A mini fridge can truly come in handy, as long as it is not too noisy. For most people, they stick a mini fridge in a pretty popular area of a home or room, so if it makes too much noise, it will be a huge inconvenience for people to deal with.
Sounds that come out of nowhere are usually because there is some type of problem with the fridge, but what are the best mini fridges that run quietly all the time?
The options below are the best for silence and value, depending on specific needs.
1. Danby DAR026A2BDB Compact Refrigerator
This refrigerator from Danby is about as great as one can find online. They offer different sizes as small as 1.7 cubic feet, all the way up to 4.4 cubic feet. The most important thing is, they provide a very quiet solution for just about any room out there.
As an energy star compliance refrigerator, the entire set up is very focused on efficiency. Even though it is a mini fridge, the inside is maximized for many different storage possibilities.
On the exterior, the casing is strong and sturdy, making sure that any minimal sounds are reduced as much as possible to the ear.
The size of the refrigerator is also very easy to put into nearly any pocket of a room and have it tucked away.
A good size like this is beneficial for everyone, because if it is an awkward size, it is not going to fit properly.
People who own this refrigerator love how simple it is, how little energy it uses, and how it is so quiet that it is easy to forget it is there. Simply put, it is hard to find something with as much value as this.
Click Here for the current price for this Danbi Mini Fridge from Amazon.
2. Black+Decker BCRK17W Refrigerator
As a trusted name for decades, Black+Decker is a mini fridge worth looking out for. For a great small option, 1.7 cubic feet is more than enough for people to keep a few things cold and ready to go.
A lot of people put this in something like a spare room, a bedroom or some other isolated area of the home. It’s only going to hold a few things since it is so small, but it is once again a very efficient option worth checking out.
It runs very quietly, allowing people to enjoy life without really realizing that it is there. Some put it right next to their bed, and there are no distractions.
It comes in a simple design, but the magnetic front allows for customization as well. From my sound perspective, adding magnets will only help muffle the sound even more if it is starting to run loudly.
Black+Decker understands that this is meant to be a space saver, and since it’s so close to where people are hanging out, it needs to put out nearly no sound.
Click Here for the current price for this Black+Decker Mini Fridge from Amazon.
3. AstroAI Mini Fridge
When people think of a mini refrigerator, it’s usually a bit bigger than this. However, for a truly compact design that is also capable of going just about anywhere, this option from AstroAI might be the ultimate solution.
It only has the capacity for a few essentials, but works great at home or on the road. Some people will use a plug that goes into a cigarette lighter to use for road trips, which makes it extremely flexible for so many situations.
Affordability is also a great quality of this mini fridge. For less than $50, a person has exactly what they need to keep a few things cool. It’s cheap enough that it can be used occasionally, and then stored when it is not in use.
As an extremely efficient, green option, the refrigerator makes nearly no noise whatsoever. It operates extremely quietly, even allowing a person to sleep without any distractions when traveling.
It’s perfect for its simplicity and can be picked up and carried around like a grocery bag in many ways.
Click Here for the current price AstroAI Mini Fridge on Amazon.
4. Antarctic Star Wine Cooler & Beverage Refrigerator
If the mini refrigerator is meant to store alcohol, this is the best option to go with right now. Antarctic Star offers 18 bottle, 26 bottle and 36 bottle sizes for people to have everything ready for consumption at all times.
These types of refrigerators are different than standard ones. Certain wines must keep cool at all times, but the temperature is not the same as a standard refrigerator. Most strive for around 55° F, but it varies.
Since this refrigerator is not opened and closed as much as others, it must run very quietly. Every single day, it runs so quietly that it just blends into the rest of the area.
There is no vibration whatsoever, and the advanced cooling system truly puts it in a class of its own. On top of everything, it has a classic look that makes the refrigerator seem more expensive than it is.
This refrigerator is part functional, and part display piece. Any visitors can see what is inside, and if a person wants to show off a new bottle of wine, this is a great way to do it.
Click Here for the current price for the Antartic Star Mini Fridge.
5. hOmeLabs Mini Fridge
For some people, they are looking for a mini fridge that can also handle many of the same responsibilities as the main fridge. Sure, it is not going to be nearly as big, but it still needs to have enough space for essentials.
The space-saving, compact refrigerator from hOmeLabs is perfect for people who want something like that.
It is a very minimalist, functional design that might not win a ton of style points, but it does everything it needs to do.
People have a hard time understanding how it can fit so many things inside at once, and also stay very quiet, even when the door is open. It runs extremely efficiently, saving people on their energy bill and fitting into smaller areas.
The door storage especially stands out, as very few mini fridges have this type of flexibility. They found a way to maximize every single inch inside the fridge, and that makes it a true standout performer.
Click Here for the current price for HomeLabs Mini Fridge.
How to Handle the Sound of a Mini Fridge
Even the quietest mini fridges out there will still produce a little bit of noise, and that could be problematic for some people. If that is the case, there are additional soundproofing methods that can be taken to reduce the noise level.
For starters, look for a more secluded area of a room or home to tuck the mini fridge away. It doesn’t have to be right next to the bed if it is in the bedroom, or the couch if it is in the living room. Put it off to the side will give a little buffer between people in the room, and the fridge itself.
There’s also the opportunity to put a mini fridge in a cabinet designed for storage. Some people do this anyway for design purposes, but it could be a great way to isolate the sound a bit more. It also makes it easier to install padding, foam or other soundproofing material to handle everything.
Finally, there is the option of only using the mini fridge when it is needed. Keep everything in the bigger fridge in a different room, and only plug in the mini fridge when something needs to stay chilled in a different location. This is a pretty big inconvenience for a lot of people, but it does provide some quiet sleep in the end.
Click here for a full article on how to make a refrigerator quieter.
How to Keep Refrigerators Cool to Avoid Overuse
The main reason why refrigerators become noisy is that they are overused, trying to keep everything at a certain temperature.
One way to avoid having an overworked refrigerator is to put it in the right area of a home. Don’t put it in direct sunlight, and keep it away from anything that might warm it up.
This is going to keep the refrigerator from having to kick on and cool everything down. Not only will it help extend the life of the refrigerator, but it means it will use less energy as well.
Also, make sure to not leave the door open, even a little bit. Most refrigerators this size are so small that they are rarely open for long, but they are a little more vulnerable to not closing completely.
If it has just a slight leak, it might constantly run without a person even realizing it. Make sure that it closes completely before walking away, and don’t try to overstuff a mini refrigerator.
Final Shopping Tips for Quiet Mini Refrigerators
One of the best ways to get a chance to experience just how quiet a mini refrigerator is comes down to visiting friends and family.
A lot of people have their own mini fridge at home, and if they have good things to say about theirs, it’s worth looking into.
Since mini refrigerators are so small, it’s a lot easier to have it shipped to a home to save money. There are always some decent sales available locally at times, but the best variety will always be online.
It also allows people to read up on reviews to see what others have to say about options out there. They offer exact measurements and sizing so people can check to see if it is exactly what they need to keep everything a little cooler at home.