The 5 best refrigerators in 2026: Consumer Reports

Refrigerators are among the priciest appliances in a kitchen, and buyers expect many years of service in return. Roughly 30% of models with icemakers run into trouble within five years, most often with the icemaker or the water dispenser.

Consumer Reports surveyed members about 85,290 refrigerators purchased since 2016 and graded brands on reliability and owner satisfaction within each style, so look over the standouts below before you shop.

Illustration: Quartz

Shoppers on a tight budget can bring home this 28-inch top-freezer for $695 to $701.99. Consumer Reports rated it highly for energy efficiency and thermostat performance in lab testing. CR also recorded even cooling across the cabinet and quieter operation than most top-freezers, while ease of use and crisper drawer performance earned low marks. LG led top-freezer brands in CR's member survey for long-term durability, though owners reported only middling satisfaction with the brand.

Illustration: Quartz

Fisher & Paykel led all bottom-freezer brands in CR's member survey for how well its models hold up over the years, though owner satisfaction with the brand came in closer to average. Expect to pay $3,299 to $3,499 for the 31-inch unit, which comes with digital temperature controls, a water filter, an icemaker tucked inside and a door dispenser for water only. CR gave the thermostat high marks and logged strong results on noise, energy use and steady cooling throughout the cabinet. Crisper drawers and ice production trailed those results, and ease of use landed midway, so produce-heavy households should weigh those findings before committing.

Credit: Thermador

Among French-door brands in CR's survey, Thermador alone earned high marks for both expected reliability and owner satisfaction. Samsung and Kenmore French-doors rated poorly on both counts in the same survey, so Thermador's showing carries weight. Buyers pay $5,299 for the 36-inch model, which includes a stainless steel finish, humidity-adjustable crisper drawers, an internal water dispenser and WiFi controls. CR testers recorded tight thermostat control along with even cooling, quiet operation and straightforward daily use, while energy efficiency, crisper drawers and icemaking came in around average.

Illustration: Quartz

Buyers of this 33-inch GE side-by-side pay between $1,799 and $1,889 and get an external water and ice dispenser, an internal icemaker and a built-in water filter. CR found steady temperatures throughout the cabinet and accurate thermostat control, along with good results for ice production and everyday handling. The crisper drawer kept produce fresh for less time than better-rated side-by-sides managed in CR's tests. GE side-by-sides came through CR's member survey with a strong reliability record but weak satisfaction marks from the people who own them.

Illustration: Quartz

Priced at $6,499, this 30-inch built-in includes WiFi controls, a built-in water filter and gallon door bins. CR's testers measured accurate thermostat control and even cooling across the compartment, with capable crisper results, while energy use and everyday handling landed closer to average. Noise was the weak point in that testing, and ice production rated only adequate. Bosch built-ins ranked near the front of CR's reliability data and drew high satisfaction marks from owners, and that track record carries real weight at this price.