Refrigerators for a 36-inch opening

Choosing a refrigerator for a 36-inch opening

A 36-inch opening is the most common space in current kitchens, and the class with the widest range of layouts: French-door, side-by-side, bottom-freezer and counter-depth. Many 36-inch models are slightly less than 36 inches wide, while some need side gaps that make them too wide for a tight opening.

Use the reviewed required width, then check height including the hinges and the usable depth of the cavity.

What the verified measurements show

These 723 reviewed models come from 26 brands; the most represented are Whirlpool (133), GE (105), Miele (48). The opening width they need ranges from 18 in for the Fisher and Paykel RS1884FLJE1 to 36 in for the Whirlpool WRSF6536RZ, with half needing 33 3/16 in or less. The cabinet-only depth runs from 17 1/2 in (GE GDE03GGKBB) to 31 in (LG LRMXS3006S). The depth with the doors closed, handles included runs from 19 1/4 in (Frigidaire FRPE4536AV) to 38 1/8 in (LG LRMXS3006S). The height including the hinges runs from 32 5/16 in (Miele K31222UI) to 84 in (Sub-Zero DET3650RID). With a door open at 90 degrees, 709 of these models have a verified depth; the typical one needs 50 5/8 in from the back wall, and the deepest, the GE GDE25EYKFS, needs 65 1/8 in. 650 models have a verified hinge-side wall clearance for the door to open 90 degrees: from 0 in to 6 3/4 in, typically 2 5/8 in.