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Which fridge brand to buy in 2024
Which fridge brands are best? Our expert charts reveal whether big names such as
Beko, Bosch and Samsung are worth buying.
Some of the most common fridge faults are cracked casing, a build-up of ice inside the fridge, and failure to maintain the correct temperature. If you buy from the best brands, you're much less likely to face the hassle of fixing issues like these.
When you're buying a new fridge, it's helpful to know which brands' models are most likely to develop a fault. That’s why this year, in our unique longevity and customer satisfaction survey, we've asked more than 12,115 Which? members and 5,430 members of the public to tell us whether they're happy with their fridge and if they've experienced problems.
Our survey data takes into account which fridges had faults reported and whether they needed to be repaired or replaced as a result.
We've crunched the numbers for the biggest fridge manufacturers – including Bosch, Liebherr and Miele – and have calculated a customer score for each, so you know which brands are recommended by owners.
Which models come out on top? Head to our best fridges page to find out.
Fridge brands rated
The table below summarises this year’s results, based on fridges bought in the past seven years. Fridge brands are ranked by their customer score, which reflects whether customers would recommend each brand and their level of satisfaction.
The proportion faulty is the percentage that experienced a fault within the first seven years. The proportion repaired or replaced is the percentage of fridges that were repaired or replaced during this time – the fewer replaced, the better.
Only logged-in Which? members can see which brands came out on top in the table below. If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access.
| Brand | Customer score | Proportion faulty in first seven years | Proportion repaired or replaced due to a fault |
|---|---|---|---|
| 86% | 8% | 5% | |
| 85% | 9% | 4% | |
| 84% | 9% | 6% | |
| 82% | 10% | 6% | |
| 79% | 5% | 3% | |
| 79% | 8% | 3% | |
| 76% | 10% | 7% |
- Table notes: The customer score, proportion faulty and proportion repaired or replaced are based on an online survey of 17,545 people (Which? members and members of the public) who own a fridge, conducted in Sept 2022.
- The proportion faulty and proportion repaired or replaced is based on appliances bought in the past seven years.
Decided on a brand? See our fridge reviews to see which models performed well in our tests.
Best vs worst fridge brands
As you can see in our table, there's a big difference between the best and worst fridges both in terms of the satisfaction score reported by customers and the proportion of appliances that developed faults.
| Best | Worst | |
|---|---|---|
| Customer score | 86% | 63% |
| Proportion faulty in first seven years | 5% | 27% |
| Proportion repaired or replaced due to a fault | 3% | 19% |
Which fridge brand is the most reliable?
Fridges should last beyond seven years without any problems, but we've found that for some brands one in five need to be repaired or replaced in that time.
As you can see in the table below, there's a big difference between how reliable the best and worst brands are. The least reliable brands are more than three times more fault prone than the most reliable.
To become an Eco Buy, a fridge must score a maximum of five stars for energy efficiency and at least four stars for cooling power, and come from a reliable brand. If a brand has more than 10% of its fridges repaired or replaced, then none of its models are eligible for our Eco Buy recommendation.
Which? members can log in to view which fridge brands last the longest before they need to be replaced. If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access.
| Proportion repaired or replaced due to a fault | |
|---|---|
| Best brand | 3% |
| Average for all fridges | 7% |
| Worst brand | 19% |
Verdict: fridge brands in depth
We've pulled together our fault data, customer insight and results from our independent fridge tests to give you an in-depth look at each brand.
Only Which? members can log in to view our verdicts on the brands listed below and whether they are worth buying.
If you're not yet a Which? member, join Which? to get instant access to the following fridge brand verdicts: AEG, Beko, Bosch, Hotpoint, John Lewis, Liebherr, Miele, Neff, Samsung, Siemens and more.
Already know which fridge brand you want? Use these links to go straight to our reviews and find your ideal model for each brand:
- AEG fridge reviews
- Beko fridge reviews
- Blomberg fridge reviews
- Bush fridge reviews
- Bosch fridge reviews
- Candy fridge reviews
- Fridgemaster fridge reviews
- Hisense fridge reviews
- Hotpoint fridge reviews
- Hoover fridge reviews
- Ikea fridge reviews
- Indesit fridge reviews
- John Lewis fridge reviews
- Liebherr fridge reviews
- Miele fridge reviews
- Neff fridge reviews
- Russell Hobbs fridge reviews
- Samsung fridge reviews
- Smeg fridge reviews
- Zanussi fridge reviews
The three most common fridge faults
1. Build-up of ice in fridge (15% of all faults)
This common issue can sometimes be caused by a torn or warped door seal, which lets warm air into the fridge. This creates condensation and then frost builds up. Replacement seals are widely available and it's a relatively simple problem to fix.
Also check that the temperature on the thermostat isn't set too low.
Unfortunately ice in the fridge can also be caused by an issue with a more complex part, such as the thermostat. Replacing that will likely require the help of a professional.
2. Not maintaining temperature (10%)
There are several reasons why a fridge might not be maintaining the correct temperature, with some issues more easily fixed than others.
If your fridge isn't staying cold, there are a few simple checks you can make to try to fix the problem.
First, check that the thermostat hasn’t been accidentally moved to a warmer setting. Next, check for obstructions and damage around the hinges and seal that could be letting in warm air.
You should also take a look at the condenser coils at the back of the appliance. A build-up of dust on these can prevent the fridge from cooling properly. A good clean might help them to work more efficiently, which could remedy the solve the issue.
If those simple checks don’t fix the problem, you’ll have some more complex investigations on your hands. Issues with the compressor, thermostat or refrigerant gas are just some of the areas that could be to blame. Unless you have the tools and the know-how, it’s probably time to call in an expert appliance repairer.
3. Broken or faulty condenser (7%)
Broken condenser coils make it difficult for the fridge to remain cool enough to keep your food at a safe temperature.
Search Which? Trusted Traders to find a Which?-approved trader in your area.
How we calculate the best and worst fridge brands
Which? has a wealth of information on the UK's favourite brands. Every year we ask Which? members to tell us about the home appliances they own – from how likely they would be to recommend a brand, to how reliable the products are once they get them home.
This year 12,115 Which? members and 5,430 members of the public told us about more than 56,697 individual products. We calculate a brand's customer score, fault rate and proportion replaced or repaired based on the results of our annual survey.
Our surveys, combined with our extensive lab tests, mean we can recommend the best fridge to buy.
For more on what it takes to be an Best Buy, head to the how we test fridges page.
This article uses insights from the Which? Connect panel, collected from research activities with our members. Find out how to get involved
