SIDE-BY-SIDE VS. FRENCH DOOR REFRIGERATORS

Side-by-side and French door refrigerators offer a modern and sleek look and feel, while also showcasing features designed for durability, power and control. Keep reading to learn the differences between French door and side-by-side refrigerators—including variations in configuration, storage, dimensions and more—and discover which option may be best for you.

WHAT ARE FRENCH DOOR REFRIGERATORS?

French door refrigerators have a sectioned design, with two evenly split doors on the top and a pull-out drawer on the bottom. The top doors open outward to reveal the refrigerator section and the bottom drawer features the freezer. French door refrigerators are typically wider than many other refrigerator configurations, which makes them ideal for storing large items and wide platters.

Some Maytag^® French door refrigerators also come with additional features, such as exterior ice and water dispensers and fingerprint resistant stainless steel finishes.

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WHAT ARE SIDE-BY-SIDE REFRIGERATORS?

Side-by-side refrigerators feature a top-to-bottom design and consist of two narrow doors. One side is dedicated to the refrigerator and the other contains the freezer. Plus, side-by-side refrigerators let you keep fresh and frozen ingredients at eye level for added convenience if you often find yourself reaching for both.

Maytag^® side-by-side refrigerators make it easy to find your favorites fast, with some selections like this Maytag^® 36-inch side-by-side refrigerator offering BrightSeries^™ LED lighting that is engineered to cast a brighter, whiter light inside the refrigerator.

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WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SIDE-BY-SIDE AND FRENCH DOOR REFRIGERATORS?

	Side-by-side	French door
Configuration	Fridge + freezer side by side	Fridge on top; freezer drawer below
Fresh food access	Some fresh food at eye level	Wide, eye-level fresh food compartment
Freezer access	Some frozen foods at eye level, vertical storage	Frozen food in low pull-out drawer
Shelf width	Narrow shelves	Wide shelves for platters
Capacity	Generally offers more freezer capacity	Generally offers more fresh food capacity
Organization	More freezer shelving and door storage	More flexible fresh food storage
Kitchen traffic flow	Narrow door swing suited to tight spaces	Somewhat narrow doors can help preserve surrounding space

The main differences between French door and side-by-side refrigerators are design and configuration. French door refrigerators have top and bottom sections, whereas side-by-side refrigerators are divided by left and right sections.

Because of their different designs, these two types of refrigerators often have different capacities and are typically utilized differently depending on your lifestyle. For example, the large refrigerator section in French door models can help you organize your refrigerator items.

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING

When deciding between a side-by-side or French door refrigerator, you should take each model’s capacity, size, additional features and your household’s needs into account. Keep reading to discover more details about each of these aspects and reference the refrigerator buying guide to help you make your decision.

1. CAPACITY

Both French door and side-by-side refrigerators offer a comparable amount of capacity, but you should consider which option’s layout fits your needs. Options like this Maytag^® 36-inch wide French door refrigerator, which comes with a Wide-N-Fresh^™ Deli Drawer, may be a better option if you typically buy more fresh produce and store wider items.

However, if you want a refrigerator with a streamlined layout that keeps items at eye level and offers plenty of freezer space and visibility, options like this Maytag^® 36-inch side-by-side refrigerator model might be more suitable. Whichever you choose, make sure the fridge has features that can keep up with your lifestyle. The Metal Shelf on select Maytag^® refrigerators, for instance, gives the inside a bold look that’s as durable as it is distinct.

Plus, keep in mind that refrigerator dimensions and refrigerator capacity are two different things: Dimensions tell you how much physical space the refrigerator takes up, while capacity tells you how much storage space it has inside.

Learning how to organize your side-by-side refrigerator and how to organize your French door refrigerator will help you maximize your appliance’s space.

2. SIZES

Although their capacity is generally comparable, side-by-side and French door refrigerators have unique dimensions. Before purchasing your kitchen appliance, it’s best to understand the size and measurements of refrigerators. Doing so will help you have a seamless installation process and ensure your refrigerator fits your current layout.

Generally, side-by-side refrigerators often range from about 30 to 40 inches wide, 68 to 72 inches tall and 23 to 32 inches deep, with a depth that can extend up to about 45 inches when the doors are fully open. French door refrigerators typically range from about 30 to 36 inches wide, 67 to 70 inches tall and 29 to 35 inches deep.

You may also want to consider counter-depth refrigerators, which are a sleeker, space-saving option. Counter-depth refrigerators give you similar capacity in a refrigerator, but with dimensions that help keep them more flush against your counters.

3. FEATURES

Once you’ve determined whether you want a side-by-side or French door refrigerator, narrow down your options by their features. Understanding the different parts of a refrigerator, along with features such as crisper drawers or ice and water dispensers can help you make an informed purchase.

Three key considerations you may want to think about are lighting, finishes and cleanup. LED lighting can make ingredients easier to spot, while spill-resistant shelves and fingerprint-resistant finishes can help simplify everyday cleaning and exterior dispensers can provide convenient access to ice and water without opening the refrigerator.

For families or large households, seriously consider features that help solve everyday storage problems, like adjustable shelves for tall containers, flexible drawers for produce or frequently used foods, and freezer shelves or baskets that help make frozen items easier to organize and find.

REFRIGERATOR FAQS

Each style of refrigerator is unique and designed to fit a different lifestyle. Discovering which types of refrigerators are the most popular can be helpful, but it can be better to base your purchase on what refrigerator features are most important to you.

French door refrigerators are quite popular because they showcase a wide top portion that can easily display what’s inside. However, side-by-side refrigerators are often ideal, as their vertical storage design helps you keep more items from both the refrigerator and freezer at eye level for easy access.

French door refrigerators and side-by-side refrigerators are comparable when it comes to energy efficiency. If you want to maximize your energy savings, look for refrigerators that are ENERGY STAR^® certified.

Referencing a refrigerator organization guide and using the correct temperature settings for your refrigerator can also help your appliance to function properly and conserve energy.

A side-by-side refrigerator is a strong candidate for a narrow kitchen thanks to its narrow doors that generally need less swing clearance than wider-door models. Many French door models also use somewhat narrow-swing doors versus wider, single door models, but different models vary, so be sure to compare the width, depth and clearance of specific models before choosing.

A side-by-side refrigerator generally has narrow shelves, which can make wide items harder to fit, but some models include dedicated pizza storage. Select refrigerators, like this side-by-side Maytag^® refrigerator, can store two frozen pizza boxes upright and out of the way.

Yes, a side-by-side model can sometimes be a good fit if you often find yourself reaching for frozen favorites. Its freezer runs the full height of the refrigerator, keeping frozen foods at eye level and providing shelves for easy organization and visibility.

Neither configuration is universally “better.” Ultimately, finding your ideal refrigerator depends on your lifestyle, the features you desire and the design you most prefer. When choosing between French door refrigerators vs. side-by-side refrigerators, it’s important to understand that these two options differ in subtle ways.

Generally, a French door refrigerator may be best for you if your family regularly stores large platters, serving trays or bulky groceries and wants more flexible refrigerator space. The wider, eye-level fresh-food compartment makes everyday ingredients easy to see and access.

However, a side-by-side refrigerator may be best for you if you want vertical freezer space with easy visibility, convenient freezer organization with shelves, and often freezer door storage for various items. This configuration can also be a practical choice for tight kitchens, while sometimes offering a lower entry price point than some French door models.

Maytag^® refrigerators come in a variety of styles and sizes and showcase plenty of different features, but each one is designed to be durable and dependable so you can handle whatever the day brings.

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