buying guide · measuring guide · refrigerator · tips ·

How to Measure for a New Refrigerator (So Delivery Day Goes Perfectly)

You found the perfect refrigerator at a great price — and then delivery day arrives and it won't fit through the front door. It happens more often than you'd think, and it's completely avoidable. Before you buy your next fridge, grab a tape measure and spend ten minutes on the steps below. Your delivery crew (and your back) will thank you.

Step 1: Measure the Opening — Width, Height, and Depth

Width: Measure the space between your cabinets or walls at the top, middle, and bottom of the opening — older homes especially can be out of square. Use the smallest of the three numbers. Most Canadian kitchens are built for a 30", 33", or 36" wide refrigerator.

Height: Measure from the floor to the bottom of any upper cabinets or bulkhead above the fridge space. Again, measure at both the front and back of the opening.

Depth: Measure from the back wall to the front edge of your counters. A standard-depth fridge will stick out past the counter by several inches; a counter-depth model sits nearly flush for a built-in look but gives up some interior capacity.

Step 2: Leave Room to Breathe

Refrigerators need clearance to run efficiently and to open properly. As a rule of thumb, allow:

  • 1/2" to 1" on each side of the cabinet opening
  • 1" above the unit for airflow
  • 1" to 2" behind for coils, water lines, and the plug

So if your opening is exactly 36" wide, a true 36" fridge is a squeeze — check the spec sheet, because a "36 inch" model is often 35 3/4" wide for exactly this reason.

Step 3: Check the Door Swing

Think about which way the fridge door will open. Is there a wall or an island beside it? French-door and side-by-side models need less swing room than a single full-width door. If your fridge sits next to a wall, make sure the door can open at least 90 degrees — ideally more — so crisper drawers slide out fully. Many models have reversible doors, which can solve a tight layout.

Step 4: Measure the Path Into Your Home

This is the step everyone forgets. Measure every doorway, hallway, stair turn, and tight corner between the curb and your kitchen. Compare the narrowest point against the fridge's depth without handles (most doors and handles can be removed for delivery, and spec sheets list this measurement). Watch out for door hinges and doorknobs that eat into your clearance — a "32 inch" doorway is often closer to 30" of usable space.

Step 5: Match the Size to Your Household

As a quick guide, plan on roughly 4 to 6 cubic feet of refrigerator space per adult. A couple does well with 18–22 cu. ft.; a family of four or five typically wants 22–28 cu. ft. Bigger isn't always better — an oversized, half-empty fridge costs more to run.

The Smart Way to Buy Once You Know Your Size

Once you know exactly what fits, you don't need to pay full big-box price for it. At Oxbury Appliances, the same brand-name refrigerators sell for hundreds less as open-box, scratch & dent, or factory refurbished units — same performance, same fit, much friendlier price tag in CAD.

We've organized our refrigerators by width, so finding your fit takes seconds:

Measured up? Shop refrigerators by size and save on top brands — new box, open box, and factory refurbished, all backed by Oxbury Appliances.

Back to News