Most Efficient Refrigerators
The named models that actually lead on energy. Fridge.com ranks 4,273 certified refrigerators and freezers by their tested annual energy use per cubic foot of storage, then lists the top 10 in every class — with the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient designation flagged. It is the roll of honor behind the Refrigerator Energy-Efficiency Index: the index sets the benchmark, this page names the winners.
60 named winners·6 classes ranked·Methodology v1.0·Certified January 2014 – February 2026
The leaderboard at a glance
Most Efficient Refrigerators at a glance
Explore what the panel names· 3 of 4 link to a live Fridge.com page
- Fisher & PaykelRS30SH*E*
- Freezerless and Single Door
- Top Freezer629 Most Efficient models
- ENERGY STAR refrigerators
Leaderboard or index — which do you want?
The index — the benchmark
The Energy-Efficiency Index reports the aggregate picture: the median annual energy use, the full distribution, and how far each appliance type beats the U.S. federal standard. Use it to see where a whole class sits.
Open the Energy-Efficiency IndexThis leaderboard — the winners
This page names the individual models that lead each class on energy use per cubic foot — 60 winners, 26 brands — and flags the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient tier. Use it to find the specific models to beat.
You are hereHow to read the leaderboard
- kWh/yr per ft³
- The ranking measure: certified annual energy use divided by total storage volume. Lower is better. It normalizes for size, so a large unit that sips power can lead a small one that draws fewer raw kilowatt-hours.
- kWh/yr & capacity
- The tested annual energy use in kilowatt-hours and the total storage volume behind the per-cubic-foot figure — the two numbers the ranking measure is built from.
- % vs federal
- How far the model falls below the applicable U.S. federal maximum energy-use standard. Every listed model clears it — the higher the margin, the deeper under the legal ceiling.
- ENERGY STAR tier
- A chip marks models carrying the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient designation — a separate top tier the program awards to some types. A dash means the model leads on energy per cubic foot without that badge, never that it is uncertified.
The most efficient model in each class
The single most efficient model in each ranked class, by certified energy use per cubic foot — shorter bars are more efficient. Freezerless single-door units lead outright: with no freezer compartment to power, they spend the fewest kilowatt-hours per cubic foot of cold space.
Class leaders — certified energy use per cubic foot
Every class on the chart links to its live collection· 6 of 6 link to a live Fridge.com page
And the brands behind each class leader· 3 of 6 link to a live Fridge.com page
- Fisher & PaykelFreezerless and Single Door
- Fisher & PaykelCompact Cooler
- KenmoreTop Freezer
- SamsungBottom Freezer
- FrigidaireSide-by-Side
- Arctic KingCompact Refrigerator
Winners you can buy on Fridge.com
The leaderboard ranks the full certified record, most of which is not for sale; these are the named winners matched by model number to a live Fridge.com product. Every card is a real catalog listing — the rank and class are from the ENERGY STAR record, the price is the catalog price on 08/17/2026. Ranked models that are not stocked stay in the tables below as text.
#5 · Bottom Freezer class
19.05 kWh/yr per ft³ · 383 kWh/yr · 20 ft³
#7 · Bottom Freezer class
20.16 kWh/yr per ft³ · 367 kWh/yr · 18 ft³
#8 · Bottom Freezer class
20.16 kWh/yr per ft³ · 367 kWh/yr · 18 ft³
#9 · Bottom Freezer class
20.16 kWh/yr per ft³ · 367 kWh/yr · 18 ft³
#5 · Freezerless and Single Door class
11.53 kWh/yr per ft³ · 218 kWh/yr · 18.9 ft³
#1 · Side-by-Side class
19.85 kWh/yr per ft³ · 524 kWh/yr · 26.4 ft³
#4 · Side-by-Side class
22.22 kWh/yr per ft³ · 460 kWh/yr · 20.7 ft³
#8 · Side-by-Side class
23.27 kWh/yr per ft³ · 605 kWh/yr · 26 ft³
#10 · Side-by-Side class
23.43 kWh/yr per ft³ · 656 kWh/yr · 28 ft³
#5 · Top Freezer class
17.52 kWh/yr per ft³ · 417 kWh/yr · 23.8 ft³
#8 · Top Freezer class
17.58 kWh/yr per ft³ · 422 kWh/yr · 24 ft³
#9 · Top Freezer class
17.58 kWh/yr per ft³ · 422 kWh/yr · 24 ft³
The leaderboards, class by class
6 classes · top 10 eachEach class lists its 10 most efficient named models, ranked by certified energy use per cubic foot. Click any column header to re-sort — by raw kWh/yr, capacity, or margin over the federal standard. Classes appear largest first by number of certified models.
Compact Refrigerator
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78 of this class’s 1,622 certified models carry the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient badge; the class median is 69.35 kWh/yr per ft³, and the leader below reaches 20.12.
| 1 | Arctic KingAU83ETWBR1RCM | 20.12 | 167 | 8.3 | 50% | Most Efficient |
| 2 | Fisher & PaykelRS2435SB* | 23.04 | 106 | 4.6 | 65% | Most Efficient |
| 3 | LiebherrUR3750 | 24.47 | 115 | 4.7 | 62% | Most Efficient |
| 4 | LiebherrUR3650 | 28.41 | 125 | 4.4 | 58% | Most Efficient |
| 5 | Fisher & PaykelRS2435SB*T* | 29.78 | 137 | 4.6 | 54% | Most Efficient |
| 6 | LiebherrURP3653 | 30.49 | 125 | 4.1 | 58% | Most Efficient |
| 7 | Sub-ZeroDEU2450R/* | 31.11 | 168 | 5.4 | 46% | Most Efficient |
| 8 | Sub-ZeroDEU2450RO/* | 31.11 | 168 | 5.4 | 46% | Most Efficient |
| 9 | Sub-ZeroDEU2450R/ADA/* | 31.80 | 159 | 5 | 48% | Most Efficient |
| 10 | FrigidaireEFRF7009-WHITE | 32.14 | 225 | 7 | 29% | — |
Bottom Freezer
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85 of this class’s 1,500 certified models carry the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient badge; the class median is 27.20 kWh/yr per ft³, and the leader below reaches 18.11.
| 1 | SamsungRF30BB6602** | 18.11 | 545 | 30.1 | 28% | Most Efficient |
| 2 | LGLF32S6000* | 18.93 | 600 | 31.7 | 10% | — |
| 3 | Commercial CoolCCR2000GB | 19.05 | 383 | 20.1 | 28% | Most Efficient |
| 4 | Commercial CoolCCR2000GS | 19.05 | 383 | 20.1 | 28% | Most Efficient |
| 5 | 19.05 | 383 | 20.1 | 28% | Most Efficient | |
| 6 | Fisher & PaykelRS3684W* Ice & Water | 19.44 | 381 | 19.6 | 48% | Most Efficient |
| 7 | 20.16 | 367 | 18.2 | 28% | Most Efficient | |
| 8 | 20.16 | 367 | 18.2 | 28% | Most Efficient | |
| 9 | 20.16 | 367 | 18.2 | 28% | Most Efficient | |
| 10 | LiebherrC7620 | 20.33 | 305 | 15 | 37% | Most Efficient |
Top Freezer
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629 of this class’s 638 certified models carry the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient badge; the class median is 21.20 kWh/yr per ft³, and the leader below reaches 17.00.
| 1 | Kenmore896.61362420 | 17.00 | 425 | 25 | 11% | Most Efficient |
| 2 | TRUARCTICTRTM2533SV | 17.00 | 425 | 25 | 11% | Most Efficient |
| 3 | ZGAZRT25ASLOPR | 17.00 | 425 | 25 | 11% | Most Efficient |
| 4 | LGLHTNS2403* | 17.52 | 417 | 23.8 | 10% | Most Efficient |
| 5 | 17.52 | 417 | 23.8 | 10% | Most Efficient | |
| 6 | AvantiAVFF24DLJM#** | 17.58 | 422 | 24 | 10% | Most Efficient |
| 7 | BLACK DECKERBR2400JB | 17.58 | 422 | 24 | 10% | Most Efficient |
| 8 | 17.58 | 422 | 24 | 10% | Most Efficient | |
| 9 | 17.58 | 422 | 24 | 10% | Most Efficient | |
| 10 | ElisiiDERTM240BW1 | 17.58 | 422 | 24 | 10% | Most Efficient |
Freezerless and Single Door
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No model of this class currently carries the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient badge — the designation is not offered for it — but the class still leads on energy per cubic foot: a class median of 17.30 kWh/yr per ft³, with the leader below reaching 8.08.
| 1 | Fisher & PaykelRS30SH*E* | 8.08 | 135 | 16.7 | 63% | — |
| 2 | Fisher & PaykelRS24SH*E* | 9.84 | 124 | 12.6 | 62% | — |
| 3 | ElectroluxEI33AR80W* | 11.53 | 218 | 18.9 | 35% | — |
| 4 | FrigidaireFPRU19F8W* | 11.53 | 218 | 18.9 | 35% | — |
| 5 | 11.53 | 218 | 18.9 | 35% | — | |
| 6 | FrigidaireGRDA1911A* | 11.54 | 217 | 18.8 | 35% | — |
| 7 | Arctic WindAUFSS210ETH-LK | 13.00 | 273 | 21 | 22% | — |
| 8 | Arctic WindAUFW210ETH-LK | 13.00 | 273 | 21 | 22% | — |
| 9 | L2LRU21B6A** | 13.00 | 273 | 21 | 22% | — |
| 10 | POLAR ELITEPOLUF21 | 13.00 | 273 | 21 | 22% | — |
Compact Cooler
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No model of this class currently carries the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient badge — the designation is not offered for it — but the class still leads on energy per cubic foot: a class median of 28.89 kWh/yr per ft³, with the leader below reaching 9.77.
| 1 | Fisher & PaykelRS2435V2* | 9.77 | 42 | 4.3 | 78% | — |
| 2 | Fisher & PaykelRS2435V2*T* | 12.09 | 52 | 4.3 | 73% | — |
| 3 | ZephyrPRRFD24C2AP | 17.69 | 69 | 3.9 | 63% | — |
| 4 | ZephyrPRRFD24C2AS | 17.69 | 69 | 3.9 | 63% | — |
| 5 | ZephyrPRRFD24C2AS-OD | 17.69 | 69 | 3.9 | 63% | — |
| 6 | Kalamazoo Outdoor GourmetUKS24W*1-5-**** | 19.80 | 99 | 5 | 49% | — |
| 7 | PerlickURC24W*1-5-**** | 19.80 | 99 | 5 | 49% | — |
| 8 | PerlickURS24W*1-5-**** | 19.80 | 99 | 5 | 49% | — |
| 9 | DacorDRW24G7500** | 20.21 | 95 | 4.7 | 51% | — |
| 10 | BRAMABRWC24SAS3SS | 21.45 | 118 | 5.5 | 41% | — |
Side-by-Side
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1 of this class’s 105 certified models carry the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient badge; the class median is 27.29 kWh/yr per ft³, and the leader below reaches 19.85.
| 1 | 19.85 | 524 | 26.4 | 10% | — | |
| 2 | SamsungRS27T5202** | 19.93 | 546 | 27.4 | 28% | Most Efficient |
| 3 | Hamilton BeachHBF2064/HZ4602 | 22.22 | 460 | 20.7 | 12% | — |
| 4 | 22.22 | 460 | 20.7 | 12% | — | |
| 5 | iceBerryLS-207BSSD | 22.22 | 460 | 20.7 | 12% | — |
| 6 | iceBlueLS-207BSSD | 22.22 | 460 | 20.7 | 12% | — |
| 7 | LGLS23C4000* | 22.42 | 518 | 23.1 | 6% | — |
| 8 | 23.27 | 605 | 26 | 10% | — | |
| 9 | SamsungRS27T5201** | 23.36 | 640 | 27.4 | 14% | — |
| 10 | 23.43 | 656 | 28 | 5% | — |
Two things the leaderboard shows
The efficiency champion has no freezer. The most efficient model per cubic foot is the Fisher & Paykel RS30SH*E*, a freezerless single-door unit at 8.08 kWh/yr per ft³ — yet it carries no ENERGY STAR Most Efficient badge, because that designation is not offered for its class. Leading on energy per cubic foot and holding the badge are two different things.
Top-freezers own the badge. Top Freezer holds by far the deepest Most Efficient bench — 629 of its 638 certified models carry the designation. Across the whole ranked set, 29 of the 60 named winners are Most Efficient badge holders.
Below the ranking threshold
3 classes disclosedThese classes carry fewer than 30 eligible certified models in this release. They are disclosed for completeness, with no leaderboard presented — too thin a field to rank fairly.
Cooler
22 eligible models — below the 30-model minimum. No leaderboard published.
Upright Freezer
5 eligible models — below the 30-model minimum. No leaderboard published.
Chest Freezer
1 eligible model — below the 30-model minimum. No leaderboard published.
How the leaderboard is built
The certified models and their tested annual energy use come from the ENERGY STAR certified refrigeration list published by the U.S. EPA and DOE — 4,499 certification records across 259 brands, certified between January 2014 and February 2026. Fridge.com divides each unit’s annual energy use by its total storage volume to get a size-normalized figure, then ranks within each appliance type. The underlying certifications are public U.S. government data; the ranking is the Fridge.com synthesis, published under a CC BY 4.0 license.
Only models that publish a total capacity and that beat the applicable U.S. federal maximum energy-use standard are eligible; where a model is certified more than once, its most efficient instance is kept. That leaves 4,273 distinct ranked models across 9 appliance types. A class is ranked once it carries at least 30 eligible models — 6 classes clear that bar — and the top 10 of each is listed.
Known limitations
- ·Models are ranked by certified annual energy use per cubic foot of total storage volume; a large single-door unit can therefore rank ahead of a small compact one that draws fewer raw kilowatt-hours.
- ·Only models that publish a total capacity and that beat the applicable U.S. federal maximum energy-use standard are eligible; a handful of certified records fall below that bar and are excluded from the ranking.
- ·The ENERGY STAR Most Efficient designation is a separate, program-awarded tier offered for only some appliance types, so the most efficient model per cubic foot is not always a Most Efficient badge holder.
- ·Model identifiers follow the ENERGY STAR record, including the wildcard patterns and multi-variant strings the program publishes; where a model is certified more than once, the most efficient certified instance is kept.
- ·This is an editorial-authority ranking over the full certified set, not a live shopping list — most certified models are not stocked for sale, so a listed winner may not be currently available to buy.
- 01
Take the certified record
Start from the ENERGY STAR certified refrigeration list — the tested, above-baseline models the EPA and DOE program publishes, each with its certified annual energy use and total capacity.
- 02
Normalize and qualify
Divide annual energy use by total storage volume for a size-fair figure, keep only models that publish a capacity and beat the U.S. federal standard, and de-duplicate to each model’s most efficient certified instance.
- 03
Rank and name
Within each appliance type, rank the eligible models lowest-first on energy per cubic foot and list the top ten — publishing only classes with at least the minimum model count, and flagging the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient tier.
Frequently asked questions
6 questionsWhat is the most efficient refrigerator?
Ranked by certified annual energy use per cubic foot of storage, the leader across every class is the Fisher & Paykel RS30SH*E* (Freezerless and Single Door), at 8.08 kWh/yr per ft³ — 135 kWh/yr across 16.7 ft³, 63% below the U.S. federal maximum. Because efficiency is measured per cubic foot, the winner is a large single-door model; each appliance type has its own leader in the tables on this page.
How is "most efficient" defined here?
Every model is ranked by certified annual energy use divided by total storage volume — kilowatt-hours per year, per cubic foot. Lower is better. It is a size-normalized measure, so a large unit that sips power can outrank a tiny one that draws fewer raw kilowatt-hours. Only models that publish a capacity and that beat the applicable U.S. federal maximum energy-use standard are eligible.
What is the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient badge?
ENERGY STAR Most Efficient is a separate, top-tier designation the U.S. EPA and DOE award to a subset of already-certified models. It is offered for only some appliance types, so a model can lead its class per cubic foot without carrying the badge. 793 of the 4,273 ranked models hold it; 29 of the 60 named winners on this page are flagged.
Where does the data come from?
The certified models and their tested annual energy use come from the ENERGY STAR certified refrigeration list published by the U.S. EPA and DOE — 4,499 certification records across 259 brands. Fridge.com ranks them per cubic foot within each appliance type; the ranking is the Fridge.com synthesis, published under a CC BY 4.0 license.
How is this different from the Energy-Efficiency Index?
The Refrigerator Energy-Efficiency Index is the benchmark: it reports the median energy use, the distribution, and the margin over the federal standard for each appliance type. This leaderboard is the roll of honor: it names the individual model winners behind those medians. Use the index to see where a type sits; use this page to see which models lead it.
Can I buy the models on this leaderboard?
Not necessarily. This is an editorial-authority ranking over the full ENERGY STAR certified record, not a shopping list. Many certified models are discontinued or were never carried for sale, so a listed winner may not be available to buy. 26 distinct brands place at least one model on the board; browse the live Fridge.com catalog to shop what is currently stocked.
Related on Fridge.com
Efficiency research from the same recordEnergy-Efficiency Index
The benchmark behind this leaderboard — median kWh/yr, the full distribution, and each type’s margin over the U.S. federal standard.
Energy cost calculator
Turn any model’s annual kWh into a dollar running cost at your local electricity rate.
Rebates by state
Utility and state rebate programs for efficient refrigerators and freezers, listed by state.
Shop refrigerators
Browse the live Fridge.com catalog of refrigerators, including efficient models available now.
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Source: <a href="https://fridge.com/data/most-efficient">Most Efficient Refrigerators Leaderboard — Fridge.com</a>
Fridge.com. (2026). Most Efficient Refrigerators Leaderboard. Methodology v1.0. Fridge.com. https://fridge.com/data/most-efficient
Fridge.com. "Most Efficient Refrigerators Leaderboard." Fridge.com, 2026, https://fridge.com/data/most-efficient.
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<figure style="margin:0;max-width:720px;font-family:system-ui,sans-serif">
<img src="https://fridge.com/data/most-efficient/card" alt="The Fridge.com Most Efficient Refrigerators leaderboard — 60 named winners across 6 classes." style="width:100%;height:auto;border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-radius:12px" />
<figcaption style="font-size:13px;color:#4b5563;margin-top:8px">
The Fridge.com Most Efficient Refrigerators leaderboard — 60 named winners across 6 classes. Source: <a href="https://fridge.com/data/most-efficient" style="color:#0469f0;font-weight:600">Most Efficient Refrigerators Leaderboard — Fridge.com</a>.
</figcaption>
</figure>Download the full leaderboard
Every ranked winner as one CSV row — 60 models across 6 classes with type, rank, brand, model, kWh/yr, capacity, kWh per ft³, margin over federal and the Most Efficient flag — plus the branded share card.
Preview — the first 5 of 60 ranked-model rows
| Top Freezer | 1 | Kenmore | 896.61362420 | 17.00 | yes |
| Side-by-Side | 1 | Frigidaire | FRSN2610A* | 19.85 | no |
| Freezerless and Single Door | 1 | Fisher & Paykel | RS30SH*E* | 8.08 | no |
| Compact Cooler | 1 | Fisher & Paykel | RS2435V2* | 9.77 | no |
| Bottom Freezer | 1 | Samsung | RF30BB6602** | 18.11 | yes |
Drawn from the same rows
Models named on this page
- Rows
- 60
- ranked-model rows
- Columns
- 9
- UTF-8 CSV, comma-separated
- License
- CC BY 4.0
- Credit Fridge.com and link back
- Release
- Certified January 2014 – February 2026
- Methodology v1.0
Every column
- type
- rank
- brand
- model
- annual_energy_use_kwh_yr
- capacity_total_volume_ft3
- kwh_yr_per_ft3
- pct_less_than_federal
- energy_star_most_efficient
Opens as a comma-separated file with a four-line comment preamble naming the source, methodology and license.
Also real, also free to use
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Built on the same recordSource: ENERGY STAR certified residential refrigerators & freezers (U.S. EPA / U.S. DOE ENERGY STAR program) · Synthesis by Fridge.com under CC BY 4.0 · Methodology v1.0 · Certifications qualified January 2014 – February 2026 · Ranked by energy use per cubic foot; classes with fewer than 30 eligible models are disclosed but not ranked. This is an authority ranking over the certified record, not a live shopping list.