Guides / Refrigerators
Standard refrigerator size
From the makers' spec sheets for the 40 fridges we check.
Short answer
There's no one standard size. Most full-size fridges sold now are about 36 in wide and 69¾ to 72 in tall. Those run 26⅞ to 35⅝ in deep without handles, depending on whether they're counter-depth. Older kitchens often have a 30 or 33 in opening, and those take a narrower fridge.
Sizes by width
| Fridge width | Height | Depth, no handles | Inside | Opening |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| About 28 to 30 in 5 models | 65⅞ to 69⅞ in | 30½ to 34⅛ in | 17.5 to 20.8 cu ft | 30 in |
| About 31 to 33 in 8 models | 66¼ to 71¼ in | 26¼ to 33⅜ in | 16.8 to 25.5 cu ft | 33 in |
| About 35 to 36 in 27 models | 69¾ to 72 in | 26⅞ to 35⅝ in | 20 to 30.1 cu ft | 36 in |
Height is to the top of the door hinges. Opening is the cabinet opening that width is sold for.
The width is what matters
Height and depth have some give. Width doesn't. Your cabinets set it, and the maker wants a gap on each side, usually ⅜ in. So a fridge listed at 36 in won't go in a 36 in opening. Look for one about ¾ in narrower than your opening.
Measure the opening at the top, middle and bottom, and use the smallest. Floors and cabinets are rarely square. Then check the height under the cabinet above and the depth to the front of the counter.
Depth comes in two kinds
Full-depth fridges hold the most and stick out 6 in or more past the counter. Counter-depth ones sit a lot closer to flush and hold less. Counter-depth dimensions has the numbers side by side.
Before you buy
Measure the narrowest door on the way in, too. A fridge that fits the opening can still get stuck in the hall. Will it fit through a 30 in door?