Updated on Jul. 17, 2025
We spoke with three appliance experts to find the most reliable refrigerator brands. We also asked them for their favorite models from each brand.
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If there’s one thing all homeowners and apartment dwellers can agree on, it’s that the refrigerator is the most important household appliance. It holds our food, including precious essentials like iced coffee and meats for grilling. That’s why finding the most reliable refrigerator brand is vital for people in large and small spaces.
While the best refrigerators will depend on your personal needs, there are key factors to prioritize across the board, like durability, ease of assembly and installation, warranty and energy efficiency. Other characteristics you may keep in mind include simple designs, accessible parts (in case of repairs) and value.
After talking to appliance experts, we put together our list of the best refrigerators for every type of customer. Check out our picks below.
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Three of the three appliance repair experts we spoke to said Whirlpool was one of the most reliable refrigerator brands. “In my experience, Whirlpool stands out for reliability,” says Brayden Hazlewood of Rectify Home. He recommends the French Door Refrigerator, a 25-cubic foot fridge with French-style doors, a fingerprint-resistant stainless steel exterior and an on-door water and ice dispenser.
“The dual cooling system contributes to its overall durability,” Hazlewood says, which is especially good considering this fridge’s price tag. Hazlewood and other repair techs, however, note they’re simple and easy to fix, meaning they’ll last a long time before you need to replace them.
Appliance expert Xohan Duran also notes Whirlpool has a large service network. “Therefore, repairs are more convenient for homeowners when and if needed,” he says.
Beyond is aesthetically pleasing look, it’s pretty simple in its design, which is nice if you aren’t looking for anything too complicated. (This also means that it doesn’t boast any smart features, but any repairs down the road will likely be easier, since you won’t have to source one-off parts.) Still, you get to enjoy tap touch controls, a dispenser control lock, a humidity-controlled double crisper and spill-proof shelves.
Plus, some Whirlpool fridge models also feature frameless glass shelves which are easier to clean, offer more storage flexibility and have a sleek, modern look.
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LG was another brand that all of our experts recommended for homeowners looking for a reliable fridge. “These brands are known for their durability and straightforward designs, making troubleshooting and repairs less complicated,” says appliance expert Rick Sun, referring to LG and other brands he recommended.
The smart InstaView gets our nod for the best LG refrigerator because of the ThinQ app, which sends maintenance alerts and notifications to a smartphone app so you can nip problems in the bud before they become a bigger issue. The same app can be found on the LG MoodUP Refrigerator.
The instant-view window, craft ice maker, and smooth-touch ice dispenser are also nice touches. Don’t worry; it’s Energy Star-certified, so even though it’s filled with impressive features, it won’t increase your utility bills.
Other highlights include 26.8 cubic feet of interior room, a built-in dual ice maker, a child lock and Cool Guard capabilities, which help keep groceries cold.
It’s worth noting, however, that some owners have experienced problems with their LG refrigerators not cooling sufficiently, and that it can be difficult to find someone to service them. As with any major appliance, check reviews for the specific model prior to purchasing.
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“For homeowners seeking reliability, Samsung is a top choice,” Hazlewood says. He recommends the Top-Freezer Refrigerator because the FlexZone sets it apart from competitors. The FlexZone is a section that converts from freezer to fridge temperature settings. It also has TwinCooling Plus technology for less freezer burn and more fresh produce.
Apart from the stainless steel finish, this fridge doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of other Samsung models, but it does offer reversible door customization and a slide-and-reach pantry in this Energy Star-certified appliance. Samsung is one of the most reliable refrigerator brands and also tops our list of the best wine fridges.
While the Top-Freezer Refrigerator doesn’t have any special features, other Samsung models offer innovative smart features including Family Hub, WiFi and AI vision of the inside that make the brand ideal for tech-enthusiast homeowners.
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Sun said GE is one of the most reliable refrigerator brands and has minimal issues and easy repairs. “I recommend these brands for their consistent performance, customer satisfaction and availability of replacement parts,” he says of GE and other companies. He specifically mentions this GE Side by Side Refrigerator as a reliable home fridge.
The 25.3-cubic foot, side-by-side refrigerator has ample storage space, including a shelf above the ice maker and edge-to-edge shelves. It doesn’t have many special features aside from the ice and water dispenser, but it’s relatively affordable and with its easy maintenance should last for many years.
GE also tops our list of the best garage refrigerators due to its durability and reliability. We also like that some GE refrigerator models offer temperature-controlled drawers and digital ice makers.
Overall, GE refrigerators offer a great mix of smart features and style. They’re more advanced than Frigidaire, more tech-forward than Whirlpool and more affordable than higher-end KitchAid models.
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RV enthusiast Anthony Smith recommends Dometic fridges for people who need a fridge in small spaces, such as campers and RVs, college dorms and studios. He says the brand is known for making high-quality and durable refrigerators. The Dometic CRX Pro 65 comes with a newly designed compressor for increased durability, a removable freezer compartment and weighs 40 pounds, so it’s easily portable.
This is a three-in-one fridge that can be used as a fridge, freezer or both, depending on what you’re chilling. It comes with a three-year warranty, which is better than most full-sized fridges. Plus Dometic tends to be more energy efficient than other refrigerators thanks to the brand utilizing technology like compact compressors, variable compressor speeds and three selectable cooling modes to optimize energy consumption.
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For higher-end refrigerators with an affordable-ish price point, Bosch is a good option. We like the Bosch 800 Series for its sleek design, large storage capacity and the hidden-inside-the-fridge water dispenser. The stainless steel finish looks chic (though it can be prone to showing fingerprints) and there are a wide range of sizes to choose from, too.
We think this Bosch pick is a great middle point between smart features and simplicity: The French door look is stylish, while 21 cubic feet of storage offers tempered glass shelves, 3-gallon door bins and two humidity-controlled drawers. It also boasts LED interior lighting, touch-sensitive controls and is even compatible with Amazon Alexa.
Here are some things to keep in mind when looking for a reliable refrigerator to buy.
The compressor is your fridge’s lifeline, so make sure you’re buying one with a compressor that can do the job. Compressors are evaluated by the cooling capacity, which is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM) or cubic feet per hour (CFH). This number indicates how much space the compressor can cool within a given time—a higher CFM or CFH indicates greater cooling capacity.
When looking for a reliable fridge, look for ones that have easy-to-reach compartments for simple and quick repairs and troubleshooting information on the website or in the manual. If you get a smart fridge, make sure you’re able to fix the technology on your own if needed or if you’ll have to rely on tech support.
Before checking out, check to see if the company you’re buying from has service technicians in your area. This allows you to get expert help straight from people who have direct experience with your product.
Things happen, so make sure it’s easy for you to purchase a spare compressor, motor or other fridge part if needed. Some companies make specialty parts that can only be purchased through them, though most brands’ replacement parts can be found on Amazon, home improvement stores or third-party sites like eBay and Facebook Marketplace.
Lastly, check to see the fridge’s warranty. To be honest, most fridges only come with a one- or two-year warranty, though you can purchase additional coverage if desired.
Family Handyman Shopping Editor Mary Henn purchased a new refrigerator last month. She shared her buying experience as the average consumer shopping for a refrigerator in today’s market. “When I purchased a new refrigerator last month, there was one big, unexpected hiccup I ran into while shopping,” she says. “When I first started looking for a new fridge, I didn’t take into account that I’d need a zero-clearance refrigerator.”
What is a zero-clearance refrigerator? “A zero-clearance refrigerator has hinges that require little to no clearance to open the door(s),” Mary explains. “If the spot for your refrigerator is positioned next to a wall or countertop (on either side), you may need a zero-clearance refrigerator like I did.”
“If you’re wondering how likely it is for you to run into this issue, I had several appliance salespeople tell me that they deal with this issue on a daily basis,” Mary says. “Many new refrigerators that have come out within recent years require an additional 2 to 3 inches on both sides to open. I didn’t realize this when I was initially shopping for LG and Samsung refrigerators. However, large, French-door refrigerators from those big brands—with the latest technological features like touchscreens—often cannot be placed against a wall, countertop or cabinetry because they won’t have enough room to open.”
We also asked Mary about the latest innovations in refrigerators. “If you’re shopping for a new fridge in 2025, expect to see new features like bold colors, craft ice makers, see-through door panels, and built-in touchscreens that are app-compatible and allow users to control their fridge’s function remotely,” she says.
As a former New York City doorman, I researched many high-quality appliances for my tenants. This included refrigerators, washers/dryers and eco-friendly dishwashers. For this roundup, I did what I did back then—spoke to the experts. Appliance experts Rick Sun, Brayden Hazlewood and Xohan Duran told me about the most reliable fridge brands and gave us examples of some of their favorite models from these brands. The experts explained that their top brands had minimal service issues, and when fixes needed to be made, they were simple and quick. I also spoke with Anthony Smith, an RV enthusiast who provided his pick for fridges for RVs.
All three of the appliance experts we spoke to for this roundup said Whirlpool and LG were the most reliable refrigerator brands due to their durability, reliability and ease of repairs. Samsung and GE were also mentioned by our experts as high-quality fridges.
Things that can shorten the life of a refrigerator include not doing regular maintenance and cleaning, keeping it too full, not changing filters and setting temperatures too high or too low.
A good refrigerator often costs around $1,000 if you want one with a high-quality compressor and motor. Popular fridges can cost $1,500 to $3,500 if you want special features such as in-door water and ice dispensers, see-through panels and touchscreens.
