Dedicated Kegerator or Conversion Refrigerator: How to Decide

What each name means on a listing

A dedicated kegerator is listed as a complete draft unit. The title usually says "kegerator" or "keg dispenser" and the bullet list states the number of taps, the cabinet width, the door type, and the temperature control. When a listing sells a dedicated kegerator, the taps, tower, and internal cooling are part of what is described in the box contents, not a separate purchase.

A conversion refrigerator is listed as an empty refrigerator or beverage center, often under names like "bar refrigerator" or "keg conversion refrigerator". The listing describes a fridge you can equip with a conversion kit. The kit, which may include a tower, faucets, coupler, and related parts, is usually sold apart from the refrigerator. The fridge listing itself does not include pour equipment.

When you compare two listings side by side, read the title and the bullet list to see which words appear. A dedicated kegerator will name the tap count in the title or bullets. A conversion refrigerator will not. This is the quickest way to tell the two apart without reading the whole listing.

• Dedicated kegerator: taps and tower are part of the unit as described
• Conversion refrigerator: the fridge is described without pour equipment
• Conversion kit: a separate set of parts you match to a refrigerator

Reading a listing for what is included

For a dedicated kegerator, check the bullet list for what the seller states is included. A single tap unit may describe one faucet, one tower, and a drip tray. A dual tap unit describes two faucets and a two-hole tower. If the listing says "tap kit" or "dispense kit" as a separate word, that is a signal the unit arrives with the pour equipment already assembled or included.

For a conversion refrigerator, the listing describes the fridge itself: cabinet width, door style, shelving, and thermostat. The box contents list may mention a drip tray or a small tap tower in some configurations, but the core of the unit is the refrigerator. You compare the fridge on its stated details, then choose a conversion kit that matches the listing.

A missing detail on either listing has the same meaning: "not stated by the seller". If a dedicated kegerator does not say the number of taps, you can compare it only on what is stated. If a conversion refrigerator does not say the control type, the buyer sees a gap, not a fault. Compare what is actually shown.

Comparing dedicated and conversion on stated details

The main comparison you can make from listings is on what is stated: tap count, cabinet width, door type, and temperature control. A dedicated kegerator lists these together in one product. A conversion refrigerator lists only the fridge; the tap count and tower become a decision you make later when you pick a kit.

On cost tiers, a dedicated kegerator is one purchase that includes the pour components. A conversion refrigerator plus a kit is two purchases: the fridge and the kit. The price tier of the two paths differs because the kit adds to the fridge. The site compares listings by stated details, not by a total that no listing states.

On temperature control, dedicated kegerators often list a thermostat, a digital display, or a manual dial. Conversion refrigerators may list the control type or leave it unstated. The comparison stays on what the listing says. A temperature control is a feature to read, not a performance claim.

On fit, both types are measured by cabinet width and door style. A dedicated kegerator lists full dimensions in the bullet list. A conversion refrigerator is also described by width and height, usually in the same format. Compare the two on width to see if either fits your space.

Choosing by where you plan to put it

For a home bar, a dedicated kegerator is often the simpler path because the listing describes the complete unit, including the taps. You compare the tap count to the number of beers you want on draft and match the width to your bar space.

For a kitchen, a conversion refrigerator may be the fit you want if you already have a beverage center and want to add draft. Read the undercounter listing for the door style and hinge side, then match a kit to it.

For a garage or shared space, the decision is about size and tap count. A full-size dedicated kegerator lists wide cabinet dimensions and multiple taps. A conversion refrigerator can hold a keg but without the taps, the listing shows only the fridge.

For an apartment or small area, a dedicated kegerator with a narrow width may fit under a counter, while a conversion refrigerator requires you to add components that may take up shelf space. Compare the width statements in both types before you pick.

• Home bar: look for tap count and width in a dedicated unit
• Kitchen: compare undercounter and door style in both types
• Garage or shared space: decide by size and number of taps
• Apartment or small area: check the narrow width and what is included

Which guide to read next

This article explains the difference between the two listing types. The next step is to read the best kegerator guide for an overview of the site's picks, then narrow by your need.

If you know you want a complete unit, compare dedicated models in the best dual tap kegerators guide or the best single tap kegerators guide.

If you are leaning toward a conversion refrigerator, the best kegerator conversion refrigerators guide lists the site's picks. For size, the best 15 inch kegerators and best 24 inch kegerators guides help you compare cabinet widths across both types.

What to pick for your situation

Questions

Which is cheaper, a dedicated kegerator or a conversion refrigerator?

The site does not compare prices by type. A dedicated kegerator is one listing that includes the taps. A conversion path is the fridge plus a separate kit, so the total is two purchases. Read each listing for what is included and compare stated details, not money.

What does a conversion kit include in a listing?

A conversion kit is usually described as a set of parts: a tower, faucets, a coupler, and related components. The exact contents are stated in the kit listing. Compare the kit's stated contents to the refrigerator's stated dimensions to see if they match.

How do I compare temperature control between the two?

Read the thermostat or temperature control line in each listing. A dedicated kegerator may list a digital display or a manual dial. A conversion refrigerator may list a control type or leave it unstated. You compare what is stated, not a performance claim.

Can a conversion refrigerator hold a keg?

The listing states whether the fridge is described as a keg conversion refrigerator or a beverage center. If the title says it is for kegs, the stated capacity is part of the listing. The keg name appears in the title or the bullet list, and you compare that stated detail.

Why does a dedicated kegerator listing show a tap count?

The tap count is a key stated detail. Titles on this site include single, dual, triple, or four taps as a size and capability name. Reading the tap count tells you how many beers the unit is designed to pour, and this is a stated detail you can compare.

What if a conversion refrigerator listing does not mention taps?

That is normal because a conversion refrigerator is sold without a tower or faucets. The absence is not a missing detail; it tells you the pour equipment is sold separately. You match a kit to the fridge based on the stated width and door type.