If you’re searching for the best quiet mini fridge for your office, college dorm, mancave or wherever, read on.
These are places where silence is needed so it’s a good thing to have a quiet fridge. If you’re sleeping in a dorm room within several feet of your mini-fridge, I can guarantee that you don’t want your compressor noise to constantly wake you up from your sleep or prevent you from concentrating while studying.
It’s also the same for the office since the unwanted noise coming from your mini fridge can be very distracting and can even disturb you while you’re having an important meeting or conversation on the phone. And if your mini fridge is keeping the beer cold in your mancave it can be extremely annoying when you can’t hear the television because of the noisy fridge! (learn how to reduce refrigerator noise for more).
This is why it’s best to invest in a quiet mini fridge so you can avoid all these problems. In this article, I’m going to review some of the best quiet mini fridge available for a dorm room, bedroom, office and mancaves.
Reviews of the Best Quiet Mini Fridges
1. Smad Mini Fridge
Best Quiet Mini Fridge
If you’re looking for an ultra-quiet mini fridge then I recommend going with the Smad Mini Fridge. It features a noise rating of 1 decibel which makes it one of the quietest mini fridges out there.
The manufacturer has been around since 1999 and has established a good reputation in household appliances. This model has a total capacity of 1.0 cubic feet which tends to be a bit small so it’s good to be aware of that. Its measurements are 15.8” W x 16.5”D x 19.6”H. The fridge temperature ranges between 2~13 ℃(37.4~53.6℉).
This is a quiet mini fridge that’s suitable for quiet spaces such as libraries, nurseries and offices. This fridge works with both 110v and 12v power. You can also plug it straight into a cigarette lighter port which makes it a great choice for RV.
Another bonus is that the Smad mini fridge has a built-in lock, which is great for protection and keeping hands off your beers. It’s also equipped with a reversible door hinge to enable you to adjust it for right or left-handed opening. This gives you an option where to place the fridge while keeping the door accessible.
The biggest problem most people have with this fridge is the price, which is a bit high compared to other models on the market, but it’s totally worth it if you want a quiet fridge since it’s one of the quietest.
Pros
- Built-in lock
- Reversible door
- Extremely quiet
- Can be easily powered through cigarette lighter port
Cons
- Price is a bit high compared to other models
- High power consumption when using (12v)
2. Danby DAR259BL Mini Fridge
Best Value For the Money
If you’re in need of a mini fridge that’s energy efficient and quiet at the same time, then I highly recommend giving the Danby DAR259BL a try. First of all, almost everyone is attracted to the great looks of the DAR259BL. It looks sleek and stylish and it won’t look out of place in any dorm room or office.
It weighs a little over 56 lbs and has a capacity of 2.5 cubic feet. The size and weight are just right which means you can literally place it just about anywhere you want. This silent fridge is Energy-star certified and like the Smad mini fridge mentioned above, it comes with reversible door hinges.
It’s also equipped with a CanStor beverage dispenser to ensure that all your drinks stay organized and are accessible at all times. It’s very easy to set up. It’s also extremely easy to maintain and clean. The automatic defrost system works quite well, and when it comes to cleaning inside all you’ll need to do is remove the shelves.
Danby DAR259BL is considered to be a great choice for many people and it won’t be noisy enough to prevent you from sleeping or affect your concentration. Its size makes it ideal for even small rooms, and its light weight gives you the ability to easily carry it or put it in an RV.
Pros
- It’s pretty lightweight and compact
- The price is very affordable
- It has a sleek and stylish design
- Easily fits in small spaces
- It really chills your drinks in no time
Cons
- A few customers noted that it may not cool evenly
3. Cooluli Mini Fridge Electric Cooler and Warmer
Best Drinks Cooler
Another high quality quiet mini fridge on our list is the Cooluli Mini Fridge Electric Cooler and Warmer. This is a thermoelectric cooler, meaning it uses very little power. It has the ability to hold up to six 12oz cans or four 16oz bottles. You can also use it to heat things up.
This affordable cooler/warmer fridge boasts a modern look and is a great portable unit, weighing only 4 lbs. It comes with a 110v adapter to use indoors, and a 12v adapter to use in a car cigarette lighter port. With this, you also get a USB cable and you can power it with a 2A power bank for even more portability.
The Cooluli Mini Fridge also utilizes some advanced technology. It’s super compact, measuring less than a foot high and just over 7″ wide. If you’re a traveler and love traveling light, then this is the perfect fit for you.
I love the fact that you have multiple color options to choose from, including red, blue, fuchsia, white with black spots, etc. You can certainly choose whatever color looks best on your office desk or college dorm room.
I don’t recommend buying this cooler if you’re looking for a large capacity cooler. The best place to buy this mini fridge is on Amazon, where you’ll often find the best deals.
Pros
- Great cooling performance
- Ultra-compact and lightweight
- Silent operation
- Very affordable
- Cools and warms
Cons
- Has limited capacity
4. Midea WHD-113FSS1 Mini Fridge
Best Double Door Fridge
For most people, the Midea WHD-113FSS1 Double Door Mini Fridge seems to be a great choice. It isn’t as silent as the Smad mini fridge, but it’s fairly quiet and certainly worth breaking your wallet.
This compact mini fridge utilizes a whisper-quiet technology that’s almost undetectable when cycling on and off. It has a capacity of 3.1 cubic feet, making it a solid choice for those who want to put a certain quantity of food and drinks to cool at the same time.
It’s considered to be larger than a mini fridge, yet smaller than a traditional fridge. It has an adjustable temperature range of 32° to 50° F in the refrigerator compartment and 2° to 5° F in the freezer compartment. It also features adjustable legs and a reversible door that can open from left or right.
I believe the Midea WHD-113FSS1 Mini Fridge is certainly worth the investment. It even has some notable features such as a temperature cooler, glass shelves and a crisper drawer for vegetables, fruits and cheese.
Pros
- Relatively quiet
- Double door fridge
- Easy to use and maintain
- Perfect size for home bars, gyms, and gaming room
Cons
- A bit expensive compared to other models
Quiet Fridge Buying Guide
Things to Look for in a Noiseless / Quietest Mini Fridge
There are a few things that you must take into consideration when searching for the best quietest mini fridge. It’s very important to know the two main styles of refrigerators known as thermoelectric and compressor absorption refrigerators.
Thermoelectric vs Compressor Absorption Refrigerators
A compressor-powered refrigerator is also widely known as a two-way refrigerator and uses a compressor unit to cool. You can easily power up the compressor through a 12v battery or plugging the 110v socket power which is the known two ways of powering up the compressor.
Now, let’s take a look at the absorption refrigerator also known as the three-way refrigerator. These units rely on gas flow heat exchange system located in the back of the refrigerator to extract heat from the refrigerator and cool the internal temperature. It’s called a three-way refrigerator because it can be powered by 12v battery, 110v power, and LPG gas.
Absorption Refrigerators Are Quieter Than Compressors
You should also keep in mind that absorption is much quieter even though compressor units are far more efficient. The reason being is because the compressor has to cycle on and off to keep the temperatures inside to as minimum as possible. While the absorption unit doesn’t use compressors since it utilizes a heat exchange system that operates extremely quiet.
The only downside with absorption refrigerators is that they’re easily affected by the room temperature. You should keep in mind that they’re only capable of lowering the internal temperature to a certain point below the room/ambient temperature.
Conclusion
There you go, the list consists of some of the best quiet mini fridges on the market. Whether you’re just moving into a dorm or you’re just simply searching for a mini fridge for your office, with the list above you can easily find a mini fridge that best suits your needs.
You should also take the time out to read why the absorption refrigerator is much quieter than the compressor, which will make you have a better understanding.
You can also check my guide on how to reduce blender noise