The Best Outdoor Refrigerators for an Outdoor Kitchen
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The best outdoor refrigerator for most outdoor kitchens is the True Residential 24-inch undercounter model. It's UL-rated for outdoor use, has a 33 to 47°F range and includes a lock on stainless models, for about $4,569. If your outdoor kitchen has custom panels or you want app alerts and Sub-Zero service, the Sub-Zero Designer 24-inch outdoor refrigerator lists for about $4,865.
Only two picks make this list because an outdoor fridge has to be built for the job. Many beverage centers and undercounter refrigerators look identical to outdoor models but are designed for climate-controlled rooms. Put one of those on a sunny patio and it will struggle, and you may lose warranty coverage. Below we cover both picks, then explain what to check before you buy: outdoor rating, heat, locks and drainage.
We have not tested these refrigerators. Our picks come from manufacturer and retailer specs, warranties, list prices and what owners and dealers commonly report.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Appliance | Width | List price | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best outdoor refrigerator overall | True 24-inch Outdoor Undercounter Refrigerator, Solid Stainless Door | 24″ | $4,569-$4,764 | Check price |
| Best panel-ready outdoor refrigerator | Sub-Zero Designer 24-inch Outdoor Undercounter Refrigerator | 24″ | $4,865 | Check price |
Our picks, in detail
True 24-inch Outdoor Undercounter Refrigerator, Solid Stainless Door
True Residential · Outdoor appliance · Outdoor refrigerator
- $4,569-$4,764 MSRP
- 24″ wide
- 3-yr full warranty
- Capacity (cu ft): 5.6 (manufacturer spec table says 5.8)
True's 24-inch outdoor refrigerator comes from a company that builds commercial refrigeration, and it's designed for patio duty. It's UL-rated for outdoor use, with a 300-series stainless interior and exterior and forced-air refrigeration that circulates cold air through the cabinet. The 33 to 47°F range is cold enough for beer, wine and prepped food. Stainless models include a lock, and a zero-clearance hinge lets it sit flush in an island.
It suits most outdoor kitchens, especially ones that are uncovered or in hot climates, and it's a good match for a high-end gas grill. It lists for about $4,569 in stainless, or about $4,764 with a matte-black door skin. True's warranty is strong: 3 years parts and labor, 6 years on the sealed system, and sealed-system parts through 7 to 12 years with registration.
The trade-off is a utilitarian interior with two shelves. Capacity also differs by source: 5.6 cu ft at the retailer and 5.8 in the manufacturer's spec table. Skip it if you want Wi-Fi alerts or a fully panel-matched front.
Sub-Zero Designer 24-inch Outdoor Undercounter Refrigerator
Sub-Zero · Outdoor appliance · Outdoor refrigerator
- $4,865 MSRP
- 24″ wide
- 2-yr full warranty
- Capacity (cu ft): 5.4
Sub-Zero's Designer outdoor refrigerator is the one to pick if your outdoor kitchen has cabinetry fronts, or if you're already a Sub-Zero household. It's approved for outdoor use, has a stainless interior and exterior, and takes either custom panels or a stainless accessory panel. It holds 5.4 cu ft on three shelves plus a drawer, and Wi-Fi through the Sub-Zero Owner's App sends door-ajar alerts to your phone.
It suits design-led outdoor kitchens and anyone who wants one dealer and one service network for indoor and outdoor refrigeration. It lists for about $4,865, though Sub-Zero's page doesn't say whether that includes the stainless door kit. Handles and panels are sold separately. The warranty is 2 years parts and labor, with 5 years on the sealed system, per a major retailer.
The trade-offs: a major retailer listing shows no lock, and Sub-Zero does not publish a temperature range on the pages we checked. If a lock matters, choose the True. Skip it if you don't need panels, since it costs more for similar capacity.
How to choose an outdoor refrigerator
An outdoor fridge has a harder job than any refrigerator in your house. It faces direct sun, humid nights, rain blowing under the cover and the heat from a grill a few feet away. Start with the rating, then look at everything else.
| Spec | True 24-inch Outdoor Undercounter Refrigerator, Solid Stainless Door | Sub-Zero Designer 24-inch Outdoor Undercounter Refrigerator |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | True Residential | Sub-Zero |
| Category | Outdoor appliance (outdoor refrigerator) | Outdoor appliance (outdoor refrigerator) |
| Width | 24″ | 24″ |
| Fuel | - | - |
| Installation | Undercounter | Undercounter |
| List price (MSRP) | $4,569-$4,764 | $4,865 |
| Full warranty | 3-yr full | 2-yr full |
| Made in | - | - |
| Wi-Fi / app | No | Yes |
| Capacity (cu ft) | 5.6 (manufacturer spec table says 5.8) | 5.4 |
| Height (in) | 34.25 | 34.5 |
| Depth (in) | 23.88 | 23.12 |
| Shelves | 2 | 3 |
| Performance rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Design rating | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Features rating | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Value rating | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Where to buy | Check price | Check price |
Prices are manufacturer or retailer list prices when we last checked; luxury brands set minimum advertised prices, so savings usually come from dealer packages and rebates. Ratings are editorial estimates: see how we rate.
Outdoor-rated vs indoor refrigerators
An outdoor-rated refrigerator is designed and approved by the manufacturer for outdoor installation. True lists its unit as UL-rated for outdoor use, and Sub-Zero lists its unit as approved for outdoor use. An indoor unit is designed for a climate-controlled room. Outdoors it can run nonstop on hot days, have trouble holding temperature, and corrode. Using an indoor unit outside may also affect warranty coverage. Look for an explicit outdoor rating in the spec sheet or manual, not just a stainless finish.
Ambient temperature and placement
Even an outdoor fridge works better in shade. Place it away from the grill's heat and out of afternoon sun if you can, and leave the ventilation clearances the installation guide calls for. Very hot climates push any compressor harder. In cold-winter regions, check the manual for low-temperature limits and whether the maker recommends shutting the unit down for winter.
Locks and security
A lock is worth having on an outdoor refrigerator. It keeps kids out of the beer and keeps guests or neighbors from helping themselves in shared spaces. True includes a lock on stainless models. The Sub-Zero listing we checked shows no lock, so ask your dealer about options if that matters.
Drainage, power and installation
Outdoor islands need planning for water. Place the fridge where rain and spills drain away from the unit, not into the cabinet. If you add an ice maker, it needs a drain line, either by gravity or a pump-drain model. Use a dedicated outdoor-rated electrical outlet installed by an electrician, as local code requires. These items add to your outdoor kitchen cost, so plan them with your island builder.
Which beverage centers and ice makers can go outside
Many people shop for an outdoor fridge alongside an undercounter beverage center or ice maker, and the outdoor rating varies by model:
- Outdoor-rated: True's 24-inch beverage center is listed as UL-rated for outdoor use. The Scotsman Brilliance clear ice machine and Sub-Zero's Designer 15-inch ice maker are both rated for indoor and outdoor use.
- Indoor only: The U-Line 1 Class clear ice machine is not approved for outdoor use. U-Line sells separate outdoor models. Sub-Zero's Designer refrigerator drawers are an indoor model; Sub-Zero sells a separate outdoor version. We have no outdoor rating for Sub-Zero's or Perlick's beverage centers, so treat them as indoor.
For indoor bar planning, see our best refrigerator drawers and beverage centers and best undercounter ice makers.
Building the full outdoor kitchen
Choose the refrigerator together with the grill so the island layout works for both. Our best built-in grills cover the cooking side, and the outdoor kitchen hub lists every model. Outdoor refrigeration is dealer-sold, and it's often easier to get a better price when you quote it as part of a full outdoor package.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best outdoor refrigerator?
The True Residential 24-inch outdoor refrigerator is our top pick. It's UL-rated for outdoor use, holds 33 to 47°F, includes a lock on stainless models and has a strong sealed-system warranty, for about $4,569. If you want custom panels and app alerts, Sub-Zero's Designer 24-inch outdoor refrigerator costs about $4,865.
Can I use an indoor refrigerator outside?
It's not a good idea. Indoor refrigerators are designed for climate-controlled rooms. Outside, heat and humidity can make them run constantly and struggle to hold temperature, and the cabinet can corrode. Using an indoor unit outdoors may also affect the warranty. Choose a model the manufacturer explicitly rates or approves for outdoor use.
What makes a refrigerator outdoor-rated?
An outdoor-rated refrigerator has been designed and approved by its manufacturer, and in some cases certified by UL, for outdoor installation. Those units are built to handle heat, humidity and weather exposure better than indoor units. Look for the outdoor rating on the spec sheet or in the installation guide. A stainless exterior on its own doesn't make a fridge outdoor-safe.
Do outdoor refrigerators need to be covered?
A covered location helps any outdoor refrigerator last longer and run more efficiently, because it keeps out direct sun and rain. Outdoor-rated units are designed to handle exposure, but shade still reduces the compressor's workload on hot days. Whatever the location, follow the manufacturer's installation clearances and make sure water drains away from the unit.
How much does an outdoor refrigerator cost?
The two luxury picks here list from about $4,569 for the True Residential 24-inch to about $4,865 for the Sub-Zero Designer 24-inch, before panels or handles. Budget extra for a dedicated outdoor electrical outlet and installation. Dealers often discount outdoor refrigeration more when it's quoted with a grill and the rest of an outdoor kitchen package.