A refrigerator is a huge investment for your home, and it’s hard to find models that are made with U.S. parts and by the U.S. workforce. We dug in to help you make that process a little easier. Below is our complete list of fridges made in the USA (or, mostly, as you’ll find out), along with tons of details about each one and the factors we considered in our research.
Complete List of Fridge Brands Made in the USA
GE has a few refrigerators that are assembled in the USA (with globally sourced materials), according to our deep dive on GE manufacturing. The Profile Series fridges and top-freezer refrigerators are your best bet for finding something built in the US – most of those models are assembled here.
Brand name: Whirlpool
Headquarters: Benton Harbor, MI
States manufacturing in: IA, MA, MI, OH, OK, TN,
Whirlpool only has a few refrigerator models that are assembled domestically. The Whirlpool WRB322DMBM Refrigerator is one of them. We have a complete breakdown of their manufacturing footprint in our investigation linked above.
Although not all materials are sourced from the U.S., Maytag still has some fridges designed, engineered, and assembled in Amana, Iowa. They share a lot of manufacturing facilities with Whirlpool, their parent company. All appliances built in the US are clearly marked on their website, so you should be able to clearly spot the country of origin for the model you’re looking at. For more info, read our entire breakdown on Maytag.
Sub-Zero products are built with one simple idea in mind – keep food fresher for longer. Most of their refrigerators and freezers are assembled in the USA, with some parts from other countries. They are expensive, but feature some top-of-the-range technology. Sub-Zero also owns and manufactures the next brand on our list – Wolf.
Wolf is owned by the same parent company as Sub-Zero and has some fridges that are assembled in the USA with domestic and global components – pretty standard for the refrigerator industry. Wolf fridges are top-of-the-line, and the price reflects that.
Frigidaire has a few refrigerators and freezers assembled in the US. They do a lot of that manufacturing and assembly in Anderson, South Carolina, plus a couple of other manufacturing facilities. Some fridges are made in Mexico and other countries, though, so if you’re unsure about a model you’re looking at, give their team a call, and they are more than happy to help.
Big Chill Appliances has several old-school looking fridges that are assembled in the USA with globally sourced components. They are headquartered in Colorado, but also have production in Iowa and Pennsylvania.
How To Find Fridges Made in The USA
We want to provide you with more than just a comprehensive list of refrigerators made in the United States; we also want to arm you with knowledge so you can do your own research and make wiser purchases. Below, we examine the refrigerator manufacturing sector more closely, focusing on issues such as labeling, material sourcing, and practical methods for locating reliable American made refrigerator brands. Let’s start by figuring out how to traverse the world of refrigerator manufacturing and the nuances of the “made in the USA” phrase.
What Does “Made in the USA” Mean?
To know how to find fridges made in the USA, you first need to understand what “made in the USA” means. The FTC states that “made in the USA” means that “all or virtually all of the product” is made in the United States. This means everything from sourcing the materials to the assembly of the fridge must take place domestically.
Check out our helpful “made in the USA” guide to learn more about the FTC’s standards.
Materials
The first step to finding fridges made in the USA is to look at the materials used to make the product. It is a good idea to research the origins of the materials to see where they come from.
Fridges are typically made from materials like steel, plastic, and fiberglass.
Steel
Steel is often used in the interior and exterior of fridges because of its durability. While China is currently the leading producer of the world’s steel, the USA is currently ranked fourth for steel production. In addition, it’s worth noting that US-made steel is three times stronger than Chinese-made steel. So, if you’re after quality, you should definitely be on the lookout for a steel fridge made in the USA.
Overall, finding a steel fridge made in the USA should be relatively easy.
Plastic
Most fridges these days are made with plastic in the interior and exterior because it is a lot cheaper. The USA produces 20% of the world’s plastic, which is not insignificant. However, this is much less than in China. In general, you’re more likely to come across manufacturers that use Chinese plastic, but since the USA still produces around 20% of the world’s plastic, a little research will help find fridges made with US-made plastic.
Fiberglass
Many fridges are made using fiberglass because it is durable and lighter than steel. China produces a staggering amount of the world’s fiberglass, but the USA comes in second place. You’ll find that companies looking to cut down manufacturing costs use fiberglass from China, but those more focused on durability may use US-made fiberglass. All in all, fiberglass made in the USA shouldn’t be too difficult to find, but definitely double-check the country of origin when you come across it.
Labeling
When looking for a fridge made in the USA, it is important to pay attention to the labeling. Title 19 Chapter 4 Section 1304 of the United States Code states that all imported products must be labeled as such. In addition, the FTC protects the “made in the USA” label. These two things make it easier for us to find products made in the USA. However, there are a few things to watch out for.
While any wrong use or misleading labeling of products is prohibited by law, the FTC does not do a very good job policing this. One reason is that the FTC does not pre-approve the usage of this label. This means it’s up to the companies to determine whether or not their products meet the “made in the USA” criteria. But with that said, the FTC will investigate any complaints of misleading labeling and take action when necessary.
You should also watch out for any misleading language in labels, such as “assembled in the USA” or “designed in the USA.” These labels do not actually mean that the products are made in the United States in their entirety. Also, be careful of labels like “made in America,” as America can also refer to Canada or Mexico.
One final thing to look out for is the American flag sticker. The usage of American flags on labels is not regulated, so just because you see an American flag on the fridge does not mean the product is made in the USA.
Other Tips
Here are some additional tips to help you find fridges made in the USA.
Visit The Company Website
Pay a visit to the company’s website, as many of them will have an “About Us” page with information about who they are and how their products are made. It should be noted that “made in the USA” is an excellent selling point, and many companies would proudly advertise this.
On the other hand, companies are not required to state the country of origin when it comes to online or promotional materials. So, if you can’t find the country of origin, it’s safer to assume the product is made abroad.
Check Online Shopping Sites
Online shopping sites like Amazon often state the country of origin in the Product Information section of their page. Another great place to check is the FAQ section; someone may have already asked a question regarding the product’s country of origin.
Call The Company
If you are still unsure where a product is made, simply call the company and ask. A representative should be able to answer all of your questions.
Fridges Not Made in the USA
Here are some popular fridge manufacturers that are not making their products in the USA. We’ll keep updating this list as we find more.
- Samsung – South Korea, Germany, China, Hungary, South Africa, Luxembourg, Sweden, Poland, India, and South Carolina in the USA.
- Beko – Made in Turkey.
- Blomberg – Made in Germany and Turkey.
- Insignia – Made in China.
- LG – They supply a lot of fridges to the U.S. from their factory in Tennessee, but also make them in South Korea, Mexico, China, and India.
- Bosch – Quite a lot are made in the USA (North Carolina), but some are also made in China, and Germany.
