How to properly measure the space to fit your fresh new fridge

Ahh, the joy of getting a new appliance - especially one you use multiple times a day, every day (and sometimes late at night)! Fridges are one of the most used appliances in the home, with every family member opening the stainless steel doors to reach or peer inside from breakfast til bedtime.

This means that it’s actually surprisingly exciting to replace your old fridge with a fresh new one. Before you can say farewell to the stubborn yellow stains and mysterious sticky residues in your current fridge, though, you need to make sure its replacement will fit comfortably into your kitchen. Hint: it’s not just a case of making sure the width of the fridge is the same as the space it will be placed in.

By taking proper measurements and considering a few practicalities around how the fridge is used and positioned, you can avoid any headaches down the line. In this article we'll look at how to measure for a new fridge, taking into account various factors that impact the way it works and looks in your kitchen space.

A lot of today’s fridges are bigger than those of old, so the space your current model sits in might not be big enough to house your new one - at least not without some adjustments. The first step in selecting a new refrigerator is understanding the available space. Grab a tape measure and record the height, width, and depth of the designated area where the fridge will be placed. Pay special attention to spaces near walls, countertops and cabinets.

Pro tip: Consider the standard depth of refrigerators and whether a counter-depth model would help achieve a streamlined look. There’s no set depth for a counter-depth fridge, but it’s a term used to describe fridges that have a shallower depth, allowing them to sit more flush with adjacent cabinetry.

In Australia, the standard depth of kitchen cabinetry, including countertops, is typically around 600mm. Counter-depth refrigerators usually have a depth in the range of 600 to 650mm. To minimise its depth further, you might want to opt for a fridge with recessed handles, which can effectively shave a few centimetres off the front of the fridge.

Refrigerators work not by pumping cold into the interior, but by extracting heat from it. This heat is released outside of the fridge, so you need to make sure you allow space for proper ventilation.

Leave at least 7 or 8cm of space between the back of the fridge and the wall to allow for the fridge’s plug, and for ventilation. You should also aim for a few cm around the top and sides of the fridge. By preventing overheating, you can help it work more efficiently for longer.

Pro tip: The counter-depth refrigerators we discussed above enable a built-in look while maintaining proper ventilation.

The direction in which the fridge door opens can affect where it sits in your kitchen. Consider the location of counters, cabinets, and other appliances. Ensure that there's enough space for the door to open fully without obstruction. If it’s placed within a recess, ensure that the doors will be able to open without hitting the adjacent walls.

It’s also important to remember that in order to pull out the chiller drawers and slideout compartments used to store fruit, veggies, cheese and fish, you must be able to open the fridge doors by more than 90 degrees. If you can’t do this, the drawers will be blocked by the shelves within the doors.

Pro tip: Some top and bottom mount refrigerators offer reversible door hinges for greater flexibility in placement.

The amount of fridge space you need will be largely dictated by the number of people living in your home.

Typically, one or two people shouldn’t need more than about 400 litres of storage capacity. Families of up to four people should find up to 530 litres enough room to keep everything cool, while households of five or more would probably be comfortable with anything over that size.

Larger families may opt for French door or side-by-side refrigerators with ample freezer space, while smaller households might find a top or bottom mount fridge sufficient.

Modern fridges, such as the Westinghouse range with FlexStor, often have flexible storage compartments that allow you to adjust shelf placement and storage bin depths to maximise space and meet your individual storage needs. An extra inch of space in a shelf’s height can make a huge difference to its usefulness.

Pro tip: Check the refrigerator size chart in our Fridge Buying Guide, for more details about fridge size specifications. If you have your eye on a specific fridge, check its manual (available on its page at Appliances Online) for details about its storage configuration flexibility.

Check for water filter compatibility, especially if you are considering a new fridge with an automatic ice maker or built-in water dispenser. In this case, you’ll need to choose between plumbed and non-plumbed models.

If you're replacing your old fridge as part of a new kitchen design or renovation, you may be in a position to create some extra space, rearrange the placement of appliances, and to have adjustments made to your kitchen’s plumbing, in which case you could choose a plumbed option.

If you’re not renovating, though, and your fridge lives on the opposite wall to your kitchen sink and dishwasher, it may not be able to be attached to running water without plumbing alterations. If this sounds like too much work or added expense, a non-plumbed model could be a better choice.

As you get out the measuring tape to size up the space for your new fridge, and maybe consider reconfiguring your kitchen layout, it’s a good opportunity to also reduce your environmental impact (and your ongoing electricity bills) by choosing an energy-efficient refrigerator.

Look for the Energy Star Rating, which indicates how efficient the fridge is. The maximum number of stars a fridge can get is six: most fridges don’t manage that level of efficiency, but you will find hundreds of models with four or more Energy Stars.

Pro tip: Some States and Territories offer rebates on energy-efficient appliances, so check if there are any current schemes where you live.

By understanding ventilation and door clearance requirements, as well as the dimensions and considerations of different refrigerator types, you'll be able to make a better decision when choosing your new fridge.

Black Friday and other promotional events throughout the year can be great times to buy, but Appliances Online always strives to sell fridges at below the RRP, so you can find some great deals any day of the year on over 30 brands, including Samsung, Westinghouse, Smeg and LG.

For more guidance on selecting the ideal type or size of fridge, check out our Fridge Buying Guide, call our friendly team 24/7 on 1300 000 500, or message us via that little chat icon at the bottom right corner of your screen.

Appliances Online's legendary FREE delivery reaches 95% of Australia's population, and you’ll usually receive your new fridge the day after you order it (Mon-Fri) as long as it’s in stock. Plus, we offer paid Same Day Delivery in metro areas of NSW, QLD and VIC for those times when you just can’t wait - as long as you order before midday, Mon-Fri.

We’ll also take your old fridge away for free, recycling it and keeping it out of landfill. Other Australian appliance retailers don’t always offer these sorts of services, so keep it in mind if you’re shopping around.