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Calculators / Appliance fit

Will the freezer or wine fridge fit?

Pick the type, measure the spot, and put in the unit's size from the spec sheet. You'll see if it fits and if it has room to breathe.

These are example numbers. Put in yours.

What you are fitting

Type

The spot

in

Side to side at the narrowest point.

in

Floor to the counter, shelf or ceiling above it.

in

Front edge to the back wall.

The unit

in

From the spec sheet, the case without handles.

in
in

Case depth, not counting the door handle.

Fits, with room to breathe

It fits

It goes in with the gaps the maker asks for. That's ¼ in each side, ½ in on top and 1¼ in behind.

Each side
¼ inneeds ⅛ in
Top
½ inneeds ⅛ in
Behind
1¼ inneeds 0 in
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width: 24 in − 23½ in = ½ in, ¼ in each side

height: 34½ in − 34 in = ½ in

depth: 24 in − 22¾ in = 1¼ in

built-in front-vent fridge wants ⅛ in each side, ⅛ in on top, 0 in behind

Toe kick

A front-vent unit breathes through the grille at the bottom. Don't block it with a kick plate or a rug.

Power

Plug it straight into the wall. Makers say no extension cords.

How we work it out

First we check the unit fits the opening at all. Then we check the gaps the maker asks for, so it can get rid of its heat.

gap each side = (opening width − unit width) ÷ 2

gap on top = opening height − unit height

gap behind = opening depth − unit depth

Built-in wine and beverage fridges vent out the front, so they can go nearly flush, about ⅛ in. A freestanding wine cooler wants about ¾ in at the sides, 4 in on top and 2 in behind. Chest and upright freezers want about 3 in all around. Short gaps won't stop it going in, but it runs hot and wears out.

Where the numbers come from

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