French door refrigerators are insanely popular. How popular? Based off independent surveys, French door refrigerators comprised a whopping 64 percent of refrigerators bought in 2019, and remained the top-selling refrigerator style well into the first half of 2020.
Considering more affordable refrigerator configurations, like top-freezer refrigerators (which are also more available), only made up five percent, it’s safe to say shoppers are buying French door refrigerators because they like them.
For that reason alone, it’s worth diving into this refrigerator style to see why it’s so loved, along with some new features that will have users falling in love all over again.
Why are French Door Refrigerators so Popular?
On average, the typical household opens a refrigerator compartment 20 times in a day, while the freezer is opened around five times daily. Yet, refrigerator styles, like top-freezer refrigerators prioritize the freezer by placing it at shoulder height, requiring users to bend to access the refrigerator chamber.
Still, single door bottom-freezer refrigerators also come with their own set of issues. Most notably, bottom-freezer refrigerators wider than 33 inches used to have issues balancing the refrigerator door when fully loaded. And while side-by-side fridges provide equal access to fridge and freezer compartments, plus narrower doors that are space-friendly, many users noted the slim freezer configuration limited organization.
When French door refrigerators first hit the market in the ‘90s (yes, that recent), they solved the issues above fusing the benefits of side-by-side refrigerator door configuration together with a bottom freezer that raises the fridge compartment to eye level. As a result, users get easy access to the most used areas of a refrigerator with convenient freezer access below.
Common French Door Dimensions
Typically, full-size French door refrigerators are most commonly sold 36 inches in width, and 69 inches or 72 inches in height. However, for kitchens that are tighter on space, 33-inch and 30-inch French door refrigerators exist, as well. Make sure to check our refrigerator sizing guide to help decide with size is best for your kitchen.
French Door Configurations
Because of their unique layout, French door refrigerators offer a rich lineup of configurations, each designed to suit different food storage needs. Here are four great examples, one from each door option. On top of a distinct door design, each model features an in-door water and ice dispenser to showcase the versatility of French door refrigerators even further.
Reasons to Buy a 3-Door French Door Refrigerator
At its simplest form, the 3-door French door refrigerator is still extremely efficient. The refrigerator layout above is wide, and can be accessed by opening a single door, which helps cold air to stay inside, increasing efficiency.
Since the majority of the space is dedicated to the top half, 3-door French door fridges are better in homes where small children don’t require access to items inside the fridge chamber.
Pictured: GE Profile™ 27.83 Cu. Ft. Black Stainless Steel French Door Refrigerator (PFE28KBLTS)
Reasons to Buy a 4-Door French Door Refrigerator
On the other hand, 4-door-French door refrigerators help mitigate the problem of limited access for younger household members. The unique, center-drawer height serves as an ideal location to store snacks, treats and food favorites at the perfect height that everyone can reach.
Since the introduction of this flexible refrigerator feature, some manufacturers have added even more utility by turning the middle food drawer into a convertible fridge compartment. So, if users need more space to store a frozen birthday cake, for example, they can simply convert the drawer into extra freezer space, then back to a fridge chamber when the space is no longer needed.
And as an added perk, this specialized refrigerator drawers helps enhance efficiency, since the smaller area is easy to cool down compared after opening compared to 50 percent of the refrigerator space with a 3-door French door refrigerator.
Pictured: Frigidaire Gallery® 21.8 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Counter Depth French Door Refrigerator (FG4H2272UF)
Reasons to Buy a 5-Door French Door Refrigerator
As of now, KitchenAid is the only manufacturer with a 5-door French door refrigerator available on the market. Besides adding more storage flexibility, using five doors provides another way to control food storage climates, such as large temperature swings when cold air escapes from the main chamber.
Pictured: KitchenAid® 25.76 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel French Door Refrigerator (KRMF706ESS)
Reasons to Buy a Quad Door French Door Refrigerator
The latest version of French door refrigerators comes in the form of quad-door refrigerators. While technically a four-door fridge, this style of refrigerator instead provides vertical food storage as opposed to the horizontal food organization found on refrigerator drawers.
Many shoppers are curious how quad refrigerators work, but essentially, quad door fridges operate similar to side-by-side refrigerators, except with way more flexibility. That’s because there are four distinct chambers, and since most quad-style refrigerators also feature a convertible bottom quadrant, the storage possibilities are unparalleled.
That means, quad door refrigerators have the potential to refrigerate above, freeze items in chamber below, and even chill wine in the fourth chamber (depending on brand and model). In other words, a refrigerator, freezer, and wine cooler all from a single appliance.
Pictured: Café™ 27.41 Cu. Ft. Platinum Glass Smart French Door Refrigerator (CQE28DM5NS5)
The style is still relatively new, and while it’s considered more of a statement, it’s hard to deny that this French door refrigerator style’s practicality. See it in action here!
Other French Door Options
If you’re wondering about other French door options, consider the following refrigerator innovations that are readily found on French door refrigerators.
Door-in-door Design
As the originators of the technology, LG knows a thing or two about door-in-door French door refrigerators. But since its debut, shoppers can find the feature available on multiple brands, including Samsung and Whirlpool.
The door-in-door feature is built right into the refrigerator (typically the upper right-hand door). Users have the option of using the dedicated door independently to open and grab common items like condiments, beverages, or snacks, or in unison with the entire door for access to the main refrigerator.
Again, the purpose comes down to efficiency and practicality. Instead of opening the entire refrigerator, the door-in-door feature acts as a sort of shortcut. Since it’s easier on a refrigerator to compensate for temperature loss in a small compartment, the door-in-door design keeps the refrigerator from overworking, and users from having to search for items with the door open for extended periods.
Glass Doors
Another French door refrigerator style to consider is glass doors. Currently, LG dominates the field with its exclusive series of InstaView Door-in-Door refrigerators, while high-end brands such as Miele and Sub-Zero carry several glass door refrigerator options.
On top of being fun (knock twice on InstaView refrigerators to see some magic!), glass doors provide easy visibility to contents inside without the need to open the door. As a result, many glass-door refrigerators also feature enhanced LED lighting that help users see even better, which is also a great advantage during regular use.
Take a look at how LG InstaView has turned aesthetic into an artform with this visual.
Touchscreen Fridge Doors
If you’re a self-proclaimed “techie,” touchscreen French door refrigerators have your name written all over them. Think of touch pad refrigerator doors as a smart device for the refrigerator. In the same way our smart devices help organize events, communicate, create to-do lists, and access information, so do the latest touchscreen refrigerators.
Take the Family Hub interactive refrigerator door found on select Samsung French door refrigerators, for example. With the ability to stream apps, share media, plan a calendar, and find recipes or play recipe videos from the door, the feature helps streamline all of a household’s activities. What’s best, Samsung is working to launch the latest models of Family Hub refrigerators fully equipped with smart cameras inside the refrigerator.
The artificial intelligence is projected to work in tandem with the touchscreen door for on-the-spot inventory of foods, plus the ability to find recipes based on the ingredients.
Of course, this feature does come at the cost of the extra space a door-in-door options would provide. The decision ultimately comes down to function versus capacity.
Explore French Excellence
Feeling the French influence? Then make one of our 25 locations throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana your next destination for French door refrigerators, plus appliances for the rest of the home. We’re stocked with top appliance brands that you can rely on at prices for every budget. Shop online or in-store today!