The Standard Depth of Refrigerators
- Refrigerators with 10 to 17.5 cubic feet of capacity can measure from 26 to 31 3/4 inches deep, with the handle included in the measurements. Appliances with 18 to 23 cubic feet of space can have depths of 31 3/4 to 33 5/8 inches, with the handle included. Top-freezer models that hold 24.6 feet of food are 33 5/8 inches deep.
- With double doors up top and a freezer drawer below, French-door designs rank among the largest-capacity refrigerators on the market. Smaller-capacity offerings stand 31 to 34 1/4 inches deep, with 17.6 to 20.6 cubic feet of space. Refrigerators with 22.7 to 24.9 cubic feet of capacity can be as shallow as 34 1/4 or as deep as 35 1/8 inches when handles are included. French-door appliances with 25 or more cubic feet of room range from 31 3/4 to 35 5/8 inches deep.
- You'll find the freezer on the left and fridge on the right in a side-by-side appliance. Those with 20 to 23 cubic feet of space range from 33 5/8 to 35 1/2 inches deep. Side-by-side refrigerators that hold 24 to 26 cubic feet of groceries can be as shallow as 33 9/16 inches or as deep as 36 inches.
- You get one refrigerator door and a bottom-mounted freezer with these designs. The majority of models offer 19.7 to 23.1 cubic feet of capacity, with depth measurements ranging from 33/78 to 35 1/8 inches.
- You can purchase refrigerators which are more shallow than standard, freestanding models. Manufacturers design counter-depth appliances to have a shallower footprint that keeps them from protruding far beyond counters. Built-in refrigerators sit almost flush with cabinetry. Expect to pay a significantly higher price to get this type of appliance. You may also have to accept a wider design or give up usable space when compared to standard models.