Refrigerator Buying Guide: How to Choose a New Fridge
Learn about refrigerator sizing, styles and other must-know topics to help you make an informed decision.
With so many options on the market, shopping for a new refrigerator can feel overwhelming. But we are here to help.
Our guide explores the four most popular refrigerator styles – French door, side-by-side, top freezer and bottom freezer – so you can learn more, compare and get started finding the best refrigerator for your needs.
Refrigerator Sizing 101
Standard Refrigerator Sizes
Many new appliances, especially refrigerators, are both taller and deeper than older models.
The average size of a new refrigerator varies depending on the type of fridge. Standard refrigerator dimensions range from 28¾ to 39¾ inches wide, 61¾ to 71¼ inches tall and 28¾ to 34⅝ inches deep. With the refrigerator door fully ajar, the depth extends to 45 inches.
Learn more about average refrigerator sizes below.
French Door Refrigerators:
• Width: 29½ to 36 inches
• Height: 65⅞ to 71¼ inches
• Depth: 29⅜ to 34⅝ inches
Side-by-Side Refrigerators:
• Width: 32¾ to 39¾ inches
• Height: 68½ to 72 inches
• Depth: 29¾ to 31⅛ inches
Top Freezer Refrigerators:
• Width: 28 to 33 inches
• Height: 61¾ to 69 inches
• Depth: 28¾ to 34½ inches
Bottom Freezer Refrigerators:
• Width: 29½ to 32¾ inches
• Height: 67 to 69 inches
• Depth: 33⅜ inches
Note: While these are good benchmarks for the average refrigerator size, you should still check your specific refrigerator’s dimensions online or in store.
Measure Your Space Before You Buy
Always measure where you plan to put the refrigerator before you shop.
To effectively measure for a new fridge, you will need to determine the refrigerator depth, width and height. This measuring guide from Whirlpool is a great resource to help you measure your space.
Once you have your measurements, add a half inch on all sides (including above and behind) to ensure proper ventilation. This will allow the appliance to cool without overheating.
Don’t forget to measure the width and height of any doorways and hallways that the refrigerator will have to travel through to get to the kitchen.
Choosing the Right Size Fridge for Your Home
Your optimal fridge size and style will vary depending on your kitchen space and family needs.
As a rule of thumb, 4 to 6 cubic feet of fridge space per person is sufficient. For a family of four, a fridge with 20 cubic feet is ideal for optimal grocery space. For larger families, or households who shop in bulk, we recommend choosing a refrigerator with 25+ cubic feet of space.
Compact refrigerators can also offer some extra overflow storage or a specialized place to store beverages.
Comparing Different Styles
French Door Refrigerators
This type of refrigerator features a pantry-style layout. Two doors up top open outward to reveal one refrigerator compartment and a freezer drawer slides out below.
Though they vary by brand and model, French door refrigerators typically offer the most features of any refrigerator style (e.g. in-door ice and water dispensers, temperature zones and spill-proof shelves.).
These refrigerators are great for larger families or those looking for a high-end aesthetic.
Pros:
• Extra large capacity
• Wide, adjustable shelves
• Fresh items are easily accessible
• Many features available
Cons:
• Not suited for small or tight kitchens
• Bending is required to access frozen items
• Requires more energy to run than smaller styles
• Higher price point than other styles
Shop freestanding and built-in French door refrigerators.
Side-by-Side Refrigerators
Side-by-side refrigerators feature two doors that open from the center with a freezer on one side and a refrigerator on the other. Generally, the fridge is a bit larger than the freezer section.
These refrigerators provide premium style when compared to traditional top and bottom freezer models. If you’re looking for a stylish, easy-to-organize fridge with more bells and whistles than a traditional model, consider a side-by-side refrigerator.
Pros:
• Increased door storage
• Fresh and frozen items are easily accessible
• The most freezer space of all four refrigerator styles
• Many features available
• Lower price point than French door models
Cons:
• Not suited for small or tight kitchens
• Narrow shelving can make large items difficult to store
• Higher price point than top and bottom freezer styles
Shop freestanding and built-in side-by-side refrigerators.
Top Freezer Refrigerators
Also referred to as a top-mount, this classic refrigerator style places the freezer above the refrigerator compartment with one door for each that opens from the side.
This type of refrigerator makes freezer storage easy to access and provides wide in-door storage. You can often find top freezer refrigerators at a lower entry price-point since more advanced features like exterior ice and water are less common in this kind of fridge.
A top freezer refrigerator is ideal for households that don’t require much freezer capacity or fancy features.
Pros:
• Good for small spaces
• Frozen items are easily accessible
• The lowest price point of all four refrigerator styles
• The most energy efficient of all four refrigerator styles
Cons:
• Small freezer capacity
• Bending is required to access fresh items
• The least features available of all for refrigerator styles
Bottom Freezer Refrigerators
Also called bottom-mount, these refrigerators are the reverse of top freezer styles. In this type of fridge, the fresh food compartment is on top with the freezer down below accessible by either a side-open door or a pull-out drawer. This setup allows you to get a classic refrigerator look while making fresh items easier to access.
Bottom freezer refrigerators have become an increasingly popular choice over the last 20 years. They offer more storage and features compared to their top freezer counterparts. However, they are slightly less energy efficient than top freezer models and are generally higher-priced.
Pros:
• Fresh items are easily accessible
• Greater freezer storage and organization options than top freezer styles
• Lower price point than French door and side-by-side refrigerators
• Often praised for energy savings
Cons:
• Less features available than French door or side-by-side models
• Bending is required to access frozen items
Shop freestanding and built-in bottom freezer refrigerators.
Energy Efficiency
All new refrigerators are a lot more efficient than models from a decade ago. However, energy efficiency varies by refrigerator model. Information on a refrigerator’s EnergyGuide label will help you go as green as possible.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star rating is a good place to start when shopping. It means that a product is in or around the top 25% of the market in terms of efficiency.
Energy consumption can add up to a $50 to $60 difference per year. To see which models are most efficient, look at the EnergyGuide labels of the refrigerators you’re considering. Then compare the annual operating costs and the kilowatt-hours used per year.
Find the Right Refrigerator for Your Home
If you’re still not sure which refrigerator is right for you, don’t worry. The experts at Brothers Main are happy to help find your perfect fit. We will consider factors including your kitchen space, family size, shopping habits, desired features and available budget.
