Fridge & Freezer Temperature Guide

Enter your appliance thermometer reading to check whether your fridge or freezer is at a safe temperature, in °F or °C.

How to use the Fridge & Freezer Temperature Guide

Choose refrigerator or freezer.
Enter the temperature from an appliance thermometer.
See whether it is safe and what to adjust.

How it works

Food safety agencies recommend keeping a refrigerator at or below 40 °F (4 °C) — around 37 °F (3 °C) is a good target — and a freezer at 0 °F (−18 °C) or colder. Built-in dials are often unlabelled or inaccurate, so use a separate appliance thermometer placed in the middle of the shelf, and check it after the door has been closed for a while.

Recommended temperatures

Appliance / zone	°F	°C
Freezer	0 or colder	−18 or colder
Refrigerator (ideal)	37	3
Refrigerator (maximum)	40	4
Danger zone for food	40–140	4–60
Wine fridge (reds)	55–65	13–18

Frequently asked questions

What temperature should a fridge be?

At or below 40 °F (4 °C); about 37 °F (3 °C) is ideal.

What temperature should a freezer be?

0 °F (−18 °C) or colder.

How long is food safe if the power goes out?

A closed fridge keeps food safe for about 4 hours; a full closed freezer for about 48 hours (24 if half full).