How loud is a wine fridge?
A wine fridge is rated between 32 dB and 42 in the makers' figures, but almost every figure is a bare number, and only Liebherr and Summit say how they measured.
Almost every wine fridge figure is a bare number. Across eighteen models:
Liebherr lists 34 dB(A) for the UW3720, "according to EN 60704-3", the method behind European energy labels. Liebherr cites the same standard for all 10 of its US wine models, from 34 to 37; our Liebherr refrigerator decibels page lists them.
Summit says the CL244WC2 was "measured in our testing facilities at just 32.2 dB", while its spec table says 32.4 dB. The test was Summit's own, and it names neither a standard nor a distance.
Everyone else, including Whynter, NewAir, Kalamera, Euhomy and Antarctic Star, prints a figure such as "under 38 dBA" or "39 dB" with no basis.
So a few decibels between one wine fridge brand and another may mean nothing. Figures within one brand are more useful: NewAir's own range runs from 38 dB to 42 dB, for example.
One figure we set aside. NewAir lists 25 dB for its NWC016SS00, far below every other model it sells. It was sold out, and we could not confirm it.
Several brands publish no US figure. Miele and U-Line print noise figures only on European or export sheets. We found none on Lanbo's pages.
Should a quiet wine fridge be freestanding or built-in?
A wine fridge should go under a counter only if the maker says it vents at the front; otherwise it needs open space around it, because a fridge that cannot shed heat runs harder.
This matters more than a few decibels. A compressor fridge has to get rid of heat, and it does that through vents.
Freestanding models vent at the back or sides and need open space around them. Whynter suggests 5 inches at the back and sides. NewAir says its freestanding NWC016SS00 should not be built into surrounding cabinetry.
Built-in models vent at the front, through the grille at the bottom, so they can sit flush under a counter. Whynter says that front vent must never be covered or blocked, and says not to install the fridge behind a cabinet door.
Get it wrong and the fridge works harder. Summit says that if the ventilation gaps are not observed, the compressor runs more often and for longer. And NewAir lists "insufficient ventilation", a fridge too close to a wall, as a cause of too much noise.
If you want a fridge under the counter, buy one that the maker says vents at the front. Among our picks, the Summit, the Whynter BWR-462DZ and the Kalamera say they do, and Whynter lists the BBR-838SB for built-in use with proper clearance.
Antarctic Star and Euhomy do not say, so we would use those freestanding.
If the unit will sit at an island, a bar or a desk where you are seated beside it, our guide to the quietest undercounter refrigerators ranks the 24 and 15 inch built-ins whose makers publish a figure, and reads their manuals for fan modes, alarms and lights.
Is a thermoelectric wine cooler quieter than a compressor one?
No, a thermoelectric wine cooler is not automatically quieter: it still uses fans, and NewAir lists its thermoelectric model at 38 dB against 39 dB for its compressor built-ins.
Thermoelectric coolers have no compressor. Makers call them vibration-free, and NewAir says its Shadow-T minimizes vibrations that can stir up sediment. But they still use fans. NewAir lists that thermoelectric model at 38 dB, and its compressor built-ins at 39 dB.
Thermoelectric coolers also depend on the room. NewAir asks for a room between 60 and 75°F for its Shadow-T. For a few bottles on a counter, it is a fine choice. For a quieter fridge, it is not a shortcut.
If the fridge is going in a bedroom rather than a kitchen, our guide to the quietest mini fridges explains which type of fridge suits a room where you sleep.
What wine fridge noises are normal?
Gurgling, humming, cracking or popping and fan noise are all normal in a working wine fridge, according to Whynter's manual.
The manuals agree that a working wine fridge makes some noise. Whynter lists:
- gurgling, from refrigerant flowing through the coils
- humming, from the compressor, which can get louder briefly as it starts
- cracking or popping, as materials expand and contract with temperature
- fan noise, from air circulating inside
Liebherr adds bubbling, hissing, whirring and clicking, and says the humming depends on how hard the fridge is cooling. Whynter says the noise is loudest right after the compressor starts, and will be heard more in an open-plan kitchen.
If your main fridge shares that open room too, the ice maker and door alarm are covered where our refrigerator guide discusses open-plan kitchens.
Why is my wine fridge so loud?
The makers' troubleshooting pages blame a loud wine fridge on a few causes: it is not level, it cannot breathe, or something is touching it.
It is not level
NewAir lists an unlevel fridge first, and Whynter says the fridge must be level to work properly. Whynter also advises against installing it on carpet.
It cannot breathe
NewAir lists a fridge too close to a wall, and an obstructed fan.
Something is touching it
Miele lists a fridge touching another appliance or cabinet, and bottles touching each other.
Does ENERGY STAR rate wine cooler noise?
No, ENERGY STAR certifies coolers for efficiency, and neither it nor the Department of Energy publishes noise figures.
ENERGY STAR certifies coolers, which it says are commonly called wine coolers and beverage centers, and says certified coolers are up to 20% more efficient than the federal minimum.
The Department of Energy has set efficiency standards for coolers since 2019, with new standards due from January 31, 2029. Neither publishes noise figures.
Which wine fridge buying mistakes cost you quiet?
Five buying mistakes undo a quiet wine fridge, from building in a freestanding model to comparing bare figures across brands.
Building in a freestanding fridge
Without front venting, the makers say it runs harder, and louder.
Blocking the front grille of a built-in
Whynter says it must never be covered.
Assuming thermoelectric is silent
NewAir's own figures show otherwise.
Only Liebherr names a standard.
Skipping the level
An unlevel fridge is the first noise cause NewAir lists.
