Every home needs a reliable refrigerator to preserve your food, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice space or style along the way. In this instance, you can choose to invest in a counter depth refrigerator. A counter depth fridge is typically taller and more compact than a traditional fridge, but you’ll still benefit from a spacious interior with plenty of storage space. When shopping for a new counter depth refrigerator, you’ll notice that most models feature an average capacity of 20 to 22 cubic feet, equating to sufficient food storage for families of all sizes. Additionally, counter depth refrigerators are not nearly as deep as freestanding fridges, so they can be installed seamlessly with your countertops or kitchen cabinets. If you’re in need of a new space-saving fridge, we’ve put together a breakdown of the best counter depth refrigerators available and what to look for before purchasing.
At a Glance
Best Luxury: GE Profile 28.7 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Built In Side-by-Side Refrigerator-PSB48YSNSS
What to Look for Before Buying a Counter Depth Refrigerator
If you’re thinking about adding a counter depth fridge to your home, there are a few factors to consider that can help you narrow down your decision before you make a purchase.
Fridge Type
Depending on your budget, shopping habits, and kitchen layout, there are a few different types of counter depth refrigerators available. You can explore a top freezer fridge, which is a great choice if you’re looking for an affordable price point with limited features, or you can invest in a French door or bottom freezer refrigerator if you like the look of a pull-out bottom drawer and want to prioritize freezer space. Lastly, a side by side fridge provides a flexible design with equally spacious storage in both the freezer and fridge compartments.
Capacity
If you were wondering what we specifically meant by “capacity,” it refers to space available in both the fridge and freezer sections of your appliance. Since counter depth fridges are intended for a flush installation, they are not as deep as standard depth units. With that, the average counter depth fridge will still be spacious enough to store food for a decent sized family.
Ice and Water Dispenser
Ice and water dispensers are a valuable amenity, but they will often raise the price of your appliance or limit the storage space. However, a built-in dispenser is an extremely convenient addition if you have kids in the house or entertain often and need a quick way to prepare drinks. High-end fridge models will often have a dispenser with multiple settings such as hot water and crushed or cubed ice.
The 8 Best Counter Depth Refrigerators
Now that you know a thing or two about the features and benefits of a counter depth refrigerator, let’s take a look at our favorites.
1. Best Overall: Bosch 800 Series 21 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel French Door Bottom Freezer Refrigerator-B36CT80SNS
From size and color to capacity and freshness, there’s a lot that goes into the makeup of a quality fridge, and this Bosch French door counter depth refrigerator can help you savor more of life’s precious moments. Loaded with advanced features, you can activate the Eco-mode function to set the fridge at the most sustainable chilling temperature throughout the day and HolidayMode allows you to protect frozen foods and prevent energy wastage when there’s many items in the fridge. Additionally, the SuperFreezing function ensures that new food is frozen quickly, preventing other contents inside the freezer from defrosting.
2. Best Budget: Whirlpool 11.6 Cu. Ft. Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel Counter Depth Top Freezer Refrigerator-WRT112CZJZ
If you’re in need of a new energy efficient fridge that takes up minimal space, this Whirlpool counter depth refrigerator delivers the flexibility you need to make the most of every inch of your kitchen. This compact fridge features a one gallon door of storage to help free up shelf space, digital temperature controls to set the ideal level of chill, and an adaptive defrost that automatically runs when the freezer environment deems it necessary.
3. Best Luxury: GE Profile 28.7 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Built In Side-by-Side Refrigerator-PSB48YSNSS
An impressive 28.7 cubic feet of food storage can be found inside this GE Profile counter depth side by side refrigerator, making this pick a fantastic addition to larger households. Enjoy ample possibilities of organization with edge-to-edge shelves, adjustable bins, and multi-level drawers in a top-to-bottom layout that puts everything within easy reach. The integrated water and ice dispenser adds a spice of luxury to take this GE fridge from ordinary to extraordinary.
4. Best French Door: Café 22.2 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Counter Depth French Door Refrigerator-CYE22TP2MS1
Made with exquisite craftsmanship and precise detail, this Café best counter depth French door refrigerator provides sophisticated details and imaginative features like electronic temperature-controlled drawers or the Precise Fill dispenser that makes for incredibly easy access for cold (and hot) beverages alike. For even added convenience, WiFi Connect puts every functionality of your fridge in the palm of your hand with your smartphone, or you can simply use your voice to request a command ― even when in a different part of the house.
5. Best Side-by-Side: GE 22.0 Cu. Ft. Counter Depth Side By Side Refrigerator-Stainless Steel-GZS22DSJSS
For a built-in look that’s smooth and sleek, this GE best side by side counter depth refrigerator takes the cake. Along with its high-end appearance, the inside of this refrigerator is filled with features that make stocking and organizing food a breeze. When opened, brilliant LED light spotlights every item, so you spend less time searching. And at the end of the day, you can enjoy an ice cold beverage with the internal water and ice dispenser that’s seamlessly accessible.
6. Best KitchenAid: KitchenAid 20 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Counter Depth French Door Refrigerator-KRFC300ESS
Enjoy easier access to all your foods with the open design and ample storage of this KitchenAid counter depth refrigerator. This French door counter depth refrigerator includes many exciting features like a four-bottle metal wine rack and a full-width FreshChill pantry drawer with temperature-controlled technology. Inside, foods receive the best treatment, with the ExtendFresh Temperature Management System that independently monitors temperature settings in the freezer and refrigerator, protecting each from damaging chills.
7. Best LG: LG 22.8 Cu. Ft. PrintProof™ Stainless Steel Counter Depth French Door Refrigerator-LFCC22426S
With this LG counter depth refrigerator, you’ll have more space for your groceries thanks to a generous 23 cubic feet of storage capacity. The shallow depth can stand flush with your countertop for a sleek look, and is equipped with a Smart Cooling system that’s designed to maintain ultra-cool conditions within the fridge and keep your foods at their freshest.
8. Best Samsung: Samsung 22.4 Cu. Ft. Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel Counter Depth French Door Refrigerator-RF22R7351SR
A leading brand in electronics has made its way to the refrigeration space and is making some serious strides. Twin Cooling Plus provides independent fridge and freezer controls to keep food fresh and prevent any blending of odors from compartment to compartment. Even better, this Samsung counter depth refrigerator features a large-capacity Ice Max machine stores up to 2.7 pounds of ice at a time, adjustable shelves go from standard to slide-in or flip-up to fit taller items, and you can use your smartphone to control the temperature and monitor your refrigerator remotely with WiFi- and Bixby-enabled commands.
Shop Counter Depth Refrigerators at Aztec Appliance
As always, don’t forget to shop local! Browse our inventory of the best counter depth refrigerators, and if you have any questions regarding any of our kitchen appliances, feel free to contact our Aztec Appliance team at (858) 987-5777 or visit us at our San Diego, CA location. More accessible than ever, our experts can also be reached via chat!
Read More: Aztec’s 5 Favorite 30-Inch Refrigerators [Bonus: Counter-Depth]