Hotel Refrigerators

Hotel Fridges: What You Need to Know

Hotel refrigerators can be used for various applications in bars, hotels, and other businesses. The right type of hotel mini fridge for your needs depends on the type of goods being stored, the size of the area in which it must fit, and whether freezer capabilities are needed. Some commercial mini fridges offer a temperature range capable of storing meat and groceries, while others are better suited for storing snacks and beverages. Many compact refrigerators also come with an attached freezer, but this feature does add to the size and electrical cost of the unit.

Common Questions About Hotel Refrigerators

What is the mini fridge in a hotel called?

These small hotel refrigerators have many names, including minibar, hotel fridge, hotel mini bar fridge, and commercial mini fridge. Regardless of their exact name, these handy refrigerators are used to keep food at safe temperatures and sometimes to offer snacks and drinks to guests.

Are hotel refrigerators quiet?

All refrigerators make some sound, but a hotel mini fridge can't afford to be noisy. Manufacturers know this, and they'll do their best to keep the machine silent, but regular maintenance is a vital step in this process, as well. If your hotel mini fridge is kept in good condition, the compressor won't have to work as hard to keep air in the cabinet cool, and that means it won't produce any more noise than necessary.

However, the fridge will have to produce some noise as it's constantly circulating air to keep the internal compartment cool. You can minimize this by placing the refrigerator underneath a countertop, which will dampen what little sound is produced. However, you must ensure the refrigerator can vent and bring in new air, or the machine won't be able to function. Air-cooled fridges pump excess heat into the surrounding air and must be able to circulate it, or they'll overheat and break quickly instead of cooling the internal compartment like they're designed to.

What size are hotel refrigerators?

This category contains a variety of hotel fridges because there isn't one set size that'll work for everyone. For establishments that want to provide a live-in experience for their guests, we carry compact refrigerators that come with freezers and can store 7 to 12 cubic feet of groceries, drinks, and other essentials for your guests. The more typical hotel mini bar fridge, though, is closer to 34 inches tall or less and will fit under countertops for an easy stow-away setup. You can sort these fridges by their total storage capacity (in cubic feet) to give your guests the most possible storage. However, before purchasing a hotel mini bar fridge, you should measure the space in which you hope to place the fridge, ensuring there's room for the machine itself and clearance for it to vent and draw in air.

Another point to note is that storage capacity doesn't factor in the pieces of machinery taking up space in the storage compartment. Get a hotel refrigerator with more listed storage space than the absolute minimum you need to ensure you have enough.

Will a miniature fridge work on its side?

Most refrigerators can't function if they've been tipped over. The system that pumps coolant through the condenser requires proper orientation, and if the fridge is sideways, the coolant won't flow properly. We recommend that after receiving a refrigerator, you leave it upright for a day before turning it on so that the coolant can flow back to its intended spot. Check the product specification page for the hotel fridge you're considering, and if it doesn't specifically say it can be turned on its side, you should assume it can't.