8 (4)
- Noise Level4.5 (4)
- Internal Layout4.5 (4)
- Dimensions 1456 x 550 x 605 mm
- Energy Rating2 star(s)
- FeaturesFrost Free
- Colour / Finish White
- Handle Type Recessed
- Smart Fridge No
- Shelf MaterialGlass
- Number of Shelves3
- Number of Fruit & Vegetable Bins 1
- Weight51.3 kg
- Total Capacity 230 L
Is part of...
Hisense 230L Top Mount · includes 2 listings
Bottom Mount Fridges / RefrigeratorsWestinghouse WBB3400WG (340L, White)
- Review Summary
- Specifications
- Build Quality2.8 (4)
- Value for Money3.0 (4)
- Ease of Use2.3 (4)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 3.3 (4)
- Noise Level2.8 (4)
- Internal Layout3.5 (4)
- Dimensions 1645 x 598 x 650 mm
- Energy Rating3.5 star(s)
- FeaturesDoor Alarm and Frost Free
- Colour / Finish White
- Handle Type Recessed
- Smart Fridge No
- Shelf MaterialGlass
- Number of Shelves4
- Number of Fruit & Vegetable Bins 1
- Total Capacity 340 L
Is part of...
Westinghouse 340L Bottom Mount · includes 6 listings
Top Mount Fridges / RefrigeratorsHisense HR6TFF230S (230L, Stainless)
- Review Summary
- Specifications
- Build Quality4.0 (1)
- Value for Money5.0 (1)
- Ease of Use5.0 (1)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 5.0 (1)
- Noise Level5.0 (1)
- Internal Layout5.0 (1)
- Dimensions 1456 x 550 x 605 mm
- Energy Rating2 star(s)
- FeaturesFrost Free
- Colour / Finish Stainless
- Handle Type Recessed
- Smart Fridge No
- Shelf MaterialGlass
- Number of Shelves3
- Number of Fruit & Vegetable Bins 1
- Weight51.3 kg
- Total Capacity 230 L
Is part of...
Hisense 230L Top Mount · includes 2 listings
Bottom Mount Fridges / RefrigeratorsLG GB-310RWL (310L, White, Anti-fingerprint)
- Review Summary
- Specifications
- Build Quality4.7 (3)
- Value for Money5.0 (3)
- Ease of Use3.5 (4)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 4.7 (3)
- Noise Level4.8 (4)
- Internal Layout4.0 (5)
- Dimensions 1737 x 600 x 645 mm
- Energy Rating4 star(s)
- FeaturesDoor Alarm
- Colour / Finish White
- Handle Type Recessed
- Smart Fridge No
- Shelf MaterialGlass
- Number of Shelves3
- Number of Fruit & Vegetable Bins 1
- Weight69 kg
- Total Capacity 310 L
Is part of...
LG 310L Bottom Mount · includes 4 listings
Top Mount Fridges / RefrigeratorsSamsung SR343LSTC (Stainless Steel)
- Review Summary
- Specifications
- Build Quality3.0 (2)
- Value for Money2.5 (2)
- Ease of Use4.0 (2)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 4.0 (2)
- Noise Level1.0 (2)
- Internal Layout4.0 (2)
- Dimensions 1715 x 600 x 672 mm
- Energy Rating3.5 star(s)
- FeaturesFrost Free
- Colour / Finish Easy Clean Steel
- Handle Type Recessed
- Smart Fridge No
- Shelf MaterialGlass
- Number of Shelves3
- Number of Fruit & Vegetable Bins 1
- Weight57 kg
- Total Capacity 343 L
Is part of...
Samsung 343L Top Mount · includes 2 listings
Top Mount Fridges / RefrigeratorsLG GT-332SDC (332L, Stainless Finish)
- Review Summary
- Specifications
- Build Quality4.7 (6)
- Value for Money4.5 (6)
- Ease of Use5.0 (6)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 4.8 (6)
- Noise Level4.2 (5)
- Internal Layout5.0 (3)
- Dimensions 1692 x 600 x 665 mm
- Energy Rating4 star(s)
- FeaturesDoor Alarm
- Colour / Finish Shiny Steel
- Handle Type Recessed
- Smart Fridge Yes
- Shelf MaterialGlass
- Number of Shelves4
- Number of Fruit & Vegetable Bins 1
- Total Capacity 332 L
Is part of...
LG 332L Top Mount with Door Cooling · includes 2 listings
Upright Fridges / RefrigeratorsHisense HR6AFF355D (White)
- Review Summary
- Specifications
- Build Quality2.5 (2)
- Value for Money2.3 (3)
- Ease of Use3.7 (3)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 4.3 (3)
- Noise Level4.0 (3)
- Internal Layout4.3 (3)
- Dimensions 1746 x 595 x 700 mm
- Energy Rating3 star(s)
- FeaturesDisplay Panel, Door Alarm and Frost Free
- Colour / Finish White
- Handle Type External
- Smart Fridge No
- Shelf MaterialGlass
- Number of Shelves4
- Number of Fruit & Vegetable Bins 1
- Weight66 kg
- Total Capacity 355 L
Is part of...
Hisense HR6AFF355 (355L, Upright) · includes 2 listings
Top Mount Fridges / RefrigeratorsKelvinator KTB2302WA
- Review Summary
- Specifications
- Build Quality3.0 (2)
- Value for Money3.0 (2)
- Ease of Use2.5 (2)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 3.0 (2)
- Noise Level4.0 (1)
- Internal Layout4.0 (1)
- Dimensions 1405 x 540 x 615 mm
- Energy Rating2 star(s)
- FeaturesFrost Free
- Colour / Finish White
- Handle Type Recessed
- Smart Fridge No
- Shelf MaterialGlass
- Number of Shelves3
- Number of Fruit & Vegetable Bins 1
- Total Capacity 231 L
Upright Fridges / RefrigeratorsWestinghouse WRM2400WD (240L, White)
- Review Summary
- Specifications
- Value for Money1.0 (1)
- Ease of Use3.0 (1)
- Noise Level3.0 (1)
- Dimensions 1444 x 550 x 555 mm
- Energy Rating2.5 star(s)
- Colour / Finish White
- Handle Type Recessed
- Smart Fridge No
- Shelf MaterialMetal
- Number of Shelves5
- Number of Fruit & Vegetable Bins 1
- Total Capacity 240 L
Is part of...
Westinghouse WRM2400 (240L, Upright) · includes 3 listings
Top Mount Fridges / RefrigeratorsChiQ 216L Top Mount Fridge CTM216W
Price (RRP) $649.00
- Review Summary
- Specifications
- Build Quality3.5 (2)
- Value for Money5.0 (2)
- Ease of Use5.0 (2)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 5.0 (2)
- Noise Level5.0 (2)
- Internal Layout5.0 (2)
- Dimensions 1465 x 545 x 590 mm
- Energy Rating3.5 star(s)
- FeaturesFrost Free
- Colour / Finish White
- Handle Type Recessed
- Smart Fridge No
- Shelf MaterialGlass
- Number of Shelves2
- Number of Fruit & Vegetable Bins 1
- Weight45 kg
- Total Capacity 216 L
Top Mount Fridges / RefrigeratorsCHiQ CTM320W
Price (RRP) $649.00
- Review Summary
- Specifications
- Build Quality5.0 (2)
- Value for Money5.0 (2)
- Ease of Use5.0 (2)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 5.0 (2)
- Noise Level5.0 (2)
- Dimensions 1520 x 595 x 670 mm
- Energy Rating3 star(s)
- FeaturesFrost Free
- Colour / Finish White
- Handle Type Recessed
- Smart Fridge No
- Shelf MaterialGlass
- Number of Shelves3
- Number of Fruit & Vegetable Bins 1
- Weight58 kg
- Total Capacity 320 L
Top Mount Fridges / RefrigeratorsHitachi RV410PT8BSL
- Specifications
- Dimensions 1605 x 650 x 720 mm
- Energy Rating4.5 star(s)
- FeaturesDoor Alarm
- Colour / Finish Brilliant Silver
- Handle Type Recessed
- Shelf MaterialGlass
- Total Capacity 375 L
Bottom Mount Fridges / RefrigeratorsMitsubishi Electric MR-CX370EJ-ST (370L, Stainless Steel)
- Review Summary
- Specifications
- Build Quality4.0 (1)
- Value for Money5.0 (1)
- Ease of Use5.0 (1)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 5.0 (1)
- Noise Level5.0 (1)
- Internal Layout5.0 (1)
- Dimensions 1698 x 600 x 660 mm
- Energy Rating3.5 star(s)
- FeaturesDoor Alarm, Foldable/Retractable Shelf and Frost Free
- Colour / Finish Stainless Steel
- Handle Type Recessed
- Shelf MaterialGlass
- Number of Shelves4
- Number of Fruit & Vegetable Bins 1
- Weight72 kg
- Total Capacity 370 L
Is part of...
Mitsubishi Electric 370L Bottom Mount Inverter (MR-CX370 Series) · includes 4 listings
Upright Fridges / RefrigeratorsLiebherr SBNes 3210
Price (RRP) $6,190.00
- Review Summary
- Specifications
- Build Quality4.0 (1)
- Value for Money5.0 (1)
- Ease of Use5.0 (1)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 5.0 (1)
- Noise Level2.0 (1)
- Dimensions 1852 x 600 x 630 mm
- FeaturesDoor Alarm, Frost Free and Wine Rack
- Colour / Finish Stainless Steel
- Handle Type External
- Smart Fridge No
- Shelf MaterialGlass
- Number of Shelves2
- Number of Fruit & Vegetable Bins 1
- Weight84.9 kg
- Total Capacity 276 L
Top Mount Fridges / RefrigeratorsLG GT-279WDC (White, Door Cooling)
Price (RRP) $749.00
- Review Summary
- Specifications
- Build Quality4.0 (1)
- Value for Money4.0 (1)
- Ease of Use5.0 (1)
- Cleaning & Maintenance 5.0 (1)
- Noise Level4.0 (1)
- Dimensions 1665 x 555 x 620 mm
- Energy Rating3.5 star(s)
- FeaturesDoor Alarm and Frost Free
- Colour / Finish White
- Handle Type Recessed
- Smart Fridge No
- Shelf MaterialGlass
- Number of Shelves4
- Number of Fruit & Vegetable Bins 1
- Weight52 kg
- Total Capacity 279 L
Is part of...
LG 279L Top Mount · includes 4 listings
Bottom Mount Fridges / RefrigeratorsSmeg Retro Style FAB32RSVNA1 (Silver)
- Specifications
- Dimensions 1926 x 600 x 720 mm
- Energy Rating3.5 star(s)
- FeaturesFrost Free and Wine Rack
- Colour / Finish Silver
- Handle Type External
- Smart Fridge No
- Shelf MaterialGlass
- Number of Shelves3
- Number of Fruit & Vegetable Bins 1
- Total Capacity 304 L