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Recommendations for Choosing a Counter-Depth Refrigerator
Counter Depth Refrigerators - are designed to fit into a kitchen, nearly flush with the countertops. The standard free standing refrigerator is about 30 to 32 inches deep while the standard countertop depth is 24 inches. This results in the free-standing model extending several inches into the kitchen space. Even though standard countertops are 24 inches, the counter-depth fridge is usually a little deeper, but only by an inch or two. Still, it is less intrusive. In order to keep the appliance at the necessary shallow depth, the compressor is usually moved to the top, making the entire unit taller than the average refrigerator.
The advantages of this style of fridge are that it has more of a built-in look, it doesn't crowd into kitchen space and it typically has extra wide shelves.The shelves are shallower than deeper models which can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. The shallow shelves make it is easier to find and reach items, but it can make it difficult to store large items, such as pizza boxes.
The disadvantages include that it is typically more expensive than free-standing models, there are fewer models to choose from, the shelves are not as deep (as mentioned above) and they tend to have less cubic feet of storage compared to similar sized models.
Special note: it is very important to carefully plan the surrounding cabinet and countertop to allow for the swing of the doors. Specifications vary from by manufacturer and model, but always read the installation planning guide to make sure the refrigerator you select will fit in the intended location. Additionally, if you will be installing cabinet panels on your refrigerator to match the surrounding cabinetry, make sure to allow for any added thickness of the panels when calculating the door swing. There must be enough room for the door, with the attached panel to swing open to the specified number of degrees. Failure to properly plan can result in problems like drawers not being accessible if the door cannot open fully.
The manufacturer list below reflects those companies known to produce counter-depth refrigerators at the time of writing or recent update.
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