At a Glance:
The Basics of a French Door Refrigerator
The Basics of a Side by Side Refrigerator
Final Recap: Side by Side vs French Door
You’re not alone if you’ve ever wondered whether using a blueprint to organize your refrigerator would make life easier. Between bulky boxes and tall canisters, it takes a certain eye to know how to get everything in its right place, all while following the FIFO method and avoiding family members asking where such and such is. That’s why you can never underestimate the importance of understanding how different fridge layouts work, and there’s no bigger discussion than the side by side vs French door debate.
At Albert Lee, we get questions about these two refrigerator styles all the time, so we’ve decided to give our buyers our opinion once and for all. Will style trump symmetry, or does simplicity rule over design? Follow along for the answer, along with a look at some of the best models in each category reviewed by our appliance experts.
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In-Stock NowThe Basics of a French Door Refrigerator
Between Pinterest and Instagram, homeowners are in touch with the latest interior design trends more than ever before. The kitchen remains the most common renovation project, and interior decorators continue to grace newly remodeled kitchens with what they consider the most popular fridge style, the French door refrigerator. While the French door concept originated in the ‘90s, manufacturers love to use the design as their muse, rolling out new configurations and layouts that improve organization, the user experience, or the overall look of these refrigerators.
At their most basic, French door refrigerators have two compartments divided into three doors: two upper doors that open like butterfly wings and a bottom freezer drawer that rolls out. However, high-end models now feature up to five compartments, often including a middle flexible drawer that can switch between frozen and fresh food settings.
How Big Are French Door Refrigerators?
Refrigerator size is broken up into two categories: the actual dimensions and storage capacity.
One thing’s for sure — French door refrigeration is family-style. In other words, these aren’t the best options for smaller kitchens, with average widths around 33” and 36”, although compact versions 30” and narrower are also available. Luckily, counter depth French-style refrigerators provide flush installations that save on equity but keep in mind that these models are typically taller to account for the capacity lost from their shallower interiors.
Overall, French door refrigerators provide anywhere between 15 and 28 cubic feet of capacity.
The Benefits of a French Door Refrigerator
While consumers may have gravitated toward the French door design based purely on aesthetics, users quickly became fond of the perks French door fridges offer. For instance:
✅ Items Are Presented Front and Center
Rather than having the freezer above, French door refrigerators place the frozen compartment below. By doing so, fresh items that are used more regularly are elevated to eye level, making it easier to organize and find ingredients used most often.
✅ You Can Access Foods Via a Single Door
Whether users do so or not, French door fridges offer the option to grab items by opening a single door. Why does that matter? Reducing exposure to ambient air means more cold air stays within the fridge, keeping items safely preserved while preventing a refrigerator from having to work harder to maintain internal temperatures.
✅ The Doors Have Shorter Clearances
Top freezer and bottom mount refrigerators can have depths of 50 inches or more when fully opened. On the other hand, French door refrigerators clock in at around 45 inches with their doors fully extended. If you have a kitchen island or simply a compact kitchen, that can be the difference between a refrigerator with limited use and one that can be used regardless of its surroundings. Additionally, counter depth French door refrigerators save even more door clearance.
✅ The Pantry-Style Shelves Fit Larger Items
It’s not uncommon to find deli pantry drawers inside a French door refrigerator. In fact, all the shelves inside these fridges are wide and can accommodate bulky items like sheet cakes, casserole platters, punnets of berries, and more.
There you have it — a crash course on French door refrigeration. Now comes the real test as we reveal how our favorite picks measure up.
Recommended LG French Door Refrigerator: LG 26.2 Cu. Ft. PrintProof™ Stainless Steel French Door Refrigerator
Don’t let the simple design of this LG refrigerator fool you. With a 92 percent buyer recommendation, it’s one of the hottest models in our catalog. The biggest selling feature is how big this refrigerator is, boasting over 26 cubic feet of storage with four shelves for all your everyday items. LG backs the ample size of this refrigerator with ENERGY STAR certified performance, plus exclusive cooling features like a Smart Cooling System and Multi-Air Flow that circulates fresh air across every corner. Of course, being LG, this model is also Wi-Fi compatible, complete with ThinQ, which sends automatic diagnoses in case service is needed.
Top LG LFXS26973S refrigerator review: “…lots of space in the freezer and refrigerator has a great layout.”
Recommended KitchenAid French Door Refrigerator: KitchenAid® 25.8 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel French Door Refrigerator
Nearly 2,100 buyers award this refrigerator 5-star reviews, placing this model as one of our best-selling and top-rated refrigerators in its class. One look and it’s easy to see why, with its unique center cooling zone that features two drawers for even more organization, one with five temperature presents and the other with exclusive Produce Preserver technology. Altogether, this KitchenAid refrigerator is a stunning example of what you get with the best of French door design, from advanced food Preserva Food Care System to its upscale design.
Albert Lee is proud to partner with Lyndsay and Leslie from HGTV’s Unsellable Houses to explore some of their favorite home appliances. One refrigerator the twins are thrilled with is this KitchenAid French door refrigerator. Leslie loves this refrigerator for its many unique storage solutions, ideal for a busy mom like her! Make sure to follow the twins and Albert Lee on social media to check out their takes on all the latest, innovative home appliances.
Top KitchenAid KRMF706ESS refrigerator review: “I LOVE THIS REFRIGERATOR.”
The Basics of a Side by Side Refrigerator
Before there were French door refrigerators, side by side refrigeration was the style choice for buyers who wanted a different look than a top freezer refrigerator. Similarly, this fridge style uses two shutter-style doors, with the main difference being that the side by side fridge panels run completely from the top to the bottom.
In other words, there is no bottom freezer drawer, and instead, there is a vertical freezer compartment located adjacent to the produce compartment. It’s important to note that, unlike French door models, the doors on side by side fridges aren’t always equal in proportion, with the freezer door usually being slimmer.
In any case, side by side models are champs when it comes to symmetry, although compared to French door refrigerators, they don’t offer as much variety when it comes to style and configurations.
How Big Are Side by Side Refrigerators?
One major setback with the design of side by side refrigerators is that the bisecting layout means their shelves are narrower. That limits how compact these refrigerators can be, which is why the majority of side by side refrigerators measure 36” wide. While 33” side by side refrigerators are available on the market, models any slimmer simply don’t exist outside of undercounter refrigerators — but that’s a whole different category.
The good news is that you can still get a lot of storage and organization inside a side by side refrigerator. Like French door fridges, these refrigeration systems offer between 20 and 28 cubic feet of capacity. That’s at least enough for a household of three, with larger models providing enough room for a family of five or more.
The Benefits of a Side by Side Refrigerator
Let’s be clear: we’ve been pointing out some flaws in the side by side refrigerator design, but French door fridges get their fair share below. In reality, side by side fridges come with their own set of perks, which makes them unique in their class.
✅ Better Freezer Organization
If the thought of bending to dig through a freezer drawer sounds daunting, you might be better off with a side by side model. Instead of wire baskets, these fridges use shelves identical to the refrigerator compartment, which keeps items in clear view rather than piled beneath other frozen foods.
✅ Larger Freezer Capacities
Despite being slimmer, side by side fridges offer more freezer storage than other styles. If you do a lot of bulk buying or just like to have a freezer full of frozen goodies, it’s in your interest to invest in one of these refrigerators.
✅ Best for Small Kitchens
Only side by side refrigerators match the door clearances found on French door models. And in some cases, side by side fridges require even less clearance to swing open than French doors. That makes them especially great in cramped kitchens.
Now, compare our top side by side refrigerator picks to see how they stand up to our favorite French door recommendations.
Recommended Frigidaire Side by Side Refrigerator: Frigidaire® 25.6 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Side-by-Side Refrigerator
Although this refrigerator is the most affordable model of its style, it has an abundance of top ratings — over 2,500 5-star reviews, in fact. The design for this pick is on the simpler side, and it doesn’t come with an extensive list of upgrades, but that’s exactly why buyers like it. It’s simple to use, it gets the job done, and it doesn’t break the bank. The features it does come with are pretty convenient, though, like the EvenTemp Cooling System that regulates the freezer and fridge independently and a PurePour water and ice dispenser. It’s the perfect upgrade for a growing family or buyers who want to upgrade from a top freezer without stepping out of budget.
Top Frigidaire FRSS2623AS refrigerator review: “This Fridge is very spacious inside and has a nice layout.
Recommended Samsung Side by Side Refrigerator: Samsung 26.7 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Standard Depth Side-by-Side Refrigerator
When we mentioned side by side refrigerators are still spacious despite having narrow layouts, models like this Samsung pick come to mind. With 26.7 cubic feet of room, there’s plenty of storage for the essentials and then some. But the pièce de résistance is the gorgeous FamilyHub door screen that keeps you connected with your fridge unlike ever before. Sync it to a smart device to be able to see contents in real time, look up recipe ideas, leave notes for the family, and so much more.
Overall, 95 percent of buyers give this Samsung side by side refrigerator high ratings, making it the highest-ranking model on our list.
Top Samsung RS27T5561SR refrigerator review: “I though [sic] I may be losing space with side by side doors but I was mistaken, this fridge is huge inside.
Final Recap: Side by Side vs French Door
We’ve covered a lot, but the question remains: in a comparison between side by side vs French door refrigerators, which one wins?
In the end, French door refrigerators have the upper hand — BUT that doesn’t mean they’re best for every household. Let’s break it down even further by discussing some major buying factors.
Which has more capacity?
For the most part, French door and side by side refrigerators offer similar amounts of storage at around 20 to 28 cubic feet of capacity. However, French door fridges come in widths 30” and smaller (although it’s not very common). Therefore, French door fridges span a larger catalog with more selections that appeal to shoppers who have kitchens from small to spacious.
Which is more affordable?
Side by side refrigerators take the win for this category, though not by a landslide. All the same, side by side fridges from Albert Lee start at around $1,400, while French door refrigerators begin at around $1,600.
Which offers better organization?
That depends on which foods you prioritize. Frozen foods are easier stored inside the vertical layout of a side by side fridge, but the wide shelves of a French door refrigerator mean fresh items are easy to locate. In any case, both styles are superior to top freezer refrigerators.
Which has more features?
We weren’t kidding when we said manufacturers love to experiment with French door refrigerators. LG saw an opportunity and released the InstaView Door-in-Door feature, which was later adopted to LG side by side models. Samsung cashed in on the French door market with FamilyHub refrigerators that turn one door into a smart device. And KitchenAid introduced the first 5-door French door refrigerator, giving users maximum storage flexibility.
What we’re getting at is that brands play heavy favoritism with French door refrigerators, so you can expect to see some nifty features along with the package (and price). For the most part, side by side refrigerators typically only feature in-door water and ice dispensers.
Which style lasts longer?
Unfortunately, side by side refrigerators are among the least efficient due to the placement of their compressors, which causes the machine to work harder. That’s why side by side refrigerators last between eight to 12 years, while French door fridges have estimated lifespans between 10 and 15 years.
In the end, French door refrigerators are a match if:
✓ Style is important to you.
✓ Produce and other fresh ingredients are used more in your household.
✓ You have a larger kitchen.
✓ Bending to use the freezer isn’t an issue.
✓ You have a larger spending budget.
✓ Having the option to upgrade to features is preferred.
In the end, side by side refrigerators are a match if:
✓ You have a smaller kitchen.
✓ Saving on a reliable refrigerator is important.
✓ Your household does bulk frozen food hauls.
✓ You’d enjoy having a water and ice dispenser.
There you have it. The French door refrigerator vs side by side design, compared next to each other with prime examples of each style done right. The truth is that both refrigerator concepts feature advantages and disadvantages, which relate directly back to your lifestyle and household demands. We’ve set you up with the basics in this guide; now it’s time to take the next step and experience French door and side by side refrigerators for yourself.
Albert Lee offers two ways to do that with our online refrigerator catalog or from one of our six Seattle appliance stores with live showcases of the latest industry designs. Start browsing today to see which models we carry are a perfect fit in your kitchen.
Why Trust Albert Lee?
Since 1939, Albert Lee Appliance, a three-generation, family-owned business, continues to grow and serve the greater Seattle area with quality you can count on and service you can trust. We are proud to have served this community for so long and wouldn’t be here without our loyal customers. There is a reason why we are Washington’s largest independent appliance dealer, and it’s not a secret. Simply put: We have the experience. We are the original appliance experts for over eight decades (and counting).
Shop Refrigerators at Albert Lee
At Albert Lee Appliance, we provide quality name-brand appliances for great prices. Shop refrigerators online or visit us today at one of our six locations in Puget Sound, WA. In the meantime, browse our website to shop Albert Lee appliance sales and check out Albert Lee appliance reviews online to ensure every purchase is an informed one. More available than ever, our experts at Albert Lee Appliance are always happy to help you learn the differences between side by side vs French door fridges, whether you call us or use our online chat feature. Contact us today!
Learn More: The Difference Between Counter Depth and Standard Depth Refrigerators