best counter-depth refrigerators (2022 update)

the best counter-depth refrigerator is probably the one you can buy and have delivered without waiting six months.

refrigerators have been affected more by supply chain issues than any other appliance. that's saying something because other appliances aren't exactly brimming with stock either.

this year, the "best" refrigerators also reflect availability. this article will only discuss what you can buy now with one exception.

you will learn which counter-depth refrigerators are available in various sizes like 28-inch, 33-inch, and 36-inch widths.

these refrigerators have new features for keeping food fresh, so we tested the top brands with the same fruit and vegetables over four weeks.

there are tons of brands to consider, like samsung, lg, kitchenaid, sub-zero, thermador, jennair, bosch, ge, frigidaire, electrolux, beko, blomberg, and whirlpool.

however, samsung, kitchenaid, jennair, and whirlpool currently have inventory issues.

we'll also cover the most reliable counter-depth refrigerator brands to help you with your decision.

a product can only be great if it works in your home.

many brands market well but perform poorly. some need service 75-100% of the time just in the first year.

let's look at the best counter-depth refrigerators, the different types, and how to buy them.

short on time? get our free counter depth refrigerator buying guide

best counter-depth refrigerators for 2022

best 28-inch counter-depth top mount refrigerator:beko bftf2716ssim- $779

availability: in stock

beko has the best assortment of smaller counter-depth refrigerators, especially at 24, 28, and 30-inch sizes to fit multiple cabinet sizes.

this unit solves problems, especially in tighter spaces, as it's designed to fit within a 28-inch space.

counter-depth refrigerators have a more sleek aesthetic, so you don't see the sides protruding into your kitchen. however, less depth does cut the overall cubic footage. you can buy standard-depth refrigerators for less money.

beko offers more features in terms of keeping food fresh longer.they feature twin cooling with two evaporators, so the warmer, more humid air does not blend with the freezer's drier, colder air.

the odors from the refrigerator will not be trapped in your freezer, so your food, like your ice cream, will taste better.

beko's active blue light feature renders similar lighting as the sun tricking fruit and vegetables into extended photosynthesis. it sounds crazy, but beko came in second for keeping food fresh for four weeks.

best 30-inch counter-depth refrigerator:beko bfbf3018ss- $1,449

availability: in stock

you have plenty of choices at 30 inches wide. you can spend $7,000+ for a sub-zero, thermador, bosch, and miele, or you can buy a beko refrigerator for $1,449.

best 33-inch counter-depth refrigerator:ge gwe19jylfs- $1,999

availability: in stock

ge is one of the only french door refrigerator brands worth considering at 33 inches. it has an internal ice maker and cooling settings.

ge typically has better service and has been more reliable than most brands.if you are buying from a store without service, repair has to be a consideration.

best 36-inch counter-depth refrigerators for 2022

most reliable counter-depth refrigerator:lg lfxc22526s- $2,699

availability: in stock

lg was one of the first twin evaporator refrigerators. they offer twin evaporators plus six sensors to monitor the refrigerator's temperature.

most of these refrigerators on this list have more sophisticated temperature controls.many brands like whirlpool, kitchenaid, jennair, amana, frigidaire, and electrolux still use single compressors.

lg also was an early pioneer of wi-fi. i don't think wi-fi is a must-have feature just yet. however, they will test the service and automatically send a service technician.

lastly, lg has the best warranty, five years full on the sealed system plus ten years on the compressor part. they did have issues ending in a class-action lawsuit in 2019.

lg has become widely popular over the last few years. just make sure it can be serviced in your area.

beko bffd3626ss- $2,999

availability: in stock

beko's 36-inch counter-depth refrigerators are available in three and four doors.

beko has some unique claims for keeping food fresh longer.the crispers have blue lighting mimicking sunlight to keep food fresh. sunlight does render blue on the kelvin scale.

their "everfresh" crispers are gasketed to keep air and moisture out. the refrigerator directs the airflow into the crispers through four ports in the back.

beko has two evaporators, like ge, so the refrigerator's warmer moisture air doesn't blend with the dryer, colder air of your freezer.

beko also has an ion generator called ionguard. it sends out negative ions to counteract positive ions of odors for a fresher-smelling refrigerator. so, your pudding shouldn't taste like your fresh tuna or salmon.

i imagine you are skeptical as i was. however, we tested it against sub-zero, thermador, bosch, and samsung. beko was the best of the freestanding refrigerators.

if beko does have an issue, at 19.86 cubic feet, it is one of the smaller counter-depth refrigerators.

you also have to check for service in your area.

bosch b36ct80sns- $3,499

availability: in stock

this bosch counter-depth refrigerator is brand new and built by bosch rather than outsourced.

bosch is the only counter-depth refrigerator with two compressors for the refrigerator and freezer.the warmer, moister air of the refrigerator does not blend with the drier, colder air of the freezer.

sub-zero pioneered the twin compressor years ago. it's standard on all their refrigerator and freezer combos. beko, samsung, lg, and ge have two evaporators to separate the air. two compressors maintain temperature better.

it also has metal on the back wall of the refrigerator.metal absorbs cold better than plastic, so you want to place your milk and juice towards the back to retain the coldest temperature.

bosch also features an ethylene filter. spoiling foods will emit ethylene gas. this gas can cross-contaminate other foods.

through their homeconnect app, you can control the temperature of your refrigerator on your phone.

bosch also offers this refrigerator with different handles. the design is well done. it's a good-looking appliance.

best counter-depth refrigerator for capacity:ge profile pye22kynfs- $3,499

availability: in stock

ge profile is another available wi-fi enabled counter-depth refrigerator with two evaporators and the choice of a dispenser in the door. with wi-fi, you can control the refrigerator's temperature by your phone.

however, ge's best feature is size. it's 23 cubic feet instead of 22 cubic feet for lg, 21 cubic feet for bosch, and 19.86 cubic feet for beko.

reliability is decent as well.

best premium counter-depth french door refrigerator:signature kitchen suite sksfd3613s- $3,999

availability: in stock

this refrigerator is the most well featured for a 36-inch counter-depth.

it features door-in-door, a fancy term for an extra door on the refrigerator side to access your milk and juices.

the back is all stainless steel. stainless absorbs cold better, so place your items from the grocery next to the stainless for a faster cold.

you also have two ice makers producing regular ice and "craft ice." "craft ice" are larger, slower dissolving ice cubes, perfect for premium cocktails. you see many of these cubes in high-end restaurants.

their controls are the most robust in the industry, with two evaporators and nine sensors to monitor the temperature.

sks has a great kitchen package with a convection five-burner range, over-the-range microwave convection, and a 40 db (decibel) dishwasher.

a good lower-priced option is the lg lrfxc2416s at $3,599, just without the stainless back, door-in-door, and one-year instead of a 3-year warranty.

best panel-ready counter-depth refrigerator:fisher & paykel rs36a72j1n- $3,999

availability: temporarily out of stock

you won't be able to buy this for three months or longer because it's back-ordered. the fisher & paykel is the only refrigerator to accept panels on this list.

it's also $6,000 less than a sub-zero and other panel-ready refrigerators.

by the way, yes, i know kitchenaid has a cabinet panel option, but you see the black door frame. it detracts from the look, isn't integrated, and the door will protrude.

how to buy a counter-depth refrigerator

at one time, this article had seven different manufacturers with widely different products.

for the next two years, the best counter-depth refrigerator is less about brands and features and more about availability and reliability.

also, for packages, you have to look at each appliance individually and consider delivery dates.

so be careful, always ask for realistic delivery dates and inquire about service before any purchase.

reliability

ge is the best if you are looking for a technical product with an ice dispenser.ge has great service in many areas, but you have to inquire who will be fixing your new refrigerator before buying it.

beko seems high but most of these issues relate to handles issues, not the actual refrigerator.

we calculated our reliability based on how many french door counter-depth refrigerators were sold and serviced by brand.

with 35 techs in the field, we logged over 40,000 service calls from december 2020 to october 2021.

the following service rates are based on a minimum of 90 refrigerators sold and a total sample of over 2500 products sold.

reliability for counter-depth french door refrigerators for 2022

however, reliability varies greatly between brands. you must be aware of potential problems before you buy any product.

we have stopped selling any brand with a disproportionate amount of service.

it's important to note that some brands have over a 50% service rate within the first year. many of the problems stem from an ice dispenser leak.

counter-depth refrigerators have ice dispensers in the warmer refrigerator instead of the freezer like a side-by-side refrigerator.

at a 15.5% service rate, you will likely need service within five years.

reliability is now the biggest issue because parts to fix appliances are even worse than new product availability.

it is conceivable you could wait 60 days for a repair.

size

refrigerators follow the size of cabinet widths.the standard sizes for refrigeration and cabinets are 24, 30, 33, 36, 42, and 48 inches, with 30 and 36 inches being the most popular.

however, heights and depths have changed as refrigerators have become taller. if you are replacing a refrigerator, measure the space, not the existing refrigerator.

you also want to measure all the doorways and entry points before delivery because your hallways and doorways may not accommodate a new refrigerator.

here is a delivery checklist to help you with other aspects of delivery.

counter-depth refrigerator types

the most popular counter-depth refrigerator is a french door with the refrigerator on the top and freezer on the bottom.there are many types, such as two-drawer, french doors, four doors, and five drawers. you would have to assess how much freezer versus refrigerator space is needed before choosing a type.

top mounts are inexpensive and have a good usable size. side-by-side refrigerators have more freezer capacity and are less expensive than counter-depth french door refrigerators.

when is the best time to buy a counter-depth refrigerator?

prices have spiked as supply remains low. you will not receive the robust rebates of years past.

then again, prices won't increase during these times either.

best times to buy kitchen appliances:

• presidents' day: february
• memorial day: may
• july 4th: july
• ma tax-free weekend: august
• labor day: september
• black friday: all of november

read more:how to buy a counter-depth refrigerator

frequently asked questions

1. what is a counter-depth refrigerator?

unlike a normal refrigerator, a counter-depth refrigerator does not protrude from the cabinets. it's better looking because you won't see the sides jutting out 5-8 inches in your kitchen.

you also have the benefit of having a shallower refrigerator in a galley kitchen or with an island design. there will be more room between the refrigerator and the island itself.

2. what's the difference between standard depth and counter-depth refrigerators?

regular counter-depths are shallower refrigerators. the doors will be the only depth sticking out past the cabinet or countertop.

3. what's the difference between counter-depth, integrated, and professional refrigerators?

while they are all called counter-depth, there are significant differences between the three styles.regular counter-depth refrigeratorsare shallower refrigerators. typically only the doors will protrude from the cabinets.

integrated refrigeratorsfit totally inside the standard cabinet, so they are seamless and indistinguishable from the cabinet itself. the doors do protrude on the pro and regular counter-depth refrigerators. integrated refrigerators, like professional refrigerators, will cost a lot more.

professional refrigeratorsare taller at 84 inches and have the compressors on the top with a "restaurant" or commercial look for a much higher price of $8,000-16,000.

upcoming webinar: how to buy counter-depth and undercounter refrigeration

don't miss our upcomingwebinaron choosing the right counter-depth and undercounter refrigeration for your kitchen!

in this free webinar, you'll learn the following:

• the three types of counter-depth refrigerators
• the best brands and models to consider
• one new counter-depth refrigerator worth considering
• we'll also cover the basics of wine storage and undercounter refrigeration, like beverage centers, drawers, and ice makers.

sign up for free today byclicking here.

additional resources

download the yalecounter depth refrigerator buying guidewith features, specs, and inside buying tips for regular, pro, and integrated counter-depth refrigerators. well over 1 million people have read a yale guide.

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