You might dream of installing an extra-wide French door refrigerator or a counter-depth side-by-side fridge in your home, but are your aspirations bigger than the actual space available in your kitchen? When it comes to refrigerators, everyone can appreciate the value of capacity, but it’s important to remember: The more storage a refrigerator provides, the more room your kitchen will need.
Whether you’re currently browsing for a new refrigerator or the one you have now is causing you to seriously reconsider, distinguishing how much room your kitchen has to work with is an important first step of the journey. Measurements can be daunting, but with our help, you’ll learn how to easily measure your kitchen space, plus a handy four-tier guide to help determine which refrigerator styles work best with your kitchen.
Tip 1. Make the Right Measurements
Begin by measuring the height, width, and depth of the space where your existing fridge exists. We recommend performing this in three sections—the top, the middle, and the bottom—in order to account for inconsistencies between cabinets and countertops.
Next, measure the space your new refrigerator will go, also by height, width, and depth. As before, we recommend measuring these numbers three times, too.
Additional considerations include:
- How much clearance is needed between an open refrigerator door and nearby cabinetry?
- How much room for ventilation does the manufacturer recommend?
- If purchasing a refrigerator with a water dispenser, is your kitchen equipped with a working water line?
- Will my new refrigerator fit through my home’s entryways?
- For information on built-in or under-the-counter refrigeration dimensions, set up a consultation with an expert via phone, in-store or chat
Our experts at Grand Appliance and TV have also complied a refrigerator buying guide, where you can find even more information about refrigeration.
Tip 2. Know Your Refrigerator Sizes
There is no such thing as one-size-fits-all when it comes to refrigeration; a certain brand and model may have a different measurement compared to the same fridge type from another brand.
Instead, it’s easier to categorize refrigerators based on how many cubic feet each one has, or its capacity. This can be sorted into four tiers: apartment refrigerators; standard-capacity refrigerators; large-capacity refrigerators; and extra-large capacity refrigerators. Typically, a level-up in capacity will almost always mean a level-up in overall dimension (height, width, depth).
Note: These are not to be confused with tier-two and tier-three refrigerators, which are categorized based on the level of energy efficiency.
First Tier
The fridges in the first size tier start at nine cubic feet and go up to 12 cubic feet. You can expect mostly top-freezer and bottom-freezer fridges at this level of refrigerator capacity, and while some brands and models may be counter-depth, most refrigerators of this capacity are standard-depth. With a small footprint, these compact, full-size refrigerators are great for small-home living, but their small size also limits the amount of hardware each can carry—and less hardware means less features.
Apartment refrigerators in our catalog are between:
- 23 and 24 inches wide
- 59 and 62 inches tall
- 25 and 29 inches deep
Second Tier
Refrigerators in the second tier—ranging between 15 and 20 cubic feet–are commonly known as standard-capacity refrigerators, and are available mainly in top-freezer and bottom-freezer configurations, with limited availability in other styles, such as French door refrigerators. While this category of fridges offers more fit options than the immediate size down, counter-depth selections are still limited.
Standard-capacity refrigerators in our catalog are between:
- 27 and 30 inches wide
- 65 and 68 inches tall
- 29 and 35 inches deep
Third Tier
At approximately 18 to 24 cubic feet, refrigerators in the third-tier can be officially deemed as large-capacity. Whereas refrigerators in the first tier are more economical, refrigerators in this category are the most practical, offering a “goldilocks” level of storage and overall space that is ideal for the average-size household. Not surprisingly, side-by-side refrigerators—which offer nearly equal amounts of refrigerator and freezer space—excel in this category, but this tier also offers a range of French door refrigerators for those who prefer a more open layout and wider refrigerator shelves.
Large-capacity refrigerators in our catalog are between:
- 33 inches wide
- 69 and 71 inches tall
- 31 and 35 inches deep
Fourth Tier
The bigger the size, the greater the opportunity for innovation, and refrigerators in this tier do just that with the most refrigerator and freezer capacity in a range between 20 and 30 cubic feet.
Some of these refrigerators come with double pull-out storage drawers or even door-in-door options, while their interiors offer more storage features, often with individual temperature and climate capabilities. Available in French door and side-by-side styles, fans of sleek installation will also enjoy the large selection of counter-depth refrigerators this category offers.
With the most options in our catalog, extra-large capacity refrigerators offer the luxury of selection. Keep in mind, though: Careful measurements should be considered in order to ensure your kitchen can properly accommodate a refrigerator of this size.
Extra-large capacity refrigerators in our catalog are between:
- 36 inches wide
- 69 and 72 inches tall
- 28 and 37 inches deep
There’s a Grand Location Near You
And just like that, you’re one step closer to becoming a refrigerator guru. With this how-to blog under your belt, you can confidently explore all the refrigerator styles Grand Appliance and TV carries, from top-freezer and bottom-freezer refrigerators, to French door refrigerator, side-by-side refrigerator, and more! Experience the Grand difference today—shop online or in-store today!