Updated on Nov. 02, 2024
Size matters when you're looking for a refrigerator for your bar, apartment or full-size kitchen. Here are standard sizes of most available models.
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Today, refrigerators come in sizes from sub-compact to humongous. The amount of electricity they draw varies, but the difference usually isn’t huge, especially if you stick to Energy Star-rated models. Physical size and storage capacity are more likely to be deciding factors for most people.
Dimensions, which you can measure yourself, are usually in inches, while storage capacity is in cubic feet. Both are important, but depending on your needs, one may trump the other.
Let’s look at each type of refrigerator, what standard sizes are available and what will work best for you.
This type is sometimes called a bar fridge. It’s made to fit under a counter, so it’s never taller than standard countertop height (around 36 inches). Many models aren’t even that tall.
A mini fridge offers just enough capacity to store beverages or provisions for a single person. Some models (not all) are counter-depth, and few come with tiny freezers. They sit flush with the edge of a kitchen countertop.
A single person living in an apartment can save space with a compact refrigerator. Unlike a mini fridge, a compact usually has a freezer, most often mounted on top of the unit.
Freezer capacity is minimal — just enough to store two or three packets of frozen vegetables. Because it’s designed for a small space, a compact fridge usually isn’t that wide, though it’s taller than a mini fridge.
As the name suggests, a wine fridge’s sole purpose is keeping wine cool, so its capacity is often measured in the number of bottles it can hold. Wine fridges come in three sizes, all just deep enough to hold bottles lying perpendicular to the door.
Top-freezer refrigerators are familiar to most people. At one time, they were the only choice available and are still the most common models on the market.
The freezer sits on top of the refrigeration unit with its own door. Manufacturers don’t always specify the capacity of the freezer, but whatever it is, it’s included in the total capacity of the unit.
This standard design works for apartments and homes with small families.
Single-door, bottom-freezer refrigerators are usually larger than top-freezer models. Widths are about the same as top-freezers. But since the freezer is in a drawer on the bottom of the unit, these can be taller.
This type of refrigerator is also typically deeper than a top-freezer model, another reason for its larger capacity. It typically has more freezer capacity, so it’s a good choice for anyone who keeps a large supply of frozen food.
The side-by-side refrigerator is one of two types that maximize storage space, so it’s typically really wide. This means it takes up a lot of space in the kitchen.
A pair of doors swing outward to reveal a refrigerator compartment, usually on the right side, and a freezer compartment on the left. The freezer is often narrower than the refrigerator, but in some models they’re the same size.
This is another good choice for people with large families, or who need extra freezer space.
This type isn’t quite as wide as a side-by-side, but usually offers a larger capacity. The refrigerator compartment has two swinging doors, with the freezer inside a drawer on the bottom of the unit. The lack of a partition between the refrigerator and the freezer and a little more depth account for the extra space.
Choose this large-capacity refrigerator if you have a spacious kitchen and a large family.
Instead of taking up kitchen floor space, a built-in refrigerator becomes part of the cabinetry. Some are counter depth, and others stick out slightly beyond the counters. This type usually comes with a top-mounted compressor. While that adds height to the appliance, it doesn’t contribute to capacity.
Built-in refrigerators can be single-door, side-by-side or French-door style, and they come in a wide assortment of sizes. They tend to be more expensive than freestanding models. But if you aren’t on a budget, you’ll appreciate the elegance and extra space.
