Best French Door Refrigerator Buying Guide

French door refrigerators are refrigerators that offer a timeless design with modern practicality. Use our guide to find the best French door refrigerator for your kitchen.

What is a French door refrigerator?

It is a kitchen appliance with side by side doors on top and a bottom freezer.

What is a 4-door refrigerator?

Most 4-door refrigerators feature French doors on top, a pullout middle drawer and a bottom freezer. Other 4-door refrigerators have four hinged doors that form a perfect quadrant. Some models meet ADA Regulations and feature controls that are positioned within arm's reach and allow one-hand operation.

How are they different from other types?

In addition to overall look of the appliance, a 4-door refrigerator has a different interior layout. Often, they have a greater usable capacity than traditional refrigerators.

Why should I consider in a French door refrigerator?

French door refrigerators are a great combination of style and practical layout for better accessibility of items.

Are French door refrigerators reliable?

French door refrigerators are as reliable as any other style of refrigerator on the market.

Are French door refrigerators worth it?

The best refrigerator will be the one that best fits your needs. French door refrigerators will give you these benefits:

• More room in your kitchen: French-doors need less clearance space.
• Organization: With multiple drawers and shelves, it's easy to store fresh food.
• Energy efficient: opening one door at a time keeps cold air in.

Why is it called a French door refrigerator?

They are named after interior design French doors which are double doors typically used as openings for porches and balconies.

Do French door refrigerators cost more?

French door refrigerators typically cost more than the traditional top freezer refrigerators.

Which is better: Side-by-side or French door refrigerators?

Both types of refrigerators have their pros and cons, and picking between the two is largely a matter of preference. Both types are good picks for narrow kitchens since neither one requires you to open a door that runs the full width of the fridge. The main difference is the location of the freezer. French door models offer a little more room in the fridge section than comparable side-by-side models.

What Size Is a French Door Refrigerator?

French door refrigerators are typically wider than the traditional top or bottom freezer refrigerators.

What are common French door refrigerator capacities?

Depending on the brand, French door refrigerators capacities range from under 19 cubic feet for small fridges and up to 33 cubic feet for mega fridges. Here are some common capacity ranges sizes for French door refrigerators:

• Small capacity French door: 19 cu.ft. and under
• Mid-size capacity French door: 20-24 cu.ft.
• Large capacity French door: 25-29 cu.ft.
• Mega capacity French door: 30-33 cu.ft.
• Mid-size counter depth French door: 20-24 cu. ft.

What dimensions are French door refrigerators?

The average height and width French door refrigerators are 68 inches and 35 inches, respectively, with a standard depth of 29 inches. The average dimensions for a mid-size French door refrigerator is 68 inches high by 35 inches wide and 30 inches counter depth. A large French door refrigerator is 68 inches high by 36 inches wide and 40 inches standard depth.

What does counter depth French door refrigerator mean?

A counter depth refrigerator is shallower than a standard depth fridge, so they only protrude a few inches past the edge of the counter. They don't sit flush with kitchen counters because they still need clearance space for the doors. The depth range will depend on the brand, but typically they are a few inches more than 24 inches deep (the standard counter width), not including the doors and handles.

Standard counter-depth fridge dimensions tend to be wider, around 36 inches, and slightly taller. The capacity of counter depth refrigerators are about the same as regular French door refrigerators due to the added width and height.

What is the average width of a French door refrigerator?

The average width of a French Door refrigerator ranges from 30 to 36 inches.

What is the standard width of a French door refrigerator?

The standard width of a French Door refrigerator is 35 inches wide.

What is the largest French door refrigerator?

The largest on the market at just over 28 cu. ft. French door refrigerator. Sam's Club has a variety of 28 cubic feet refrigerators at members-only prices.

Brands of French Door Refrigerators at Sam's Club

Sam's Club carries the top brands, styles and varieties of French door refrigerators, including large capacity and French door counter-depth refrigerators.

• Samsung: from counter-depth to stainless steel, Samsung has the perfect fridge that meets your needs and complements your kitchen.
• LG: affordability and hi-tech style, LG has the right refrigerator to fit your budget and style.
• Thor Kitchen: offers state-of-the-art cooling and freezing combined with a professional look and functionality.

What to Look For in a French Door Refrigerator

French door refrigerators have come a long way since their introduction back in the late 1990s. Now, there's a myriad of finishes, features and high-tech functionality available. Here's what to look for when shopping for a new refrigerator:

Size

Consider the width of space the refrigerator will be occupying. The average size of a French door refrigerator is 68 inches by 35 inches by 29 inches deep.

3 doors or 4 doors

Three and four door refrigerators are great options for large families. French door refrigerators will either feature two outwards-opening doors or 1-2 freezer drawers which slide out horizontally. The smaller, optional drawer on a 4-door configuration can be either a fridge drawer or freezer drawer depending on the brand. The extra drawer offers immediate access to certain food items rather than opening the whole refrigerator.

Features

Refrigerators at all price points are are loaded with options to make your life easier and more organized. French door models are usually have plenty of features to suit your family's needs:

• Finishes: Stainless steel is still the most popular finish because of its neutral, unifying look. Consider a fingerprint resistant stainless steel or black stainless steel finish to hide smudges. Classic colors like black and white work with any decor.
• Shelving: Refrigerator glass shelves that you can rearrange, split to different heights independently and adjust to fit taller items will help keep you organized. Adjustable shelves, gallon door bins and humidity-controlled crispers make access to stored items easier.
• Water/Ice Maker: A water dispenser and ice maker are great features to look for in a new refrigerator. Some water dispensers shut off automatically once they detect that your glass, pitcher or pot is full.
• Energy Usage: An Energy Star certified refrigerator will be labeled with all of its energy-saving specifications. Also check its Energy Star rating; the more stars, the more energy efficient the appliance.
• Food Showcase Door: provides quick access to everyday items while minimizing the loss of cool air.
• Twin Cooling: dual cooling prevents spoiling and freezer burn for fresher, better-tasting food
• Noises and beeps: If you are a fan of notifications, then a smart fridge that lets you know when it's time to change the water filter is perfect for you. Smart fridges also features smart-home voice control platforms, LED light, Wi-Fi, instaview doors and family hub tech.
• Locks: There are some situations that may require you to use refrigerator locks. A child lock feature is an option that is an available feature with some models.
• Filters: Some refrigerators have both air and water filters. Filters will keep water tasting fresh and the air in your fridge odor free.

FAQ - French Door Refrigerator

What is the top rated French door refrigerator?

The highest rated French door refrigerator at Sam's Club is the LG-LFXS26973D Smart Wi-Fi enabled refrigerator in black stainless steel. Some of its features include:

• Dual Ice Maker
• Smart Cooling System
• SmartThinQ Technology

How long should a refrigerator last?

The average lifespan of a refrigerator is between 10 to 20 years.

Can you lay a French door refrigerator down?

It's generally recommended that you transport a refrigerator upright. A refrigerator contains oil in the compressor. Laying a fridge on its side may cause the oil to travel up the tubing away from the compressor. If transporting the refrigerator on its side, wait at least 3 hours before plugging in a new fridge to allow the oil to move back to the compressor.

Does Sam's Club deliver and install French door refrigerators?

Sam's Club offers home delivery service which includes Basic Installation1 to set up your new appliance as well as haul-away of your old appliance.

What temperature should a French door fridge be set?

The ideal temperature settings for the French door refrigerator are 0 F (-18 C) for the freezer and 37 F (3 C) for the refrigerator.