We’ve gone through the best fridges on the market and noted their decibel (dB) level, giving you an indication of the hum you can expect. These kitchen refrigerators are also chosen according to their all-round qualities; from design to capacity and features. Read on to find the quietest fridge that meets your needs.

Should a fridge be noisy?

First, let’s address an important question. Should a fridge be noisy?  The compressor fridges which we will cover in this article – mainly designed for kitchen use – will make a low hum. This hum is completely normal and happens when the compressor is working to cool your fridge.

How noisy is noisy? Most fridges tend to emit noise that falls in the 30-50 decibel (dB) range. That’s quieter than a typical microwave (50-59 dB) or washing machine (50-75 dB) If your fridge is under 45 dB it might not cause you any disturbance. If it is 42 dB and under, we are talking about a quiet fridge. With some of today’s modern designs, the hum might not even be audible.

Don’t want to scroll down? Here’s a shortcut to the best quiet fridges available in 2023, which you can buy on Amazon.

#1 – Forno Bovino 33″ Refrigerator – 30 dB

#2 – Samsung Counter Depth Refrigerator – 39 dB

#3 – SMETA 36” Counter Depth Refrigerator – 43 dB

#4 – Smeg FAB32 50’s Retro Style Freezer Refrigerator – 37 dB

#5 – Liebherr Freezer Refrigerator – 38 dB

#6 – Samsung 4 Door Refrigerator Freezer – 35 dB

#7 – Upstreman Mini Fridge with Freezer – 38 dB

#8 – Kenmore 36″ Side-by-Side Refrigerator and Freezer – 39 dB

Now you’ve had the preamble, let’s compare the stats:

We’ll now go on to cover eight of the best and quietest fridges on the market. You’ll read about the key features of quiet fridge models, along with their pros and cons.

We’ve carefully assessed manufacturer specifications and customer reviews to help you make the right choice:

#1 Forno Bovino 33″ Refrigerator – 30 dB

If you’re a fan of fresh ingredients and like to give yourself ample space, a French door style could be a good choice for your quiet refrigerator. This 33” wide Forno Bovino refrigerator has an average noise level of just 30 dB, putting it down there with the quietest devices on the market. Erik, a reviewer on Amazon, said:

“Worth the wait. It is quiet and I love that the handles are real metal and not plastic.”

A frost-free design means you won’t have to worry about the task of defrosting. This function works by removing the warm air from the freezer with an automatic fan, preventing ice build-up.

Opening up the stainless steel touch control French doors, you’ll find that all the shelves are adjustable, making this 33” wide Forno Bovino refrigerator suited to oversized pans and other large objects you might want to pop in.

There’s a fast freezing mode and integrated alarm that alerts you when the doors have been left open for a while. All in all, a pretty stylish and functional quiet fridge from Fornio, a manufacturer that takes inspiration from the cooking culture of Italy.

Pros:

• Frost-free
• Ample fridge space
• Freezer drawer to avoid crushed items
• Door alarm when left open
• 30 dB (average) noise level

Cons:

• Not the biggest on the market
• No icemaker

#2 Samsung Counter Depth Refrigerator – 39 dB

If a precondition of buying a quiet fridge is that it must fit in with your kitchen design, you may want to consider this Samsung model. It is counter depth – offering a look that is streamlined with your countertops can cabinets – with an operating noise level of just 39 dB.

This is a fridge of the future that is wifi and Bixby enabled, meaning you can use your smartphone for temperature control. Aside from wide access, another advantage of its French door design is that you can keep your fridge colder by opening only one door at a time.

A neat feature is the built-in water pitcher that keeps refilling with filtered water automatically, saving you a few seconds in your daily routine. There is also an icemaker. This fridge ranks well for its energy efficiency.

Pros:

• Streamlined look
• Easy access
• Energy efficient
• Auto-refill water pitcher
• 30 dB noise level

Cons:

• Shallow depth due to countertop design
• Icemaker is not removable

#3 SMETA 36” Counter Depth Refrigerator – 43 dB

Another in the counter depth category, this quiet SMETA refrigerator with French doors has impressed buyers with its low noise level, accessibility, and elegant design.

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It offers a freezer as well as a super cooling function, and its inverter compressor gives you energy efficiency, using less power than traditional compressors. You’ll find the features you’d expect from a modern counter depth fridge, including gallon bins for food storage and an automatic icemaker.

Pros:

• Streamlined look
• Automatic icemaker
• Energy efficient
• 43 dB noise level

Cons:

• Need to open drawer to access icemaker

#4 Smeg FAB32 50’s Retro Style Freezer Refrigerator – 37 dB

Ready to go retro? If a 1950s-style fridge floats your boat, this Smeg freezer refrigerator might appeal. It’s quiet, with an operating noise of 37 dB.

The fridge has a multiflow cooling system and 8.26 cu ft of storage for your fresh food. The multiflow cooling system works to distribute cold and humidity evenly. This assures a consistent temperature through the fridge unit.

Glass shelves are conveniently adjustable if you need a reshuffle, and there’s a freezer capacity of 3.43 cu ft.

This Smeg fridge freezer is undeniably lacking a lot of the handy functions and technology that other fridges in its category offer. However, it has a completely unique look that celebrates a bygone era, and is one of the quietest fridge freezers we could find.

Pros:

• Charming design
• Multiflow cooling system
• 37 dB noise level

Cons:

• No icemaker or water filter
• Not the biggest, unsuitable for large family

#5 Liebherr Freezer Refrigerator – 38 dB

This fridge – which has a built-in bottom freezer and automatic defrost – is manufactured by Liebherr.

If you haven’t heard of this brand, that might be because the Swiss-German company has its fingers in many other pies; being involved in industries from construction to aerospace. They certainly know how to design a quiet fridge – this appliance has a low noise level of 38 dB.

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Time-Controlled SuperFrost is a flashy-sounding function that does a simple job – freezes your food more quickly and preserves its vitamin content. A DuoCooling feature is for temperature and humidity control. This fridge has height-adjustable feet so you can level it with neighboring countertops and appliances.

Pros:

• Fast freezing
• German design
• Height-adjustable feet
• 38 dB noise level

Cons:

• No icemaker
• Quite expensive

#6 Samsung 4 Door Refrigerator Freezer – 35 dB

A second entry for Samsung in this list. For quietness, you won’t find much better from a fridge. If less noise is a priority, the 35 dB emitted by this Samsung 4 door fridge freezer makes it appealing.

Capacity is generous, with 17.3 cu ft of storage meaning this fridge is suitable for large families. The French door design offers easy access and can help to keep the temperature down in your fridge.

Samsung has packed a lot of other features into this too, including; temperature control and monitoring with your smartphone via the Samsung SmartThings App; precise cooling that offers the ability to maintain specific levels of temperature, and a filter to reduce strong food odors.

If quiet, large, and cleverly designed ticks your boxes, this could be the one.

Pros:

• Plenty of space
• Smartphone control
• Odor filter
• 35 dB noise level

Cons:

• No icemaker
• May be too large for some kitchens

#7 Upstreman Mini Fridge with Freezer – 38 dB

Size is important. And for this reason, we’ve included a mini fridge in our round-up of the best quiet fridges.

Upstreman has come up trumps with this 3.2 cu ft mini fridge with freezer that sits nicely in college dorms, bedrooms, and offices. A 38 dB noise level means it won’t be distracting or wake anyone up. Bobby, who purchased this fridge, said on Amazon:

“There is no mechanical noise or humming, whatsoever. Absolute quiet. I was concerned about noise, too. But this is perfectly quiet.”

This fridge is compact, but that’s not to say you couldn’t keep some essential supplies in it besides drinks. Think bigger than a hotel mini bar, but nothing approaching a full-size kitchen fridge.

There’s an adjustable thermostat with 5 variable temperature settings and removable shelves if you ever need a reshuffle to accommodate larger items. The fridge comes with a defrost tool and ice tray.

Pros:

• Quiet fridge suitable for bedrooms and offices
• Adjustable thermostat
• Defrost tool and ice tray
• 38 dB noise level

Cons:

• Not big enough to be a main fridge
• No icemaker

#8 Kenmore 36″ Side-by-Side Refrigerator and Freezer – 39 dB

The side-by-side refrigerator and freezer design gives you more freezer space and easy organization. You know you’ll be getting a quiet appliance, with a noise level of only 39 dB.

Dimensions of 35.5″ (W) x 33.81″ (D) x 68.63″ (H) give this quiet fridge a slim profile that makes it ideal for smaller kitchens. There’s a dual pad ice and water dispenser, and as a benefit of the side-by-side design, this feature can be inbuilt into the door at a convenient level. Easy access shelving means you don’t have to lean in to grab the items you want.

If your priorities are a quiet fridge with ample storage and a sleek design, it could be a good option.

Pros:

• Sleek design
• Suitable for small kitchens
• Easy to organize
• Water dispenser and icemaker
• 39 dB noise level

Cons:

• Small width
• Reviews say that ice dispenser is very powerful