Your refrigerator is a necessary component of your house. It’s a big decision if you need new appliances or if you’re remodeling your kitchen to decide which appliances to buy. And you want to be sure to choose a fridge that is suitable for your requirements and way of life.

Standard refrigerators typically have more capacity, whereas counter-depth refrigerators are shallower to create a built-in appearance.

So let’s examine how counter-depth and standard-depth refrigerators differ from one another.

Counter-Depth Refrigerators

If you’ve recently updated or renovated your kitchen or keep up with current design trends, you’ve probably noticed counter-depth refrigerators in those spaces. Due to their streamlined design and elegant construction, counter-depth refrigerators are becoming more and more popular. But what exactly is a counter-depth fridge?

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This particular refrigerator is designed to be more space-efficient and blend in seamlessly with surrounding cabinetry and countertops, so it is a little bit taller than a standard-depth refrigerator. The storage capacity of counter-depth models is almost identical to that of a conventional full-size refrigerator, but they won’t obstruct your walkway by sticking out past the kitchen cabinets.

The distance from your backsplash to the front of your kitchen counters is one way to gauge your “counter depth.” Counter-depth refrigerators, which typically range from 23 to 27 inches deep, are shallower than standard-depth refrigerators in order to fit within this space. The majority of full-size refrigerators, on the other hand, have a standard depth of at least 30 inches, usually between 35 and 36 inches. As a result, a standard refrigerator may protrude further than six inches from the countertop edge.

What effect does this have on your kitchen, then? You can get the slick, sophisticated appearance you’ve been yearning for with just as much storage space by installing a counter-depth fridge. When there are multiple cooks in the kitchen, a flush installation can help to reduce congestion and interruptions in your workflow.

Standard-Depth Refrigerators

Freestanding or standard-depth refrigerators are probably a little more commonplace. Standard-depth refrigerator models are still the most prevalent fridge type found in typical kitchens, despite counter-depth refrigerators’ growing popularity.

As previously mentioned, standard-depth refrigerators do occupy more space than counter-depth models, typically measuring 35 to 36 inches deep when the doors and handles are taken into account. This added depth gives you more room for groceries and leftovers, but it also takes up more space in your kitchen and may restrict your movement.

Your refrigerator will protrude slightly from adjacent countertops and cabinetry due to the added depth, which may be a problem if you have a small kitchen. Although this isn’t a serious problem, it can occasionally be inconvenient and unsightly.

As you shop and start to plan out your newly designed culinary space, you’ll likely be able to find a greater selection of colors, finishes, and styles because standard-depth fridges are more prevalent.

Capacity Comparison

Let’s discuss the capacity of both a counter-depth and standard-depth refrigerator using the industry standard refrigerator width of 36 inches.

A counter-depth refrigerator may range anywhere between 20 to 24 cubic feet. This may not be important to you because different brands exist and some refrigerators simply utilize space better.

A standard depth refrigerator typically ranges anywhere between 22 to 30 cubic feet–again, depending on the brand.

As you can see, the standard depth refrigerator has more interior space for perishables even though the counter depth refrigerator is more streamlined. Some homeowners might have an extra garage or basement that could fit an extra fridge, which would solve the issue.

A standard depth fridge might be the better option, though, if your storage space is limited. This is particularly valid for those with larger families or bulk shoppers. You may find yourself stuffing longer items like celery into the crisper tray because the food and freezer compartments will, in general, be smaller and tighter on a counter depth.

What Are the Benefits of a Counter-Depth Fridge?

Let’s look into some more advantages of counter-depth refrigerators if you’re thinking about remodeling your kitchen with one.

A counter-depth fridge’s seamless design solution is one of its nicer features, as we previously mentioned. The sleek appearance of a counter-depth fridge can still be useful even if your kitchen layout is more open and you don’t need the extra room for floor traffic.

You don’t have to give up space for style with this refrigerator model because it is made to blend in well with the majority of contemporary kitchen cabinet designs. A counter-depth model will still provide the same amount of usable space as a freestanding fridge without sticking out into your walkway if you choose to go taller with your fridge design.

Additional benefits of counter-depth refrigerators include:

• Greater clearance area for unrestricted door opening.
• enhanced flexibility in the kitchen.
• Easy access to food, beverages, and condiments as well as simpler cleanup are benefits of a shallow fridge depth.
• Greater height enables more storage space.

Why Would You Pick One over the Other?

Counter-depth refrigerators are only 6 inches deeper than standard-depth refrigerators. How on earth could this be a big deal?

The problem is that those six inches of depth are actually more important than you might think.

Less overall storage space is the most noticeable difference. Six inches might not seem like much, but when you add up the height and width of the empty space, you find that there is almost 8.75 cubic feet of space that is not being used (dividers between compartments excluded).

Larger households will find counter-depth refrigerators inadequate for their needs, even though they probably provide enough storage for one or two people.

A counter-depth refrigerator costs more than a standard one, which is the other distinction. Although it might seem logical that a smaller refrigerator would be less expensive, technology is almost always more expensive when it is shrunk down to fit into small spaces. A standard-depth refrigerator with the same height, width, and feature set will typically cost less than a counter-depth refrigerator.

Counter-depth models are more of a niche product, best suited for kitchens that can’t accommodate a full-size model; however, you should be aware that they will offer less overall storage space and command a higher price. It’s perfect for people who don’t mind spending more money on a refrigerator that fits more or less flush with the rest of their cabinetry.

A standard-depth fridge will cost less and offer owners more than its counter-depth counterpart, excluding aesthetics and spatial considerations.

Conclusion: Choosing Your Style

While appliance preferences are unique to the individual, we prefer the look of a counter-depth refrigerator, since it creates a clean, custom-designed look in a kitchen. For everyday use, a regular-depth refrigerator’s storage and features are more appealing. In our list of the top refrigerator brands, we include both types.

If you are replacing a refrigerator, our advice is to choose the refrigerator that will be best for your unique needs. Choose a counter-depth if you need to save space for a better flow in your kitchen. However, if you have a large family, we advise regular-depth to make sure you have enough room for your daily needs.

In the interim, carefully measure your space to avoid making costly mistakes. Even if you’re replacing an existing refrigerator with one of the same kind, double check everything. On the day your new appliance is delivered, this easy step will prevent any unpleasant surprises.

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