Weindependently evaluateall of our recommendations.

If you select links we provide, we may receive compensation.

We love these sleek, counter-depth designs for a built-in look.

A person pressing a button on the Whirlpool side by side 20.6 Counter Depth

Credit:Better Homes & Gardens

Unfortunately, they often come with a higher price tag thana standard refrigerator.

The more affordable solution to a not-so-budget-friendly problem?

Counter-depth refrigerators are designed to align flush with yourkitchen cabinets, offering a streamlined appearance, he says.

Best Buy KitchenAid 20 Cu. Ft. French Door Counter-Depth Refrigerator

Credit: Best Buy

Typically, they havea depth of 24 to 25 inches, excluding doors and handles.

They may offerslightly less interior spacecompared to standard-depth refrigerators, So says.

For more on how we tested counter-depth refrigerators, seeour testing processbelow.

The KitchenAid - 20 Cu. Ft. French Door Refrigerator in a kitchen

Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

The freezer space is limited, making it difficult to store larger items like frozen pizza.

Both the shelves and drawers were easy to clean by wiping with a cloth.

Unfortunately, the stainless steel finish is not fingerprint-proof or resistant so we cleaned it with a microfiber cloth.

An opened empty KitchenAid - 20 Cu. Ft. French Door Refrigerator

Another helpful feature was thedoor alarm.

This KitchenAid refrigerator has aninternal water dispenser.

Its not located in the door of the refrigerator or freezer like standard fridges.

A finger pressing a button on the KitchenAid - 20 Cu. Ft. French Door Refrigerator

Instead, its on the inside of the refrigerator, and the designfrees up more storage space.

Theice makeris located in the freezer drawer.

It constantly makes new ice to get to maintain a full tray at all times.

A close-up of filled compartments in the KitchenAid - 20 Cu. Ft. French Door Refrigerator

The refrigerators noise level is noticeable while it is in operation.

Well-designed and spacious,this Whirlpool side-by-side refrigeratoris our pick for the best side-by-side refrigerator after testing.

It even had plenty of room for larger items like serving platters.

A close-up of an opened filled KitchenAid - 20 Cu. Ft. French Door Refrigerator

Cleaning the refrigeratorwas easy and straightforward.

We simply wiped down the stainless steel exterior on the outside with cleaning products.

On the inside, we wiped down the frameless glass shelves with a cleaning cloth.

A hand using a pink rag on the KitchenAid - 20 Cu. Ft. French Door Refrigerator

This refrigerator has anexterior water and ice dispenser, with fresh filtered water and ice readily available.

Theres an adaptive defrost feature that monitors the freezer environment and runs the cycle only when necessary.

It wasone of the loudest refrigeratorswe tested between the constant hum and the automatic ice maker.

The KitchenAid - 20 Cu. Ft. French Door Refrigerator in a kitchen

The stainless steel exterior is prone to scratching and shows fingerprints easily.

When it comes to space, this refrigerator makes the most of its13.51 cubic feet of capacity.

Withthree upper shelvesandsoft-close two drawers, we found there was plenty of room for groceries.

An opened empty KitchenAid - 20 Cu. Ft. French Door Refrigerator

Theres also plenty of room for a pizza box.

The refrigerators door shelves were able to be configured so you can fit tall bottles and containers.

Thefreezer has 6.74 cubic feet of space, plus anicemakerin the freezer.

A finger pressing a button on the KitchenAid - 20 Cu. Ft. French Door Refrigerator

This counter-depth refrigerator hasa dual-dispense pitcher, which automatically refills with water whenever its placed in its dock.

This made putting away groceries a bit more difficult.

The refrigerator is simple to clean, mostly thanks to the shelves and drawers that slide out.

A close-up of filled compartments in the KitchenAid - 20 Cu. Ft. French Door Refrigerator

Theres not an exterior ice dispenser.

Afilter management featurelet us know when it was time to change the water or air filter.

There are also plenty of practical features to love as well.

A close-up of an opened filled KitchenAid - 20 Cu. Ft. French Door Refrigerator

The doors on both sides arewide enough to hold two gallons of milkeach while remaining totally sturdy.

There are also twodrawers for fruit and vegetables, as well as a full-sized meat and cheese drawer.

Thefreezer has a pull-out drawerthats divided into two sections with a shelf that also holds the ice container.

A hand using a pink rag on the KitchenAid - 20 Cu. Ft. French Door Refrigerator

However, theresno exterior ice dispenserin the door of the refrigerator, which we missed during testing.

First, we evaluated the design of each refrigerator.

Then, once we collected this information, we determined each refrigerators overall value.

Lowe’s Whirlpool 33 inch Side by Side Refrigerator

Credit: Lowe’s

Instead, they sit flush with a countertop and cabinets.

They can measure 30 to 36 inches wide and sometimes 70 or more inches tall.

In some instances, counter-depth refrigerators have less capacity than standard-depth models, So says.

The Whirlpool 33 inch Side by Side in a kitchen

Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

Their design aligns withkitchen counters, which can reduce interior space.

Features

Before shopping for a refrigerator,determine what features are important to you.

Your Questions, Answered

How much should you expect to spend on a counter-depth refrigerator?

A person grabbing an item from the Whirlpool 33 inch Side by Side

The most affordable refrigerator on our list is theWhirlpool side-by-side refrigeratorretails for around $1,700.

Whats the lifespan of a counter-depth refrigerator?

The lifespan of a refrigerator isnt determined by its depth, So says.

Both sides opened of the Whirlpool 33 inch Side by Side

The lifespan of a counter-depth refrigerator is the same as a standard refrigerator.

On average, counter-depth refrigeratorscan last anywhere between 10 to 14 years, with some models lasting longer.

What is BHG Recommends?

A hand holding a freezer compartment of the Whirlpool 33 inch Side by Side

Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed ourBHG Recommends seal of approval.

In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.

A close-up of the water dispenser of the Whirlpool 33 inch Side by Side

A close-up of a person cleaning the Whirlpool 33 inch Side by Side

The Whirlpool 33 inch Side by Side in a kitchen

A person grabbing an item from the Whirlpool 33 inch Side by Side

Both sides opened of the Whirlpool 33 inch Side by Side

A hand holding a freezer compartment of the Whirlpool 33 inch Side by Side

A close-up of the water dispenser of the Whirlpool 33 inch Side by Side

A close-up of a person cleaning the Whirlpool 33 inch Side by Side

GE French-Door Refrigerator

Credit: GE

Wayfair LG 27 cu. ft. Smart Counter-Depth MAX French Door Refrigerator

Credit: Wayfair

an opened LG 27 cu. ft. Smart Counter-Depth MAX French Door Refrigerator filled with items

Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

The LG 27 cu. ft. Smart Counter-Depth MAX French Door Refrigerator installed in a kitchen

A close-up of a hand using a rag on the handle of the LG 27 cu. ft. Smart Counter-Depth MAX French Door Refrigerator

A hand holding a bottle to the water dispenser of the LG 27 cu. ft. Smart Counter-Depth MAX French Door Refrigerator

Two hands holding an iPad with an app showing details about the LG 27 cu. ft. Smart Counter-Depth MAX French Door Refrigerator

The inside of the bottom drawer of the LG 27 cu. ft. Smart Counter-Depth MAX French Door Refrigerator

an opened LG 27 cu. ft. Smart Counter-Depth MAX French Door Refrigerator filled with items

The LG 27 cu. ft. Smart Counter-Depth MAX French Door Refrigerator installed in a kitchen

A close-up of a hand using a rag on the handle of the LG 27 cu. ft. Smart Counter-Depth MAX French Door Refrigerator

A hand holding a bottle to the water dispenser of the LG 27 cu. ft. Smart Counter-Depth MAX French Door Refrigerator

Two hands holding an iPad with an app showing details about the LG 27 cu. ft. Smart Counter-Depth MAX French Door Refrigerator

The inside of the bottom drawer of the LG 27 cu. ft. Smart Counter-Depth MAX French Door Refrigerator