A 12 Volt refrigerator can come in quite handy whether you’re headed on a road trip or plan to spend a few months in an RV. It is also often used as a typical car fridge. It’s a great equipment to have to store your refreshing drinks and some food for the road.
A 12V fridge is one of the most popular choices when it comes to portable fridges for a car. But it can be challenging to select the right one.
Fortunately, you have a few options, and choosing the right 12V fridge is really just a matter of determining what’s most important for you and how you intend to use it.
The first 5 models are with a compressor and the other 5 are using thermoelectric cooling technology. Each of them is at the top of their categories, and our benchmarking specialist selects them specifically with customer reviews and opinions in mind.
Let’s take a look at the different types of 12V mini car fridges below.
Last updated: 01/21/2023
The best five models of 12V DC compressor refrigerators:
Manufacturer | Capacity (quarts) | Digital Display | Our Rating | Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dometic | 40 | 4.1/5 | $$ | ||
ARB | 50 | 4.5/5 | $$$ | ||
Dometic | 19 | 4.4/5 | $$ | ||
Dometic | 11 | 4.2/5 | $$ | ||
Alpicool | 21 | 3.9/5 | $ |
Choosing Your 12 Volt Refrigerator – What You Need to Know
A car fridge is a great alternative to the traditional cooler that requires ice. Because you don’t need to store ice inside, you can use the extra space to bring more food and drinks. But how do you choose the right one for you? Here are some of the important considerations.
Mounting Hardware
Do not overlook this factor. It’s important that your 12V fridge has robust mounting hardware so that it does not tip over when your car turns on sharp corners.
Accidental spills can cause a mess and also injuries. Make sure that your car fridge has sturdy mounting points in place. Some mini fridge models are designed with handles that you can use to anchor the unit.
Insulation
Choose a 12V/24V DC refrigerator or cooler that has thick walls and insulation. This can significantly reduce the load on your compressor if you choose a compressor-type model.
The outer casting material is also important. There are optional thermal covers that provide more insulation for your cooler.
Durability
It also needs to have a durable construction. It should withstand tough weather conditions if you intend to use it outdoors. Look for strong hinges and tough casing.
Controls
You should be able to easily see and adjust the settings of your 12V refrigerator. Some models feature digital control panels that offer a lot of conveniences.
Those are just some of the factors that you need to consider when choosing your 12V refrigerator. Ultimately, consider the size that you need and your purpose for buying one.
Compressors Get Much Cooler
The main advantage of compressor refrigerators is that they can get much cooler than thermoelectric ones. You can notice the same when looking at wine coolers. Wine coolers also come in thermoelectric and compressor models.
How Compressor Fridge Works?
12V Compressor fridges can reach temperatures of up to 30 degrees Fahrenheit or even as low as 3 degrees while if you look at the thermoelectric models we’ve listed below, they can only reach about 45 degrees. But they both have their own advantages.
Less Expensive to Operate
Compressor-type mini-fridges cost less to operate. Compressor coolers cycle on and off whenever necessary to maintain their internal temperatures. They also operate more efficiently in hot weather than thermoelectric coolers.
Provide More Storage Room
Compressor refrigerators generally provide more storage room. This is because it doesn’t have the same cooling and heating element that thermoelectric ones have. If you are concerned mainly about storage space, compressor models might be better for you.
Let’s take a look at some of the best 12V car fridges:
Dometic Portable Electric Cooler Refrigerator/Freezer CC40
One of our top choices in compressor fridges is the Dometic Portable Electric Cooler Refrigerator/Freezer. It uses a lightweight compressor that makes it highly portable. This 12V refrigerator weighs less than 25 pounds. It’s a great additional cooler for your RV, truck, or boat.
Spacious Storage
This car fridge, a mini freezer can hold up to 40 quarts or 55 12oz sized cans of beverage. That means plenty of storage space for your food and drinks. Because you don’t have to use ice like in a traditional cooler, you can use the extra space for your food items instead. It’s great for camping, tailgating, and road trips.
Great for Home and Vehicle Use
The Dometic Portable Electric Cooler Refrigerator/Freezer operates on 120-volt (240V) AC or a 12V DC or 24-volt DC so you can use it in your home and vehicle.
When going to the beach with your family, you can store your food while you’re on the road and plug it into an outlet when you are in the cottage. It’s the perfect solution.
LED Temperature Display
It’s easy to monitor the temperature of your car fridge with its LED digital temperature display. You can easily see the setting and adjust it accordingly from 3 degrees to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Space-Saving Carry Handles
This 12 Volt fridge is designed with folding carry handles so you can fold it down when it’s inside your car to save on space. Simply lift the handles up when you transport it from your car and you’re good to go. It makes it highly portable and convenient.
You can also use these same handles as hooks to anchor the cooler and keep it in position. This will help prevent spills while you’re driving.
Battery Protection
The Dometic Portable Electric Cooler Fridge Freezer features a battery protection system. It allows you to set it on high, medium, or low levels so that it cuts off the 12V/24V DC refrigerator when the voltage drops to its pre-set value.
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ARB 12/24V DC Fridge Freezer- 50 Quart
To those who like going on 4×4 adventures, the ARB Mini Fridge Freezer may just be what you’re looking for. It’s an ideal companion to keep your food and beverages chilled or even frozen.
The great thing is that since it’s a compressor fridge, it does not depend on ambient conditions to efficiently chill your food and drinks. You will always have a cold drink available on your trips.
Reliable Cooling and Freezing Power
This compressor 12V refrigerator is equipped with a robust compressor that provides powerful refrigeration. You can cool your food and drinks down as you would in your home freezer.
The best part is it would keep them cold all throughout your journey. It’s capable of reducing the interior temperature of the cooler up to zero degrees Fahrenheit.
This reliable cooling and freezing power can actively and passively cool your food and drinks. It works even while your vehicle is off.
Battery Protection
It features an adjustable integrated battery protection system so that the cooler sips battery power when your car is off. This allows it to keep your food and drinks cold without draining your battery.
Consumes Less Power
This 12V mini fridge consumes less power than a single headlamp. The 50-quart model is able to maintain sub-freezing temperatures in 90-degree heat while only drawing 0.87 amps per hour from a 12-volt power source. It is highly efficient without sacrificing performance.
Generous Compartment
It has a 50-quart capacity that is perfect for small groups. It’s suitable for most medium to large SUVs and pickup trucks. It also has a dairy compartment and can hold up to 72 12oz cans. The great thing about its design is that it’s tall enough to accommodate 2-liter soda bottles.
Heavy Duty Construction
You can rely on the ARB Fridges especially on this 50 Quart freezer – to last for years. It is designed with a super durable hinge system so that it doesn’t break down no matter how much you open and close the lid.
What’s more, is that the design is compatible with ARB fridge slides which makes it even easier to have drawer-like access to your food items.
ARB fridges or freezers can be mounted at extreme angles of up to 30 degrees without affecting operation or reliability according to the manufacturer.
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Dometic 12v Electric Powered Cooler, Fridge Freezer CF18
Another great functional and economical choice is the Dometic 12v Refrigerator and Freezer. This is an ideal size for those traveling alone or with a couple of people.
It’s compact but has a reliable performance that is as good as what you would expect from a professional cooling system. You can choose from many sizes available.
Compact and Lightweight
The Dometic Portable Freezer/Refrigerator Personal Size has a capacity of 19 quarts. It’s suitable enough for your picnic and road trips with a small group. It is really lightweight, weighing only 25 pounds, and is a great choice as a compact travel freezer.
3-Stage Battery Protection
It is designed with a battery monitor with a low-voltage shut-off that protects against a dead battery. The memory feature of this 12V/24V DC refrigerator maintains presets if the system is turned off.
Easy to Transport
This car fridge is very easy to carry and transport. It features a handle that easily folds down when not in use so you can save on storage space and it’s easy to lift up so you can transport it from one location to another.
Easy to Adjust Settings
You can easily adjust the settings by accessing the control panel at the bottom of the cooler. It has a knob and a switch that are both easy to understand.
By turning off the knob you can set the temperature, with a battery protection switch you can set 2 levels of battery protection, or no protection by leaving the switch in the middle.
Dometic Smallest 12V Portable Freezer, Refrigerator
For those who only need a personal-size mini fridge, the Dometic Smallest Portable Car Freezer and 12V Refrigerator is a great choice. Take note that it is also available in different sizes, the smallest one is 11 quarts. Now you have the option to take your favorite drinks and keep them cold on a very portable 12v refrigerator for a car.
Superb Energy Management
The Dometic smallest portable car freezer and refrigerator is a good investment because these units have superb energy management systems thanks to an electronic thermostat that provides flexibility for your every need. You can use any source of 12/24V DC current.
Digital Display
Easily see and set the temperature with its digital control panel that features a digital LED display. It’s easily accessible on the top of the cooler and features a simple plus and minus button so you can adjust the settings to your preferences.
Durable
This car fridge is designed with a high-impact weather-resistant polypropylene cabinet so it is extremely durable under any condition. Take it with you outside in any weather and you don’t have to worry about it breaking down.
Suitable for Solar Panels
What’s unique about this 12V refrigerator is that it offers a lot more versatility. Not only can you use it with your regular outlet but you can also use it with a solar panel. This is perfect if you have solar panels in your RV.
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Alpicool Compressor Car Fridge 20Litres
The Alpicool Compressor Car Fridge 12 Volt refrigerator has a powerful cooling performance and is suitable for home and car use. It features superior insulation and has a durable design which makes it a great investment for families on the go. It is safe and convenient to operate and offers plenty of storage space.
Insulation
The Alpicool Compressor Car Fridge features thick and high-density foam insulation which makes it more efficient in cooling down your food and beverages. It can be a fridge or a freezer, with its capacity to cool down up to negative 20 (-20) Centigrade (-4°F).
You never have to worry about bringing food that needs to be frozen. If you’re headed on a trip to the beach or camping and you need to keep your food or meat frozen, the Alpicool Compressor Refrigerator is the perfect solution. Simply put it inside your mini fridge and take it out when it’s time.
Digital Temperature Control
This 12V refrigerator also simplifies the entire process with its digital control panel. Easily see the current settings on the LED digital display and adjust the temperature as needed.
Power Inputs
This car fridge offers a versatile power supply. It features both a 12V and 24V DC as well as a 110 to 140V AC power input. That means you never have to worry about your power supply no matter where you are with your mini fridge.
3 Level Battery Monitor
This 12V refrigerator is a good investment because it protects your battery from draining with its 3-level battery monitor feature, from H1 as the lowest settings thru H2 in the middle to the safest and default value H3.
Battery protection stops the compressor and gives an F1 error on the display if the voltage drops too low. Behavior is the same for both Max and Eco modes. You never have to worry about your battery dying while it’s in operation.
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12 V Compressor Refrigerators – How it Works
The most popular option when it comes to 12V refrigerators is the compressor-type model. A compressor refrigerator has a compressor at the core of its loop of pipes and tubes. It pressurizes gas until it becomes liquid. This liquid refrigerant goes into an evaporator tube.
The main difference between a thermoelectric and a compressor-type fridge is that compressors use compressed gasses (refrigerant) to cool the condensers and the thermoelectric one directly pumps heat out of the inside of the refrigerator by solid-state Peltier module which is using only one moving part – fan or fans for distribution of cooled/warmed air inside and outside. This process is reversible in thermoelectric units, you can easily cool or heat up inside of the fridge with just a switch on the control panel.
The 12V thermoelectric units don’t use any refrigerants, so the correct name for them is 12V cooler/warmer, and because the compressor one uses refrigerants they are true 12/24V refrigerators.
Typically, compressor fridges require a lot of energy to run but in the mini car fridge that uses compressors, manufacturers have found a way to make them run on 12V or 24 DC electricity. They are great for keeping food and drinks cold for a longer period of time with better energy efficiency.
Let’s take a look at some of the best thermoelectric car coolers:
Manufacturer | Capacity (quarts) | AC/DC Adapter | Our Rating | Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Suaoki | 7 | 3.8/5 | $ | ||
Koolatron | 18 | 4.1/5 | $$ | ||
Rockpals | 30 | 3.5/5 | $$$ | ||
Knox | 48 | 3.9/5 | $$$ | ||
Koolatron | 36 | 3.5/5 | $$ |
12v Thermoelectric Coolers
Thermoelectric mini-fridges have lots of advantages. They are some of the most affordable models and they are easy to operate. It’s also very easy to connect them to power sources.
Affordable
A thermoelectric 12V cooler is typically more affordable than other types of mini-fridges. It’s an inexpensive type of cooler and it’s a great choice when you’re buying a car fridge or 12V mini fridge for the first time. You can try these models first before deciding if you need to upgrade to a more expensive car fridge. If you have a standard ice-fueled cooler, this is the next and most reasonable upgrade.
Plugs Directly in Your Car Lighter
If you want to use your 12V cooler as a car fridge, you don’t have to look very far for a power source. No need to do fancy wiring or install other equipment. A thermoelectric 12V mini fridge can be plugged directly into the cigarette lighter in your car. Simply plug it into a 12V outlet and you can drive to your destination with your chilled drinks and food.
Can Be Powered by a Car Battery
A 12V fridge can also run off a standard car battery. Your car battery holds a lot of power but using it for other types of appliances can kill it. Usually, you would need a deep-cycle battery that is specially designed for longer periods of use. The great news is, you wouldn’t need one to power your thermoelectric 12V refrigerator. With a thermoelectric model, you don’t need a special battery. You can simply use your car battery.
Suaoki Portable Car Fridge Electric Cooler and Warmer
This 12V cooler / warmer features a 7-quart capacity and works both as a cooler and warmer. It is nice handy equipment to bring to your family on road trips, camping, or whenever you’d like to bring some chilled or warm drinks to your drives. Whether you want a glass of cold juice or a warm hamburger on your trip, this car fridge will do the trick. It’s a reliable 12V cooler that will also save you on costs so you don’t have to buy overpriced food and drinks from roadside shops.
Cooling and Heating
The Suaoki Portable Car Fridge allows you to store either cool beverages or warm food. It cools up to 18 to 36 degrees Fahrenheit lower than ambient temperature and heats up to 104 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Furthermore, this car fridge can keep its inside cool or warm even after a while without power because of its thermal insulation system.
Easy to Use
This thermoelectric 12V mini-fridge is easy to use. Simply plug the car fridge into your vehicle’s 12V DC outlet or any other 12V power supply and it will start cooling or heating right away. The unit also works with the compatible Suaoki Power Station.
Portable Design
The Suaoki Portable Car Fridge is highly portable because of its design. It includes a shoulder strap that makes it easy to transport. The material is lightweight so it’s easy to carry around. This is great for all your outdoor activities like picnics or camping and traveling.
Organized Storage
This 12V refrigerator features a 3-part storage space so you can easily organize your food and drinks. It has a dual can and cup holder for your beverage and a big square for food and fruits. It helps keep things organized.
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Koolatron 18 qt. Compact Cooler
The Koolatron 18 qt. The compact Cooler is designed for those who have active lifestyles. This is perfect if you or your family are constantly on the go. This 12V cooler goes along for the ride while keeping all your snacks and drinks cool. Best of all, you would not need to store any ice which just takes up a lot of storage space. Devote all the storage capacity to your favorite food and drinks when on the road.
Slim and Compact
This 12V fridge has a slim design and is very compact. It’s suitable for different types of vehicles like minivans, SUVs, and even smaller cars. The car fridge fits into tight spaces between and behind your car seats.
Plugs Directly to a Car Cigarette Lighter Socket
The cooler plugs directly into your car’s cigarette lighter socket so you don’t have to worry about the power supply. You can also plug this 12V mini fridge into any standard outlet if you are in a cottage or hotel using an optional AC adapter.
Quiet Cooling and Heating
The Koolatron 18 qt. The compact Cooler also works as a heater to warm your food. It features a quiet fan that silently circulates air for even cooling or heating. It heats up to approximately 135 degrees Fahrenheit and cools to approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit below the outside temperature.
Durable
Because this cooler has only one moving part which is the fan motor, this 12V cooler is extremely durable. You don’t have to worry about individual parts breaking down. The solid-state Peltier module heat pump is not affected by tilting, jarring, or vibration. This is a major advantage of thermoelectric coolers compared to compressor ones. It’s small and powerful with its 12V cooling module which is as small as a matchbook and can deliver the cooling power of a 10-pound block of ice.
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Rockpals Electric Cooler/Warmer on Wheels and Handle, Portable Thermoelectric Chiller
If you want something that has more capacity but is still portable, the Rockpals Electric Cooler/Warmer is a great option. It is ready to carry all your food and drinks with its spacious interior. This is great when traveling in large groups or on longer road trips.
Cooling and Warming Modes
This thermoelectric 12V cooler is capable of both cooling and warming your food and drinks. It has a cooling and a warming mode. When you use the cooling mode, the contents inside will stay cool up to 28 degrees Fahrenheit below the ambient temperature. And in warming mode, your food and drinks can warm up to approximately 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
There is a convenient hot and cold switch with indicator lights so you can easily adjust the settings and choose the mode that you want to use.
Family Size
This car fridge is quite ideal for families because of its massive capacity of the interior chamber (30 Quart). It measures 15.5 x 12.4 x 9.9 inches. That’s enough for five 2-liter of soda or 40 cans. It is capable of handling your family’s entire lunch or dinner. Simply load up your cooler and head out to the park or beach.
Portable
The Rockpals Electric Cooler/Warmer is really easy and convenient to transport. It is designed with a folding handle and has built-in wheels so you can simply roll it to your picnic site. It’s extremely convenient to take, transport, and use.
Secure Storage
This thermoelectric 12V mini-fridge stores your food and drinks securely with an easy locking mechanism. It keeps the lid tightly sealed so that it maintains the internal temperature while it protects your food items from accidentally dropping out.
Environmentally Friendly
Best of all, the Rockpals Electric Cooler/Warmer is safe for the environment. There are no CFCs or refrigerants inside the unit so it doesn’t leak any harmful chemicals into the environment.
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Knox Gear Electric Cooler/Warmer with Built-in Car and Home Plug
Another family-sized car fridge is the Knox Gear Electric Cooler/Warmer with Built-in Car and Home Plug. It is the perfect equipment for your family for all your activities all year round. It features a massive 48-quart interior and can keep your food and drinks hot or cold.
Tall and Wide
The dimensions of your car fridge are also important aside from its capacity. This 12V fridge is tall enough to fit 2-liter soda bottles while leaving enough room for other food containers. There is plenty of space so you can pack everyone’s favorite food.
Keeping Your Food Toasty
This thermoelectric 12V cooler can keep your food properly heated when you’re out on the road. On the Hot setting, the interior heats up to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. It actively maintains this temperature so that it keeps your soups and bread ready to eat at any time.
Keeping Your Food Fresh and Cool
On a Cold setting, this 12V mini fridge can also keep your food and drinks cool. It chills and preserves your food when you’re on the road. Its inside can get down to a chilly temperature of up to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. It will maintain the temperature to keep your beverages and salads cool. This is great for your trips to the beach when you’re camping or tailgating, and your road trips with your family.
Built-in Adapter
What’s unique about its design is its 5 ½ foot long 12V DC adapter cable. It is safely tucked in a built-in chamber in the lid. Simply spin the cover and you can access the cable. This makes the cooler suitable both for indoor and outdoor use.
Prevents Accidental Spills
The car fridge is designed with a locking mechanism that keeps the lid tightly sealed. It maintains the internal temperature and protects it from accidental spills.
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Koolatron 36 qt. Kool Kaddy Cooler
The Koolatron 36 qt. Kool Kaddy 12V Cooler is the perfect companion for long trips. It features 36 quarts of storage space so you can store sufficient amounts of food and drinks for the road. You can bring this 12V mini fridge to the beach, your campsite, or any sporting event. It is extremely convenient to transport and store in your car while you’re on the road.
Cooler and Warmer
This thermoelectric 12V fridge works both as a cooler and warmer. It features simple operations to switch from heating and cooling. It’s great for those with newborns because you can warm milk for your baby while on the road.
It cools up to 40 degrees Fahrenheit below ambient temperature and heats up to 135 degrees Fahrenheit in warming mode.
Convenient Storage
The Koolatron 36 qt. Kool Kaddy Cooler is easy to place anywhere on your vehicle. It can sit either horizontally or vertically so you can save on space and have easy access to your food and beverage. It can be used as a small wine cooler which is portable.
Power Consumption
This 12V refrigerator consumes around 5 Amps of power regarding measurements. You can easily plug it into your car’s cigarette lighter and it will cool or warm your food and drinks on the whole trip. It’s great for day trips, overnight journeys, and even boating and fishing.
Durable
Because this cooler has only one moving part which is the fan motor, this 12V cooler is extremely durable. You don’t have to worry about individual parts breaking down. The solid-state thermoelectric heat pump is not affected by tilting, jarring, or vibration. It also features polypropylene material that makes it highly durable.
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Other Types of 12V Refrigerators
Aside from the thermoelectric and compressor models, there are other types of 12V refrigerators.
Absorption Refrigerators also known as Gas Refrigerators
An absorption refrigerator is similar to a compressor type because it uses refrigerant gas. Both absorption and compressor refrigerators use a refrigerant with a very low boiling point (less than −18 °C (0 °F)). In both types, when this refrigerant evaporates (boils), it takes some heat away from it, providing a cooling effect. The main difference between the two systems is the way the refrigerant is changed from a gas back into a liquid so that the cycle can repeat. An absorption refrigerator changes the gas back into a liquid using a method that needs only heat and has no moving parts other than the refrigerant itself. Both of them have no moving parts and require less energy, however, absorption fridges may take more time to cool than compressors.
Eutectic Refrigerators
Eutectic cooling is based on the term eutectic which means the freezing point of the fluid. For these models, the refrigerant is contained in tanks. Its primary advantage is that they save you on fuel costs and maintenance. It’s quite the green alternative though it’s not ideal for everyone because they require a tank.
FAQ:
1. ARB 12/24V DC Fridge Freezer- 50 Quart
2. Dometic 12v Electric Powered Cooler, Fridge Freezer – 19 Quart
3. Dometic Smallest 12V Portable Freezer, Refrigerator – 11 Quart
4. Dometic Portable Electric Refrigerator/Freezer CC40 – 40 Quart
5. Alpicool Compressor Car Fridge 20Litres – 21 Quart
1. Koolatron 18 qt. Compact Cooler
2. Knox Gear Electric Cooler/Warmer with Built-in Plug – 48 Quart
3. Suaoki Portable Car Fridge Electric Cooler and Warmer – 7 Quart
4. Rockpals Electric Cooler/Warmer on Wheels and Handle – 30 Quart
5. Koolatron 36 qt. Kool Kaddy Cooler