A refrigerator is not an everyday purchase. It’s something a household does when a kitchen renovation happens, a move happens, or the old one fails.

Buying a new fridge isn’t your average Thursday night, with so many models, options, and sizes to choose from. There is a lot to consider when you’re in the market for a new fridge such as the dimensions of the hole where the refrigerator is going to be placed and the size of your family.

Another BIG consideration is if your new fridge should be counter-depth or not? To help decide if counter-depth is right for you, I’ve pulled together a list of pros and cons to help determine if size really does matter when it comes to your refrigerator.

But first though, let’s make sure we’re all speaking the same language.

What is a counter-depth refrigerator?

The standard depth of most countertops is 25 inches deep.

There are two kinds of counter-depth fridges one is the “not built-in” counter-depth fridge which measures around 28 inches deep. This means they’ll stick out just a bit past the counter, but that’s much less than your average fridge, which is 31 inches deep.

If it is a built-in counter-depth fridge that you are looking for, they can add huge amounts to your budget.

Source: Liz Schupanitz Designs on Houzz

Now that we know what a counter-depth fridge is, let’s review the pros and cons of investing in one.

PROS

Counter-depth refrigerators can surely make a statement in a kitchen. After all, who wouldn’t love to have the restaurant kitchen look at home? On the plus side, counter-depth refrigerators:

• Allow extra clearance for traffic in the kitchen, especially if you have an island.

• Give you a better view of everything you have in your fridge since you barely have to move food out of sight to see what’s hiding behind.

• Provide more door bin storage which allows a better organization of your fridge.

• Are more streamlined and décor friendly (especially if you’re not willing to make the financial jump to built-in)

• Are great for condos, galley kitchens, and homes requiring less food storage space

• Are offered in a variety of styles and options which continue to increase: French doors, bottom freezer, built-in coffee makers even!

CONS

Although I love counter-depth refrigerators, I have to be truthful about their downfall. Unfortunately, counter-depth refrigerators:

• Won’t fit into your existing fridge space unless you sacrifice on capacity or are planning a kitchen renovation.

• Have smaller food storage & freezer space (not ideal if you bulk shop or have a large family unless you buy a larger version of the fridge). Crispers are shorter which makes a difference if you have to store long items such as celery, storage containers, and trays.

• Have a smaller capacity which makes it less energy efficient.

• Are usually higher in price (for less space)

Source: Pinney Designs on Houzz

In order to determine which fridge will meet your needs, you must first measure, measure, and measure again. You’ll need to factor in how much room the door(s) need for clearance, how much space (height and depth) you’ve got to work with, and how much ‘working space’ you need around it for traffic flow and effective use of the kitchen workspace.

Buying a fridge can be a “chilling” affair. Visit our website or your local BrandSource store, we can help you determine which size will meet your families’ needs and budget.

Isabelle, Your Appliance Expert