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How to Choose the Right Refrigerator: French Door vs. Side-by-Side vs. Top-Freezer

A refrigerator runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for a decade or more. It's one of the biggest and longest-lasting appliance purchases you'll ever make, so it pays to choose carefully. The good news: once you understand a few basics, picking the right fridge is straightforward, and buying smart can save you hundreds of dollars. Here's how to get it right.

Step 1: Measure your space before you fall in love

The most common (and most expensive) mistake is ordering a fridge that won't fit. Before you shop, grab a tape measure and write down three numbers for the opening where your fridge will live: width, height, and depth.

Then add breathing room. Refrigerators need air to run efficiently, so leave roughly 1 cm on each side, about 1–2 cm on top, and 5 cm at the back for ventilation and the water line. Don't forget to check that the doors can swing fully open, and measure your hallways, doorways, and any tight corners on the delivery path. A fridge that fits the kitchen but not the front door helps no one.

Fridge widths are fairly standard, which is why we group ours that way: 30-inch, 33-inch, and 36-inch. Knowing your width narrows the search instantly.

Step 2: Pick the configuration that fits your life

There are three popular layouts, and the right one depends on how you shop, cook, and use your kitchen.

French door

Two doors up top open to a wide fridge compartment, with a freezer drawer (or two) below. French door models put fresh food at eye level, offer the widest shelves for platters and pizza boxes, and tend to be the most energy-efficient layout because you open only half the fridge at a time. They're ideal for families and anyone who cooks a lot. Most French door fridges are 33 or 36 inches wide.

Side-by-side

The fridge and freezer sit next to each other in two tall columns. You get generous freezer space at eye level, and the narrow doors are great for tight kitchens where a wide door can't swing open. The trade-off is that neither side is very wide, so large or bulky items can be a squeeze.

Top-freezer

The classic layout: freezer on top, fridge below. It's the most affordable, the most reliable (fewer gadgets to fail), and often the roomiest per dollar. If you want maximum storage on a budget and don't need water dispensers or smart features, a top-freezer is hard to beat.

Step 3: Weigh capacity and the features you'll actually use

As a rough guide, plan on about 4–6 cubic feet of fridge space per adult in your household. Beyond size, think about which features earn their keep: adjustable and gallon-door shelves add real flexibility, while an in-door water and ice dispenser is convenient but adds cost and one more part that can eventually need service. Look for an ENERGY STAR rating too—an efficient fridge quietly saves you money on your hydro bill every single month it's plugged in.

Step 4: This is where the savings live

Here's the part big-box stores won't tell you: a brand-new fridge loses a big chunk of its "value" the moment it's delivered, and you're often paying a premium for a sealed box. At Oxbury Appliances, we carry the same top brands in three ways that can save you serious money:

  • New Box — factory-fresh units, priced well below typical big-box retail.
  • Open Box – Scratch & Dent — fully functional appliances with minor cosmetic marks (often on a side that faces a wall anyway) at a steep discount.
  • Factory Refurbished — inspected, tested, and restored to working order for the lowest price of all.

On a large refrigerator, choosing open-box or refurbished over new can put hundreds of dollars back in your pocket—for a fridge that keeps your food just as cold. A small cosmetic scratch has zero effect on how well it runs.

Ready to shop by size?

Now that you know your width and your preferred style, browse our refrigerator collections and compare New Box, Open Box, and Refurbished prices side by side:

Measure once, buy smart, and let Oxbury Appliances help you keep more money in your pocket. All prices in CAD.

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