Don't forget about fridge door clearance

First things first, you should ideally allow around 50mm of ventilation space around the sides and back of the fridge. This airflow keeps the compressor running efficiently, which can help extend the lifespan of the fridge. There's a question that many people forget to ask, though: how much space does a fridge door need to open properly?

Understanding fridge door clearance requirements involves two key aspects: the depth the fridge doors open into the room, and the extra space required for the door swing on either side of the fridge.

Depth: How far into your kitchen?

The door width of any fridge dictates how much room you'll need in front of it.

In terms of depth, French door and side by side fridges have an advantage over single door models. Because each door is roughly half the width of an 800mm single door - around 400mm in French doors and 500mm for the larger door in side by sides - they don’t open as far into the room.

In smaller kitchens, this allows you to access the fridge without the open door blocking the walkway or, in super-narrow kitchens, smacking into the cabinetry or countertops opposite.

If you have a French door or bottom mount fridge with pull-out freezer drawers, you’ll also need to factor in the space needed for the drawers to open fully. In French door models, the drawer typically extends about as far as the open fridge doors, while in most bottom mount fridges, the drawer opens less deeply into the room than the fridge doors. Because the freezer tends to be accessed far less frequently than the fridge, the opening depth of the drawers is generally not an issue.

Width: The hidden space eater

Here's something many people overlook when measuring fridge space: when the doors are open, most fridges take up a few extra centimetres width-wise. This becomes particularly important when you need to pull out the fridge's crisper drawers, which usually require the door to open more than 90 degrees.

While side by side and French door refrigerators have the advantage of not opening as far into the room as single door models, they have a slight disadvantage when it comes to width requirements: because they have doors that open on both sides, they require a couple more centimetres width clearance than top mount fridges and bottom mount models. It's not a huge amount of extra space, but in a tight kitchen design, those couple of centimetres can make a difference.

The good news? If the front of your fridge protrudes into the kitchen beyond the front of surrounding cabinetry or wall (as they often do), width isn't really an issue, because it's already sitting in open space. However, if you have a counter depth fridge that sits flush with surrounding cabinets or walls, you'll need to factor in a few centimetres of space allowance on the sides. As long as you've left adequate ventilation space around the fridge, though, this should be enough room for the door swing.

Some premium models advertise ‘zero clearance’ hinge systems that minimise how much the doors protrude when opening, which can be worth considering if you're working with limited kitchen space.

If you’re looking at models with an ice maker or water dispenser, remember these often require a water connection and additional plumbing clearance at the back of the fridge. You’ll also need access to a power point, ideally positioned so the plug and cord don’t push the fridge forward. In most cases, the few centimetres left for ventilation will also accommodate both the cable and plumbing lines, but always check the fridge’s user manual for the exact clearance requirements.

Another practical consideration is whether your kitchen layout demands that the fridge door open to only one side or the other - say, to avoid blocking access to another appliance or doorway. While French door models open both ways, many single door top mount and bottom mount fridge models feature reversible doors that can be installed to open from either the left or right side to suit your kitchen's flow.

Appliances Online has a huge selection of fridges, from top and bottom mounts, to side by sides and French door models from leading brands including Westinghouse, Haier, LG and Samsung. And with our legendary FREE delivery we can usually get it to 95% of Australians by the next day (Mon-Fri) if it's in stock. We even offer paid Same Day Delivery in NSW, QLD and VIC metro areas if you order before 12pm on weekdays.

Plus, we’ll take your old fridge away for recycling, for free. Check out our full range of fridges here, and if you have any questions, just call our friendly team 24/7 on 1300 000 500, or message us via the chat icon at the bottom of your screen.