While it’s hard to say goodbye to your college-bound kiddo, gifting them one of the best mini fridges will help them think of you every time they reach for a bottle of water or grab leftovers for a late-night study session. A must-have on most college packing lists, mini fridges make life easier, especially for kids tackling their first semester away from home. This dorm expensive is well worth the splurge and can put your empty-nesting mind at ease (and treat your kid one last time).

Best Mini FridgesÂ
From mini fridges complete with a separate freezer to compact mini fridges that are hardly noticeable, there’s something out there for even the smallest dorm rooms. Keep scrolling to shop FIRST’S picks for the best mini fridges for your college kid.Â
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Best Mini Fridge For Office
Amazon 1. Best Mini Fridge With Freezer
Where to buy: $189.99 (Originally $199.99), Amazon
There's a lot to love about the hOmeLabs Mini Fridge. Chic, sleek, and roomy, this 3.3-cubic-foot mini fridge offers ample storage space without taking up too much real estate in notoriously cramped dorms. An adjustable temperature setting allows for easy customization, while three glass shelves make organization a breeze. Best of all, it comes with a covered chilling compartment that's perfect for holding everything from ice trays to those much-needed pints of ice cream come finals season.
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Best Mini Fridge With Separate Freezer
Target 2. Best Mini Fridge With Separate Freezer
Where to buy: $179.99, Target
If a mini fridge with a dedicated freezer section is what you're looking for, then go with the Whirlpool 3.1-cubic-foot Mini Refrigerator. Featuring a sleek, stainless steel exterior, this mini fridge looks even nicer on the inside. With two spacious shelves, a product drawer, a soda cubby, drink racks, and, yes, a roomy separate freezer, this just may be one of the best mini fridges out there today. And coming from a trusted home appliance brand like Whirlpool, you can rest assured this mini fridge will last well until their senior year.
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Best Mini Fridge Under 100
Amazon 3. Best Mini Fridge Under $100
Where to buy: $96.82 (Originally $119.99), Amazon
For a budget-friendly option, pick up the Magic Chef Mini Refrigerator with Chiller Compartment. Coming in at under $100, this mini fridge offers 1.7 cubic feet of space, so it's on the smaller side but still substantial. Featuring two levels of interior storage as well as additional in-door beverage compartments, this mini fridge has an adjustable temperature thermostat control for customized cooling and a compressor cooling system so its contents always stay cold. Best of all, this mini fridge is quiet so you can rest assured your kid (and their roommate) won't miss any zzzs on account of a noisy fridge.
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Best Mini Fridge Glass Door
Amazon 4. Best Mini Fridge for Beverages
Where to buy: $269.99 (Originally $349.99)
If your son or daughter is a student athlete, then you know how important staying hydrated is. For this reason, you may want to pick up a beverage fridge like the hOmeLabs Beverage Refrigerator and Cooler. Offering 3.2 cubic feet of storage, this large-capacity beverage cooler will make sure your kid always has access to cool bottles of water, sports drinks, and protein shakes before and after practice.
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Best Mini Fridge With Lock
Amazon 5. Best Mini Fridge With Lock
Where to buy: $259 (Originally $279.99), Amazon
Like many of your peers, chances are college is the first time your baby will be away from home for an extended period of time. If security is what's on your mind, then you'll want to get the Danby 4.4-cubic-foot Contemporary Classic Compact All Refrigerator. Available in five stylish colors, this mini fridge comes with three shelves, a produce drawer, and more than enough drink storage. But most importantly, it locks at the bottom so you can rest assured all of your child's belongings will be secure.
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Best Mini Fridge For Dorm
Target 6. Best Retro Mini Fridge
Where to buy: $199.99 (Originally $239.99), Target
For a more style-centric pick, the Galanz 3.1 cubic foot Retro Mini Fridge is the only way to go. Coming in an eye-catching cherry red, this vintage-inspired mini fridge looks like it just hopped out of the 1950s. Featuring two shelves for storage, a crisper, ample door storage, and a dedicated freezer, this mini fridge packs a punch in both the functionality and style departments.
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Best Mini Fridge Deals
Target 7. Best Compact Mini Fridge
Where to buy: $109.99 (Originally $149.99), Amazon
If your college-bound kiddo is short on space, then a compact mini fridge, like the Whirlpool 2.7 cubic foot Mini Refrigerator, is the best way to go. Featuring a stylish stainless-steel finish, this pick is the perfect mid-size mini fridge. While it may look small from the outside, inside are three roomy shelves, a dedicated freezer compartment, and more than enough door space.
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Best Mini Fridge For Bedroom
Urban Outfitters 8. Best Beauty Skincare Mini Fridge
Where to buy: $59.95, Urban Outfitters
If you have a skincare-obsessed teen in your house, ask them if they've ever heard of a beauty fridge. While it sounds strange to us, they'll know exactly what you're talking about. Designed to keep certain products consistently cool (think face mists and products that have active ingredients and need to be refrigerated/kept in a cool place), the Cooluli Mini Fridge is a beauty-obsessee's dream. Tiny and compact, this mini fridge makes an adorable and functional dorm decor element.
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