What Size Refrigerator Should I Buy?

Not to worry, unlike Goldie Locks who had to go through multiple bed sizes to find one that was just right, we’ve put together this simple guide to help you figure out which refrigerator size is the best fit for your kitchen and family on the first try.

Finding a refrigerator that fits all of your needs can seem a bit daunting, luckily, we carry a wide variety of sizes to ensure you get exactly what you are looking for. Once you’ve found your desired size with the help of our guide, you can begin to consider what type of features, designs, and refrigerator styles will check all of your other boxes.

For even more guidance on how to choose the right appliances for your kitchen, head over to our blog “How To Choose The Right Kitchen Appliances For Your Home”.

Refrigerator Styles

Here is a quick rundown of the different refrigerator styles available to help you decide which is the right fit for you. Head on over to our appliances page to start browsing these different styles and find the perfect match for you!

• French Door Refrigerators: A classic choice, this style offers double doors split in the middle, normally with a freezer drawer below.

• Built-in refrigerators:This style is designed to be installed and merged with your cabinetry to give a seamless, luxurious built-in look.

• Side-by-Side Refrigerators: These have two separate tall and narrow compartments, one serving as the freezer and the other as the fridge.

• Bottom Freezer Refrigerators:As the name suggests, they come with a freezer at the bottom of the unit and tend to provide more storage space than top-mount freezers.

• Top-Mount Freezers: This style provides a small freezer compartment on the upper part of the unit and a larger fresh food compartment on the lower half.

Common Refrigerator Sizes

Refrigerator sizes are typically categorized by cubic feet of storage capacity. Here are some common sizes and their suitability for various households:

• Compact or Mini Refrigerators (less than 10 cubic feet):Ideal for small apartments, dorm rooms, or as secondary fridges.

• Mid-Size Refrigerators (10 to 18 cubic feet): Suitable for small to medium-sized families.

• Full-Size Refrigerators (18 to 32 cubic feet): Ideal for larger families or those who frequently entertain guests.

What Size Fridge Should I Buy?

Taking into account the size of your family is a good starting point for determining the optimal size (and storage capacity) for your new refrigerator. However, these tend to be lifelong purchases, so consider thinking about what the size of your family will be like in the future.

Are you planning on having more children? Will you be frequently hosting and having people over? Depending on your response to these questions, you may want to consider opting for a refrigerator that provides additional storage.

Kitchen Space

Next, let’s begin calculating how much space you have in your kitchen for your shiny new appliance. Most kitchens have a typical refrigerator cavity/space of 90cm wide x 180cm high x 60cm deep (give or take) to accommodate a standard refrigerator size.

Start by measuring the dimensions of the area where your appliance will be placed. Remember to leave around 25 millimeters of clearance space around the top, back, and sides of the fridge. This will allow for proper ventilation and ensure you have enough room to comfortably swing open and close the refrigerator doors.

Lifestyle And Family Size

The type of lifestyle you live and the size of your family both have a significant impact on the type and refrigerator size you will need. This is because fridge capacity varies based on your personal lifestyle, for instance, if you live alone you might not need as much storage space compared to someone who has a family of four.

If you enjoy planning your meals ahead of time or storing food for future use then you may consider going for more storage space than someone who does not cook as often. Observe your eating, cooking, and hosting patterns to decide if your lifestyle is better suited for a fridge with a larger or smaller storage capacity.

Features And Design

After you’ve figured out what size refrigerator your kitchen measurements can comfortably accommodate and the eating/food storage habits of your particular lifestyle, it’s time to start picking out your desired features.

Maybe you’d like a smart fridge with a Wi-Fi connection feature, or perhaps you highly value stainless steel units that come with a high energy efficiency rating. Keeping in mind what matters the most to you, make sure to create a list with all of your desired features to help you narrow down your final options.

We find it helpful to list the features in order from most important to least important in order to help you prioritize your key wants and needs. This can help you decide between two similar refrigerator styles by taking into account the most wanted or sought-after features on your list.

Refrigerator Recommendations Based on Family Size

Refrigerator Of Choice For One - Two People

The Whirlpool 24-inch Wide Small Space Top-Freezer Refrigerator makes the most out of every inch of space with the adjustable infinity shelf, drink loft overhead storage, and flexible sliding bins that keep groceries organized and easy to reach.

Refrigerators with top-freezer or bottom-freezer designs like this recommended Whirlpool model offer a large fridge compartment with a smaller freezer compartment. They are a great affordable option that is best suited for small families and households consisting of one or two people.

Features:

• Infinity Slide Shelf

• EZ Connect Ice Maker Kit

• Gallon Door Bin

• Electronic Temperature Controls

Refrigerator Of Choice For Three - Four People

For a family made up of three to four people, we suggest looking at French-door and side-by-side refrigerator styles. Because these models start at mid-sized measurements, they will be able to offer the correct amount of storage space your family will need.

The LG 28 cu.ft. Smart wi-fi Enabled French Door Refrigerator is our suggested unit for this size. Offering various luxury-tier amenities, such as WiFi capabilities to monitor your fridge from your phone, this refrigerator will exceed your expectations.

Features:

• Ice and Water Dispenser

• Temperature-Controlled Drawer

• Ample 28 Cubic Feet of Space

• LG's PrintProof Fingerprint and Smudge Resistant Finish

• WiFi Connectivity

Refrigerator Of Choice For Five - Or More People

French-door refrigerators and side-by-side refrigerators have the largest storage space out of any standalone refrigerator. This is why we suggest the sleek 25.8 Cu. Ft. KitchenAid Multi-Door Freestanding Refrigerator, which provides an abundance of food storage for large families.

Having a chic and contemporary design, this fridge seamlessly uplifts any kitchen and features a stylish platinum interior. Offering an exterior ice and water dispenser, adjustable spill-resistant shelves, and a Preserva Food Care System, this unit is jampacked with all the necessary features and more!

Features:

• Preserva Food Care System

• 5 Door Configuration

• Exterior water and Ice Dispenser

• In-Door Ice System

• Adjustable Spill-Resistant Shelves