How Much Does A Refrigerator Cost?

Last Updated on November 10, 2022 by E.Pery

A refrigerator is an essential appliance in homes today. People want to eat healthy and fresh food produce but don’t have the time to go to the grocery store every day. The fridge is, therefore, vital for preserving our food and drinks.

Most refrigerators have a life span of about ten years, but they start to depreciate from around the seventh year. So the question that most people have in their mind every seven years is how much it will cost them to get a refrigerator that best suits their needs in terms of size, style, features, and brand.

The cost of refrigerators varies depending on size, type, and brand. The bigger the size of the fridge, the higher the price will be because of the extra space and unique features such as built-in freezer compartments and ice makers, and ice and water dispensers.

If you want to purchase a new fridge, this article will assist you in making a worthy investment; one that falls within your budget.

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How Much Does A Refrigerator Cost?
How Much Does A Refrigerator Cost?

Refrigerator installation and old refrigerator disposal costs

Besides the cost of the fridge, you also need to consider the cost of installation and the cost of disposing of the old fridge. The national average cost of a new fridge installation is between $1000 and $3000. Most people pay about $1500 for installing a 25 Cu Ft. bottom freezer fridge, $100 for a mini-fridge, and $15000 for a side-by-side fridge with newly built-in custom cabinetry.

You may also need to dispose of your old refrigerator. If you don’t want to do the job yourself, consider hiring a professional to dispose of the fridge for about $100.

Cost of a refrigerator by type

When purchasing a refrigerator, the type of fridge you want to get has a significant influence on the cost at which you will get it. Simple minifridges are less expensive than high-capacity side-by-side French door refrigerators with freezer compartments, ice dispensers, more shelves and drawers, and smudge-proof finishes.

Types of fridges and their average costs;

  1. Mini fridge-$100-$500
  2. Wine cooler- $200-$2000
  3. Top-freezer- $350-$3000
  4. Freezers-$500- $3000
  5. Bottom freezer- $750-$5000
  6. Side-by-side freezer- $1000-$10,000
  7. French door -$1000-$12,000
  8. Counter-depth- $1500-$12000

Price of a Top-Freezer Refrigerator

If you have a small family and are on a budget, perhaps you could consider getting a top-freezer refrigerator that costs between $350 and $3000. These fridges have a freezer at the top and a refrigerator at the bottom and can fit in most apartments.

Recommended reading: Best Top Freezer Refrigerator [Top 5 Reviews]

Side-by-Side Refrigerator Price

The side-by-side refrigerators are ideal for large families compared to the bottom or top freezers because they are larger. The refrigerator and freezer stand side by side, although the fridge sections are larger than the freezer section.

Side-by-side fridges range between $1,000 to $10,000. The biggest disadvantage of this type of fridge is that it’s less energy efficient than other refrigerators. So check whether your preferred brand has energy star certified fridges.

Recommended reading: Best Side-By-Side Refrigerator [Top 5 Reviews]

Price of a French Door Refrigerator

French door refrigerators feature two double doors and a freezer compartment at the bottom. Unlike side-by-side refrigerators, they are energy efficient. Most have extra features such as water dispensers and ice makers, making them a bit more expensive than other types of fridges.

The average price of a French door refrigerator is $1,000 to $12,000. This refrigerator will give you the aesthetic quality your kitchen needs for a modern appearance despite its cost. 

Recommended reading: Best French Door Refrigerator [Top 5 Reviews]

Price of Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator

The bottom freezer refrigerators have a layout that is opposite the top freezers. The freezer is located at the bottom, while the refrigerator is on the upper side. You could consider getting this type of refrigerator if you do not like the inconvenience of bending to get stuff from the refrigerator.

The price of a bottom-freezer refrigerator ranges between $750 to $5,000, depending on its features.

Recommended reading: Best Refrigerator Bottom Freezer [Top 5 Reviews]

Price of Mini Fridge

Mini fridges are the cheapest refrigerators you will get on the market. The price ranges between $100 and $500. These refrigerators are pretty simple and have very few features.

Their internal capacity ranges between 2 and 8 cubic feet. This makes them fit for office use or individual use to store snacks and keep drinks cool.

Recommended reading: Mini Refrigerator Today's Best Deals

Price of a Wine Cooler

Wine coolers vary in size. You can get a simple cooler with the capacity of holding a dozen bottles for only $200. However, if you need a larger model with dual temperature zones for white and red wine, you can get one for at most $2000.

Recommended reading: Wine Refrigerator Today's Best Deals

Price of Counter-Depth Refrigerator

If you want a refrigerator that flushes with your kitchen counters, consider getting a counter-depth refrigerator. The refrigerators vary in depth between 27” and 30” and cost between $1,500 to $12,000.

Most counter-depth fridges have a side-by-side French door and bottom-freezer design and are more expensive than fridges that are just from your countertops.

Recommended reading: Counter Depth Refrigerator Today's Best Deals

Refrigerator price by capacity

Before you finally settle on the fridge you want to get, consider your family size and your family’s eating patterns. Do you like to eat out or make dinner most days, for example? How much food and drink does your family consume every week without waste? Do you plan on expanding your family size, or do you perhaps often host parties in your home?

Once you’ve answered these questions, get a fridge that will enable you to follow the 4 to 6 cubic feet of fridge space per person rule. If your budget allows, you could also get a fridge that will give you extra storage space for happy occasions such as holidays, parties, and ceremonies.

The cost of refrigerators according to their average capacity.

  1. 10 – 12 cu.ft. $500 – $1,000
  2. 12 – 16 cu.ft. $600 – $2,000
  3. 16 – 18 cu.ft. $700 – $3,000
  4. 18 – 20 cu.ft. $750 – $5,000
  5. 20 – 25 cu.ft. $800 – $10,000
  6. 25 – 32 cu.ft. $1,000 – $12,000

If you have a small family, opt to get a top or bottom freezer with a capacity of between 20 to 30 cubic feet; however, if you have a more prominent family or frequently host many people, it’s advisable to go for a French door or side-by-side model.

Also, consider the size of your kitchen. The last thing you want to buy is a fridge too big for your kitchen’s real estate. The side-by-side and French door models require considerably ample space. So if your kitchen has limited space, the freezer-less and top and bottom freezers will be a good choice.

Fridge price by brand

The cost of refrigerators also varies with the brand. When selecting the fridge to buy, consider getting one from a renowned brand for quality and reliability.

Getting a refrigerator from a company like Whirlpool assures you of durability because it’s one of the top-rated reliable brands. However, it is essential to note that although a particular brand may make reliable top-freezers, the same may not be said for their French-door or side-by-side fridges, which may require numerous repairs before the end of their lifespan.

So it’s always good to do your due diligence before you invest your dollars in the fridge. The table below shows different refrigerator brands with average costs for their models.

The average cost of refrigerators based on brands;

  1. LG$600 – $4,500
  2. Frigidaire$100 – $1,500
  3. GE$300 – $3,500
  4. Kenmore$450 – $3,500
  5. Whirlpool$500 – $4,000
  6. Maytag$700 – $3,500
  7. Samsung$800 – $5,000

Price Range of LG Refrigerators

If you have a flexible budget and are looking for a fridge with modern features and appealing designs, LG should be on the list of fridges to consider. It will provide you with a state-of-the-art look and give you value for your money through its high-performance level.

LG manufactures a wide range of refrigerator models. You can get high-end side-by-side units, and low-budget minifridges along with the bottom and top freezer models. Most LG refrigerators cost between $600 and $4500.

However, besides their refrigerating functionality, this South Korean brand has fridges with modern technology features like see-through door panels, Wi-Fi, and quick and clever access areas.

Frigidaire Refrigerator Prices

This is an American brand of refrigerators that is energy efficient, requires little maintenance, and is offered at a broad range of affordable prices.

The cost of Frigidaire refrigerators ranges between $100 and $1500. You can get a reliable high-end side-by-side, a bottom or top freezer, as well as low-budget minifridges with a lifespan of 10-20 years.

Kenmore Refrigerator Price

If you want to get a side-by-side refrigerator, there is no better brand to consider than Kenmore. Kenmore is part of the Sears department store.

It offers a wide range of fridge models from minifridges with modern designs to sophisticated fridges with intelligent technology and a capacity of 27 Cu. Ft. internal storage. This brand offers refrigerators whose price ranges from $450 to $3,500.

GE Refrigerator Price

GE is one of the most reliable brands in America. It will give you a good value for your money whether you want to get 4-cubic-foot minifridges for your office or bedroom worth or a French door refrigerator with features like fingerprint-resistant surfaces and ice dispensers.

The price range of refrigerators from this brand is $300 to $3500.

Whirlpool Refrigerator Price

If you want to get a durable and high-quality refrigerator, then you should consider refrigerators from Whirlpool. Not only do these refrigerators last long, but they also do not require many repairs and hence are pretty reliable.

You can get a modest fridge type for $500 or a more luxurious model with a 26 Cu Ft capacity for $4000.

Maytag Refrigerator Price

Maytag is a subsidiary of Whirlpool and is best known for making the most reliable washing machines. However, it also makes quality refrigerators whose prices range from $700 to $3500 if they offer refrigerators with an internal capacity of 18-25 Cu. Ft.

These include side-by-side, French doors, and bottom and top freezers.

Samsung Refrigerator Price

Samsung is a South Korean brand that was previously known for producing high-quality smartphones. It recently began manufacturing fridges which are fast gaining popularity for their modern technology and features such as ice makers, fingerprint-resistant surfaces, and energy efficiency.

This brand primarily offers French door and side-by-side refrigerators, although you can get a top-freezer too. The cost of fridges from this brand ranges from $800 and $5,000. Although they are more expensive than refrigerators from other brands, you can rest assured of their reliability.

Cost of refrigerators by finish

Did you know that you do not need to get stuck on the simple white or black color for a refrigerator? There are more color options in the market today, and they also determine the cost of refrigerators. The cheapest fridges are white or black finishes, while fridges with unique colors such as Bisque, sunset bronze, and stainless steel cost much more.

The cost of a refrigerator by finish:

  1. Black finish- $100-$10,000
  2. White finish- $100-$10,000
  3. Stainless steel -$100-$12,000
  4. Black stainless steel – $300-$12,000
  5. Slate – $1000-$12,000
  6. Tuscan – $1000-$12,000
  7. Sunset Bronze – $1000-$12,000
  8. Bisque – $1000-$12,000
  9. Panel ready – $1500-$12,000

Stainless Steel Refrigerator Cost

This is the most popular style of refrigerator today. Most people like it because it gives the kitchen a sleek modern sleep appearance, which works well for most contemporary homes.

The cost of stainless steel fridges ranges between  $100 to $12,000.  If you decide to settle on this refrigerator style, be prepared to clean it because it smudges pretty easily regularly.

Black Refrigerator Cost

If you have black kitchen countertops and dark kitchen tiles, you could perhaps consider giving fridges with a black finish a shot. Black fridges are also ideal if your fridge has many users because it does not stains or marks easily, although they still need regular cleaning.

The price range of these refrigerators is between $100 to $10,000, depending on the model and brand.

Black Stainless Steel Refrigerator Cost

If you are torn between getting stainless steel and a black refrigerator, the black stainless steel refrigerator will pull you out of that dilemma. This type of finish will offer you a nice balance between the laid-back hue of plain black and the shine of the stainless steel.

You can get this type of fridge for as little as $300 and as much as $12,000, depending on the brand and size of the refrigerator. However, this fridge smudges easily too, and so you need to clean it regularly for it to look as impressive as when you bought it.

White Refrigerator Cost

Depending on the type, size, and brand, you can get a white refrigerator for as little as $100 and as much as $10,000.

These are traditional fridges which suit a wide variety of kitchen decors. However, besides being an outdated color finish, this fridge requires regular cleaning because stains and finger marks show up quickly.

Slate Refrigerator Cost

If cleaning is not your thing, but you still need a fridge with a color that makes an exquisite statement, the slate refrigerator is an option you should consider.

Slate refrigerators are less glossy than stainless steel fridges, but they still give your kitchen the stylish, sleek, and modern appearance that you want. The cost of slate refrigerators ranges from $1,000 to $12,000.

Tuscan Refrigerator Cost

Tuscan fridges have the same price range as the slate refrigerators; $1,000 to $12,000. However, they have an earthy brown hue that looks great in a kitchen with countertops of a similar color or shades of red and brown.

Sunset Bronze Refrigerator Cost

You do not need to clean the sunset bronze refrigerator daily because its surface is streak-free. The color of this fridge is a nice blend of pale gold and copper. It also gives off a metallic look which gives your kitchen a modern appearance.

The cost of sunset bronze fridges ranges between $1,000 to $12,000, depending on the type, size, brand, and model.

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Bisque Refrigerator Cost

Bisque fridges have a color similar to almonds. The vintage appearance works well with many contemporary homes. You can get this refrigerator for $1,000 to $12,000.

Panel-Ready Refrigerator Cost

Panel-ready fridges are the most expensive kind of refrigerators. You can have the custom fridge installed in your kitchen to match the color and style of your cabinets, giving the fridge a natural and seamless blend into the kitchen decor.

However, you have to part with at least $1500 and $12000 for this kind of refrigerator.

Refrigerator installation cost

Once you get a new refrigerator, you could choose to install it yourself by moving it from the truck to the designated area in your kitchen. Installing your new refrigerator yourself saves you the installation cost, ranging between $50 for a minifridge and $15000 for a side-by-side fridge.

However, there are numerous risks involved in moving a new refrigerator yourself. For instance, transporting it in its horizontal position causes permanent damage to the compressor. Getting someone with experience to install the refrigerator for you could save you the pain of replacing a new fridge.

You can hire a moving company to assist you with the installation process if the store you bought the refrigerator from does not offer this service. You can get this service for as little as $50, depending on the size and model of your fridge.

If you have a sophisticated refrigerator, you might need to do more than just move the fridge and plug it in. For instance, if it requires a water line to be connected for filtered ice and water, you might need to hire the service of a plumber, a service that could cost you between $45 to $200 per hour.

The cost of moving and installing a refrigerator with a typical water line ranges between $200 and $550.

If you need your panel-ready refrigerator installed in your kitchen, it may cost you between $70 and $100 per hour. This installation process involves adding walls or cabinets around the refrigerator. You might require a new electrical outlet for the fridge, and it may cost around $120 to $200 for the service.

Cost of refrigerators by special features

When replacing an old refrigerator, you may want to get one with modern and unique features and add-ons such as a trim kit, Quick Access Wi-Fi, water filters, and ice makers. However, these features increase the cost of the fridge.

Refrigerators with special features

  1. Smudge-proof $500 – $12,000
  2. Trim Kit$500 – $12,000
  3. Convertible$500 – $12,000
  4. Air Filtration$750 – $12,000
  5. Energy Star$500 – $12,000
  6. Smart Fridge$2,000 – $12,000
  7. Water Filter$1,000 – $12,000

Cost of a Refrigerator with a Trim Kit

A trim kit plugs the gaps between the fridge and the counters, cabinets, or walls. This feature gives your kitchen a neat and integrated appearance. If you need a fridge with this feature, you can get it in most stores at a price ranging between $500 to $12,000.

Cost of a Smudge-Proof Refrigerator

One of the most significant disadvantages of white or stainless refrigerators is that their surfaces are prone to smudges and fingerprints.

If this was an issue with the last refrigerator, you might want to get a fridge with a smudge-proof refrigerator at the cost of between $500 to $12,000. Fridges with this feature are resistant to fingerprints, smudges, and tear marks.

Cost of a Convertible Refrigerator

You can opt to get a convertible refrigerator if you need versatility. This fridge has two compartments that allow you to alternate their functionality between a freezer and a refrigerator, depending on your needs. The cost of such a refrigerator ranges between $500 and $12,000.

Cost of an Energy Star Refrigerator

Refrigerators consume a considerable amount of electric energy. Therefore, when purchasing a refrigerator, you need to get one that is energy star certified. You can get an energy star-certified refrigerator for about $500 to $12000.

Cost of an Air Filtration Refrigerator

An air filter is a feature that minimizes the odors in your fridge by filtering the air within the fridge and keeping it smelling fresher and cleaner. You can get a fridge with air filtration at the cost of $750 to $12,000.

Cost of a Refrigerator with a Water Filter Price

If you worry about the quality of water that is dispensed from the fridge, consider getting a refrigerator with a water filter. The filter purifies the water and ice before it is distributed. The average cost of a refrigerator with water filtration is $1000 to $12000. However, this price varies depending on the refrigerator type and brand.

Cost of a Quick Access Door Refrigerator

Samsung and LG are among the few brands that offer refrigerators with unique doors. These doors have a see-through section that allows you to see the items in the fridge before you open the door. The quick-access fridges are pretty expensive. Their cost ranges between $1,500 to $12,000, depending on the model and finishing style.

Cost of a Smart Refrigerators Cost

Smart refrigerators are even more costly than quick-access fridges. They range between $2,000 and $12,000, depending on the brand and the size.

These fridges have features like Wi-Fi, touch screen displays, and quick access doors, which allow you to see inside the fridge. The touch screen will enable you to check out recipes, track calendars and make notes.

Enhancement and improvement costs

There are several ways of improving the efficiency of a refrigerator. One of them is adding features to the refrigerator, such as an egg holder, and it comes pretty handy when your refrigerator has few egg holders.

Egg holders keep the fragile eggs in place to prevent them from rolling out when the door is swung open. You can get a separate egg holder at the cost of between $10 and $30.

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