American Fridge Freezer Dimensions Guide

Before ordering, we’d recommend checking more than the three dimensions shown on the product listing. At a minimum, check:

• Appliance width
• Appliance height
• Appliance depth
• Width including handles, where relevant
• Depth with the doors closed
• Door open clearance
• Freezer drawer clearance
• Side clearance
• Rear clearance
• Top ventilation
• Plumbing connection position, if required
• Electrical connection position
• Delivery access

This is particularly important if you’re replacing an existing fridge freezer. A new appliance might have a similar overall size but a different hinge design, deeper doors, larger handles or different ventilation requirements.

90cm wide is a useful starting point for a traditional American style fridge freezer, although there is plenty of variation between brands and models. Slimmer models can be useful where kitchen space is limited, while larger multi door models can exceed 100cm.

If you’re fitting the appliance into a fixed space, measure the opening at several points:

• Top
• Middle
• Bottom
• Front
• Further back

But don’t forget anything that could reduce the usable width, such as:

• Cabinet panels
• Handles
• Skirting boards
• Radiators
• Pipes
• Adjacent appliances

If the measurements aren’t identical, we would always recommend working from the narrowest point. And if you’re designing a new kitchen, choose the fridge freezer before finalising the opening wherever possible. Designing around a generic “90cm American fridge freezer” can leave you with less flexibility than expected.

Depth is one of the easiest measurements to overlook. Most American fridge freezers are deeper than standard kitchen cabinets, so the appliance may project beyond the front of the worktop. That’s not necessarily a problem. In a larger kitchen it can look perfectly natural, but in a smaller kitchen those extra centimetres can affect:

• Walkways
• Island clearance
• Access to cupboards
• Oven access
• Movement around the room

This is why we recommend looking at the appliance’s depth in relation to the rest of your kitchen, rather than simply asking whether it will fit into the allocated space. If you want a more streamlined appearance, a counter depth or shallower model could be worth considering.

Height varies between models, so this measurement becomes particularly important if the appliance is going beneath overhead cabinets, shelving, a low ceiling or a fixed obstruction. Measure from the finished floor level to the lowest obstruction above.

If you’re having new flooring installed, remember that the finished floor will raise the appliance slightly. If the fridge freezer is going into a tight space, also check whether the manufacturer requires clearance above the appliance for ventilation.

Your fridge freezer needs enough space around it to operate correctly. There isn’t one clearance figure that applies to every appliance, so the manufacturer’s installation instructions should always take priority. Depending on the model, you may need to allow room for:

• Rear ventilation
• Side clearance
• Top clearance
• Air circulation
• Water connections
• Electrical connections

Try not to assume that because an appliance physically fits into a gap, the gap is suitable for installation. And don’t push the appliance further back simply to make it appear flush with your kitchen cabinets. The manufacturer’s ventilation requirements have to come first, otherwise you risk the appliance not working correctly or risking damage.

This is one of the most important checks when buying an American style fridge freezer. The appliance’s closed dimensions don’t tell you how much space you’ll need when you’re actually using it. A fridge freezer could be around 90cm wide but require considerably more space once the doors are open. We recommend checking:

• How far each door opens
• Whether handles clear nearby units
• Whether the doors can open fully beside a wall
• Whether shelves can be accessed
• Whether freezer drawers can be pulled out
• How much space is required in front of the appliance

This is particularly important if the appliance will sit next to a wall, tall cabinet or kitchen island.

Why door swing matters

Imagine buying a fridge freezer that fits perfectly between two units, only to discover that one door can’t open far enough to remove a shelf. The appliance technically fits, but it doesn’t function properly. That’s why it’s worth checking the manufacturer’s door opening and hinge information for the exact model you’re considering.

This is the second set of dimensions to think about, but is just as important as your actual kitchen space. A fridge freezer can fit perfectly into the kitchen and be difficult (or impossible)to get there. Before ordering, measure the complete route from the delivery vehicle to the final position. That includes:

1. Front gates or entrances
2. Front door
3. Porch
4. Hallways
5. Internal doors
6. Corners
7. Stairs
8. Landings
9. Final kitchen entrance

Measure the usable opening, rather than simply measuring the door frame. Don’t forget to take into consideration:

• Door thickness
• Door handles
• Hinges
• Skirting boards
• Radiators
• Bannisters
• Tight corners

And remember that manoeuvring an appliance around a corner can require considerably more room than getting it through a straight doorway.

This is where our Large Item Delivery service at Appliance City can help. If access is restricted, we can offer a Large Item Delivery service for an additional charge. It provides additional time for carefully manoeuvring the appliance and, where the appliance permits, removing the doors to help get it safely through restricted access.

Removing appliance doors takes additional time and care, which is why this is offered as a separate service. If you’re unsure whether your chosen American style fridge freezer will make it through your front door, talk to our experts before ordering. We can help you consider the access route and whether Large Item Delivery is appropriate for the appliance you’ve chosen.

> Delivery tip: If you have a narrow doorway, awkward hallway, tight corner or stairs, tell us before delivery is arranged. It’s much easier to plan for restricted access in advance than to discover a problem when a large appliance is already at the door. Without the Large Item Delivery during a tricky delivery, the appliance may be left with you in a safe space (usually at your front door or garage) as our drivers will need to move onto the next delivery.

Door removal is subject to the appliance being suitable and the manufacturer’s requirements.

Not necessarily. Some models have plumbed in water dispensers or ice makers, non-plumbed water tanks or no water or ice function at all.

If you’re choosing a plumbed model, you’ll need to check where the nearest suitable water supply is and how the connection will reach the appliance. The connection should remain accessible and shouldn’t be positioned somewhere that will become impossible to reach once the appliance is pushed back.

Plumbed or non-plumbed refrigeration?

A plumbed model provides a continuous water supply and can be particularly convenient if you use the water dispenser or ice maker regularly. A non plumbed model on the other hand can be easier to install and may make more sense if there isn’t a convenient water supply nearby.

Neither is automatically better. It depends on your kitchen and how you’ll use the appliance.

American fridge freezers are heavy appliances, so consider the floor before delivery. This is particularly important if you have:

• New flooring
• Timber
• Laminate
• Vinyl
• Delicate tiles

The delivery route should be clear and appropriate protection should be used while moving the appliance into position. If you’ve recently had new flooring installed, let the delivery team know before they arrive. Once installed, your new fridge freezer needs a suitable, level surface.

When buying an American fridge freezer, there are two sets of dimensions to get right. First, there’s the space where the appliance will live: width, height, depth, ventilation and door clearance. Then there’s the journey it needs to take to get there: front doors, hallways, corners, stairs and the final entrance into the kitchen.

Once those practical checks are done, you can start thinking about the features you’ll actually use, whether that’s a plumbed water dispenser, automatic ice maker, humidity controlled drawers or a quieter appliance for an open-plan kitchen.

And if access is tight, please feel free to speak to us before ordering. Our Large Item Delivery service can provide additional time and, where appropriate, door removal to help manoeuvre a large appliance through restricted access.

Don’t forget: Measure the journey, not just the gap.