What Is a French Door Fridge and Is It Right for Your Kitchen?
French door fridges have become one of the most popular fridge styles in Australia over the past decade. If you have been to a Harvey Norman or JB Hi-Fi recently, you have probably noticed they dominate the premium section. Here is what makes them different and whether one suits your kitchen.
What Is a French Door Fridge?
A French door fridge has two side-by-side doors for the upper fridge compartment, with the freezer in a bottom drawer below. The fridge section is wide and open, often with minimal centre dividers — ideal for large platters, wide items and maximising visibility of everything inside at once.
How Is It Different from Other Fridge Styles?
- Top mount fridge: Freezer on top, fridge below. Compact and affordable. The original Australian kitchen standard.
- Bottom mount fridge: Fridge on top (most-used at eye level), freezer at the bottom in a single-door compartment. Very popular in Europe and increasingly in Australia.
- Side-by-side fridge: Two full-height doors — fridge on one side, freezer on the other. Slim door swing ideal for narrow kitchens. Poor use of internal space for large items.
- French door fridge: Two short doors for the fridge, bottom drawer for the freezer. Best ergonomics — the most-used compartment (fridge) is at eye level. Wide interior ideal for large items.
Key Advantages of French Door Fridges
- Ergonomics: The fridge section is at eye level — everything you use most often is easy to see and reach without bending.
- Wide interior: No centre pillar means large platters, pizza boxes and wide containers fit easily.
- Smaller door swing: Two shorter doors require less clearance to open than a single wide door. Ideal for kitchens with an island bench opposite.
- Premium aesthetics: French door fridges look more modern and are considered a prestige choice in kitchen design.
- Large capacity: Available in sizes up to 700+ litres.
Disadvantages of French Door Fridges
- The freezer at the bottom requires bending to access, which some people find inconvenient.
- More expensive than comparable top mount or bottom mount fridges.
- Wider — typically 90 cm wide vs 60 to 70 cm for standard fridges. Check your kitchen space carefully.
What Size French Door Fridge Do You Need?
- 1 to 2 people: 350 to 450 litres
- 3 to 4 people: 450 to 550 litres
- 5+ people: 550+ litres
Shop French Door Fridges at Oceania Appliances
We carry a wide range of French door fridges from Samsung, LG, Westinghouse, Fisher & Paykel and Hisense, with free delivery across Sydney. Many graded French door models are available at prices well below RRP. Visit our Wetherill Park showroom or shop online to see our current range.