Mini fridge dimensions: compact models by capacity
Mini fridge dimensions vary: the ENERGY STAR list holds 1,720 certified compact refrigerators. Enter the space under your desk or counter: the tool counts the ones that fit.
Example for a 20 × 34 inch opening — change any figure to see your own result
Certified models that fit
1,012
of 1,720 certified compact refrigerators, every width up to yours
| Typical capacity (the middle model) | 3.1 cubic feet |
| Typical energy use | 220 kWh a year |
| Typical running cost at the U.S. average price | $40 a year |
| Lowest use among them | 106 kWh (DOMETIC C40S1, 15.90 in wide) |
kWh (kilowatt-hour) is the unit on your power bill. The ENERGY STAR list gives no depth for refrigerators: check the depth, door swing and hinge clearance on the model’s own sheet.
| Model | Width × height | Capacity | kWh a year | Cost a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kegco MDK-199B-** (2 versions, same size and use) | 18 in × 30 in | 4.9 cu ft | 270 | $49 |
| Frigidaire EFR492 | 20 in × 32 in | 4.6 cu ft | 204 | $37 |
| Thomson TFR441 (6 versions, same size and use) | 20 in × 32 in | 4.6 cu ft | 204 | $37 |
| APPLIANCE BASICS CR44CABSDSS | 19.70 in × 33.90 in | 4.4 cu ft | 226 | $41 |
| Arctic King ARM044S1ARSV (2 versions, same size and use) | 19.70 in × 33.90 in | 4.4 cu ft | 226 | $41 |
Compiled by Radif Partners · How the figures are built
Mini fridge dimensions depend on capacity, and the ENERGY STAR list of November 12, 2026 shows the whole range: 1,720 certified compact refrigerators sold in the United States, from 1 to 8.3 cubic feet. The median model is 18.90 in wide and 33.20 in tall and holds 3.3 cubic feet, the classic dorm size. Heights go from 16.70 in for a cube to 66.90 in for the tallest compact units. 1,012 models are at most 20 inches wide and 34 inches tall, the space under a standard counter or a desk. Compact refrigerators use little energy in absolute terms: a median 246 kWh a year, which costs $45 at the U.S. average price of August 2026, or about $3.72 a month. Per cubic foot, though, they use more than a full-size refrigerator. 0 of them are built-in undercounter units with a front vent. Depth is not on the list.
Mini fridge dimensions by capacity
Compact refrigerators are sold by cubic feet, but the space you have is measured in inches. The table turns one into the other with the medians of the certified models in each capacity band. Use it to see what size to look for, then the tool above for the exact count.
| Capacity | Models | Typical width | Typical height | Typical kWh a year | Cost a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 2 cu ft | 267 | 18.60 in | 19.30 in | 208 | $38 |
| 2 to 3.5 cu ft | 693 | 18.50 in | 33 in | 220 | $40 |
| 3.5 to 5 cu ft | 386 | 19.70 in | 33.90 in | 269 | $49 |
| 5 cu ft or more | 374 | 23.80 in | 34.65 in | 276 | $50 |
Under a desk, a counter or a bar
Measure the height from the floor to the underside of the counter or desk, the width between the cabinet sides or the desk legs, and the depth you can give up. A freestanding mini fridge needs some air at the back and sides to shed heat; pushing it into a tight niche makes the compressor run longer and raises the real energy use above the label. Undercounter built-in units are designed for the niche, with the vent at the front.
Compact models that fit under your counter
Example for a 20 × 34 inch opening — change any figure to see your own result
Certified models that fit
1,012
of 1,720 certified compact refrigerators, every width up to yours
| Typical capacity (the middle model) | 3.1 cubic feet |
| Typical energy use | 220 kWh a year |
| Typical running cost at the U.S. average price | $40 a year |
| Lowest use among them | 106 kWh (DOMETIC C40S1, 15.90 in wide) |
What a mini fridge costs to run
At 246 kWh a year, the median certified compact model costs $45 a year at the U.S. average price, $116 in Hawaii and $32 in Louisiana. The range on the list goes from 106 to 470 kWh. Models with a separate freezer door sit in other federal classes than single-door models, with their own maximum. A second refrigerator in a garage or basement is a different case: the refrigerator electricity page explains why a room's temperature changes the figure.
Compact or a narrow full-size model
Above about 5 cubic feet, a compact refrigerator competes with narrow full-size models. If the space is 24 inches wide and free to the ceiling, a 24 inch refrigerator holds two to three times as much for a little more energy. For a studio or a rental kitchen, the apartment size page compares both formats.