How to measure refrigerator dimensions

If you are planning to buy a new refrigerator then you may be thinking a lot about the brand and type of refrigerator. However, another thing worth considering is the space where your fridge will be placed and whether the fridge you are planning to buy will fit in that space.

To ensure that your refrigerator easily fits in your home, you will need to determine the depth, width, and height of the refrigerator. Once you have these fridge measurements, you can add a few inches of breathing space for ventilation and some extra space for the door to fully open and that should help you understand whether the refrigerator will fit. If you are wondering how to measure the fridge size, here are simple steps: 

What you will need to measure refrigerator dimensions

1. A measuring tape

2. Pencil and paper

3. Access to this guide

Step 1: Measure for refrigerator width

A standard refrigerator has a width ranging from 28 to 32 inches wide for top-freezer and bottom-freezer models. With wider side-by-side and French door fridges, this width can extend up to 36 inches.

To measure the width of the refrigerator, you should measure from the wall to anything that may be on either side of your refrigerator space. For example, you can measure from the wall to the counter or cabinet to cabinet.

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If your refrigerator is located next to a wall then the thumb rule to follow is that you should leave two and a half inches between the wall and the hinge side so the door can swing open easily.

Step 2: Measure for refrigerator height

If you have floor-to-floor open space then the height of the refrigerator should not be a concern. However, if you have cabinets above your refrigerator space then measure from the floor to the bottom of the cabinets.

The height of a standard refrigerator ranges from 66 to 70 inches tall while a French door or side-by-side model could be taller.

Step 3: Measure for refrigerator depth

When it comes to refrigerator sizes, measuring the depth is not that easy. The depth of a refrigerator can be classified into the following:

1. Depth including fridge doors

2. Depth excluding fridge doors

3. Depth with fridge closed (including handles)

4. Depth with fridge closed (excluding handles)

5. Depth with fridge door open at 90 degrees

6. Depth with fridge door and drawers open

For refrigerator depth, you need to measure all these variables. To determine the depth of the refrigerator, it is recommended to measure from the wall to the edge of your countertop. Whirlpool observes that most refrigerators are roughly 24 to 25 inches deep. Between counter-depth and standard-depth models, refrigerator depth ranges from 24 to 36 inches deep.

Step 4: Ventilation space

Now that you have measured the width, height, and depth of the refrigerator, you must add ½ inch on all sides to ensure proper ventilation. The extra ventilation space will allow the refrigerator to cool without overheating. Here’s how to adjust measurement for ventilation space:

1. Add half an inch of space on either side of the fridge

2. Add half an inch of space above the fridge

3. Add half an inch of space between the back of the fridge and the wall

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Leaving this extra room will not only lead to effective cooling but also ensure that your fridge does not consume more energy than necessary.

Step 5: Calculate refrigerator capacity in cubic feet

You can use the fridge dimensions to calculate the cubic foot dimensions of your refrigerator. Here’s how to calculate refrigerator size in cubic feet:

To determine refrigerator size in cubic feet, multiply the length x width x depth and divide the value by 1,728. One cubic foot equals 1,728 inches.

For example, a refrigerator measuring 21 inches wide x 60 inches tall x 25 inches deep will be 18.23 cu. ft.

Once you have the dimensions of the refrigerator and can confirm if it will fit in your space, you should also make sure that there is enough space in the hallway to get it easily to that space.