Your refrigerator might be the most essential kitchen appliance—ensuring your food is properly chilled and preserved keeps your family happy and healthy. If you are in the market for a new fridge, before considering the style and type to purchase, make sure you get the right size by using the refrigerator size charts for both capacity and dimensions below.
What Refrigerator Capacity Do You Need?
The total refrigerator capacity size you need is 4 to 6 cubic feet per person. For a family of 2, you will need between 8 and 12 cubic feet of refrigerator space. For a family of 4, you will need between 16 and 24 cubic feet of refrigerator space. For a family of 6, you will need over 30 cubic feet of fridge capacity.
Use the table below to determine the minimum and maximum capacity your refrigerator needs based on your family size.
Refrigerator Capacity Required Per Person
| Family Size (People Occupancy) | Minimum Refrigerator Capacity (Cubic Feet) | Maximum Refrigerator Capacity(Cubic Feet) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 6 |
| 2 | 8 | 12 |
| 3 | 12 | 18 |
| 4 | 16 | 24 |
| 5 | 20 | 30 |
| 6+ | 24 | 36+ |
Standard Refrigerator Capacities by Type of Refrigerator
After you determine the right refrigerator capacity for your household, you can think about which type of refrigerator will work best for you, your kitchen layout, and your kitchen renovation budget. Each of the four standard types of refrigerators has a different range of available capacities. Below are the types of refrigerators you should consider depending on your household size.
Use the refrigerator size chart below to determine the best type of fridge for the refrigerator capacity size you need.
Refrigerator Size Chart – Capacity
| Type of Refrigerator | Minimum Refrigerator Capacity(Cubic Feet) | Maximum Refrigerator Capacity(Cubic Feet) |
| Side-by-Side | 20.0 | 29.0 |
| French Door | 18.0 | 32.0 |
| Bottom Freezer | 19.0 | 25.0 |
| Top Freezer | 14.5 | 24.0 |
Side-by-Side Refrigerator Capacity
Side-by-side refrigerators have two doors that open from the middle—one side is the fridge and one side, the smaller one, is the freezer. This type of refrigerator has plenty of vertical storage for both fresh and frozen items. You can expect side-by-side refrigerators to have a capacity between 20.0 and 29.0 cubic feet. This capacity is ideal for households of 4 to 6+ people.
French Door Refrigerator Capacity
French door refrigerators also have two doors that open from the middle, but, unlike side-by-side refrigerators, there is a freezer drawer at the bottom. Homeowners may prefer this style for the chest-like freezer drawer that will fit larger frozen items. French door refrigerators have between 18.0 and 32.0 cubic feet of capacity, perfect for a family of 4 to 6+ people.
Bottom Freezer Refrigerator Capacity
Bottom freezer refrigerators have, you guessed it, a freezer at the bottom. There is one door at the top for the fridge section and one door or drawer at the bottom for the freezer. Bottom freezer refrigerators are small than French door or side-by-side fridges, but still offer up a decent amount of capacity at between 19.0 and 25.0 cubic feet, ideal for a household of 4 to 6 people.
Top Freezer Refrigerator Capacity
Top freezer refrigerators are the opposite of bottom freezer with the freezer located at the top. This was the classic style of refrigerators for a long time before modern innovation. Top freezer refrigerators are usually smaller than bottom freezer refrigerators, making them the perfect choice for smaller spaces and smaller families. The capacity ranges between 14.5 and 24.0 cubic feet, perfect for about 2 to 4 people.
Besides refrigerator capacity, you should also consider the dimensions of the fridge you are interested in. You want to make sure your new appliance will fit properly in the space you have in your kitchen.
Standard Refrigerator Dimensions by Type of Refrigerator
While refrigerator capacity is highly important to the function of your kitchen, refrigerator dimensions are a close runner-up, with kitchen appliance finishes to follow. If you are replacing an existing refrigerator, you will want to make sure your new refrigerator fits in the desired spot. If you are replacing your cabinets as well as your fridge, you have more flexibility on the dimensions and your kitchen refrigerator placement.
Keep in the mind the difference between standard depth versus counter depth refrigerators. Your countertops are likely 25 inches deep. A standard refrigerator at 30 to 34 inches deep will provide more capacity, but stick out in front of your countertops and could block the flow in smaller kitchens. A counter depth refrigerator is only 23 to 27 inches deep, therefore will not stick out past your countertops.
The refrigerator size chart below outlines the range of standard dimensions for different types of refrigerators.
Refrigerator Size Chart – Dimensions
| Type of Refrigerator | Refrigerator Width (Inches) | Refrigerator Height (Inches) | Refrigerator Depth (Inches) |
| Side-by-Side | 32-3/4 to 39-3/4 | 65-7/8 to 71-1/4 | 28-3/4 to 30-1/4 |
| French Door | 29-1/2 to 36 | 67 to 70-1/8 | 29-3/8 to 34-5/8 |
| Bottom Freezer | 29-1/2 to 32-3/4 | 67 to 70 | ~33-3/8 |
| Top Freezer | 28-3/4 to 32-3/4 | 61-3/4 to 66-1/4 | ~34-1/4 |
Side-by-Side Refrigerator Dimensions
Side-by-side refrigerators with two doors that open from the middle are typically 32-3/4 to 39-3/4 inches wide, 65-7/8 to 71-1/4 inches tall, and 28-3/4 to 30-1/4 inches deep. There are much larger models of side-by-side refrigerators available on the market, typically in high-end luxury brands.
French Door Refrigerator Dimensions
French door refrigerators with two doors that open from the middle and a freezer drawer at the bottom are typically 29-1/2 to 36 inches wide, 67 to 70-1/8 inches tall, and 29-3/8 to 34-5/8 inches deep.
Bottom Freezer Refrigerator Dimensions
Bottom freezer refrigerators with a freezer at the bottom and the fridge on top are typically 29-1/2 to 32-3/4 inches wide, 67 to 70 inches tall, and around 33-3/8 inches deep.
Top Freezer Refrigerator Dimensions
Top freezer refrigerators with the freezer located at the top are the smallest type of refrigerator at 28-3/4 to 32-3/4 inches wide, 61-3/4 to 66-1/4 inches tall, and around 34-1/4 inches deep. For small apartments and kitchenettes, there are even small top freezer refrigerator models available.
Counter-Depth vs. Standard-Depth Refrigerators
Many refrigerator models are available in a counter-depth version. Counter-depth refrigerators are shallower, usually from 24 to 30 inches deep, so they do not stick out past your cabinets. Counter-depth refrigerators are a great option for smaller kitchens where space is limited. Standard-depth refrigerators offer more capacity, ranging from 31 to 36 inches in depth.
