The Best Bottom-Freezer Fridges of 2026

Whether you’re a new homeowner or just in the market to replace your refrigerator, shopping for fridges can be overwhelming. Whether you’re looking online, or actually in-store surrounded by rows and rows of fridges that look nearly identical, panic may set in.

Not to worry. In our labs at Reviewed, our experts have tested hundreds of refrigerators, from French-door to side-by-side to these here bottom-freezer refrigerators. While each style has its own set of technical pros and cons, there's also a subjective element to it based on what you need in your home.

We do have a list of the best refrigerators we've ever tested. But when it comes to the specific bottom-freezer style fridges, our favorite is the GE GDE25EYKFS (available at Home Depot for $2,299.00) , which is an amazing deal on a fridge with some of the steadiest temperatures we've seen outside high-end models.

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Other Bottom-Freezer Refrigerators We Tested

What To Consider When Buying a Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator

If your refrigerator just died, chances are that you're in a hurry to replace it. But first, there are some things to know before buying a new refrigerator.

There are four major styles of refrigerator: top-freezer, bottom-freezer, French-door, and side-by-side. Top-freezer fridges are the most basic. They're also the least expensive.

If you’re reading this article, it’s because you are considering buying a bottom-freezer fridge, where the fridge door opens to the side, and the freezer door pulls out like a drawer. While French-door model fridges also have a bottom-oriented freezer, their refrigerator compartments are accessed via double doors, leading to different organization and features.

Some kitchens benefit from a single fridge door rather than a set of French doors, which is why we’ve separated them into two distinct lists.

FAQs: What To Know About Bottom-freezer Refrigerators

How Much Does a Bottom-freezer Fridge Cost?

Bottom-freezer fridges are mid-range refrigerators when it comes to price. Unless you’re talking higher-end brands like JennAir or Bosch, most fall between $800 to $2,000—and that’s because they often lack the extra touches you'd see on more expensive column or French-door fridges, such as a water dispenser, a flex drawer, or smart features.

What Temperature Should a Refrigerator Be?

Ideally, your fridge should be exactly 37°F and your freezer should be 0°F.

These temperatures are important because food needs to be kept within a very narrow band of temperatures to maximize shelf life. If your fridge, for example, were to drop to 32°F—just 5°F below the ideal temperature—some food in your refrigerator will start to freeze.

On the other end of the spectrum, temperatures of 40°F and higher are dangerous, because that's the temperature at which bacteria really start to proliferate quickly.

If your freezer gets warmer than 0°F, it means your food isn't being deeply frozen. Furthermore, if temperatures in your freezer bounce around, that will greatly exacerbate the build-up of freezer burn.

How Long Do Refrigerators Last?

While the lifespan of any appliance can vary wildly due to several factors, you should expect your fridge to last for about 10 years.

Most manufacturers will at least cover the first year in their warranty, but some companies will offer more robust programs that will cover specific parts up to five years, 10 years, or for the lifetime of the product.

How Do You Measure For a New Refrigerator?

This is a somewhat ambiguous question that we get asked a lot.

If you’re looking to fit your new fridge into an existing enclosure, then getting the right measurements is crucial, and not particularly difficult. The only area people generally get tripped up by is the door: If the front of your fridge is flush with your cabinetry, you won’t be able to open the door properly unless it has special articulating hinges that don’t require clearance to open.

Fortunately, this is an easy fix: just make sure enough of your fridge is sticking out past your cabinetry that the door can swing freely.

Why You Should Trust Our Expertise

We have years of experience testing large appliances in the lab, but we've also used them as normal people would in the course of their daily lives, which means that we have a great sense for what appliances offer a great value, and which appliances have really useful extra features (as opposed to the kitchen-sink approach to features).

You can read about our refrigerator testing methodologies.

Read More About Refrigerators on Reviewed

For more tips, product reviews, and ideas related to refrigerators and kitchen appliances, check out these articles on Reviewed.com and beyond:

The surprising perks of bottom-freezer refrigerators: This feature provides a helpful resource for considering all of the benefits of a bottom-freezer fridge.

10 Things to Consider When Buying a Refrigerator: A buying guide that lays out essential pre‑purchase steps: measure your space (including clearance), choose your preferred style (with top‑freezer noted as affordable and efficient), set a budget, and anticipate delivery and disposal needs. A foundational resource for anyone shopping for a new refrigerator.

The Best Refrigerators Under $1,000: If saving money is the number one priority in your new fridge purchase, we’ve created a list of the best refrigerators that cost less than $1,000.

11 Tips to Keep Your Refrigerator Costs Low: This article offers energy-saving and performance-preserving tips—such as regular coil cleaning, proper temperature settings, and door seal maintenance—to help bottom-freezer (and other) models run efficiently and quietly over time.

How Cold Should Your Refrigerator Be?: This feature explains the correct temperature settings for fridges and freezers, and how to double-check that your refrigerator is set properly.