What Temperature Should a Refrigerator Be? Fridge and Freezer Settings

Updated October 27, 2026 · Appliance Den buying guide

Short answer: keep your refrigerator at 40 °F or below and your freezer at 0 °F for food safety (FDA). For the best balance of safety and energy use, ENERGY STAR recommends setting the fridge between 35 and 38 °F. Because most refrigerator dials don’t show a real temperature, put an inexpensive appliance thermometer in each compartment and adjust from what it reads.

The right settings at a glance

From FDA, “Refrigerator Thermometers: Cold Facts about Food Safety”, and ENERGY STAR, “Refrigerators” (saving tips), both read October 27, 2026. In Celsius: 40 °F ≈ 4 °C, 35 to 38 °F ≈ 2 to 3 °C, 0 °F ≈ −18 °C.

Why the number matters

The FDA notes that at room temperature, the bacteria that cause foodborne illness can double every 20 minutes. Chilling food to the right temperature is one of the best ways to slow them down. Some bacteria, such as Listeria, can still grow at refrigerator temperatures, so a cold fridge is one step, not the only one.

From FDA, “Refrigerator Thermometers: Cold Facts about Food Safety”, read October 27, 2026.

How to check your fridge’s real temperature

• Use a freestanding appliance thermometer. The FDA says few refrigerator controls show the actual temperature, and recommends one thermometer for the fridge and one for the freezer, checked often.
• Adjust in small steps. If the fridge reads above 40 °F, turn the control a little colder, wait, and check again before changing it more.
• Read it, don’t guess after a power cut: the thermometer tells you which food is still safe (see below).

From FDA, “Refrigerator Thermometers: Cold Facts about Food Safety”, read October 27, 2026.

Help your fridge hold its temperature

• Don’t overpack it. Cold air has to circulate around food to keep it chilled (FDA).
• Put it in a cool spot, away from the oven, the dishwasher and direct sunlight (ENERGY STAR).
• Leave a few inches behind it for air to circulate, and keep the condenser coils clean on older models; follow the manual for cleaning them safely (ENERGY STAR).
• Check the door seals. They should be airtight; replace them if not (ENERGY STAR).
• Keep the door closed and open it for as short a time as you can (ENERGY STAR).
• Hot leftovers can go straight in. The FDA says putting hot food in the fridge doesn’t harm the appliance; split large amounts into smaller containers so they cool faster.

From FDA, “Refrigerator Thermometers: Cold Facts about Food Safety”, and ENERGY STAR, “Refrigerators” (saving tips), read October 27, 2026.

Shopping for a new refrigerator?

ENERGY STAR says certified refrigerators are about 9 percent more energy efficient than models that just meet the federal minimum standard. Its buying tips: choose a size you need (bigger fridges generally use more energy, and the most efficient models are typically 16 to 20 cubic feet), and a top-freezer layout tends to use the least energy. Our refrigerator buying guide covers how to measure your space and compare styles, and our water filter guide covers filter changes.

From ENERGY STAR, “Refrigerators” (buying guidance), read October 27, 2026.

Keep reading

See all refrigerators, or read our dishwasher buying guide.

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