French door vs. side-by-side: which refrigerator is best?

French door and side-by-side refrigerators both offer plenty of fresh food storage innovations along with sleek, modern exteriors. Learn more about side-by-side vs. French door pros and cons including price, size, layout and features with this guide.

French door vs side-by-side: At a glance 

Side-by-side refrigerators are a classic style with top-to-bottom freezer and refrigerator compartments next to each other. French door refrigerators have one continuous refrigerator space on top accessed by two doors, with a freezer drawer below.

Other differences include the amount of refrigerator and freezer space offered by each configuration, as well as the shape of each compartment, although this can vary by make and model. Side-by-side fridges give you two tall but narrow compartments while French door fridges provide shorter but wider spaces. Both models tend to come with a wide range of various features such as exterior ice and water dispensers, adjustable shelves and door bins, and high-end finish options.

_{1. Measurements are general ranges and may vary by make and model.} 

French door refrigerators: pros and cons

This contemporary refrigerator design is popular for its spacious, pantry-style layout that provides easy access to fresh ingredients. The wide refrigerator compartment on top helps keep fresh items at eye level, with frozen food stored below in a pull-out drawer.

French door models tend to offer some of the largest refrigerator capacities in the industry, allowing you to keep more fresh ingredients on hand for your next masterpiece.

If you’re not sure if a side-by-side vs. French door is better for the way you make, consider these French door refrigerator pros and cons:

Pros
 

Wide shelves and compartments 

The wide refrigerator shelves allow you to easily store large dishes and long platters, and the wide freezer drawer gives you easy access to frozen items. 

Large refrigerator capacity

Compared to side-by-side models, French door refrigerators typically dedicate more storage space to the refrigerator instead of the freezer so you can store more fresh foods.

Easy access to fresh ingredients

French door refrigerators keep fresh items at eye level so you can help prevent wasted produce and quickly find what you need whenever inspiration strikes.

Customizable interiors 

This style frequently offers adjustable shelves and compartments to accommodate the items you store most. Select KitchenAid^® models feature Slide-Away Shelves to accommodate taller items or Pull Out Trays for large platters.

Narrower refrigerator doors

If you have a smaller kitchen or a kitchen island, the narrow doors on a French door fridge might give you more space to move around when the fridge door is open.

Energy efficiency

Many French door refrigerators are ENERGY STAR^® Certified, meaning they exceed government standards for energy efficiency, supporting sustainability and helping to save money on utility bills.

Cons

Freezer organization

French door refrigerators generally have freezer drawers, which—unlike side-by-side models—lack traditional shelves. This may make it tricky to organize some food items, depending on what you’re storing.

However, select KitchenAid^® models feature freezer organization solutions such as a 3-Tier Freezer Drawer with Storage Divider, which allows you to organize frozen items on three levels, making them easier to access, and includes a storage divider in the lower basket to help keep smaller items organized.

Price point

Since French door refrigerators typically offer high-end features, they can sometimes come with a price tag that is above entry-level models, though more streamlined options are usually available to accommodate a range of budgets.

Side-by-side refrigerators: Pros and cons

This classic refrigerator style offers vertical storage with plenty of shelves for both refrigerator and freezer compartments. Freezers also tend to be larger in a side-by-side vs. a French door layout, although it depends on the model.

This configuration provides flexibility to organize the most important fresh and frozen items at eye level, while keeping less frequently accessed items on the lower shelves. You’ll often find in-door or external ice and water dispensers, as well as other desirable features such as adjustable shelves and door bins to help you keep everything organized.

Here are some side-by-side refrigerator pros and cons to keep in mind:

Pros

Larger freezer capacity

If you store lots of frozen items, you’ll find plenty of space in a side-by-side refrigerator freezer compartment, as they are typically about the same size as the refrigerator compartment.

Vertical storage

The vertical storage of a side-by-side refrigerator keeps both fresh and frozen items at eye level with flexible storage options.

Reduced door swing clearance

As with French door styles, side-by-side refrigerators also feature narrow double doors that are a good fit for tight spaces, so you may have more room to move around the refrigerator when the doors are open.

Lower-entry level price points

Side-by-side refrigerators typically sit at a lower price point compared to high-end French door models.

Cons

Bending down for fresh items

Since some fresh items can be stored on lower shelves, you may need to do more bending than with a French door model.

Narrower shelves

Though you’ll gain vertical storage, you’ll lose a bit in width, which may make it more difficult to store wide or oversized items.

Is there more room in a side-by-side or French door refrigerator? 

Side-by-side refrigerators and French door models are, in general, quite comparable in size. Many of these models range in capacity from 19-30+ cu. ft. with some falling outside of this range.

French door or side-by-side: Which is best for you?

A French door refrigerator may be best if you like to keep a lot of fresh ingredients on hand, or if you often store wide or oversized dishes. A side-by-side refrigerator sometimes features more freezer capacity and lets you store both fresh and frozen items at eye level.

Both types of refrigerators are available in standard- or counter-depths, as well as freestanding or built-in installation styles. They both tend to offer high capacities vs. other configurations along with premium features and finishes. Whether a side-by-side or French door refrigerator is better for you mostly comes down to which layout best enables your making process.

Choose a French door refrigerator if you:

• Store more fresh ingredients than frozen

• Store large or wide items

• Want a contemporary look

• Entertain often or cook in bulk

Choose a side-by-side refrigerator if you:

• Store almost as much frozen food as fresh

• Want to store both fresh and frozen items at eye level

• Prefer a streamlined exterior with only two doors and no drawers

Your refrigerator options are nearly endless. Explore refrigerator configurations and styles with this refrigerator buying guide. Take a closer look at the latest features available on refrigerators for help finding one that matches both your kitchen and your making style.

Shop all KitchenAid® refrigerators

KitchenAid brand offers a full lineup of refrigerators in various configurations with a range of convenient features to help keep your favorite ingredients fresh, plus finish options or hardware kits to help you personalize your appliance. Explore select KitchenAid^® models with features like the FreshFlow^™ Air Filter that neutralizes common food odors for up to 6 months and deodorizes 15 times better than baking soda, or Sliding Storage Trays, a versatile area for storing platters, organizing ingredients and keeping items easily accessible.