A miniature refrigerator can be the perfect addition to your office, dorm room, break room, or bedroom. It can even serve as supplemental storage to your main refrigerator, housing your favourite beverages to save space in your fridge.
Mini fridges vary in size, ranging from tiny tabletop models to mid-sized mini models that can fit more beverages, skincare products, or leftovers. But how do you identify the best mini fridges in Canada to ensure you get a good fit for your needs?
This guide explores the contents of our findings from extensive research and evaluation. We even incorporate a few helpful tips to help you find the perfect option for your needs. Our list was curated from expert opinions and well as our own research, so you know you’re getting the best options available. Here are our picks for the best mini fridges in Canada for 2023.
Best Mini Fridges for Canadians in 2023
- Best for Energy Efficiency: Midea Compact Refrigerator
- Best Modern Model: Frigidaire Mini Fridge
- Best Multi-Functional: Whirlpool Mini Fridge with Freezer
- Best Compact: AstroAI Mini Fridge
- Best Large Capacity: Costway Mini Beverage Fridge
- Best Retro Model: Frigidaire Blue Retro Bar Fridge
- Best for Quick Cooling: Galanz Mini Retro Fridge
Why Did We Choose These Mini Fridges in Canada?
Some mini fridges surge ahead of the competition, creating a definitive chasm between less-than-stellar options and those that excel at what they do. As we hunted for the best mini fridges in Canada, we noticed a pattern: the best mini fridges often excel in a particular area.
Since those areas can be a defining factor in deciding on the perfect fit, we strapped a superlative onto each model to help you choose the best option for your home. Here’s a quick overview of why each model made the cut.
The Midea Compact Refrigerator is a clear winner for its energy efficiency. This model boasts an Energy Star certification and uses no more than 0.56 kilowatt-hours daily, which translates to better savings on your electric bill. But despite its energy efficiency, this model doesn’t disappoint in its performance.
The Frigidaire Mini Fridge is our top pick for Canadians who appreciate a sleek, modern touch. This model boasts a contemporary design, complete with a classy stainless steel finish and scrawled lettering across the front. But aside from its looks, it delivers some impressive features.
The Whirlpool Mini Fridge with Freezer is a phenomenal consideration for Canadians who need a multi-functional model. This mini fridge features a good-sized fridge plus a compact freezer separate from the refrigerator. It’s ideal for dorm rooms and offices, providing excellent functionality in a compact package.
The AstroAI Mini Fridge is our top pick for compact miniature fridges. This model takes the “miniature” label to heart, featuring a tiny footprint that consumes a minimal amount of space. It’s just large enough to hold six standard cans or a few snacks.
If you need more room to chill beverages or store your lunch, the Costway Mini Beverage Fridge is a worthwhile consideration. This model can store up to 120 standard cans, making it an excellent option for those who need ample storage space.
The Frigidaire Blue Retro Bar Fridge features an aesthetic that mirrors design trends of years gone by, earning its place as our best retro model. The classic blue colour, paired with contrasting silver, creates an aesthetically pleasing vintage appeal.
The Galanz Mini Retro Fridge is an outstanding choice for Canadians needing quick cooling. This model features a chiller box designed to rapidly cool those beverages you forgot to toss in the fridge. Aside from the handy chiller box, this model features a sleek, retro design, an Energy Star certification, and plenty of room to store plenty of snacks and drinks.
Best for Energy Efficiency
Midea Compact Refrigerator
- Size: 1.6 cubic feet
- Colour: Black or silver
- Dimensions: 44.96 x 47.24 x 49.28 centimetres
- Sound Level: 42 decibels
It's Great For:
- Canadians who want an energy-efficient option
- Those who need a chiller box
- Small amounts of leftovers
- Storing enough beverages for a group
The Midea Compact Refrigerator is an excellent option for Canadians seeking an energy-efficient option. This model features an Energy Star certification and consumes no more than 0.56 kilowatt-hours per day, ensuring you save the most on your electric bills.
It comes in a sleek black or stainless steel design that adds a touch of elegance to your space. It offers a 1.6 cubic feet storage capacity, making it an ideal choice for small apartments, dorm rooms or offices. It has an adjustable thermostat control with six temperature levels to cater to varying cooling needs.
It also includes a small chilling compartment for storing frozen goods. The refrigerator is large enough to hold small amounts of leftovers or a handful of beverages. The door features a larger compartment that can hold a two-litre bottle.
An interior light sheds light on the contents of your refrigerator, and wire shelving provides two-tier storage options. The door is reversible, so you can open it in either direction based on what is convenient for your space. Its adjustable feet make installation and levelling an easy task.
It also comes with a 1-year warranty, so you can rest assured knowing your purchase is well-protected.
Key Features
- Chiller box. Store frozen foods in the chiller box or cool your favourite beverages quickly.
- Ample space. There’s plenty of room for leftovers or enough drinks to serve a small to medium-sized group.
- Energy efficient. This model features an Energy Star certification and consumes no more than 0.56 kilowatt-hours per day.
- Quiet operation. This model operates quietly at around 42 decibels to ensure it doesn’t disturb your day.
Our Expert’s Take
“This model is a worthwhile consideration for those who want a highly efficient option. Our experts enjoyed the quiet operation.”
Best Modern Model
Frigidaire Mini Fridge
- Size: 1.8 cubic feet
- Colour: Silver
- Dimensions: 50.8 x 47 x 50.8 centimetres
- Sound Level: N/A
It's Great For:
- Canadians who want a modern model
- Storing a few beverages
- Storing makeup or skincare that requires refrigeration
- Countertop storage
The Frigidaire Mini Fridge is our top pick for the most aesthetically pleasing model, as it features sleek, contemporary designs that seamlessly blend nearly any room. The Frigidaire logo is scrawled across the front of the door in shimmery silver letters, further adding to the aesthetic.
Aside from its looks, this fridge features numerous handy features. It’s a versatile and compact appliance, perfectly designed for maintaining a cool temperature for beverages. It offers a solid temperature range of -2 to 2 degrees Celsius, providing a chilly environment to keep your favourite drinks at the ideal temperature.
A small freezer compartment is capable of rapidly chilling drinks, making ice cubes, or storing your favourite frozen snack. Adjustable wire shelves allow you to tweak the interior layout to accommodate your storage needs, with multiple height options available.
The door compartment features a space large enough to hold a 2-litre bottle plus a few cans or condiments. The door is reversible, allowing you to open it from the left or the right, and the legs are adjustable to ensure you achieve a nicely level result.
It has an impressive warranty that lasts an entire year, ensuring you’ll get the most out of your purchase.
Key Features
- Modern design. A sleek, silvery door, complete with a cursive brand logo scrawled across it, creates a modern appearance that blends with various aesthetics.
- Warranty. A solid 1-year warranty comes with this model to protect your investment.
- Freezing compartment. Make ice cubes for your beverages or speed-chill your drinks in the chilling compartment.
- Reversible door. Adjust the door to match the available space or your needs.
Our Expert’s Take
“This aesthetically pleasing model offers a modern take on a mini fridge, ensuring it fits seamlessly into your space. Our researchers appreciated the sleek design and straightforward functionality.”
Best Multi-Functional
Whirlpool Mini Fridge with Freezer
- Size: 3.1 cubic feet
- Colour: Stainless steel
- Dimensions: 48.6 x 53.6 x 83.5 centimetres
- Sound Level: 42 decibels
It's Great For:
- Canadians who want a multi-functional model
- Quiet operation
- Larger capacity
- Storing fruits and vegetables
The Whirlpool Mini Fridge with Freezer is a superior choice for Canadians who want a multi-functional model. This handy refrigerator is dual-functional: the bottom portion is a refrigerator, while the upper part is a freezer.
The freezer compartment is considerably smaller than the refrigerator, but it offers plenty of room for a few frozen items and or ice cube trays. The freezer temperature remains at or under 5 degrees Fahrenheit or -15 degrees Celsius, but the refrigerator features a seven-level thermostat with temperatures ranging from 32 degrees to 46 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 degrees to about 8 degrees Celsius.
The doors are reversible, allowing you to adjust the fridge to accommodate your living space. One removable glass shelf offers more control over the layout of the refrigerator and allows it to accommodate larger items.
A crisper drawer at the bottom of the refrigerator helps keep fruits and vegetables fresh and delicious for longer. The door features one shelf for smaller items, a slot for cans, and a taller storage section that can fit 2-litre containers.
This energy-efficient system consumes about 320 kilowatt-hours of energy per year, which amounts to around 0.87 kilowatt-hours per day.
Key Features
- Crisper drawer. The crisper drawer at the bottom of the fridge keeps fruits and veggies fresh and delectable.
- Freezer. A small freezer atop the fridge provides storage for frozen items.
- Large capacity. There’s plenty of room for beverages, leftovers, and more between this fridge and freezer combo.
- Energy efficient. This model consumes approximately 320 kilowatt-hours of energy annually, saving you more on your electric bill.
Our Expert’s Take
“If you need something with a bit more space or freezing capabilities, this model is a worthwhile consideration.”
Best Compact
AstroAI Mini Fridge
- Size: 4 litres
- Colour: Black, blue, teal, pink, white
- Dimensions: 24 x 17.5 x 25.4 centimetres
- Sound Level: 25 decibels
It's Great For:
- Canadian homes with limited storage space
- Chilling on the go
- Storing skincare or makeup
- Small amounts of beverages or foods
The AstroAI Mini Fridge truly meets the “mini” label. This fridge is tiny and capable of holding four litres, which is just enough room for six soda cans. It’s perfect for chilling a handful of items, including skincare products, makeup, breastmilk, or cans of your favourite beverage.
It can even keep its contents warm, which is ideal for various items you need to keep toasty on the move. It offers warming temperatures of up to 66 degrees Celsius and cooling temperatures that drop to 18 degrees Celsius below ambient temperatures.
Small removable shelves allow you to tweak the layout based on your unique needs. Storing cans? Remove the shelves and stack the cans on their sides. Chilling your skincare lineup? Throw in a shelf to house your smaller products, and leave the bottom open for larger bottles. All it takes is a few seconds to adapt the layout to your needs.
It’s perfect for on-the-go travel, as it features an AC/DC adapter that allows it to connect to a 12-volt car power supply. You’ll need to keep your vehicle on and running while the system is plugged in, as it can drain your car’s battery, but it’s perfect for keeping things cool while travelling. It also works with a standard 100 to 120-volt home power supply, so you can always keep it plugged in at home.
It operates incredibly quietly, running at around 25 decibels as it warms or chills its contents. This makes it an ideal option for placement in living spaces, such as a bedroom, as it won’t disturb your sleep or interrupt your day.
Key Features
- Cooling and warming. Switch things up to accommodate your needs with cooling and warming capabilities from this little model.
- Travel-friendly. Take this fridge on the go and plug it into your car’s power supply to keep your favourite beverages perfectly chilled.
- Quiet operation. This model produces about 25 decibels of noise as it runs, which is about 5 decibels quieter than a whisper.
- Compact. If you’re short on space, this handy little fridge is a great choice, as it features a small footprint that won’t take up too much space.
Our Expert’s Take
“Complete with cooling and warming capabilities, this fridge is an excellent choice for various applications.”
Best Large Capacity
Costway Mini Beverage Fridge
- Size: 3.2 cubic feet
- Colour: Black
- Dimensions: 50 x 44.5 x 80 centimetres
- Sound Level: Under 40 decibels
It's Great For:
- Canadians who need more space
- Quiet operation
- Sleek aesthetics
- Breakrooms, offices, and dorms
The Costway Mini Beverage Fridge is perfect for Canadians who want something with a bit more room. This miniature refrigerator offers more space than other models on this list, earning its place as our leading pick for large capacity.
It offers 3.2 cubic feet of space, which is plenty of room to store a plethora of beverages. It can store 120 standard cans or a mixture of your favourite bottled and canned beverages. The shelves are adjustable and removable to accommodate varying bottle sizes.
A soft blue interior light illuminates the fridge’s contents, while a glass door allows you to peek inside without opening the door. Seven temperature control settings offer better regulation, ranging from about 4 degrees to 16 degrees Celsius.
The tempered glass door is reversible and features two planes of glass that help protect your beverages from the sun’s rays and better insulate the setup for more even temperatures. A tight seal running the perimeter of the door further assists in insulation.
This model operates using a quiet cooling compressor that operates at or under 40 decibels. This makes it suitable for placement in common rooms, offices, and bedrooms, as it doesn’t operate loud enough to disrupt your day.
Key Features
- Tempered glass door. A double-layered tempered glass door helps insulate your beverages and allows you to view the fridge’s contents without opening the door.
- Seven temperature settings. Multiple temperature settings let you tweak the temperature to the best level based on what you’re chilling.
- Large capacity. With room for up to 120 standard cans or a mixture of bottles and cans, this fridge is perfect for Canadians that need a bit more room.
- Quiet operation. This model runs at or below 40 decibels, so it isn’t loud enough to disrupt your day.
Our Expert’s Take
“If you need more room to chill your go-to beverages but don’t want a full-sized fridge, this model is an excellent choice.”
Best Retro Model
Frigidaire Blue Retro Bar Fridge
- Size: 3.2 cubic feet
- Colour: Blue
- Dimensions: 41.9 x 48.3 x 78.7 centimetres
- Sound Level: N/A
It's Great For:
- Vintage aesthetics
- Canadians who need more storage space
- Freezing small amounts of food
- Dorms, breakrooms, and offices
The Frigidaire Blue Retro Bar Fridge features a vintage, retro-style design that is perfect for Canadians with a style that mirrors years gone by. The bright blue exterior paint fits perfectly into retro-styled homes, while the silver accents add a sophisticated touch.
It offers a solid capacity of 3.2 cubic feet, so there’s plenty of room to store various items. It can store a decent amount of leftovers, takeout boxes, or beverages. A slot in the door pocket provides ample space for storing around half a dozen cans, while two separate shelves provide space for smaller items. A larger compartment in the door provides plenty of room for taller items, such as 2-litre soda bottles.
The top of this refrigerator is separated with a small flap door, acting as a freezing compartment perfect for making ice cubes and storing small amounts of frozen foods. Two adjustable and removable shelves in the fridge below allow you to customize the fridge to your needs.
An adjustable thermostat lets you fine-tune the temperature inside the fridge to keep your food and beverages perfectly chilled. A built-in bottle opener on the side of the fridge helps pop off the caps of your go-to drinks in no time.
Key Features
- Retro design. This model features a design that mimics design trends of years past, making it an excellent choice for Canadians who appreciate a blast from the past.
- Large capacity. With 3.2 cubic feet of storage space, this model is plenty large enough to hold more of your snacks and beverages.
- Adjustable shelves. Two adjustable shelves inside the fridge allow you to tailor the layout to your needs.
- Built-in bottle opener. A bottle opener mounted on the side of the fridge helps conveniently open your beverages in no time.
Our Expert’s Take
“If you appreciate vintage designs, this model might perfectly fit your home.”
Best for Quick Cooling
Galanz Mini Retro Fridge
- Size: 2.5 cubic feet
- Colour: White and black
- Dimensions: 44.7 x 53.3 x 71.6 centimetres
- Sound Level: At or under 42 decibels
It's Great For:
- Rapid cooling
- Better energy efficiency
- Quiet operation
- Canadians who like sleek, retro-style looks
The Galanz Mini Retro Fridge is perfect for Canadians who need quick cooling capabilities. A chiller box at the top of the fridge stays cooler than the rest of the fridge, allowing you to chill your favourite beverages quickly.
This model is complete with everything you might expect from a mini fridge, making it a strong contender on this list. For example, it has seven temperature settings on the thermostat, allowing you to tailor the interior temperature to your specific chilling needs. The temperature ranges from 0 degrees to about 8 degrees Celsius.
The glass shelves within the unit are removable and adjustable, easily sliding out from their places to allow you to tailor the layout to your needs. Slanted can storage on the door provides the perfect perch for your favourite canned beverages, while a smaller upper door shelf is perfect for smaller items, such as yogurt, jams, and other compact items. A larger section at the base of the door is tall enough to house larger items, including 2-litre bottles.
This mini fridge is energy efficient and quiet, making it an excellent choice for nearly any application. It features the Energy Star certification, a testament to its low energy consumption and a promise not to contribute significantly to your energy bills. It operates at or under 42 decibels, which is quiet enough not to disturb you as you go about your day.
Key Features
- Quiet operation. This model operates at or under 42 decibels, which falls between the level of a whisper and a standard conversation.
- Quick cooling. A chiller box at the top of the fridge lets you rapidly cool various items, including beverages.
- Ample storage. This model has about 2.5 cubic feet of storage space, which leaves ample room for various foods and drinks.
- Energy efficient. This model is Energy Star certified, ensuring it won’t consume copious amounts of energy and substantially drive up your electric bill.
Our Expert’s Take
“The chiller box on this model is an excellent addition, especially for Canadians who forget to chill their favourite beverages for when they want them.”
Why Trust Us?
Shopping for nearly any product can be a tedious task. There are hundreds of options in most categories, complicating the selection process with dozens of features, colours, brands, and prices. This rings true for mini fridges, which come in various shapes, sizes, colours, brands, and prices.
So, to help consumers like you simplify their search for various home-related products, we’ve stepped in. We’re committed to extensive research and evaluation to weed out the sub-par products and recommend nothing but the best of the best. Each model on every list performs at or above our expectations, earning it a place on our list.
We start our research with an initial roundup and analysis that just grazes the surface to determine the basics. After all that, we compile our findings and complete a final evaluation to determine whether each model deserves a place on the list. In closing, we create a comprehensive guide outlining our top picks, why we chose them, and what to look for in that particular product.
As we searched for the best mini fridges in Canada, we kept a sharp eye out for a couple of crucial factors, including the following:
- Size: Mini fridges come in various sizes, and to ensure we accommodate multiple needs, we included models that span the size range.
- Energy efficiency: A mini fridge can significantly affect your electric bill, especially if you choose a less efficient option. We included a couple of highly efficient options to help you save on your electric bill.
- Noise level: A noisy appliance can quickly become a nuisance, but if you store your mini fridge in a garage or far away from where you sleep, you might not mind. We included a few quiet models and some not-as-quiet models to ensure there’s something for everyone.
- Budget: We understand the variances in budget from one Canadian to the next, so we included models that span the price range.
Factors to Consider When Shopping For a Mini Fridge in Canada
As you surf the Internet for a mini fridge, don’t forget to consider all aspects of each option and how they fit your needs. Otherwise, you might end up with a fridge that doesn’t quite fit your expectations. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind as you shop.
Size and Capacity
Mini refrigerators vary drastically in size, fluctuating from around 0.14 cubic feet to 3.3 cubic feet. This is quite a big difference, so the size of your mini fridge is an essential consideration when shopping.
As you shop for a mini fridge, consider how much you want to store in it. A more compact model might be perfectly fine if you want to store a few bottles of beer or a couple of soda cans.
However, if you need to store more in it, a larger model is your best bet. For example, suppose you live in a dorm and want to store your leftovers throughout the week in your mini fridge. In this case, the tiny 0.14 cubic-foot refrigerators are likely too small. Instead, you may want to consider a larger model that is around 2.0 cubic feet or larger.
Aside from the capacity of your mini fridge, remember to consider the space you have available to store your mini fridge. A smaller model is the best option if you’re short on space. If you have plenty of room on your counter, floor, or shelves for a miniature fridge, the choice is yours.
However, it doesn’t hurt to measure the area you have for the fridge and compare it to the model you’re considering before buying it. This way, you can get a feel for how much space the refrigerator will consume in that area and ensure it fits like you want it to.
Energy Efficiency
The energy efficiency of each fridge is another critical deciding factor when shopping for a mini fridge. Some models are less efficient than others, and if you choose a highly inefficient miniature fridge, you may notice an increase in your electric bills.
So, we recommend shopping for a model that offers solid energy efficiency so you don’t pay excessive amounts for your electric bills. Energy-efficient mini fridges use less electricity, which offers dual benefits by reducing your carbon footprint and saving you money on your electric bills.
Look for options boasting an Energy Star rating to ensure you get an energy-efficient model. The Energy Star program was originally developed in the United States by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in conjunction with the Department of Energy (DOE) in an effort to promote energy-efficient products and minimize energy consumption.
However, this program is internationally recognized and is used throughout Canada, so you may see items boasting an Energy Star Canada sticker. These ratings clearly indicate the energy efficiency of various appliances, from furnaces to fridges.
Those with a higher Energy Star rating consume less power compared to those with a lower rating or those without one at all. So, if you’re trying to keep your energy bills to a minimum, we recommend keeping your eyes peeled for the Energy Star sticker.
Noise Level
Most mini fridges operate at a noise level between 25 and 50 decibels. For comparison, a whisper is about 30 decibels, while a normal conversation is around 60 decibels. So, these units are surprisingly quiet and usually won’t disrupt your day.
However, if you plan to put your miniature fridge in a sleeping area or common area where you spend a considerable amount of time, choosing a model that leans toward the quieter end of the spectrum is best. This way, the fridge’s constant noise won’t affect your sleep or interrupt your conversations.
Of course, sound isn’t much of an issue for those planning to position their mini fridges well away from their sleeping quarters. For example, the decibel level might not be a valid concern if you plan to put the fridge in the kitchen, a breakroom, a garage, or another area where it cannot disrupt you.
Budget
When shopping for any new home appliance, it doesn’t hurt to consider your budget, especially if you’re working with a tighter budget. Before you start shopping, determine how much you’re willing to spend on a miniature fridge.
By outlining a budget based on what you want and what you’re willing to spend, you can skirt the disappointment of finding a model you like that is outside of your price range. Once you determine an amount, filter your search results using that number. Many websites allow you to filter the results with a price range, so you can easily find models that fall within the set amount.
Warranty
Many miniature fridges come with a warranty or return policy of sorts. On average, the coverage ranges from 30 days to a full year, although some go a step further with even better coverage. Choosing a model with solid warranty coverage will ensure you get the most out of your investment and minimize the chances of needing to foot the bill for a premature failure, so it’s not a bad idea.
We recommend looking for a model with some sort of warranty. It doesn’t need to be excessively long, but some coverage doesn’t hurt. In many cases, you can purchase a warranty through a third party, especially for appliances, but this is an optional add-on that will drive up the overall price of your fridge.
Purpose
Consider how you plan to use your fridge. Do you want to pack it with beers, sodas, seltzers, and juice to ensure you have a perfectly chilled beverage when you want it? Do you plan to pack it with leftovers throughout the week? Are you going to pack it with skincare items that require refrigeration? Do you want to freeze a few things, too?
Ask yourself what you want to store in your mini fridge. If you plan to pack it with beverages for a group, a larger model might be the better fit. You can find models with designated sections for beverages on the door or shelves.
If you want to store leftovers in there, ensure the fridge is large enough to fit your food storage containers or takeout boxes. If you plan to pack it with skincare items, ensure the fridge offers plenty of space for the size of bottles you use. If you want to freeze a handful of things, look for a model with a freezing compartment or separate freezer on top.
Frequently Asked Questions
Miniature refrigerators usually last five to ten years, sometimes longer. However, the exact lifespan you’ll get out of your mini fridge hinges entirely on factors specific to your situation, including quality, usage, and maintenance.
Mini fridges are an excellent investment for some folks, but they might not be worth the money for everyone. A mini fridge can be the perfect option if you live in a dorm and want a fridge to store your foodstuffs. In addition, they’re great for offices, break rooms, and living areas.
A mini fridge can cost anywhere between less than $50 and several hundred dollars. The price depends on the type of fridge you choose, size, and features. Larger and fancier fridges cost more, while their smaller, simpler counterparts cost less.