Element ERT16CGD-CA 16 cu. ft. Top Freezer
Quick verdict
The Element ERT16CGD-CA 16 cu. ft. Top Freezer is a 16.0 cu. ft. top-freezer from Element in the budget tier. ENERGY STAR certified at 347 kWh/year, in line with the rest of the top-freezer class. Our reviewers rate it 4.2/5 — best for apartment sized households.
Best for
- Couples and small families
Key specs
- Capacity
- 16.0 cu. ft.
- Dimensions
- 30.0" × 67.0" × 31.0"
- Annual energy
- 347 kWh/year
- Ice / Water
- No ice · No water
- Wi-Fi
- No
Our Review
The Element ERT16CGD-CA 16 cu. ft. Top Freezer is a 16.0 cu. ft. top-freezer refrigerator from Element, sitting in the sub-$1,000 range. With a 11.8 cu. ft. fresh-food compartment and 4.2 cu. ft. of freezer space, it's positioned for couples and small families.
What stands out
This is squarely a mainstream model — Element optimizes for value, parts availability, and a feature set that covers what most households actually use. You won't find exotic materials, but everything that ships works as advertised.
ENERGY STAR Most Efficient certification means it sits in the top ~10% of the category for energy use. At ~347 kWh/year, expect roughly $55 in annual running cost at the U.S. average electricity rate — meaningfully less than older models from a decade ago.
Layout and capacity
Exterior dimensions are 30.0" W × 67.0" H × 31.0" D — check your opening, especially the depth with handles extended. Total useable capacity is 16.0 cu. ft., split 11.8 fresh / 4.2 freezer.
Bottom line
The Element ERT16CGD-CA 16 cu. ft. Top Freezer is a strong mainstream choice — most of what people actually use a fridge for, at a price that makes sense. Service parts are widely available.
Full Specs
Capacity Total capacity | 16.0 cu. ft. |
|---|---|
| Fresh-food | 11.8 cu. ft. |
| Freezer | 4.2 cu. ft. |
Dimensions Width | 30.0" |
| Height | 67.0" |
| Depth | 31.0" |
| Depth (with handles) | 33.5" |
Energy ENERGY STAR | Yes |
| Annual energy use | 347 kWh/year |
| Est. annual cost | $56 |
Features Ice maker | No |
| Water dispenser | No |
| Wi-Fi connected | No |
| Smart features | No |
| Door style | Top Freezer |
| Finishes available | Stainless Steel, Black Stainless Steel, Fingerprint-Resistant Stainless, White, Black |
| Noise level | — |
Pros & Cons
+Pros
- ✓Simplest, most reliable layout — fewer moving parts to fail
- ✓ENERGY STAR Most Efficient — lowest-in-class energy use
–Cons
- ✕No built-in ice maker on this configuration
- ✕Bending to reach fresh-food drawers becomes a daily nuisance for tall users
Rating Breakdown
Where to Buy
| Retailer | Current Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Home Depot | See retailer | Shop at Home Depot |
| Best Buy | See retailer | Shop at Best Buy |
| Lowe's | See retailer | Shop at Lowe's |
Prices and availability vary by region. We may earn a commission on purchases at no cost to you — see our disclosure & methodology. Affiliate relationships do not influence ratings.
