Refrigerators

Best Refrigerator Brands of 2026

Who makes the best refrigerators? GE? LG? Whirlpool? CR's lab, survey, and pricing data show that the answer depends on the type.

By Daniel Wroclawski
Senior Home & Appliances Writer

Data analysis by Kristen Dorrell

Updated February 10, 2026

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Bosch French-door refrigerators in kitchen — CR rates hundreds of today's refrigerators, using lab and survey data. The results help us pick the best refrigerator brands in every configuration and style.

Consumer Reports tests dozens of refrigerators every year, adding to refrigerator ratings that currently cover over 280 models on the market. (A quiz embedded in the ratings chart can help you narrow the choices based on kitchen space, preferences, and other factors.)

But there are still hundreds more refrigerators for sale with different sizes, finishes, and features.

To help you navigate those options, CR has created brand scores for French-door, side-by-side, and top-freezer refrigerators. These are based on a statistical model that incorporates CR’s proprietary lab and survey data on each brand’s refrigerators. We also look at price. Brands get credit for delivering high performance and reliability at a more budget-friendly price than their competitors. (We don’t have enough current testing data to score bottom-freezer or built-in brands.)

In this article

Best French-Door Refrigerator Brands
Best Side-by-Side Refrigerator Brands
Best Top-Freezer Refrigerator Brands
How to Use Consumer Reports to Find the Perfect Refrigerator
How CR Tests Refrigerators

Best Brands CR Badge — A Best Brand receives the highest Overall Score in its product category based on the brand's aggregate performance, reliability, and satisfaction data across the model lineup tested by CR. Look for the CR Best Brand mark in stores and online to help in your shopping journey.

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We investigate, research, and test so you can choose with confidence.

Daniel Wroclawski

Dan Wroclawski is a home and appliances writer at Consumer Reports, covering products ranging from refrigerators and coffee makers to cutting-edge smart home devices. Before joining CR in 2017, he was an editor at USA Today’s Reviewed, and launched the site’s smart home section. In his spare time, you can find him tinkering with one of the over 70 connected devices in his house. Follow Dan on Facebook and X: @danwroc.