If you are a single person looking for a mini-refrigerator or looking to buy a mini compact refrigerator as a second unit then this is the guide for you. We have listed the top best refrigerator models for a single person here from the world’s leading models. The compact refrigerators are available either as a standalone unit or are available to be built within the cabinetry, as most of these models are designed to work either way. These refrigerators are great for keeping the food items and beverages cold for a long time and they also have a dedicated freezer compartment to store the frozen delights cold for a long time.
Tips to Keep in Mind Before Choosing to Buy a Mini Fridge
The refrigerators for a single person are compact and can be placed anywhere in the room or hotel. They occupy very little space and they are also portable and convenient. Some important tips to keep in mind while choosing to buy the best refrigerator for a single person are as follows.
1. Size of the refrigerator
This refrigerator has a very small and compact space and you should go for this fridge, only when your storage needs are minimal. If you want to store only beverage cans and cold drinks, then you should go for a mini-fridge. But if you want to store fruits and vegetables, and leftover food, you can choose the other refrigerators given in our list.
2. Adjusting shelves
Though it is a small refrigerator, you should still choose an appliance that has adjustable shelves. Such adjusting shelves helps to organize different food items easily and helps in efficient cleaning up of the refrigerator as well.
3. Door type
Choose a refrigerator with a dedicated freezer or a reversible door that helps in its efficient placement even in tight places like dorm rooms and apartments.
What Are The Best Refrigerators for Single Person?
Also check: Best Refrigerators Under $500
Best Refrigerators for Single Person
The refrigerators that are listed here are great for a single person and though they are compact and small, they still hold a dedicated freezer, crisper vegetable and fruit drawers, adjustable glass shelves, and dedicated storage on the doors. Let us discuss these refrigerators in detail here.
#1. RCA RFR786-BLACK 2 Door Refrigerator – Best Overall
| Features | Rating |
| Performance | 9.1 |
| Controls and functionality | 9.2 |
| Build quality | 9.2 |
| Energy efficiency | 9.1 |
| Value for money | 9.3 |
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This is a small, elegant, and compact refrigerator with retro-style handles and it is available in beautiful colors like red blue a d black. This refrigerator is just fine for a single person who is staying in dorm rooms or apartments. A family of two members, whose refrigeration needs are minimal can also consider buying this refrigerator. It has about 7.5 Cubic Feet capacity and should be easy to store beverages, fruits and vegetables, and Food cool for a long time. There is also a dedicated freezer compartment with a capacity of 1.5 cubic feet.
The refrigerator has a retro and a practical design with a reversible door for convenient and practical placement, even in tight places. There are adjustable leveling legs in this unit to let the refrigerator stay stable on any surface. There are storage bins in the door of this refrigerator to store and organize smaller items. There are also dedicated vegetable and fruit crisper bins to maintain the freshness of the fruits and the vegetables.
The refrigerator compartment has spill-proof glass shelves that help in simplifying the clean-up and to contain the spills easily. It also prevents the liquids from leaking on the shelves below. The freezer compartment of this refrigerator holds fixed wire shelves and also a door bin to help with organized storage of the frozen food items. There is bright incandescent lighting in the freezer compartment to help allocate the right food item in the refrigerator easily.
Pros
- This is a cabin-height refrigerator that fits in the existing cabinet the refrigerator easily.
- Its adjusting shelves help with flexible storage options.
- Elegant and attractive design with simple mechanical controls.
- Movable door hinges with left and right-handed access.
Cons
- The refrigerator has to be defrosted manually
- The interiors are made of plastic.
Note: This refrigerator is also featured in our list of the best refrigerators for small kitchens and the best refrigerator under $700.
#2. Danby DAR044A4BDD-6 4.4 Cubic Feet Mini Fridge – Great for Single Person
| Features | Rating |
| Performance | 9.1 |
| Controls and functionality | 9 |
| Build quality | 9 |
| Energy efficiency | 9.1 |
| Value for money | 9.1 |
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Rather than qualifying an ideal refrigerator for a single person, this is can be stated as the best mini compact refrigerator for the bedroom, bar, living room, kitchen, and even the office space. This black compact refrigerator has an ideal storage space of 4.4 cubic feet. There is no dedicated freezer unit in this appliance and the entire 4.4 Cu.ft. is full of fridge space. This refrigerator features an integrated door shelving and it also features tall storage that is ideal for storing water, juice, and other drink bottles.
The refrigerator holds a CanStor beverage dispensing system, that features efficient and tidy can storage. This is integrated into the mini refrigerator door and is available within arm’s reach. The interiors of this refrigerator are clean, bright, and modern. Its white interiors have bright interior lighting, wire shelves, and an integrated door handle. The refrigerator also features a functional scratch-resistant worktop as well.
Its elegant and compact design enables it to fit anywhere and its smooth back design does not feature bulky and exposed components. Being a small and compact refrigerator, it can fit just about anywhere in the home. The refrigerator is versatile and has reversible door hinges and there are two full widths and 1 ½ width adjusting wire shelves that help with undisrupted air circulation. The appliance is easy to operate and it’s automatic defrost and mechanical thermostat means that there is no additional maintenance on your part.
Pros
- The appliance is environmentally friendly and is energy star compliant
- The refrigerator makes use of an environment-friendly R600a refrigerant.
- It holds a smooth back design and a reversible door.
- Its integrated door handles and scratch-resistant worktop makes it an ideal second refrigerator.
Cons
- The can holder at the backside of the door is not removable.
- There is no leveling at the base of the refrigerator.
Note: This refrigerator is also featured in our list of the best refrigerators for boats.
#3. Galanz GLR10TRDEFR True Top Retro Refrigerator – Editor’s Choice
| Features | Rating |
| Performance | 9.3 |
| Controls and functionality | 9.2 |
| Build quality | 9.1 |
| Energy efficiency | 9.1 |
| Value for money | 9.2 |
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This is an excellent retro refrigerator with a top freezer, along with adjusting electric thermostat control. The refrigerator looks great in its bright retro red color and the refrigerator has a total space of about 10.0 Cu.ft. to store all essential food items for a single person, for about a week. The refrigerator has a classic design, and its retro design looks unique and novel and it has a capacity of 10.0 Cu.ft. The refrigerator holds your favorite beverages cool and its perfect size is suitable for the recreational vehicle, university dormitory, office, or apartment. The refrigerator has a swing-type door.
The body of the refrigerator has removable glass shelves and drawers to separate the fruits from the vegetables. This glass shelf is capable of separating the fruits from the vegetables and it also helps in separating different types of food items. As these shelves can be removed and reorganized, they offer many ways of organizing the storage needs. They are also spill-proof and contain the spills on their shelf itself. If there are any spills, the glass shelves can be removed and cleaned easily.
The refrigerator also holds an adjusting electrical thermostat control and helps in making one’s life easy. The temperature of its refrigerator compartment is between 32 and 47 degrees Fahrenheit and the temperature of its freezer compartment is less than 0 degrees Fahrenheit. The refrigerator has low noise and has energy-saving capability. This retro compact refrigerator works on R600a refrigerant for high efficiency and low energy consumption. It is capable of cooling food quickly, and on very low energy. The interiors of this refrigerator are illuminated with bright and energy-efficient LED lighting.
Pros
- Frost-free operation with an adjustable electrical thermostat control
- There are three slides out glass shelves with one crisper and cover
- The door storage can hold the two-gallon bottle and 6 cans
- There are two leveling front legs in this refrigerator.
Cons
- The door is not reversible. Comes with right side open function
- The handles are plastic and not made of Chrome material.
Note: This refrigerator is also featured in our list of the best refrigerators for a large family and the best refrigerator under $800.
#4. RCA RFR725 EFR749 2 Door Refrigerator – Value for Money
| Features | Rating |
| Performance | 9.2 |
| Controls and functionality | 9.2 |
| Build quality | 9.2 |
| Energy efficiency | 9.1 |
| Value for money | 9.4 |
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This compact apartment size refrigerator should be fine for a person living alone, or a couple with needs to store food for a week. The refrigerator has a total capacity of about 7.5 Cu.ft. and its exteriors are made of platinum and stainless steel material. The refrigerator holds a multi-event technology and thus it is extremely efficient in keeping the items evenly cooled. The refrigerator has easily accessible temperature controls that make temperature management easy. The refrigerator also holds a manual defrost technology to remove the ice easily and efficiently.
The refrigerator compartment is large enough to maintain food items cold for a long time and its dedicated fixed wire freezer shelf and door bin renders organized storage for the frozen food items. The interiors of this refrigerator are illuminated by bright incandescent lighting that helps in illuminating both the freezer and the food compartments, and thus, you can easily find the food items in the refrigerator, even in the dark.
If you are a single person at home, you could not be having much time in handling the refrigerator and handling things. But the glass shelves in this refrigerator helps in easy and efficient storage and you don’t have to be meddling with the shelves and keep organizing it often. There is a dedicated fruit and vegetable crisper in this refrigerator to preserve the freshness of the vegetables and fruits for a long time.
Pros
- The spill-proof glass shelves help in containing the spills and ease the cleanup process.
- The glass hinges of this refrigerator are reversible
- The appliance has two doors with a dedicated freezer compartment.
- The refrigerator has an adjusting electrical thermostat control and adapts to different weather conditions.
Cons
- The cord of this refrigerator is very short.
Note: This refrigerator is also featured in our list of the best refrigerators for a food truck.
#5. RCA RFR322-B 3.2 Cu Ft Mini Fridge – Amazing Choice for Single Person
| Features | Rating |
| Performance | 9.5 |
| Controls and functionality | 8.8 |
| Build quality | 8.6 |
| Energy efficiency | 8.8 |
| Value for money | 9.3 |
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This is a glossy, elegant, and efficient refrigerator that is available in six different colors. The refrigerator has a single door, it is mini, compact, and features platinum and stainless steel exteriors. This is a two-in-one refrigerator and freezer and holds a contemporary style with cutting-edge refrigeration technology. The appliance is convenient and compact and it holds a reversible door that makes it easy to fit in any spot of the room, dorm, and office space.
This is an excellent refrigerator that keeps drinks cool even in hot weather and its compressor cooling technology offers the ultimate performance even in very hot weather. Its adjusting temperature controls, along with an adjustable thermostat and adjustable lever help in rendering expert cooling in all weathers. The capacity of the refrigerator is only 3.2 Cu.ft. which should be great for a single person and the capacity of its inbuilt freezer is about 0.2 Cu.ft. which is great for storing frozen delicacies. The refrigerator works on an R134a refrigerant that is both energy-efficient and environment-friendly.
Its low energy consumption compressor helps in cooling food quickly, even under low energy. The refrigerator has a reversible door that offers additional storage space for wine and beverages. It can also store eggs and condiments on its door storage. The reversible doors and leveling legs make the refrigerator easy to set on the counter, desk, floor, and virtually any place. We can easily configure this tiny fridge to open both from left to right or right to left, depending on our needs.
Pros
- We can easily adjust the temperature by twisting the thermostat knob
- We can simply push the defrost button to start defrosting the refrigerator.
- There are two detachable shelves to organize items easily in this refrigerator.
Cons
- The storage space is very minimal and it would be able to hold many food items.
Note: This refrigerator is also featured in our list of the best single-door refrigerators and the best refrigerators for the basement.
#6. Midea WHS-87 LB1 Refrigerator – Popular in the Market
| Features | Rating |
| Performance | 9.1 |
| Controls and functionality | 9.2 |
| Build quality | 9 |
| Energy efficiency | 9 |
| Value for money | 9.1 |
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Midea WHS is an elegant, compact, and highly efficient refrigerator with a small footprint for a single person. It is possible to adjust its mechanical temperature adjustment ranges from -2 to 2 degrees Celcius. Though this is a small and compact refrigerator, it still features large storage areas and it is excellent for chilling beverages efficiently for long hours. The refrigerator unit is however not efficient for storing frozen food items and we cannot make ice cubes in this unit.
The refrigerator features adjustable legs and a reversible door that is capable of opening from both the right and the left sides. The appliance is energy-star rated and helps in preserving the electric power considerably. The internal walls of the main compartments of this refrigerator are tapered slightly towards the back, for enhancing efficiency. The appliance also operates extremely quietly at 42 dB.
The racks on this refrigerator are conveniently arranged both at the body of the unit and at the doors to stack a variety of food items. The racks can also be removed and rearranged to hold taller cans. The temperature in the unit can be conveniently controlled with the temperature controls available in the unit. It also holds a separate chiller compartment to maintain certain food items colder. There is also a tall water bottle spot at the handle of the unit.
The freestanding design of the refrigerator fits it in any space and thus bachelors can consider keeping them in their small apartments as well. The unit is great to use in hostel dorm rooms as well. The refrigerator also comes with one hanging wire storage basket to conveniently store smaller food items such as ice creams. It is also an exceptional unit for use in offices, to create one’s personal spaces. The appliance draws in minimal power and is energy efficient as well.
Pros
- The appliance is energy star rated
- The refrigerator comes with one year warranty.
- Lightweight and portable appliance.
- Extremely power saving appliance
Cons
- Though it has a separate freezer compartment, it is not efficient in making ice cubes and freezing food items.
- Requires manual defrosting.
Bottom Line
Look for features such as automatic defrost control, locks if it has to be stored in the dorm room, and a unit that helps with the noise-free operation. Also, choose a unit with an adequate warranty. We hope our guide and buying recommendation helps you in picking up the best unit for your use.
