Every apartment-size refrigerator gets a score from 0 to 100% built from five factors, which maps onto the 5-point rating shown on the site (a 0% score would be 1.5 stars; a perfect score, 5). Each factor is scored against fixed reference points, not against the other products in the list, so adding a new model never moves another model’s rating. Refrigerators are grouped by layout (top freezer and bottom freezer) and use the same scale in every group.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Value | price per cubic foot of total capacity | 30% |
| Space per inch | total capacity per inch of width | 20% |
| Efficiency | rated annual energy use per cubic foot | 20% |
| Frost-free | automatic defrost rather than manual | 15% |
| Warranty | parts-and-labor warranty, plus any separate sealed-system term | 15% |
Where the numbers come from
Capacity, dimensions, defrost type, door and warranty details come from the maker’s product copy, including the maker’s own copy on a retail listing, or from an authorized dealer’s spec table. Annual energy use comes from the ENERGY STAR certified product record, which uses the same Department of Energy test as the yellow EnergyGuide label. Where the maker’s capacity and the certification record differ slightly, the page notes both. Prices are checked at the stores the page links to, and the lowest is used.
The factors
Value is the current price divided by total capacity, in dollars per cubic foot, on a log scale, so halving the price always counts the same. $200 per cu ft scores zero and $40 per cu ft full marks.
Space per inch is total capacity divided by width, which rewards a model that makes the most of a narrow opening. 0.30 cu ft per inch scores zero and 0.55 full marks.
Efficiency is the rated annual energy use divided by total capacity. 45 kWh per cu ft a year scores zero and 15 full marks. Bottom-freezer models use more power for the same space, which is why they are ranked in their own group.
Frost-free is full marks for automatic defrost and zero for manual defrost.
Warranty is three quarters the parts-and-labor term, where 0 years scores zero and 3 years full marks, and one quarter a separate sealed-system term (the compressor and refrigerant circuit), where 0 years scores zero and 10 years full marks. A sealed-system term counts only when the maker states one apart from the parts-and-labor warranty.
What isn’t scored
Height, depth, the split between fridge and freezer space, ENERGY STAR status, reversible doors, ice makers, noise and release date are listed but not scored. Depth decides whether a model fits flush with your counters, so check it on each page.
Missing data
If a figure isn’t published, that factor gets the neutral middle score (50) and the product page marks it as estimated. The exception is warranty: a maker that doesn’t publish one gets no warranty counted, so that factor scores zero and is marked estimated.
Ties and discontinued models
Products are ranked by score within each group. Discontinued models stay listed but rank below every current model and can be hidden with the “Hide discontinued” filter.