Refrigerator Sizes: Dimensions Chart by Type, Width and Capacity

Refrigerator sizes chart by type

Ranges cover current models from the main US brands. Height is to the top of the door hinges; the cabinet itself is usually about 1 in lower. Depth includes the doors but not the handles unless noted.

Built-in 36 × 84 inFrench door 36 × 70 inTop-freezer 30 × 66 inUnder-counter 24 × 34 in

Full-size models weigh about 200 to 350 lb (90 to 160 kg) empty. Capacity figures on US spec sheets are rated volume under the Department of Energy test procedure, measured inside the empty cabinet, so the space you can actually fill with food is somewhat smaller once shelves and bins are in.

Refrigerator widths and what each one holds

Width is what you are usually stuck with, because it is set by the gap between cabinets. US refrigerators come in a handful of standard widths, and each width has a typical capacity range.

Measure the opening, then subtract about 1/2 in for side clearance. A 36 in opening takes a fridge listed as 35.75 or 36 in wide; a 33 in opening does not take a 33.75 in model. Cabinet widths that frame the opening are in the kitchen cabinet dimensions guide.

Standard depth vs counter-depth vs built-in

Depth is the most confusing number on a spec sheet because brands quote it three ways: the cabinet (case) alone, the cabinet plus doors, and the total with handles. Kitchen base cabinets are 24 in deep and countertops 25 to 25.5 in, so that is the line a refrigerator is compared against.

Counter-depth is a marketing term, not a standard. It means the case is about as deep as the counter, so only the doors and handles stand proud, but the trade-off is capacity. A 36 in counter-depth French door holds about 20 to 23 cu ft against 25 to 28 cu ft for a standard-depth model of the same width, and the largest counter-depth designs make up some of the difference by being slightly deeper or taller.

Refrigerator dimensions by capacity

If you know the capacity you want, this shows roughly what size box it comes in. Exact sizes vary by brand by an inch or two in each direction.

Mini fridge sizes

Compact refrigerators fall into three groups, with the two-door type being the one with a real separate freezer.

• Cube (1.6 to 1.8 cu ft, 45 to 51 L): about 17 to 19 in wide, 19 to 20 in tall and 18 to 20 in deep (43 to 48 × 48 to 51 × 46 to 51 cm). Fits under a desk. A "50 L fridge" is this size.
• Mid-size single door (2.5 to 3.3 cu ft): about 18 to 20 in wide and 25 to 33 in tall, with a small freezer compartment inside.
• Two-door with top freezer (3.1 to 4.5 cu ft, 88 to 127 L): about 18.5 to 21 in wide, 32 to 34 in tall and 19 to 22 in deep.
• Under-counter built-in (5 to 5.5 cu ft): 24 in wide, 34 in tall and about 24 in deep, with a front vent so it can be enclosed by cabinets. Freestanding mini fridges vent heat from the back and sides and need air around them.

Refrigerator sizes in cm (Europe and UK)

European fridges are narrower and taller than American ones, and capacity is given in liters. The common formats:

Integrated fridges are sold by the height of the cabinet niche they fit: 88, 122, 140, 158 and 178 cm are the standard steps (34.6, 48, 55.1, 62.2 and 70.1 in). To convert European capacity to US terms, divide liters by 28.3: a 358 L fridge-freezer is 12.6 cu ft, and a 650 L American-style model is 23 cu ft.

Clearances, door swing and the space above

A refrigerator gives off heat from coils at the back or underneath, so it needs a little air around it, and its doors need room to open fully.

• Top: about 1 in (2.5 cm). Measure to the top of the hinge covers, which sit above the cabinet.
• Back: 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5 cm), plus room for the water line on models with an ice maker. The line and its loop often need the full 2 in.
• Sides: 1/8 to 1 in, depending on the model.
• Hinge side against a wall: the door must swing past 90 degrees to let the crisper drawers and door bins slide out. Many models need 2 to 4 in between the hinge and the wall; some built-in style models need none.
• In front: a single door on a 30 to 33 in top-freezer swings out about as far as it is wide. French doors on a 36 in fridge are each about 18 in wide, which is why they suit narrow kitchens. NKBA also recommends 15 in of counter on the handle side to set things down.

What size refrigerator do you need

A common planning range from appliance makers and retailers is 4 to 6 cu ft of fresh-food and freezer space per adult, with more if you cook from scratch, shop in bulk or keep drinks cold for a crowd. In practice, full-size fridges start at about 14 cu ft, so the choice usually looks like this:

Type changes how usable the space is. Side-by-side fridges have tall, narrow compartments that will not take a sheet cake or a large platter. French doors give the full width to fresh food, and top-freezer models offer the most capacity per inch of width.

How to measure for a new refrigerator

1. Width: measure the opening at the top, middle and bottom and use the smallest figure. Countertop edges and trim often narrow it by 1/4 in.
2. Height: measure from the floor to the underside of the cabinet above, at the front and back. Floors slope and the back can be lower.
3. Depth: measure from the wall to the front edge of the countertop. Anything past that line is how far the new fridge will stick out.
4. Door swing: check that the doors can open past 90 degrees next to walls and do not hit an island, wall oven or dishwasher across the aisle.
5. Delivery path: compare each doorway's clear width with the fridge depth without doors and handles (about 25 to 29 in on most French-door models). Many 36 in fridges only pass through a 30 in door with the doors taken off. Standard door widths are in the door size guide.

For the counter heights, aisle widths and appliance openings around the fridge, see the kitchen dimensions guide; the space it shares with the dishwasher and microwave is covered in their own guides, and countertop depths in the countertop size guide.

Frequently asked questions