The 2025 Beverage Fridge Buying Guide
Shopping for a beverage fridge can be exciting—but with so many models, sizes, and features available, it can also feel overwhelming. This guide makes it simple so you can choose the perfect beverage fridge with confidence.
Read this before you look for the best beverage fridge, and you’ll learn:
- Whether a freestanding or built-in beverage fridge is right for your space
- How to determine the best size and capacity for your household or lifestyle
- Smart solutions for homes that enjoy both beer and wine
- Which features and upgrades to look for when comparing beverage coolers
- Why Newair beverage fridges continue to be a customer favorite
- Whether beverage fridges make good gifts (spoiler: they definitely do)
You can use this article to find the perfect beverage fridge. If you still have questions, the experts at Newair are always here to help you narrow your search.
Freestanding vs. Built-In Beverage Fridge: Which One Is Right?
You’ll notice when shopping for a beverage fridge that they come in two basic categories: built in and freestanding. Built-in models are permanently installed in one location, similar to a dishwasher. Freestanding versions are more portable and can be moved from one spot to another, especially smaller models.
We recommend that renters purchase freestanding beverage fridges. That way, they can take them with them to another home when they move. Portable fridges are also great for college students living in dorm rooms and snowbirds who want a fridge for their RV.
Homeowners have more of a choice in this regard. If you’re remodeling your kitchen or home bar, for instance, and want to increase the value of the renovated space, a built-in model is the perfect choice. This is particularly true if you expect to sell the property in the near future. Home buyers love luxury amenities in any kitchen! You can even install special built-in models in an outdoor barbecue or poolside area.
However, if you intend to move your fridge around, a freestanding model is right for you. Some folks enjoy using their beverage fridges in the rec room during football season, at the bar for holidays, and on the deck in summer.
What Size Fridge Do I Need?
The right size beverage fridge depends first on where you plan to place it—and how often you plan to move it. If you’re choosing a freestanding model and expect to relocate it from room to room, a smaller countertop or slim floor unit will be easier to move. Larger freestanding fridges can be relocated too, but they’re better suited to a dedicated spot.
Beyond portability, consider these key sizing factors:
- How Much Space You Have Available: Measure the area where your beverage fridge will go—height, width, and depth—and remember to account for ventilation and door swing.
- How Often You Entertain: If your home is the go-to spot for holidays, weekend gatherings, or kids’ after-school hangouts, you’ll want a higher-capacity fridge that can keep drinks stocked and ready.
- Your Future Needs: Don’t choose based only on today’s usage. If you plan to host more, expand your family, or create a dedicated bar or rec room later, select a fridge that gives you room to grow.
- Business Use Cases: For spas, salons, offices, or boutique retail spaces, think about the busiest times of day or week. You’ll want a unit large enough to handle peak demand while still fitting comfortably into your layout.
My Spouse Prefers Wine—Is There a Beverage Fridge for Both of Us?
This is a common question that we hear a lot from beer and soda drinkers who share a home with someone who loves a crisp white, a full-bodied red, or a glass of bubbly. Great news—you can both be happy with a dual zone beverage fridge, even if one of you is a serious wine collector!
A dual zone fridge lets you keep drinks at two different temperatures within one unit. It’s the perfect solution for households where one person likes a frosty lager, but that same level of chilling would be too cold for more delicate wines.
With two climate zones, you can keep soda and beer perfectly chilled in one section while storing wine at its ideal serving or aging temperature in the other. You can also use one zone for long-term storage and the other for bottles ready to pour.
Plus, dual zone beverage coolers come in a variety of sizes and styles, from compact under-counter units to larger built-ins, so it’s easy to find one that fits your space and your entertaining style.
What Features Should I Look for In a Beverage Fridge?
Modern beverage fridges go far beyond simple mini fridges. Today’s beverage coolers offer features designed for convenience, efficiency, and protection, both for your drinks and for your home. Use this list as a quick checklist when shopping for your own beverage fridge or when choosing one as a gift (see more on gift ideas below):
- Flexible interior shelving to house bottles and cans of different sizes, as well as snacks like cheese, fruit, and charcuterie
- Smooth rolling racks to easily load the back of the fridge and avoid disturbing wine bottles as they age to minimize altering flavor
- Simple, precise temperature controls with LED exterior displays that always show the temperature inside the fridge
- Stainless steel or sleek black finishes, along with UV-resistant glass doors to protect wine from light exposure and match your existing décor
- Door locks to keep kids, pets, or guests from accessing beverages you’re saving for a special occasion
- Quick cooling or frosting modes to rapidly chill beer and soda in the event of an impromptu get together
- Soft interior lighting that lets you see the entire contents of your beverage fridge at one glance and highlight special bottles
- Quiet, energy-efficient operation so your beverage fridge can fit anywhere kitchen, office, home bar, or entertainment room—without increasing noise levels or energy bills
Are Newair Beverage Fridges a Good Investment?
You really can’t go wrong buying a beverage fridge, and here’s why:
As mentioned above, a well-designed beverage cooler (especially a built-in model) enhances the look and functionality of your kitchen, patio, home bar, or entertainment space. It’s an upgrade you’ll enjoy every day, and it can also add appeal for future resale value. Plus, your household will get many years of convenience and enjoyment from having drinks stored, organized, and perfectly chilled.
Newair beverage fridges are a particularly good investment. As a US-based business, we offer a two-year warranty on all our compact appliances, including beverage fridges. That means you can feel confident knowing we stand behind our products. We also offer reliable customer support and service when you need it.
Can I Give a Beverage Fridge as a Gift?
Absolutely! A beverage fridge is a fantastic gift to give anyone because there is such a wide variety in models and features. From university students to seniors, everyone loves having their beverages right at their fingertips, cooled to the perfect temperature no matter what they like to drink.
If you’re not sure what to give the cocktail aficionado on your holiday list, a beverage fridge is the ideal present. Who wouldn’t appreciate having a dedicated fridge for their favorite drink? For those who wouldn’t buy one for themselves, a beverage fridge is a luxe item that can go anywhere in the home for the ultimate in relaxation and entertaining!
Newair Has Beverage Fridges for Everyone
No matter if you’re buying a beverage fridge for your home or for a gift, Newair has a huge selection. You’re sure to find one that’s just right for you.
Shopping to get ahead of holiday crowds for winter gatherings or to check off your gift list? Browse Newair online and enjoy our fast shipping. And be sure to register your beverage fridge once it arrives to take advantage of that stellar warranty and fantastic Newair cu
