7 Best Garage Refrigerators To Store Your Goodies

A garage refrigerator is going to handle temperature fluctuations, have plenty of storage and should be mobile if you’re in a busy workshop.

The Kenmore Top-Freezer Refrigerator is an all-around option and the best choice on this list. While it doesn’t have wheels like the Gladiator Garage Ready Fridge does, it’s much more affordable.

If you need to save on space, need a freezer, or just want some drinks, it’s all hand-picked for you in the guide below.

Our Top Picks

Best Garage Refrigerator

This is one of the best garage refrigerators I could find with its freezer compartment so you won’t need to purchase a separate garage freezer.

With 20.8 cubic feet of storage space, you won’t have any issue freeing up space in your kitchen’s fridge.

You won’t have to add a garage kit as this fridge is rated for the garage.

The LED light is a nice touch if you want to grab something at night, it’ll help you see what you’re grabbing for.

You’ll be able to adjust the shelves inside of the fridge and customize how you want to stow away your items.

This is great if you want to use your garage fridge for drinks so you can fit many different shaped items with ease.

I love that this fridge is aesthetic and will match and garage decor with its sleek, black look.

It comes with a bottom mount crisp drawer to keep your veggies fresh.

The freezer is frost-free so you won’t need to worry about freezer burn whatsoever.

Unfortunately, some reviewers found that they had issues with the freezer staying below -10F which can be a problem as it’s a bit too cold.

The fridge also had some uneven cooling which can lead to frozen veggies if you place them near the back of the fridge where it’s coldest.

It also says “Garage ready” but in reality, it’s rated for 39 degrees. Many people claim they have no issues with using normal fridges in their garage, but it’s better to be safe than sorry if you’re in an extreme climate.

I think for this price, and the fact that it comes with a top freezer, it’s going to be hard to beat this refrigerator. As long as your garage doesn’t get extremely cold, this will do just fine.

Best Runner Up Garage Refrigerator

This fridge is not the fanciest nor is it the biggest. But it is fairly priced, incredibly roomy, and has no unnecessary features that add to the price.

What I like about the Danby fridge the most is that it doesn’t waste space on a freezer you might not need.

With its 11 cubic feet of space, there is ample space for anything you’d like to put in your fridge.

Not only is the Danby fridge stylish stainless steel, it’ll save you electricity with its high-tech mechanical thermostat.

Reviewers also mention they had no issue with this fridge in a hot and cold garage.

Can’t decide where to put your fridge? The door has a reversible hinge meaning you can fit it into any nook or cranny.

The vegetable crisper and cover will allow you to store your veggies and keep them fresh.

Some reviewers mention that they had issues with frost buildup which can be a big issue when you’re trying to keep your stuff at refrigeration levels.

With its spotless steel door finish, ability to store tall bottles, vegetable crisper, scratch resistance worktop, AND reversible door hinge, Danby is up there for one of the best garage fridges on this list.

Best Heavy Duty Refrigerator

This Gladiator fridge is at the top of our list if you aren’t worried about the price tag.

It’s rated to work in the garage so it’ll work well as any other garage ready refrigerators.

What I love most about this fridge is that it has wheels on the bottom.

When you need to reorganize the garage, you’ll have to manually move a standalone fridge or freezer which can be difficult (especially the food inside). With wheels, you won’t ever have to worry about that again.

With its extra thick glass shelves, it can hold up to eight 12 packs of cans. That’s quite a lot and sure to keep you cool and refreshed all summer long without any wear on your fridge.

The side doors can also hold five 2L bottles if you love carbonated beverages like I do.

It’s energy star certified which will help reduce the energy bill at the end of the month.

The interior also holds a whopping 17.8 cu ft of storage space for your cooling needs.

To top it all off, it comes with a 1-year limited warranty should anything go wrong.

While this garage fridge is rated for the garage, you may have issues with food freezing if the temperature goes below 32F.

This can be a bit annoying if you live in colder climates but it can be difficult to keep food above the outside temperature when it gets that cold.

If you want the best of the best, this is the best garage fridge that’ll last you for years to come.

Best Budget Garage Freezer

You can’t beat this fridge for the price, not to mention it also has a top freezer section should you need to freeze a variety of goodies.

The multi-vent technology will help keep the items evenly cooled and reduce any freezing that may occur.

It has 7.5 cu ft of storage space which is not the biggest size, but enough to store your favorite products with room to spare.

The top freezer has a wire shelf so you don’t have to stack up your frozen items which would be annoying to deal with.

The light on the inside is a nice touch that will let you see what’s inside rather than having to dig, especially great at night if you want to get some ice cream.

The glass shelves also make it easy to clean and will prevent liquid from leaking into the shelves below.

I like that the shelves are adjustable too so you can decide how you want to store your groceries.

While this isn’t a garage-rated fridge, reviewers mention that they have two in NY and one in FL and they both work perfectly fine.

I’ve also had fridges that weren’t garage rated work just fine, if you do live in extreme climates you may want to be extra safe though.

One thing I don’t particularly like is that the brand isn’t well known so it’s hard to know how good their support will be if you need help.

Best Mini Garage Fridge

Wanna just grab a cold drink and call it a day?

The hOmeLabs Mini was created with you in mind. It’s not fancy, it doesn’t have a ton of flashy features, but it is well received and affordable.

Measurements clock in at 18.5 x 17.7 x 33.9 inches and 3.3 cubic feet. It’s not going to be the biggest on this list of fridges, but big enough to hold a few cold ones and some snacks.

The max, med or min modes all give you the ability to choose how cold you want your fridge. You may not want your fruits and veggies to be super cold or you may want to keep it on max for the coldest beverages possible.

It also has a freezer which is nice, and you can fit a frozen pizza in there or throw in some ice trays to help cool you down.

The reversible door is a nice touch letting you place this refrigerator right where you need it to go.

While it is nice to have a mini-fridge, you can get a full size garage refrigerator for not too much more. Depending on your needs though, this might be a good fit for you.

If you’re after a space-saving mini-fridge, this is one of the best for garages I could find.

Also Great Garage Mini Fridge

What stands out about this mini-fridge is that it has that antique, retro look.

It even kind of looks like a safe, but in fact, it’s a garage mini-fridge! It’ll look great in any garage and fit right in with any metallic tools that you use on a daily basis.

It uses an R600a energy efficient compressor which will help cool your items down while using less energy.

It also runs quietly at around 37dB, which is nearly inaudible and won’t bother you whatsoever.

You can adjust the temperature if you’d like depending on your needs.

It has a light-degree freezer compartment that will allow for ice cubes to be stored which will come in handy on a hot day.

The shelves are removable which gives you flexibility if you want to fit odd-shaped items in your fridge (aka beer!).

The reversible doors will let you place this mini-fridge wherever you’d like in your garage as well, any corner will work. The leveling legs will also aid in keeping an even surface on an uneven plane.

This fridge is quite small at 1.6 cubic feet and for double the price of this fridge, you can get a full top freezer fridge.

You may not have room in your garage so it’d make sense to go with a mini-fridge.

Best Garage Beer Fridge

The Euhomy Beverage Refrigerator is a great choice if you only care about how many bottles/cans you can fit in your fridge.

You can fit up to 120 cans into this fridge, perfect for a hot summer day to cool you down.

Want bottles instead? The shelves are adjustable, giving you the choice to decide what’s going in your new refrigerator.

One thing I like about this fridge is the clear window, you won’t have to open and close the fridge every few minutes to check what’s inside!

Decide how cold you want the drinks with the intelligent control and auto-defrost feature. The front panel is also created out of three layers insulating the cool air inside.

The Euhomy fridge comes with a reversible door and adjustable feet making it incredibly easy to find a place to store it.

I love that this fridge is also sleek and has a high end design which will match the decor of all garages out there.

One thing I don’t like that this is only for beverages, you may find in the future you’d like to stow some items in your refrigerator and you may find that you don’t use this fridge that often.

Best Garage Refrigerators FAQ

1) Is it OK to put a refrigerator in the garage?

Yes, you will be perfectly fine putting a fridge in your garage. Unless your fridge is going to be put in extreme climates (below 20 degrees or above 100 degrees) you shouldn’t have any issues.

We have had an old fridge in our garage (which would get up to 90+ in the summer and 30F in the winter) and it did just fine. I wouldn’t spend money on a “garage refrigerator” unless you’re in an extreme climate.

The solution for a refrigerator in a really cold or hot garage is to purchase this kit which heats the thermometer tricking the fridge into working. Otherwise, it’ll shut itself off and the inside won’t freeze anymore.

2) What is a garage ready refrigerator?

A garage-ready refrigerator isn’t anything special. It is specially fitted so that it will work in extreme climates (cold, specifically). Save money and purchase a normal fridge unless you live in a particularly cold or hot place.

3) Can you keep a refrigerator in an unheated garage?

If you purchase a fridge that isn’t on this list, be wary if it has a front-facing water attachment. You don’t want to keep your fridge running when the water can freeze over and cause damage.

4) Can you keep your freezer in the garage?

Depending on where you live, it may get too cold in your garage for a freezer.

While this sounds silly, the temperature sensor on your freezer may think it’s too cold and shut itself off, but in actuality, it’s only the outside temperature that is cold.

Check with your freezer manual to ensure your fridge or freezer can work in your garage.

5) What is a garage kit for a refrigerator?

If you have a refrigerator that isn’t rated for your garage, then you’re in luck as a garage refrigerator kit will ensure your garage works properly all year round.

It will trick your fridge into running the compressor even when the outside temperature is too hot or cold.

Pros and Cons of a Garage Refrigerator

Pros

Garage ready refridgerators allow you to store your items that would’ve otherwise been in your kitchen’s fridge taking up space. You’ll also be able to have your items ready to go in your garage at a moment’s notice. If you’re always in the garage, this may benefit you a ton.

You also won’t have to worry about your fridge turning off VS a regular fridge. The compressor may shut off if the temperature sensor reaches its limit, which in turn would spoil the food inside of your fridge. With garage ready refrigerators, you won’t have that problem.

Garage ready refrigerators make it easier to buy food in bulk and save money as you can enjoy the discounts offered by bigger stores like Costco or Sams Club.

Most of the time you won’t have anywhere to store pounds of food, but with garage ready refrigerators you may be able to do so.

Cons

The biggest con is that your garage ready refrigerator is going to take up some space in your garage. If your garage is tiny, then you’ll lose some precious real estate. You can always use creative storage options like overhead garage storage.

Another con is that you’ll have to pay a bit extra to get a garage ready fridge.

You may not need to buy one though as many people store their normal fridges in the garage, but it’s better to be safe than sorry and lose out on thousands of dollars worth of food (and a useless fridge).

You’ll also need to spend money to keep your fridge running every month. Compared to a chest freezer, it will spend more electricity as it isn’t as efficient as a chest freezer.

The price can be negligible depending on where you live but it’s still an added cost.

What to Look for in a Garage Refrigerator?

Garage ready

To be honest, not everyone requires a garage ready fridge. Many people out there have kept non-garage ready fridges in their garage without an issue.

What they likely have in common is that their garages are either insulated well, or aren’t exposed to harsh temperatures.

If you live in a climate that gets either super hot or cold, then you will need a garage ready fridge. Otherwise, the compressor will shut the fridge off and you’ll have to deal with spoiled goods.

You can also look into a garage kit if you want to buy a cheaper model and modify it yourself.

Casters

Wheels on your refrigerator may seem silly, but if you use your garage as a workshop it’s going to be necessary. Everything in your workspace should be mobile, and a big fridge is going to become a headache sooner or later.

The downside of casters attached to your refrigerator for garage is the price. It’s almost twice the price as a freestanding unit, but will be worth it when you don’t need to move a heavy fridge often.

Space

How much space you have in your garage is going to factor in what size refrigerator. Measure the free space you have in your garage before purchasing a fridge.

Energy consumption

An appliance that is running 24/7 is going to add to your utility bill. Energy star certified garage refrigerators are going to ensure that you don’t have a huge bill at the end of the month.

Warranty

A warranty is going to be necessary as your refrigerator can malfunction within a year and break down. To avoid pricey repairs, look for a refrigerator that’s made by a reputable brand that stands behind its product.

All the fridges on this list are going to have at least a one year warranty if not more.

Final Thoughts

Out of all the garage ready refrigerators I reviewed, I found the Kenmore Top-Freezer Refrigerator to be one of the top ones. With it’s top freezer function and sleek look, it’s hard to beat that price.

If you aren’t on a budget, the Gladiator 17.8 cu. ft garage refrigerator has wheels and has tons of storage and flexibility with its adjustable glass shelving.

Don’t forget if you have a fridge you want to put in the garage, then you can buy a garage refrigerator kit to ensure that it works all year round.