Guide
How to measure your fridge space
Five minutes with a tape measure saves most fridge-buying mistakes. Measure the space, not your old fridge, and write every number down in millimetres.
You’ll need
- A metal tape measure (a cloth one stretches).
- Something to write on.
- A torch for the back of the space, if your old fridge is still there.
1. Width
Measure between whatever is either side: cabinets, a wall or a pantry. Walls and cabinets are rarely perfectly straight, so measure at the top, the middle and the bottom and use the smallest figure.
2. Height
Measure from the floor to the underside of whatever is above: a cupboard, a shelf or a bulkhead. Measure at the front and at the back. If the floor isn’t level, use the smaller number. If nothing is above the space, note that instead; the finder has an option for it.
Many fridges need a gap above them for air. Some manufacturers ask for more when a cupboard sits directly above with little space behind it, so tell the finder whether there is a cupboard.
3. Depth
Measure from the wall behind to the front of the cabinets beside the space. Look for anything on the wall that the fridge can’t push past: skirting boards, power points, water taps or pipes. Measure to those if they stick out.
4. Where the doors can go
Two questions change which figures apply:
- Can the doors stand in front of your cabinets? Most freestanding fridges are designed so the doors sit proud of the cabinets. If you want them flush, the fridge usually needs a deeper and wider space.
- Is there a wall or a tall cupboard right beside the space? A door hinged beside a wall can only open until it touches the wall. Manufacturers often give extra side space so the door opens far enough for drawers and shelves to come out.
5. Air gaps
Fridges release heat, so manufacturers ask for gaps at the sides, top and back. The finder uses each manufacturer’s own figures. Where a manufacturer gives a minimum cavity size, that figure already includes the gaps, and we don’t add them again.
6. The way in
A fridge that fits the space still has to get there. Measure the narrowest doorway, hallway and turn on the way in, and note stairs or a lift. Doors can sometimes be removed for delivery; ask the retailer. We don’t check delivery routes.
Ready?
Take your numbers to the fridge finder. It checks each model against the manufacturer’s figures and tells you what still needs checking.