Cheap Bar Fridges

Appliances Online stocks a large number of budget-friendly bar fridges under $600 from brands including Westinghouse, Haier, Esatto, Husky and Schmick. Whether you choose a $300 mini bar fridge or a higher priced premium model, Appliances Online includes free delivery* across Australia.

A cheap bar fridge can be used to chill beers, wines, soft drinks and snacks in a variety of locations around your home or workplace. From home gyms, offices and even living rooms, to man caves and alfresco BBQ entertaining areas, the modern Australian way of living is finding more and more uses for compact fridges. If you are looking for a dedicated wine fridge, with horizontal bottle storage and optimised temperature zones, you will probably need to look in a higher price bracket.

Budget bar fridges usually have a single solid door, though a small number have glass doors. Stainless steel and retro style bar fridges are popular for matching different decor styles. Some have reversible doors for added flexibility. Lower price bar fridges are unlikely to have the double door design that some larger capacity and higher cost models have.

Cheap bar fridges usually have a capacity of between about 40L and 200L. The best size for your bar fridge depends on your specific needs and space availability. For personal use only, such as keeping a few drinks cold, a 47L bar fridge is sufficient. If you need to accommodate drinks and snacks for a family or gatherings, a 138L model offers ample space. For larger outdoor entertainment areas, consider a 190L bar fridge to ensure you have enough room for all your cooling needs.

Look for adjustable thermostat controls and removable shelving. A number of cheap fridges will also have interior lighting, crisper bins, can dispensers and reversible doors. For more tips on what to look for in a new bar fridge read our Bar Fridge Buying Guide.

Glass door bar fridges make it easy to view contents without opening the door, but they are slightly less insulated and condensation can form on the door in humid conditions unless the door is triple glazed, which is unlikely in cheap bar fridges. Solid doors keep the internal air cooler, but you need to open them to see what’s inside. Very few cheap bar fridges have glass doors though.

Budget bar fridges usually rate around 40-45 decibels when running, which is relatively quiet and unobtrusive. For context, normal volume conversation is about 60dB.

Most budget bar fridges will have Energy Star ratings below 4. As with all kitchen appliances, higher Energy Star ratings usually come with a higher price tag, but their greater efficiency can make them cheaper to run in the long term.

Place it in a well-ventilated area, avoiding excess heat from direct sunlight or other appliances if possible. Allow a few centimetres clearance around the sides and top and between the back of the fridge and the wall.

An under bench installation requires proper air vents, so if you plan to build the bar fridge into cabinetry, you'll need to create venting spaces to allow heat to escape and airflow for the condenser coils. Poor ventilation can cause the compressor to overheat and decreases the fridge's cooling efficiency and lifespan.

The main thing to do with a bar fridge, as with regular fridges, is to keep them clean by regularly wiping down the interiors and door seals and brushing/vacuuming the exterior coils to prevent dust buildup and maintain optimal cooling. Also, tempting though it may be to cram a few more bottles in there, try not to overfill it.