Best Refrigerators: Top 10 Models for November 2025
CR's lab tests reveal top refrigerators from brands such as GE, LG, Samsung, Sub-Zero, and Whirlpool in several styles
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The refrigerator lab at Consumer Reports is always busy. Our testers are constantly evaluating new models and adding them to our refrigerator ratings, which currently have more than 270 models across all configurations: bottom-freezers, built-ins, French-doors, side-by-sides, and top-freezers.
The lines between these categories, though, are blurring. Today’s refrigerators have more doors, and features that were once exclusive have trickled down to more budget-friendly styles, such as top-freezers and side-by-sides.
- Best Refrigerators: French-Doors Side-by-Sides Top-Freezers Bottom-Freezers Built-Ins
- How CR Tests Refrigerators
Best French-Door Refrigerators
Below are the two highest-rated French-door refrigerators. To see more models, check out our list of the best French-door refrigerators and our full French-door refrigerator ratings.
Best Side-by-Side Refrigerators
Below are the two highest-rated side-by-side refrigerators. To see more models, check out our list of the best side-by-side refrigerators and our full side-by-side refrigerator ratings.
Best Top-Freezer Refrigerators
Below are the two highest-rated top-freezer refrigerators. To see more models, check out our list of the best top-freezer refrigerators and our full top-freezer refrigerator ratings.
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CR’s interactive tool leverages product costs, depreciation rates, and survey data to help you make the right choice.
Best Bottom-Freezer Refrigerators
Below are the two highest-rated bottom-freezer refrigerators. To see more models, check out our list of the best bottom-freezer refrigerators and our full bottom-freezer refrigerator ratings.
Best Built-In Refrigerators
Below are two of the highest-rated built-in refrigerators. To see more models, check out our list of the best built-in refrigerators and our full built-in refrigerator ratings.
How CR Tests Refrigerators
We rate refrigerators based on their thermostat performance, temperature uniformity, noise output, ease of use, energy efficiency, crisper performance, and icemaker performance (for models that have that feature).
Every refrigerator we test gets wired with 15 temperature sensors. We then monitor those thermocouples for more than a month in one of three temperature-controlled chambers, collecting more than 5.4 million temperature readings for each fridge we test. The results tell us how well a refrigerator maintains a set temperature and how temperature varies in different areas of a fridge, so we can determine which models will keep your food fresh longer.
Our testers measure the noise when the compressor starts up and the steady hum while the fridge is running. For ease of use, we examine the fridge’s layout, controls, and lighting.
Our process includes tests for icemaker performance based on how much ice a fridge produces per day and how much it can hold in its reservoirs. We evaluate crisper performance to judge how well the crisper drawers retain moisture to keep your food fresh for longer periods of time.
We also factor in survey data from thousands of CR members to judge brand reliability and satisfaction. All of that data and more inform CR’s refrigerator ratings and each model’s Overall Score.
Get more information on CR’s refrigerator tests.
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