What Is the Difference in Counter Depth Between a Regular & a Side-By-Side Refrigerator?

Full-depth Dimensions

• Conventional full-depth refrigerators have typical depths between 30 and 32 inches. They are normally between 35 and 42 inches wide and 67 to 72 inches tall. This style is most prevalent in large kitchens that are furnished with detached, freestanding cabinets rather than built-in types and that have large areas of floor space between opposing walls.

Counter-depth Proportions

• Counter-depth refrigerators are built to smoothly fit into kitchens with built-in cabinets. Their depths range between 25 and 30 inches. The height of this style is typically 66 to 70 inches, and widths normally vary between 32 and 36 inches. The overall smaller dimensions create a tailored, uniform look, as the refrigerator is comparable to the width and height of the cabinets and its depth makes it fit flush with the fronts of the cabinets.

Available Styles

• Both full-depth and counter-depth refrigerators are available in side-by-side models, as well as top freezer, bottom freezer and French door types, which have dual side-by-side refrigerator doors and a pull-out freezer drawer on the bottom.

Counter-depth Pros and Cons

• In addition to giving the kitchen a finished appearance, counter-depth refrigerators take up less floor space, and their open doors are less obstructive than full-depth models. However, their storage capacity is less than full-depth styles. The cubic-foot storage capacity for a counter-depth refrigerator ranges between 19 and 30 cubic feet, compared to the 25 to 32 cubic foot capacity of full-depth models. Two people usually need between 16 and 20 cubic feet of refrigerator space, and each additional person typically needs another cubic foot, so make sure you choose a refrigerator big enough to meet your family’s needs. Counter-depth refrigerators are typically more expensive than full-depth models.

Side-by-side Pros and Cons

• This refrigerator style usually has extras such as door-accessible water and ice dispensers and food storage bins with adjustable temperature settings. The narrow doors are good for kitchens with minimal floor space in between the opposing walls. Unlike more conventional top freezer and bottom freezer models, the shelves in some side-by-sides are too narrow to hold wide items such as pizza boxes, whole turkeys or sheet cakes.