At a Glance:
What Size Refrigerator Do I Need?
How To Measure Your Refrigerator
Selecting the right refrigerator requires a careful balance of spatial efficiency and storage capacity. The quest to find an appliance that seamlessly integrates into your kitchen's design while accommodating your culinary needs is a nuanced process. In this article, we discuss the considerations critical to determining the perfect refrigerator size for your household. From assessing interior layout to understanding external dimensions in relation to kitchen space, we provide a strategic approach to aid in making an informed purchase.
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Shop All RefrigeratorsAbout Refrigerator Types
There are a number of different refrigerator types, and depending on the type you choose, its size might vary. Here are some of the refrigerator types currently on the market:
➤ Built-In Refrigerators: Built-in refrigerators are integrated into your kitchen cabinetry, offering a sleek, custom look that aligns perfectly with your cabinets. These models are typically taller than freestanding ones and offer a seamless design but may have less depth and can be more expensive.
➤ French Door Refrigerators: French door refrigerators feature two doors that open side-by-side on top with a freezer drawer below. They offer a spacious interior with wide shelves and efficient cooling. This style is ideal for storing large platters and allows easy access to both refrigerated and frozen items.
➤ Side-by-Side Refrigerators: Side-by-side refrigerators have two doors that open from the center, with the fridge on one side and the freezer on the other. They provide ample freezer space and well-organized storage but may have narrower shelves, which can be a drawback for bulky items.
➤ Top Freezer Refrigerators: Top freezer models have a classic design with the freezer compartment on top of the refrigerator section. They are typically more affordable and energy-efficient, with ample storage for frozen goods but may require bending to access the fridge area.
➤ Bottom Freezer Refrigerators: Bottom freezer refrigerators place the freezer at the bottom of the unit, usually as a pull-out drawer. This design prioritizes easy access to the refrigerator section at eye level, reducing the need to bend over and is great for fresh food lovers.
➤ Compact Refrigerators: Compact refrigerators are small and designed for spaces like dorm rooms or offices. They offer basic refrigeration, often with a small freezer compartment, and are perfect for keeping beverages and snacks chilled in tight spaces.
➤ Under-the-Counter Refrigerators: Under-the-counter refrigerators offer a compact yet surprisingly spacious solution for your cooling needs, seamlessly fitting into your kitchen's design. Despite their discreet size, these units typically provide ample storage, ranging from 2 to 5 cubic feet, making them an ideal choice for efficiently storing beverages, snacks, or additional food items in a space-saving manner.
➤ Counter-Depth Refrigerators: Counter-depth refrigerators are designed to align with the edges of kitchen counters, providing a built-in look without the need for customization. They offer a more uniform profile in the kitchen space but may sacrifice some interior capacity compared to standard-depth models.
About Refrigerator Sizes
Refrigerators come in various sizes to suit different needs and kitchen spaces. Here are the four most common refrigerator sizes and the types of refrigerators they typically pair with:
Standard Size
Standard size refrigerators typically measure around 36 inches in width, 70 inches in height, and 30-34 inches in depth. They pair with a wide range of refrigerator types, including French door, side-by-side, and bottom freezer models. Standard size refrigerators are ideal for average-sized families and offer ample storage space with full-width shelves and multiple door bins. This size is the most common in households due to its balance between space and functionality.
Counter-Depth Size
Counter-depth models are usually 23 to 27 inches deep, aligning with standard kitchen counters for a sleek, built-in look. They range from 30 to 36 inches in width and about 70 inches in height. While they provide a more streamlined appearance, they might offer slightly less interior space than standard models. Counter-depth design is often found in French door and side-by-side refrigerator types, catering to kitchens where space is at a premium and aesthetics are important.
Compact Size
Compact or mini refrigerators can vary significantly in size, but they typically range from 17 to 24 inches in width, 20 to 34 inches in height, and 18 to 24 inches in depth. These small units are most often single-door with limited shelf space, making them suitable for personal use in dorms, offices, or bedrooms. They are an excellent choice for individuals or for those needing additional refrigeration without taking up much space.
Built-In Refrigerators
Built-in refrigerators can be similar in width and height to standard sizes, often 36 inches wide and 70-80 inches tall, but their depth is designed to be flush with kitchen cabinets, typically around 24 inches. These refrigerators are commonly found in high-end kitchen designs and can be paired with paneling that matches the cabinetry. Built-in models are often available as French door or bottom freezer types and offer a custom, upscale look to the kitchen.
What Size Refrigerator Do I Need?
Choosing the right refrigerator size depends on your household size, kitchen space, and shopping habits. For individuals or small families, a fridge of 14-18 cubic feet is often sufficient. But average families typically require 19-22 cubic feet. If you entertain often or have a larger family, a fridge of 23 cubic feet or more might be a better fit for you.
It’s also important to measure your kitchen for height, width, and depth to ensure a proper fit, leaving space for door swing and ventilation. It’s also helpful to consider the capacity and layout, balancing fridge and freezer space to match your food storage preferences.
Best Refrigerators by Size
If you’re in the market for a new refrigerator, here are some excellent options for your home in a variety of sizes:
Bosch 800 Series 8.3 Cu. Ft. Custom Panel Built In Bottom Freezer Refrigerator
This Bosch refrigerator is the perfect size to accommodate smaller families and households. And because it’s built into your walls or cabinetry, it creates a seamless aesthetic for your kitchen. Next to its size and design, it also comes with helpful features to improve your food storage.
That includes the SuperCool function, which rapidly drops the temperature of the fridge to insulate the food inside. It also includes the VitaFreshPro drawer, which adjusts the temperatures and humidity of your drawers to give your foods the perfect storage area. Lastly, with its NoFrost feature, your fridge will automatically defrost on a regular basis, ensuring your food doesn’t become freezer burned.
Model #: B09IB91NSP
→ Learn more: 8 Best Bottom Freezer Refrigerators by Price
Bertazzoni 30 in. 15.5 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Counter Depth Bottom Freezer Refrigerator
Shop this Bertazzoni 15.5 Cu. Ft. Refrigerator
This sleek Bertazzoni fridge is another great example of a fridge made for small families and households. And with its stainless steel exterior, this refrigerator is great for modern-day kitchens. Thanks to some of its features, this appliance is also built to be versatile, quickly meeting the needs of any user.
That includes its FlexMode Refrigerator-Freezer, which allows users to switch the bottom compartment between freezer, fresco, and refrigerator with ease. That means, whatever you need from the bottom section of your fridge, FlexMode can help. Lastly, with its dual-variable speed compressors, automatic ice-maker, and super-freeze mode with 20% faster freezing, this refrigerator has everything you need to make your food storage a breeze.
Model #: REF30BMBIXRT
Bosch 500 Series 21.6 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Counter Depth French Door Refrigerator
Shop this Bosch 21.6 Cu. Ft. Refrigerator
If you’re looking for a powerful medium-size fridge, look no further than this Bosch 500 Series model. Inside, this model has spacious room for slightly larger families with 21.6 cubic feet of space. And with its other helpful features, like the external water dispenser, this fridge makes every family member's life more efficient.
It also comes with additional features, like the QuickIce Pro System, which produces the fastest freshly filtered ice on the market, VitaFresh Plus, which creates the optimal environment for fruits and vegetables, and 2-tiered freezer drawers, which offers more convenience and space in the freezer section.
Model #: B36CD50SNS
GE Profile 25.3 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Side-by-Side Refrigerator
Shop this GE Profile 25.3 Cu. Ft. Refrigerator
This GE Profile refrigerator comes jampacked with features to make your food storage a breeze. That includes its Turbo Cool setting, which quickly brings down the interior temperature of the fridge.
It also includes the Quick Ice setting, which creates ice up to 50% faster than normal settings. Lastly, with its showcase LED lighting, its fingerprint resistant stainless steel, and its QuickSpace shelves, this fridge quickly becomes a major focal point in your kitchen’s design.
Model #: PSE25KYHFS
Café 27.4 Cu. Ft. Platinum Glass Smart French Door Refrigerator
Shop this Café 27.4 Cu. Ft. Refrigerator
With its 27.4 cubic feet capacity and its four door design, this Café fridge has a ton of room for families with a lot of food storage needs. Along with its impressive size, it also comes with additional features to ensure no food goes to waste. That includes a tailored refrigeration option, which lets you convert a zone of the appliance to meet your needs, whether you need a full freezer or a chilled area for your beverages.
It also includes an auto fill water dispenser, which uses a sensor to dispense the perfect amount of water every time. Lastly, with its humidity control system, this fridge keeps your produce fresher for longer and does a better job at preserving your leafy greens.
Model #: CQE28DM5NS5
Dacor 27.7 Cu. Ft. Panel Ready Built In Counter Depth French Door Refrigerator
Shop this Dacor 27.7 Cu. Ft. Refrigerator
This Dacor refrigerator has the largest internal space of every fridge on this list. With a 27.7 cubic foot capacity, this fridge is perfect for larger families and homes. And with its panel ready design, you can easily match this fridge to your kitchen cabinets and overall aesthetic.
Next to that, it comes with an assortment of features, including precise cooling technology, which maintains a consistent cooling performance with minimal temperature fluctuation. It also includes a Freshzone and Freshzone+ compartment, which allows you to control the temperature and climate of each compartment to meet your food storage needs.
Model #: DRF485300AP
How To Measure Your Refrigerator
Measuring your refrigerator is a straightforward process that can be done with a tape measure and a bit of preparation. Follow these four steps to ensure you get accurate dimensions:
1. Measure the Width
Open the refrigerator door(s) and measure the widest point from the left to the right. Make sure to include any protruding elements like door handles or side panels that might be part of the full width. If you're planning to replace the refrigerator, you'll need to ensure the new one will fit through any doorways or hallways on its way to the kitchen.
2. Measure the Height
For the height, place your tape measure on the floor at the base of the refrigerator and extend it to the top. If your refrigerator has hinges on top, include them in the height measurement. This ensures that if the new fridge has top hinges as well, there will be enough clearance.
3. Measure the Depth
To measure the depth, stick the tape measure at the back of the refrigerator and extend it to the front. Do not include the door handles in this measurement if you're looking for a counter-depth fit. However, if the space isn't a constraint, measure up to the handles to know the total depth.
4. Measure Interior Space
If you need to know the interior size, perhaps for assessing storage capacity, open the refrigerator and measure the inside width, depth, and height. You can also measure the door bin and shelf dimensions to understand how your items will fit.
Remember to measure twice to ensure accuracy. It's also a good idea to jot down these measurements and take them with you when shopping for a new refrigerator or to check them against product specifications if shopping online. Additionally, consider the space needed for ventilation, the door swing radius, and whether the leveling legs add to the height. With these careful measurements, you'll be well-prepared to select a new refrigerator that fits perfectly in your kitchen space.
FAQs
What is the standard size of a refrigerator?
The standard size for a refrigerator varies by type but typically a standard freestanding household refrigerator is about 70 inches in height, 36 inches in width, and 30 to 34 inches in depth. However, sizes can range significantly based on design and capacity.
What size refrigerator do I need?
The size of the refrigerator you need depends on your household size, shopping habits, and kitchen space. For a family of four, a fridge of 18 to 20 cubic feet is recommended.
What sizes do refrigerators come in?
Refrigerators come in a range of sizes from compact, under-the-counter models at around 5.5 cubic feet to large commercial units at 80 cubic feet or more. Widths can vary from about 23 to 36 inches, and heights from about 62 to 72 inches.
Where to find refrigerators near me?
If you’re looking for refrigerators near Bellevue, WA, look no further than Arnold’s Appliance. We have a huge selection of high-quality refrigerators in a variety of sizes. Stop by today and let one of our appliance experts help you find the perfect fit for your home.
Why Trust Arnold’s Appliance?
Arnold's Appliance started in the summer of 1956 when it opened its doors as Lakeshore Appliance in Redmond, Washington. John Arnold and his family have since grown the store from just a few brands to the large appliance store it is today and moved to Bellevue in 1999 in search of a larger building. Arnold’s Appliance now offers high-end innovative products from over 45 manufacturers.
In addition to extensive product knowledge, Arnold’s has been providing fine appliances to Northwest builders, remodelers, designers, architects, and developers for over 47 years. Arnold's supplies products and installation to many of the finest custom and spec home builders in the Pacific Northwest. Along with single-family housing, Arnold's has also supplied products for some of the largest multi-unit projects in the area. Arnold’s, now the third generation of the Arnold Family, is dedicated to bringing the best quality products, delivery services, and installation to customers for years to come.
Shop Refrigerators at Arnold’s Appliance
Stop by Arnold’s Appliance Bellevue, WA location to see what a difference buying locally with an experienced staff can make. Or shop refrigerators online! Our friendly experts are always happy to help you find the best refrigerator sizes — whether you call us at 425-454-7929, use our online chat feature, or visit us in person.
→ Learn more: Interior vs. Exterior Fridge Water Dispensers: Which is Better?