Pick one of the best side-by-side refrigerators; your house can be filled with all the chilled food and drinks you need. With all the space these units offer, you could also keep more sauces, fresh fruits, and vegetables. Add to that their sleek design, enhancing the look and feel of your kitchen, and you have yourself a top appliance.
One of the great features of these side-by-side refrigerators is that they have double doors, which means two lots of door storage for quick access to drinks, sauces, and whatever else you need. Plus, there are usually many shelves, which allow you to organize your food neatly and quickly. That makes your life easier and can even save you money by keeping the fridge doors closed for longer.
Many top-end models now come with extra features like WiFi and app connectivity, allowing you to control everything wherever you are. Some also have a door-in-door feature that lets you access a small part of the unit without opening the whole door—an ideal way to access regular items without opening the whole fridge and wasting energy.
That said, below are the best side-by-side refrigerators you can buy now. Our list has something for most needs, with more affordable options, larger picks, and feature-rich models. But if none of that suits you, then perhaps you'll want to look at the best French-door refrigerators and freezers, where you might find something more suited to your needs.
The best side-by-side refrigerators we recommend in 2024
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We've rounded up the best side-by-side refrigerators you can currently buy. While we endeavor to review every product we highlight, some of the reviews for this guide are still in progress. However, any unreviewed products will sum up the key specs, features, and user reviews to help you make the best decision for you and your household.
The best side-by-side refrigerator overall
The Samsung RS27T5561SR will surely become your whole family's favorite appliance, with technology more befitting of a smartphone than a side-by-side refrigerator. With Samsung’s ‘Family Hub’ technology, you can download apps to stream your favorite songs and TV shows, link up to your smart doorbell, and see who’s on the porch. Perhaps the most impressive feature you can access from the 27.5-inch touchscreen is the built-in camera inside the fridge, which can update your shopping list to tell you what you need to stock up on.
Aside from all the snazziness, the Samsung RS27T5561SR is also an excellent choice due to its hefty capacity, organization features, and Energy Star certification. It also has a five-year warranty to back it up. As you might have guessed, getting this refrigerator of the future doesn’t come cheap, but it would make a solid investment, given all of its tricks.
The best value side-by-side refrigerator
The Amana ASI2575GRS is a good choice if you need a side-by-side refrigerator with a sizable capacity, which is also a good value for money. It won’t break the bank to add this appliance to your home, and once it’s there, it should be easy to use and organize as you like. Thanks to the adjustable bin doors and shelves, you can position the inside of your fridge to suit the groceries you buy. After all, there’s nothing more annoying than trying to jam that last object into your fridge.
There’s also a built-in ice and water dispenser for a family to use, with different types of ice available. The downside to this model is that it’s not too energy-efficient, and as it isn’t smart-enabled, you can’t control it from your phone. If you overlook these things, the Amana ASI2575GRS is an excellent family-friendly choice.
The best side-by-side refrigerator without an ice maker
Offering great value for money, the Maytag MSS25N4MKZ is a solid choice for those who need plenty of storage space. It doesn’t have an ice dispenser, but that means you’re gaining freezer capacity. A stylish finish is completed with a fingerprint-resistant coating and long door handles - which can be removed if you need to squeeze it through a tight space to fit it.
This Maytag freezer has auto-defrost, and the fridge compartment has a crisper drawer for keeping your vegetables in the best condition possible. The front of this refrigerator has wheels to make installation easier, and for added peace of mind, the compressor has an impressive 10-year warranty.
While it’s not Energy Star certified, this refrigerator works quietly and has efficient LED light bulbs.
The best counter-depth side-by-side refrigerator
The Samsung RS27T5200SR manages to remain counter-depth in size yet offers a whopping 27.4 cubic feet of storage capacity. This is 10% bigger than the last model without changing the outer size. It also looks stunning with that anti-fingerprint stainless steel finish and touch controls on the large space dispenser, which offers chilled water, ice cubes, or crushed ice at a touch.
Inside is an auto ice maker, many shelves, and large two-gallon capacity door bins lit with LED lighting. This is an expensive refrigerator, but running costs are relatively low at $87 per year. The warranty is a year for labor and parts, with up to 10 years for the compressor cover. All that means is that this comes with peace of mind as a standard.
The most reliable side-by-side refrigerator
This is an expensive side-by-side refrigerator, but it's a trustworthy investment that may save you in the long term. The KitchenAid KRSF705HPS doesn't come with the fancy extras we've seen in some of LG's top-of-the-range models, but it's a reliable and well-made fridge for families who want a decent-sized fridge with a long warranty.
The KitchenAid KRSF705HPS is one of the most expensive fridge freezers. However, it comes with high quality and 25cu. ft. capacity you'd expect for this price. Thoughtfully designed with adjustable shelving and a wine rack placed out of kids' reach, this fridge prioritizes reliability and keeping your food fresh. Preserva dual temperature management, humidity-controlled drawers, and FreshFlow air filter will keep your food and fridge fresh and minimize cleaning and spills.
With Energy Star certification to keep energy costs low and a ten-year warranty on the sealed system, the KitchenAid KRSF705HPS is a side-by-side refrigerator for those looking to invest.
The best side-by-side refrigerator for fresh produce
The Frigidaire FRSS2323AB is a real all-rounder. It offers a decent storage capacity of 22.2 cubic feet while keeping the counter depth to 33 inches and wrapping it all up in an attractive finish of metallic stainless steel in black, white, or silver.
This fridge-freezer offers an EvenTemp system, which constantly circulates the cool air and reacts to minor fluctuations, keeping the temperature more consistent. All that should mean your fruit and veg stay fresher for longer. But there are also crisper sections that help to block out cooler air so you can get the longest life out of your fresh produce.
There is an Energy Star rating, so you can rest easy knowing this will go easy on your energy bills. Although controls are in the freezer door, which looks nice with that minimal outside, it means you need to let out the cold every time you want to make an adjustment.
You have ice and water dispensing functions, which does mean you lose some freezer space, but this is generally the case with most models of this style.
The best side-by-side refrigerator for easy access
The LG LRSOS2706D offers an InstaView window, as LG calls it, which allows for a glance at the fridge itself but blacks out when not in use. This allows you to check to see if what you're looking for or want to add to the shopping list is there without you having to spend money on opening the door and losing cool air. This also has a Door Cool airdrop to keep the heat out when the door is opened. So, while this is expensive up-front, it is energy efficient and could save you money in the long term.
This is a 27 cubic feet fridge freezer, so that is a lot of air to keep cool. It also offers special ice as a dual ice maker with craft ice, meaning different shape options. Everything is finished in attractive dark stainless steel, resistant to fingerprint marks, and the door handles are pocket-designed for a sleek finish, enhancing the kitchen this unit lives in. Other features include quiet running, Sabbath Mode, WiFi and app support, a child lock, a touch control ice dispenser, and ceiling LED lighting.
How to choose the best side-by-side refrigerator for you
One of the most important considerations when buying a side-by-side refrigerator is size. How much storage capacity do you need, and, also importantly, how do you need that spaced out? Some units are larger than others while still not taking up much more counter depth, for example. But then there are others with more door bin space, which may serve you better than an extra shelf. So think about how you like to access your fridge and how you will lay everything out before you buy.
Do you need extras? Will you use WiFi and an app, or would that extra cost be better spent on a model that looks more impressive in your kitchen?
Warranty is also worth looking at since this can denote the quality of the build. A long warranty not only means you have peace of mind that you're covered if something should go wrong but also is a stamp of build quality from the manufacturer where they're confident it shouldn't go wrong in that time.
Price is another big factor. While there is an upfront cost to consider, keep running costs in mind. Go larger, and it may cost you more. Go for a model with a door-in-door to save on energy or a better Energy Star rating. you may pay more upfront but make savings over the time you have it in your home.
Side-by-side refrigerator FAQs
How long should a refrigerator last?
We asked experts Vaughn Johnson, brand manager for Maytag, and Elise Barsch, social media manager and copywriter for iFixit, this question. Johnson didn’t give a specific number of years but said the expected life of a refrigerator will depend on usage, environmental conditions, and other factors. Johnson suggested people always check and follow appliance and product use and care instructions.
Barsch cited Wirecutter and other sources to estimate that refrigerators should generally last 10 to 15 years. “Research done in Europe suggests that refrigerator lifespan has decreased over the past couple decades – down from an average lifespan of 20 years in 2000,” Barsch said. She said that while refrigerators don’t last as long as they used to, they are more energy efficient. “Fortunately, legislators in Europe are working to ensure refrigerators are not only more energy efficient while in use, but also more repairable throughout their entire lifespan,” Barsch added.
How much do side-by-side refrigerators cost?
This depends on your budget, the size of your family, and how much electricity costs matter to you. The best side-by-side refrigerators will cost you between $1000 and $2500. However, getting a good side-by-side for less than $1000 is hard.
Energy Star-certified refrigerators will, on average, cost less to run annually. However, the engineering and strict specifications required to gain this certification mean you will often pay significantly more for a refrigerator with this rating.
Our reviews considered estimated annual electricity use and energy costs so you can weigh your options. After all, paying $1000 more for an Energy Star-certified refrigerator if it only saves you $10 annually might not make sense. The environmentally conscious will want to consider that, regardless of expense, these models are better for the environment by not wasting electricity needlessly. After all, refrigerators are typically switched on all year round.
What is the best size for a side-by-side refrigerator?
This really depends on your needs. Side-by-side refrigerators typically have a capacity between 20 and 28 cubic feet (cu. ft.). You'll roughly be able to fit one bag of groceries per cubic foot (depending on how skilled you are at fridge Tetris), which sounds like a lot, but it can add up when you consider frozen goods and essentials that you keep stocked up on year-round.
The best side-by-side refrigerators for big families will be around 25+ cu. ft. in capacity, with models around the 25cu. ft. mark comfortably fitting food for a family of four. The best side-by-side fridges for single people or couples will be smaller, with a capacity between 20 and 25cu. ft., giving plenty of space for smaller shops and less fresh produce.
When considering refrigerator size, consider the shelving in your fridge of choice. Adjustable shelving will enable greater capacity and create more room for bigger items, whereas even larger fridges may not have the best space-saving designs to maximize your fridge capacity.
What features can I get in a side-by-side refrigerator?
Not so long ago, it was rare to find side-by-side refrigerators with thru-the-door ice and water refrigerators. But nowadays, these features seem standard, even in more affordable models. You’d be hard-pressed to find a fridge without them. All the refrigerators we reviewed had this ice and water dispensing function, but if that isn't essential to you, we suggest getting a compact ice-maker to make the most of your freezer space.
Adjustable shelving is increasingly common in side-by-side refrigerators; these allow you to tailor your fridge to your specific groceries and fit bulky items that might be otherwise awkward to fit in. LED lighting is another standard feature of side-by-side refrigerators. It is essential for allowing you to see into all the corners of your appliance and reducing the energy used. This type of lighting can also reduce heat produced within the bulk of the refrigerator.
Modern developments have seen the rise of in-door, food showcase, and InstaView functions, which allow you to see and access a subsection of your appliance without losing heat from the main refrigerator itself. There are other smart touches on the market, including some Wi-Fi-enabled models you can control from your phone, and some even allow you to stream your favorite TV shows and music!
What is a counter-depth refrigerator?
Counter-depth refrigerators are between 25 and 30 inches deep, meaning they sit at the same depth as your kitchen counters for a sleek and built-in feel. However, this shallower depth inevitably compromises fridge space, so if you're looking for a large capacity, you might need to pick substance over style. The best side-by-side counter-depth refrigerators will come in at about 22 cu. ft, whereas larger standard-depth models will go up to around 28 cu. ft., but will stick out from the counter.
Door-in-door refrigerators minimize energy loss by letting out less cold from your refrigerator each time you want to access your fresh food staples. These smaller, easy-access fridge compartments let you store essentials like milk and butter in a separate compartment, which means less rummaging each time you want to find a commonly-used item and less temperature fluctuation to your regular refrigerator compartment, where you can store larger or less-used items such as meat and vegetables.
The latest developments in side-by-side fridges introduce the 'InstaView' panel to these door-in-door compartments, meaning you can simply knock on the fridge door to see the contents illuminated. There is no need to open your refrigerator to see how much milk is left, which means yet more energy-saving solutions for the tech-savvy and environmentally conscious.
How we choose the best side-by-side refrigerators
Since we started reviewing side-by-side refrigerators in 2011, we have done much research to find the best units available. We know that buying a fridge is one of the most important purchases, so we've poured hours into research to give you informed advice. We evaluated refrigerators with various features, capacities, and price points to ensure those with various needs and budgets will find our reviews useful. We conducted extensive online research, comparing product pages and looking for specific standout features in different models.
More expensive models often have extra features, like door-in-door access that lets you quickly access snacks and save energy by limiting the amount of cold air that escapes. Smart features, which allow you to check the temperature from your smartphone, are also understandably more common on those more expensive models. While this technology is nifty, getting a great side-by-side refrigerator is unnecessary - especially if you're on a budget or have specific measurement and capacity needs. We also reviewed some more no-frills side-by-side fridge freezers for people who'd rather spend money on reliable and carefully crafted models without fancy extras.
