When it comes to buying a new refrigerator, one of the most important questions you will need to ask yourself is: Which capacity is right for you? Space is typically measured in cubic feet (cu ft) .d Unless your looking directly at a model it can be hard to judge how large a model is just by the number of cu ft it has. If your buying a model online we suggest visiting a store to get a general idea of refrigerator sizes. Even better, you can also take out a tape measure and take a look at the dimensions of the models you are considering to get an idea if they seem large or small based on your requirements.

The answer to how much space you will need depends largely on the number of people who will use your refrigerator and their eating and shopping habits (how often do they eat in vs go out to a restaurant and whether they tend to stock up on lots of frozen or fresh food at a time). As a general rule, we suggest that customers buy a model with a minimum of 4-6 cu ft per person, plus at least 4-7 cu ft of extra space. This is what we would consider to be a minimum of necessary space, based on our research.

It is important to keep in mind that having too little space is much more frustrating than having too much!
The refrigerator sizes guidelines below should prove useful to those looking to decide on the size of their new refrigerator.

Small : up to 19 cu ft of space

• 1-2 People This is the typical size range which 1-2 people would typically choose. This is usually suitable especially if they are not interested in bulk shopping or larger refrigerator and freezer spaces.
• Couples who tend to eat out Our resarch shows that a couple who does not eat much at home, store much food and is not looking for extra space, will often need about 14-16 cu ft of space.
• Couples who cook Two people who cook frequently at home should generally look for a minimum of 18 cu ft of space
• 3 People families who do not eat home allot If are a small family (up to 3 people) who has relatively conservative needs you might also sppreciate a refrigerator within the 17-19 cu ft range.

Medium: 19-24 cu ft

• 3-4 People If you are a family of 3-4 you most likely will want to go for a refrigerator of at least 19 cu ft so you will have enough space for storing your food for the week to come.
• For cooks In general if you are storing a generous amount of produce you are going to need something, at least, in this size range.
• Couples who bulk shop Couples who bulk-shop should start at this size point as a minimum.

Large: 24 cu ft and up

• Large families If you are a large family (5 + people) logic dictates that you will require more space. Families who are used to large sizes, will often feel most comfortable in this size range.
• Bulk-shoppers If you bulk-shop your ingredients you will need plenty of extra storage space, something a model over 24 CU can provide.
• Events and entertainment Entertaining guests and having events are also made much easier by these larger refrigerators given their extra storage space and adjustable interior configurations.
• Ultimate flexibility No matter who you are, a refrigerator in the upper size range will make sure you always have enough space for whatever you want to store.

Another important size consideration is refrigerator vs freezer space

Refrigerator vs freezer space

If you eat a lot of frozen foods you will need a refrigerator with a larger freezer. Larger freezers tend to max out around 10-12 cu ft. The shape of your frozen items may also matter as the dimension of the freezers of certain side by side models may not easily allow very wide items such as extra large frozen pizzas to sit easily.

While most people find themselves fine with a regular refrigerator, for the maximum in refrigerator space you may want to consider a dedicated refrigerator. For the maximum in freezer space you might be interested in dedicated freezers or supplementing your existing freezer with a freezer chest.

The refrigerator must fit in your kitchen

Customers sometimes get so absorbed in choosing the fridge they love that they forget to make sure the refrigerator actually fits into their kitchen!

To avoid disappointment, accurately measure the space in your kitchen that you wish to dedicate to your refrigerator. Remember that you will need at least one extra inch of space at the back of your refrigerator for ventilation and at least 2 inches of space between the door hinges and the wall/ cabinetry so that the doors can open easily.

The last point that customers often overlook is to check their door and hallway dimensions to see if they can actually get their desired fridge into their kitchen. The handle of certain models may need to be removed to get them thought tight spaces.