We researched dozens of mini freezers, including traditional mini fridge/freezer combos to cooler-style models that are suitable for camping. While these mini freezers range widely in design, our selections all have a few things in common: They’re efficient and quiet, have a host of useful features, and provide an overall great value. Our best overall pick is the Whynter Cuf-210SS Energy Star Stainless Steel Upright Freezer with Lock, which is an attractive stainless steel freezer with 2.1 cubic feet of storage space, plus conveniences like a reversible door and an energy-efficient motor. But there are plenty of other great options out there, depending on what you’re specifically looking for in a mini freezer. Here are the best mini freezers for your home, office, or dorm room. The freezer has plenty of convenience features, too, including a reversible swing door to suit the layout of your space. The thermostat is manually adjustable, the two shelves can be removed to reconfigure the design, and it comes with a cylinder lock and two keys in case you ever need to secure the contents. The small freezer also has a sleek design. The stainless steel composition is attractive, and the recessed handle is both easy to operate and aesthetically streamlined. It’s also efficient, since it’s Energy Star-certified, and users say it’s relatively quiet. In terms of potential drawbacks, users report frost occasionally builds up inside, and defrosting is manual. The mini freezer also can’t be used in extreme temperatures—the manufacturer recommends using it in temperatures ranging from 50 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. But, if you’re looking for an indoor mini freezer, this model has plenty of convenient features to meet your food-storage needs. Price at time of publish: $210 Inside, the freezer has a single removable shelf, which affords you plenty of space on both tiers and gives you the option of storing a few big items instead. The controls and defrost are manual, which may be a downside to some, but you can set the temperature within a satisfying range of minus 8 degrees to 7 degrees. Overall, this mini freezer is a great option for most spaces, including dorm rooms and offices—just don’t put it in the garage. Price at time of publish: $150 To help you dig around inside, the door stays open from 45 to 75 degrees. You can also remove the interior storage basket, so you can choose how to organize and store your food. There’s also an adjustable thermostat on the front of the freezer, so you can tailor the temperature to your needs. Just keep in mind that the manual control is at the base of the freezer, so you’ll have to bend down to use it. Price at time of publish: $179 Adding to the list of conveniences is an interior light and a reversible door. Plus, the stainless steel exterior makes the unit relatively pleasing to look at—you won’t mind having it in a college dorm room, finished basement, or office. Just note: You can’t install this model in a garage or outside. You’ll need to manually defrost it, too. Price at time of publish: $409 In terms of organization, the freezer also has a removable wire shelf, so you can neatly stack bags or bottles of breastmilk. Just note: If you’re using bags, you may want to line the top shelf, so the bags don’t slip through the cracks. Though relatively basic, this mini freezer does have an adjustable thermostat for customization. It’s also Energy Star-certified, so you don’t have to worry about pulling too much electricity. It’s efficient and quiet—you’d almost never even know it was there. Price at time of publish: $203 But it’s not all about aesthetics. This mini freezer is just as functional as it is chic—possibly even more so, since you can use it as a refrigerator or a freezer. It has a manual temperature control that ranges from negative 20 degrees to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Use it simply to keep beverages cool, or turn it all the way down to use it as a freezer. Either way, you’ll love the removable wire storage basket, the included ice scraper and bottle opener attachment, and the fact that it comes with a lock and keys for security. Plus, its garage-ready construction means it can operate in temperatures as low as 23 degrees. Like many other models, this freezer must be manually defrosted. At 3.5 cubic feet, it is on the larger side for a mini fridge, but if you have the space for it, you’ll find it isn’t at all cumbersome. In fact, it has caster wheels, so you can easily move it from place to place if need be. Price at time of publish: $434 You don’t have to use it as a freezer, either. The temperature can be adjusted from -7.6 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Use it to keep refrigerated goods cool, or opt to use it as a freezer to preserve frozen food. It’s worth noting that this cooler must be plugged into a power supply in order to run; it comes with a 12-volt power cord for your car, as well as an AC adapter for a wall outlet. That said, it’s surprisingly efficient—it consumes less than 1 kWh every day. Additionally, the freezer has built-in side handles and a magnetic door. It’s small enough to fit in the trunk of a car, plus it features anti-30-degree slip, meaning it won’t slide around in the back of a truck, even on bumpy terrain. It’s geared toward campers, but it makes for a good tailgating fridge/freezer, too. If you plan to transport items in the freezer without access to power, you might want to consider purchasing the coordinating protective cover (sold separately), which features insulation and carry straps. Price at time of publish: $300 The size you should get depends on your space constraints, as well as your storage needs. Generally, the smallest mini freezers have capacities of 1 to 3 cubic feet, while the largest ones have capacities closer to 5 to 7 cubic feet. If you only need to store a few things and you have a small space, a tinier 1-cubic-foot freezer will do the trick. However, if you need to store bulkier items and have the square footage, you may want to choose one of the larger models—in addition to extra footage, these models often have more organizational features like storage baskets to maximize the space and keep things organized.
Manual vs. Automatic Defrosting
Machines that require manual defrosting are a little bit more difficult to maintain over time, since you’ll have to chip away at any frost buildup periodically. Generally, it’s a relatively simple process that’s outlined in the user manual, but it can be time-consuming and does require some elbow grease. Models with automatic defrosting don’t require the same maintenance commitment, but they tend to be more expensive.
Garage-Ready Design
Pay attention to this designation if you’re hoping to store your freezer in a garage or area with fluctuating external temperatures. Not all models work in extreme temperatures, whether hot or cold. If you plan to keep your mini freezer in an area that might get hotter or cooler than average indoor temperatures, choose a model with a garage-ready design, like the Nostalgia 3.5 Cu. Ft. Classic Retro Chest Freezer and Refrigerator.
Standout Features
Defrost Drain
Some models have extra bells and whistles that don’t necessarily affect how well the freezer performs but simply make life a little easier. One nice-to-have feature is an exit point for any water that collects due to condensation inside the freezer. Models with automatic defrosting will have this feature.
Indicator Light
An indicator light is a light that glows to alert you that the appliance is plugged in and working. While this isn’t a must-have for a mini freezer, it can eliminate any confusion as to whether or not the appliance may be working properly.
Reversible Door
Some mini freezers feature a reversible door, which means you can install the door so that it swings left or right—whatever is better for your space. This flexibility comes in especially handy if squeezing a mini freezer into a compact area, or if you foresee someday moving the freezer to another location with a different layout.
Why Trust the Spruce?
This article was written by Brigitt Earley, a freelance writer who has spent nearly 15 years writing about consumer products like home appliances. To curate this list, Brigitt scoured all of the most popular retailers to find the top-selling, top-rated mini freezers. Then, she interviewed experts like Hubert Miles, certified master inspector and owner of HomeInspectionInsider.com, to find out what’s most important when shopping for this type of small appliance. With this information, she vetted each product being considered to ensure the final list contained only the most reliable, quality options on the market today.
