Most garden bars are better served by a bar fridge, because it chills whatever people actually drink and asks almost nothing of you. A kegerator makes sense when one household drinks a lot of the same beer, hosts often and is happy to clean beer lines on a schedule. The pull of a proper tap is real, but so is the upkeep.
The quick comparison
| Deciding factor | Kegerator | Bar fridge |
|---|---|---|
| What it serves | One or two draught beers or ciders | Bottles, cans, wine, mixers, soft drinks |
| Choice on the night | Limited to what is on tap | As wide as the shelves allow |
| Cleaning | Lines and taps need regular cleaning | Wipe out and defrost now and then |
| Waste | A keg goes flat or stale if it sits too long | Unopened cans keep |
| Space | Tall cabinet plus gas bottle | Undercounter or worktop models |
| Theatre | High: pulling a pint is the fun bit | Low, but nobody waits |
| Power | Needs a proper outdoor supply | Needs a proper outdoor supply |
Both need power, so read getting power to a garden bar before you buy either.
Who should choose a kegerator
- Households that drink the same beer week in, week out and would get through a keg while it is fresh.
- People who host regular gatherings and want the pub-style feel of a real tap.
- Anyone who enjoys the kit side: changing kegs, setting pressure and keeping lines clean.
If that sounds like you, the tap and font options are covered in garden bar beer taps.
Who should choose a bar fridge
- Most people. Guests rarely agree on one drink, and a fridge lets everyone bring their own.
- Bars used mainly at weekends or in summer, where a keg might sit half-finished.
- Anyone who wants alcohol-free beer and soft drinks to be as easy to grab as the strong stuff. That matters for hosting safely.
- Small bars where floor space is tight.
Our garden bar fridges guide covers glass doors, climate class and where to put one.
The hidden work on each side
Kegerator
The upkeep is the line cleaning. Beer left in lines between sessions can taint the next pint, so you need cleaning solution, a routine and somewhere to tip the waste. You also need to handle gas cylinders, store them upright and secure, and follow the supplier's instructions on fitting regulators. Kegs are heavy and awkward to get down the garden. And if your crowd changes its mind about the beer, you are stuck with it until the keg is finished.
Bar fridge
The hidden costs here are smaller but real. Many fridges are designed for indoor temperatures, so an unheated shed in winter or a hot summer cabin can push them outside their working range. Check the climate class on the spec sheet. Glass-door models look great and show off the stock, but they lose more cold. Expect to defrost and wipe it out a few times a year.
Can you have both?
Plenty of people end up there: a single-tap kegerator for the house beer and a small fridge for everything else. If you are unsure, start with the fridge. It is useful from day one, and you will soon learn whether your crowd drinks enough of one beer to justify a tap.
Measure the space under your counter and check the climate class on any fridge or kegerator you shortlist before you go any further.
Quick answers
Is a kegerator worth it for a garden bar?
Only if you will finish kegs while they are fresh and keep the lines clean. For mixed drinks and occasional use, a bar fridge is the better buy.
Can a kegerator go in an unheated shed?
Check the maker’s stated operating temperature range. Cold sheds in winter and hot ones in summer can push appliances outside it. See insulating a garden bar.
Does a kegerator need a special electrical supply?
It needs a safe outdoor supply installed by a qualified electrician with RCD protection, like any other appliance in a garden building. See power to a garden bar.
What if I have no power at all?
Neither option works without power. Look at ice and cooling without power or the bar fridge vs cool box comparison.
Sources
Primary guidance checked 10 November 2026.