Best 12 Volt Portable Refrigerator Freezer For 2017
You really love to go camping. You love to go for days on end into the wild with your Jeep. Or you are having an all-day tailgating party at the stadium. Maybe you have a big family to feed for a weeklong tent camping trip, and a cooler just isn't going to hack it with the ice melting all over your food.
You're in luck! Now there is such a thing as a true 12-volt portable refrigerator in today's market and it might just be your new best friend.
RVers, overlanders, and day trippers have all benefitted from having a small portable refrigerator in their vehicles. Sure, a 'regular' cooler or a 12-volt cooler might do the job and a 12-volt portable fridge might seem like overkill. It all depends on your needs.
The only type of TRUE portable refrigerator is one with a compressor. There are absorption coolers and thermoelectric coolers that may act like a refrigerator in that they also use an outside power source to work, but the temperature inside the unit cannot be controlled like a true compressor portable refrigerator freezer can.
If you’re looking for a portable refrigerator that can actually keep meat and other foods at refrigerator temperatures for days at a time, then you must go with a compressor style portable refrigerator. These 12-volt units serve as portable refrigerator freezers which mean you can set the temperature and it will keep food cool (or frozen) just as the fridge in your house does.
Some of these 12v refrigerator freezers (or coolers) come only with a DC plug (cigarette lighter style). If you want to plug into A/C power, you will have to buy a separate AC cord.
Know this: a compressor style portable refrigerator is not cheap. However, having one sure can enhance your camping or car trip experience and avoid food getting ruined by an inferior type of cooling system.
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12-Volt Portable Refrigerators Compared
- Capacity (quarts)Capacity (quarts)
- Cooling TechnologyCompressor cooling is the same as what the refrigerator in a house uses. It’s quiet, efficient, and you can precisely control the temperature. Thermoelectric cooling is imprecise and there is no way to set the exact temperature you want.Cooling Technology
- 12/24 Volt DC or 120 Volt AC Power12/24 Volt DC or 120 Volt AC Power
- Dual ZoneYou can use both a freezer and a refrigerator section at the same time.Dual Zone
- Interior temperature rangeInterior temperature range
- Precise temperature controlPrecise temperature control
- Hottest outside temperature that lowest interior temp can be maintained Anything above this temperature and the lowest rated interior temperature of the fridge/freezer cannot be reached.Hottest outside temperature that lowest interior temp can be maintained
- Battery drain protectionBattery monitor to prevent fridge from draining your vehicle's battery. Will shutoff power to device if power source drops below a certain voltage.Battery drain protection
Best 12v Portable Fridge
Dometic CFX
- Capacity (quarts)27 - 49
- Cooling TechnologyCompressor
- 12/24 Volt DC or 120 Volt AC Power
- Dual Zone
- Interior temperature range-8º to +50º F (-22º to +10º C)
- Precise temperature control
- Hottest outside temperature that lowest interior temp can be maintained 90º F (32º C)
- Battery drain protection
Best Dual Zone 12v Fridge
Dometic CFX (Dual Zone)
- Capacity (quarts)56 & 90
- Cooling TechnologyCompressor
- 12/24 Volt DC or 120 Volt AC Power
- Dual Zone
- Interior temperature range-8º to +50º F (-22º to +10º C)
- Precise temperature control
- Hottest outside temperature that lowest interior temp can be maintained 90º F (32º C)
- Battery drain protection
Best 12 Volt Cooler
Dometic Tropicool
- Capacity (quarts)15 - 35
- Cooling TechnologyThermoelectric
- 12/24 Volt DC or 120 Volt AC Power
- Dual Zone
- Interior temperature rangeCan cool interior down a maximum of 86º F (30º C) below ambient temperatureN/A
- Precise temperature control
- Hottest outside temperature that lowest interior temp can be maintained 77º F (25º C)
- Battery drain protection
The Best 12-Volt Portable Refrigerator Reviews
We broke down refrigerators into a few different categories so you can find the one that will best meet your criteria. These include the best overall 12-volt portable refrigerator freezers, the best dual zone refrigerator freezers, and the best 12-volt coolers. Each of these serve a different need, so let's get to reading and find out which best suits your needs!
For more information on these portable fridge freezers, read our guide on portable refrigerators found below the reviews.
Why Only Dometic 12-Volt Portable Refrigerators?
If you own an RV, then you most likely have at least one Dometic product in it. Dometic is a trusted RV appliance manufacturer, but that's not why we rank their portable refrigerator freezers and their 12-volt coolers as the best. We do so because, well, they ARE the best!
- Dometic's CFX line of portable refrigerator freezers are the only ones that can go down to -8º Fahrenheit (-22º C). Most competitors only go down to 0º F. Why is the extra 8 degrees of cooling important? It's all about the ice cream! Really. Ice cream gets truly hard below 0º Fahrenheit, so if you like hard ice cream, a Dometic CFX 12-volt portable freezer is what you need. Fine, yes there are other reasons you might want to cool below 0º F, but we think ice cream should rank at the top.
- Dometic offers a true dual zone portable refrigerator freezer with their CFX-95DZW. You can set each of the two compartments to a separate temperature. Either both can be used as refrigerator compartments, both as freezer compartments, or one as a fridge and one as a freezer compartment. Other portable 'dual zone' fridge freezers (including Dometic's smaller CFX-65DZ) have one setting and the cool air from the freezer compartment 'bleeds over' into the refrigerator compartment, giving you less control of the refrigerator section.
- Dometic's line of 12-volt coolers are unique in that they have temperature controls for both the cool and hot functionality. With competitor's 12v coolers, they are either on or off. Dometic offers 7 different temperature steps, making their 12 volt coolers unique.
What about ARB fridge freezers, Engel refrigerator freezers or Whynter 12-volt portable refrigerators? These are three well known brands in the portable 12-volt fridge market, so why not include them? Simple. Either they are (sometimes WAY) more expensive then the Dometic offerings, or don't have the superior cooling capability of Dometic's CFX line of portable fridge freezers, or sometimes even both.
Dometic has positioned themselves to be the leader in the small portable refrigerator marketplace and we see no reason to not go with the leader when they are the best! 😉 Sorry, not sorry ARB Fridges.
Best 12-Volt Portable Refrigerator/Freezer
Pros
- Uses a compressor like a 'real' refrigerator
- Low amperage draw (12-volt power)
- 3-stage battery protection
- Digital readout to precisely set temperature
- Various capacities available
- Quiet
Cons
- More expensive than (but vastly superior to) a thermoelectric 12-volt cooler
Dometic's CFX line of small portable refrigerators offers efficient compressor technology which means they function like a fridge in a house but are small and lightweight so you can take them on the go. With a temperature range of -8º to +50º Fahrenheit (-22º to +10º C) these portable 12-volt fridge freezers can act as either a refrigerator or a freezer. Available in capacities ranging from 27 quarts to 90 quarts, there is a Dometic CFX refrigerator for everybody.
Choose Your Capacity
Continue Reading Dometic CFX Line of 12v Portable Refrigerator Freezers Review
Best Dual Zone 12 Volt Refrigerator/Freezer
Pros
- Dual zone - you can have both a refrigerator and a freezer compartment
- CFX-95DZW has true dual zones where you can set separate temperatures for each side
- Uses a compressor like a 'real' refrigerator
- Low amperage draw (12-volt power)
- 3-stage battery protection
- Digital readout to precisely set temperature
- Quiet
Cons
- CFX-65DZ doesn't have true dual zones - it uses air 'bleeding' over from freezer compartment to cool refrigerator section
Need to be able to have both a refrigerator and a freezer compartment at the same time? Then the Dometic CFX Dual Zone portable refrigerator freezers are just what you are looking for. The CFX-95DZW offers true dual zone capability in that you can set an individual temperature for each of the two compartments, while the CFX-65DZ relies on air spilling over from the freezer compartment to cool the refrigerated section.
CFX-65DZ
CFX-95DZW
Continue Reading Dometic 12v Dual Zone Portable Refrigerator Freezer Review
Best 12-Volt Cooler
Pros
- Thermoelectric cooling and heating element
- Can either cool or heat interior
- 7-stage temperature settings
- Low amperage draw (12-volt power)
- ECO mode for very low power use
Cons
- Not a true refrigerator
- Cannot set to a specific temperature
- Hotter it is outside, the warmer the unit will be inside
The Dometic line of Tropicool 12-volt coolers are a great option of you are looking for cooling (and/or heating) capability without needing a true portable refrigerator. If you are looking for a 12-volt car cooler or a portable electric cooler to take with you on short trips where you don't have access to a true refrigerator, the Tropicool is a great option. It's available in 3 different capacities.
Choose Your Capacity
Continue Reading Dometic Tropicool Portable Electric Cooler Review
Portable Car Refrigerators: True Compressor Technology in a Compact Size
The Dometic Tropicool line has some great 12-volt car coolers, but if you want an actual car refrigerator, there are better (but more expensive) options. What do we mean by a car fridge? We mean a portable DC refrigerator that uses actual compressor technology (like your home's refrigerator) instead of the imprecise thermoelectric technology used by the Tropicool line (and all thermoelectric plug in coolers).
CF-18
CF-18
The Dometic CFX line are true portable refrigerators using a compressor to cool the units and are great choices for portable car refrigerators. If you are looking for a smaller portable car fridge, then the three choices below from the Dometic CF line are worthy options. If you want anything larger than the three below choices, then it makes sense, from a cost perspective, to go with an offering from the CFX line of portable 12v fridges (which have a better compressor than the below three CF line offerings, allowing the CFX line to cool to a lower temp).
Dometic CDF-11, CF-18, and CF-25 Portable Car Refrigerators
The Dometic CDF-11, CF-18 and and CF-25 are narrow, small capacity portable car refrigerators that have true compressor technology, allowing you to precisely set the interior temperature. They can operate as either a refrigerator or freezer, with capability of cooling down to 0º Fahrenheit (-18º C).
CF-25
Camp Addict co-founder Marshall has a Dometic CDF-11 (pictured below). It is the smallest portable compressor refrigerator Dometic makes, with a capacity of 0.4 cubic feet. You aren't going to fit much into it, but it will keep the contents at a precise temperature. And it makes a brilliant center console (cup holders included!) if you have the space between two seats.
CDF-11
CDF-11
CDF-11
CF-18
CF-25
These portable mini refrigerators cost more than the Tropicool line of thermoelectric portable electric coolers, but that's because they offer the same cooling technology as a full-size household refrigerator. You get much better cooling capability with one of these DC fridges.
If you need a larger capacity portable car refrigerator then you should check out the DC fridges in the Dometic CFX line reviewed above.
Dometic CDF-11, CF-18, and CF-25 Features and Specs:
Capacity (in cubic feet, quarts and liters) and Dimensions
Model | Capacity (cu ft/qts/liters) | Dimensions (W x H X D) |
|---|---|---|
CDF-11 | 0.4/10/11 | 9.4" W x 14.1" H x 21.6" D |
CF-18 | 0.7/19/18 | 11.8" W x 16.3" H x 18.3" D |
CF-25 | 0.8/19/18 | 10.2" W x 16.7" H x 21.7" D |
Weight, Compressor Noise (in decibels) and Power Usage
Model | Weight | Rated Current |
|---|---|---|
CDF-11 | 19 lbs | 2.5 amps @ 12v |
CF-18 | 25 lbs | 3.1 Amps @ 12v |
CF-25 | 28 lbs | 3.1 amps @ 12v |
- True compressor technology allows for precise temperature control
- Power source: 12/24 volts DC or 120 volts AC
- Made from high-impactic resistance plastic with extra thick insulation
- Set temperatures between 0º F (-18º C) to 50ºF (10º C) so these portable car fridges can function both as a refrigerator and as a freezer
- Electronic thermostat with digital temperature display
- Three level battery monitor to prevent fridge from draining your vehicle's battery (you can chose at what battery voltage the fridge shuts off to prevent complete battery drain)
- Warranty: 2 years
Dometic Portable 12-Volt Refrigerator Accessories
Now that you've purchased that shiny new Dometic CFX portable fridge, it's time to treat it right! Dometic makes insulated, protective covers for the CFX line of 12-volt fridge freezers. They also make slides which allow you to access your CFX fridge when it is in tight quarters.
Dometic CFX Insulated Covers
Dometic makes protective, insulated covers for their CFX line of portable 12-volt refrigerator freezers. Made from high quality nylon fabric with extra insulation, these covers improve the cooling capability of your portable fridge (and thus reduce the battery power used), while providing some protection. The top flap(s) open to allow easy access to the fridge contents, and exterior pockets provide extra storage space.
CFX-40 Cover
CFX-65DZ Cover
Dometic makes an insulated cover to fit various sizes of their CFX line of portable fridges. Choose the Model CFX refrigerator you need a cover for:
CFX-35 Cover
CFX-40 Cover
CFX-50 Cover
CFX-65DZ Cover
CFX-95DZ Cover
Dometic CFX Slides
If you want to install your Dometic CFX portable refrigerator in 'tight' quarters and need a way to access it, the CFX slide is the answer. You can install your CFX refrigerator freezer on the base of the slide, either via the supplied straps or by using screws into the bottom of the fridge. The slide itself is mounted onto your vehicle (or wherever you want to install your portable fridge) and you simply 'slide' out the tray to access your 12-volt portable freezer/refrigerator.
Each size slide fits two different sizes of CFX portable fridge freezers. If you have a CFX-35 or CFX-40 refrigerator, then purchase a CFX-SLD3540 slide. If you have a CFX-50 or CFX-65 fridge, then purchase the CFX-SLD5065 slide. Finally, if you have a CFX-95 or CFX-100, purchase the CFX-SLD95100 slide.
CFX-SLD3540 Slide
CFX-SLD5065 Slide
CFX-SLD95100 Slide
Portable 12-Volt Refrigerator Guide
There are times when an ice cooler will do the job you need. There are also times when you need food to be cooled for longer than an ice cooler can accommodate. In cases like these, you need a portable electric cooler or refrigerator. When it comes to portable cooling systems, there are three basic types of powered units that you can choose from:
1. Compressor
2. Absorption
3. Thermoelectric
Knowing the difference between the three is the key to getting the right one for your needs. Let's start with compressor refrigerators.
Portable Compressor Refrigerators
Portable compression refrigerators are different from any other type of portable 'cooler' in that they work exactly like your home refrigerator by using a compressor to control the temperature.
Pros Of A Compression Refrigerator
- Minimal power consumption
- Compressor allows you to put the temperature where you want it
- Functions when level or on an incline
- May be used as a fridge or a freezer
- Works the best out of the three types
Cons Of A Compression Refrigerator
- Price
The portable compressor refrigerator is the only true refrigerator of this bunch. You can set the temperature on these so they can act as a fridge OR a freezer, and after using it a few times, you can easily figure out how to keep food at a temperature that meets your needs.
By using a partition properly in a dual zone 12 volt refrigerator freezer, you can set it to freezing but have the partition block enough cold to make the other side cool enough to keep foods from spoiling.
These compressor units are usually able to be set to a specific temperature and are not so affected by the outside temperature. However, if the outside temperature changes, the temps inside your fridge CAN be affected, so setting a temperature and leaving it can be problematic.
These units run off of DC power, so you can run it off of your car or RV battery. They are pretty power efficient so they don't use a lot of battery power. Of course the hotter it is outside, the harder your fridge will have to work. The harder it works, the more battery power it will use.
Today's compressor units are very energy efficient. They may consume less than 1 amp/hr. Much like a home refrigerator, these compressor units don't run ALL the time. They cycle on and off to regulate the temperature inside. The hotter it is outside, the more they will have to run. Therefore, if you are using it in warm areas, it might be a good idea to get its own dedicated battery to power it to avoid draining your vehicle's battery.
Know that most of today's units come with a sensor that will stop using power from a battery once it is reaching a certain low voltage level so you aren't left stranded. If you will be using it a lot, a separate, dedicated battery for your refrigerator is a good idea.
If you do get a separate battery, you need something that will recharge it. You could use solar, or recharge it using a portable generator. Either way, you are looking at an even higher price point unless you already have the means to recharge the battery.
These units are little noisy. It's not bad but you will hear it when it's plugged in, similar to the way you would hear your fridge in your house, only quieter. Usually they fire up and you will hear the compressor for the first minute or two, then after that they will quiet down.
Another benefit of a portable compressor refrigerator is that it will function properly whether it is level or if it's on an incline. An absorption cooler will NOT function properly unless it is totally level.
We highly recommend this type of refrigerator over any other type if you are needing refrigeration for over a day or two.
Portable Absorption Refrigerators
This type of fridge can run off of three types of power: AC, DC or LP gas. This might make it seem like the ideal candidate, but before you jump, read on.
Pros Of An Absorption Refrigerator
- Can run off of multiple power sources
- Very efficient when running on gas
Cons Of An Absorption Refrigerator
- Will NOT function properly unless totally level
- Cannot set a temperature
- Can only cool to about 30 degrees below ambient temperature
- Uses ten times the electric power of other portable units
This type of refrigerator uses TEN TIMES the power that a compressor refrigerator uses. If you are running this off of your vehicle battery, you might be in for a jump-start. If you get this type, you will definitely want to have a dual battery system so you can run it strictly off of a dedicated battery. In this case, you must have a way to recharge this battery, so take that into consideration as well.
They DO run very efficiently on gas. Remember, you either have to bring an ample supply of gas with you or you need to be able to refill along your route. This type of cooler must be vented if you are using it on gas. Make sure you have adequate space for this.
Absorption refrigerators can only go as low as around 30 degrees below the outside temperature. Not so good in extreme heat- anything over 80 degrees.
This type of refrigerator needs to be TOTALLY level to function properly. This means that when you arrive at your campsite, if your unit is staying in your vehicle, it has to be totally level. This is not always possible.
We haven't found an absorption refrigerator on the market that is available that truly portable. They tend to be more sized like a college refrigerator. Therefore, we don't recommend this type as a portable unit.
Many refrigerators that are built-in to RVs are absorption refrigerators.
Who Needs a 12-Volt Portable Refrigerator?
A 12v refrigerator can have many different use scenarios, a few of which are shown below. But the best part of a portable mini fridge is that it doesn't have to be used just one way. Use it in your house as a AC/DC refrigerator in the den, or take it along on the occasional road trip where you want to have your own food so you don't eat out so much. As cliché as this sounds, the possibilities of how you can use a 12v mini fridge are virtually endless.
- Camping - You may be looking for a camping refrigerator to keep your food cool as you enjoy a bit of the outdoors. This can either be a supplemental 12v RV refrigerator, or a portable mini fridge you keep in the car while you sleep in a tent.
- Road Trip - A portable car refrigerator may be just what you are looking for to bring along with you on that great road trip across the country. Or you may just need a car fridge to transport your contribution to the weekly pot luck at grandma's house across town.
- Trucking - You may be looking for a semi truck refrigerator to store food as you criss-cross the country. A 12-volt refrigerator for trucks can mean bringing healthier foods along with you, or just a place to keep your favorite beverage cool to enjoy after a long day of driving.
- Cabin - Need a battery powered refrigerator for your little cabin in the woods that you spend the occasional weekend at? A 12-volt mini fridge may be exactly what you need to keep to bring along the necessary supplies for that perfect breakfast on the deck overlooking the lake. Sigh...
Portable Thermoelectric Coolers
This kind of cooler is not a very good candidate for keeping food safe long-term. It's best for just keeping goods cold on the way home from the store or keeping a dish warm. They just don't cool well enough and don't give you the best control over the temperature.
Pros Of A Thermoelectric Cooler
- Good for one-off uses, one day total
- They can cool AND warm. However, they cannot keep food heated at a high temperature, nor cool and warm at the same time.
Cons Of A Thermoelectric Cooler
- Pretty worthless in temperatures over 77 degrees Fahrenheit
- Noisy
- Uses a lot of battery power
- Unable to set a temperature/tends to be too cool or too warm for your needs
This type of unit will create a major drain on your battery and they are quite noisy. During testing, they have failed in keeping food adequately warm enough to store hot food safely.
After reaching about 77 degrees outside, these units are unable to keep your food and liquids cool.
It is not recommended to add ice to this type of cooler.
This type of plugin cooler typically eats up 3-5 amps of power. These 12-volt coolers are only able to cool to a certain amount of degrees below the outside air temperature. Therefore the warmer it is outside, the warmer the inside of the cooler will be, and will typically only be able to cool to their lowest temperature when the outside air temperature is below 77º Fahrenheit (25º C). Because you cannot precisely control the temperature inside of a 12v cooler, they generally tend to be either too cold or too warm for your needs.
On a positive note, the thermoelectric cooler can also be 'reversed' so that it makes food warm. Temperatures cannot get much higher than around 150-degrees, so it is not ideal for long-term storage of warm foods.
This cooler is best for day trips when you don't need food to be cool for very long. However, if you don't need to be able to keep food warm, a regular ice cooler usually does the same job just as well for less money.
Price Ranges Between Portable Coolers & Refrigerators
Besides just the compressor aspect, there is one other big difference between 12-volt coolers and true compressor style portable refrigerators. The price.
A typical high-quality thermoelectric 12-volt cooler will likely cost you around $100 – $300.
A good compressor-based 12V refrigerator can range from the mid hundreds of dollars up to over a thousand dollars. If you really need a 12V compressor refrigerator and not just a cooler, it's worth it for what you get. If you only need a day's worth of cooling for some beverages and sandwiches for your picnic, a cooler is the way to go.
Decide what you will be mostly using your unit for, then you can decide whether you really need a true portable refrigerator with a compressor, or if you can get by with a thermoelectric 12v cooler.
Conclusion
Having a portable refrigerator is extremely handy if you need to keep your food safe and cold for extended periods of time. They are great for off-roading and to have extra storage space in your RV for longer trips off the grid. Maybe you have a huge family and need to bring along enough food to feed everyone.
Now you have the tools to decide what portable refrigerator will work best for you. Whatever you pick, just make sure you get out there and use it.
Camp on, Addicts!
