Bottom Freezer, French Door or Side-by-Side: Picking a Refrigerator Layout

Before you compare finishes, features or price, decide on the layout. The way a refrigerator splits fresh food and freezer space changes how you reach your food every day, how much door clearance you need and what kind of groceries fit comfortably. This guide explains the three most popular layouts so you can pick the one that suits your kitchen and the way you cook.

Bottom freezer refrigerators

A bottom freezer puts the fresh food compartment at the top and a freezer drawer underneath. The refrigerator section is at eye level, so the foods you reach for most are easy to see and grab. The freezer sits low, which suits households that use it less often.

Good for: people who open the fridge many times a day, anyone who wants fresh food at eye level, and kitchens with room for the door to swing open.

Keep in mind: you bend or crouch to use the freezer, and a single wide door needs enough swing space beside it.

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French door refrigerators

A French door refrigerator has two doors that open from the centre across a wide fresh food section, with a freezer drawer below. Because each door is narrower, they need less room to swing than one wide door, and the wide compartment makes space for large platters, trays and party food.

Good for: people who entertain, shop in bulk or cook with large dishes, and kitchens where the walkway is tight.

Keep in mind: the freezer is a drawer at the bottom, so tall items can be harder to store, and the design usually has a larger footprint than a narrow layout.

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Side-by-side refrigerators

A side-by-side refrigerator splits the cabinet into two tall columns: the freezer on one side and the fresh food on the other. Both doors are narrow, so they open easily in a small space, and everything in both sections is within reach without bending.

Good for: narrow kitchens and tight walkways, people who want freezer items at hand, and households that like a dispenser for water or ice when the model offers one.

Keep in mind: the narrow compartments can make it harder to fit wide items such as large trays or a whole pizza box.

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Quick comparison

Questions to ask before you choose

• How do you shop and cook? Big platters and bulk shopping point to a wide fresh food section. Frequent freezer use points to a layout where the freezer is at hand.
• How much room is there to open the doors? Check the clearance on the hinge side and in front of the fridge, and make sure drawers can open fully.
• Can it reach its place? Measure the doorways, hallways and turns on the path from the entrance to the kitchen, not only the opening where it will sit.
• Do you need water or ice? A dispenser or ice maker may need a water line nearby, so plan for it before delivery.
• Freestanding or built-in look? Some people want a refrigerator that sits flush with the cabinets. If that matters to you, compare built-in and panel-ready options too.

How to measure for a refrigerator

Measure the width, height and depth of the space, then add room around the sides, top and back for airflow and so the doors can open. Check the product page for the exact size and clearance details of the refrigerator you like, and compare them with your space before ordering.

Beyond the three layouts

If none of these fit, look at column refrigerators and freezers, which let you choose the fresh food and freezer units separately, or built-in and panel-ready models that blend into your cabinets.

Browse column and drawer refrigerators · Browse built-in and panel-ready refrigerators · See all refrigerators

Not sure which layout suits your kitchen? Contact us and we will help you work it out before you order.