The Best French Door Refrigerators of 2023

A French door refrigerator keeps perishables fresh, easy to access, and at eye level.

By Deirdre Mundorf | Updated May 1, 2023 1:57 PM

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.

The Best French Door Refrigerator Options

homedepot.com

Like side-by-side refrigerators, French door models have two doors that open from the center. However, unlike side-by-sides, a French door fridge dedicates the entire space between the doors to a roomy refrigerator, and the freezer is relegated to a large pullout drawer on the bottom of the unit.

This unique design offers more usable refrigerator and freezer space than side-by-side models and puts refrigerated items at eye level, making it easier to find things. In this guide, we list some of the best French door refrigerators on the market and explain several key features shoppers may want to consider before buying one.

  1. BEST OVERALL: GE Profile 27.9 cu. ft. French Door Refrigerator
  2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: LG 21.8 cu. ft. French Door Refrigerator
  3. UPGRADE PICK: Café 27.8 cu. ft. Smart French Door Refrigerator
  4. BEST LARGE-CAPACITY: Samsung 28 cu. ft. 3-Door French Door Refrigerator
  5. BEST COUNTER-DEPTH: Bosch 20.5 cu. ft. French Door Refrigerator
  6. BEST SMART: LG 29.7 cu. ft. InstaView French Door Refrigerator
  7. BEST FOR TIGHT SPACES: Whirlpool 19.7 cu. ft. French Door Refrigerator
  8. BEST WITH ICE MAKER: Samsung 27.9 cu. ft. Family Hub 4-Door Refrigerator
  9. BEST WITH INTERIOR ICE MAKER: LG 26.5 cu. ft. Smart Refrigerator
  10. BEST 4-DOOR: Whirlpool 19.4 cu. ft. 4-Door Refrigerator
The Best French Door Refrigerator Options

Photo: homedepot.com

How We Chose the Best French Door Refrigerators

Size, finish, capacity, and other special features select brands typically include are what make the top-rated French door refrigerators stand out.

In our research of refrigerator comparisons, we found that the most popular options are made of stainless steel with counter-depth sizes that range between 20 and 29.7 cubic feet in capacity, offering ample storage space. In addition to standard stainless steel, many of these three- and four-door refrigerators are also available in black stainless steel, white, black, or platinum, and some even have fingerprint-resistant finishes, keeping the French door fridge spotless.

Our top picks for best French refrigerators include models with ice makers, water dispensers, door-in-door designs, and even smart connectivity for remote adjustability. Plus, nearly all of these models are Energy Star certified for their energy-efficient features.

Our Top Picks

The best French door fridges typically have optimal interior configurations and useful add-ons, and they’re made by reputable manufacturers. Our list includes options that offer a variety of capacities, finishes, configurations, and special features that suit a wide variety of shoppers.

Best Overall

The Best French Door Refrigerator Option: GE Profile 27.9 cu. ft. French Door Refrigerator
Photo: homedepot.com

The GE Profile French door refrigerator has a sleek design with a fingerprint-resistant stainless steel finish. It has a spacious 27.9-cubic-foot interior and a unique door-in-door feature with a rotating bin. Rather than opening the entire door, the user opens a small panel to access the refrigerator’s front bin to remove or replace items without letting as much cool air out. This model also boasts an in-door ice and water dispenser with smart autofill technology. Placing a cup under the dispenser and pressing the fill button once automatically dispenses the right amount of water to fill the cup.

Beneath the refrigerator’s French doors are two drawers. The top drawer offers flexible food storage space for drinks, large platters, party foods, and so on. Its temperature is adjustable, and its bin is removable. The bottom drawer is the 8.57-cubic-foot freezer.

Other features that make the GE Profile worthy of consideration are its Energy Star certification, LED-illuminated back wall, soft-close crisper drawers, easy-to-clean liner, and TwinChill evaporators to help foods stay fresh. This refrigerator also has built-in Wi-Fi and can send alerts to the owner’s phone if the door is left open or the internal temperature rises above a set number.

Product Specs 

  • Material: Stainless steel
  • Size: 70 inches tall by 35.625 inches wide by 36.75 inches deep
  • Capacity: 27.9 cubic feet
  • Finishes: Fingerprint-resistant stainless steel

Pros

  • Fingerprint-resistant finish that’s ideal for homes with children and pets
  • Has 8.57-cubic-foot freezer plus door-in-door feature for added space
  • In-door ice maker and water dispenser use smart autofill technology
  • Energy Star certified to maximize energy saving and reduce household bills

Cons

  • Although spacious and versatile, this model carries a higher price tag than many rivals

Get the GE French door refrigerator at Lowe’s or The Home Depot.

Best Bang for the Buck

The Best French Door Refrigerator Option: LG 21.8 cu. ft. French Door Refrigerator
Photo: homedepot.com

This 21.8-cubic-foot French door refrigerator from LG is easy on the wallet but has a lot to offer, making it the cheapest French door refrigerator on our list. Its smart cooling system is designed to help foods stay fresher longer; each shelf has multiple cold air vents to maintain a cool and consistent temperature throughout. Special digital sensors work to monitor the temperature of the refrigerator, the freezer, and the ambient room temperature to create an optimal environment for food storage.

Another nice thing about this LG fridge is that its design makes it easy to keep foods and beverages organized and visible. It has 6-gallon-size adjustable door bins, an ample “Glide N’ serve” drawer, and two humidity-controlled crisper drawers. This Energy Star–certified model also offers a built-in ice maker and recessed LED lights.

Product Specs

  • Material: Stainless steel
  • Size: 67.25 inches tall by 29.75 inches wide by 35.5 inches deep
  • Capacity: 21.8 cubic feet
  • Finishes: Stainless steel and black stainless steel

Pros

  • The smart cooling system keeps food fresh longer than traditional refrigerators
  • 6-gallon adjustable door bins for added convenience and space
  • “Glide N’ Serve” drawer for small meats and cheeses; humidity control for vegetables and fruits
  • Energy Star certification helps reduce running costs and utility bills

Cons

  • It is very competitively priced but may not have sufficient capacity for some families

Get the LG 21.8-cubic-foot French door refrigerator at The Home Depot, Best Buy, AJ Madison, or LG.

Upgrade Pick

The Best French Door Refrigerator Option: Café 27.8 cu. ft. Smart French Door Refrigerator
Photo: homedepot.com

Café’s French door refrigerator has plenty of bells and whistles, including Wi-Fi connectivity and smart-home compatibility to enable users to monitor and control the refrigerator from a smartphone or tablet. Another cool feature of this 27.8-cubic-foot fridge is its adjustable-temperature drawer, which can be set between 23 and 42 degrees Fahrenheit to store anything from ice cream to chilled drinks. The drawer also has sliding glass dividers to keep whatever’s inside well organized.

Other thoughtful details on Café’s French door fridge include an exterior water dispenser with autofill sensors, which fills a cup with the right amount of water. To keep produce and other foods fresh, this appliance boasts two humidity-controlled bins with a sealed high-humidity “Wet Zone” for vegetables and a low-humidity “Dry Zone” with vents for storing fruits. Plus, this 4-door French refrigerator with ice maker technology also has an LED light tower along the back wall, TwinChill evaporators, a full-width tray in the freezer, and a unique fingerprint-resistant matte-white finish.

Product Specs 

  • Material: Stainless steel
  • Size: 69.875 inches tall by 35.625 inches wide by 36.75 inches deep
  • Capacity: 27.8 cubic feet
  • Finishes: Stainless steel, matte black, and matte white

Pros

  • Wi-Fi and smart-home compatibility allows owners to adjust temperature from their smartphone
  • Temperature-controlled drawer provides optimal storage for meats, fruits, and vegetables
  • The exterior water dispenser has autofill sensors to prevent spillage
  • Homeowners with children and pets will appreciate the easy-clean fingerprint-resistant finish

Cons

  • Requires a considerable investment, and the design accents are not to everyone’s taste

Get the Café French door refrigerator at Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, or Best Buy.

Best Large-Capacity

The Best French Door Refrigerator Option: Samsung 28 cu. ft. 3-Door French Door Refrigerator
Photo: homedepot.com

Those who have lots of mouths to feed and need a roomy fridge should give Samsung’s French door fridge a good look. To keep foods fresher longer, its Twin Cooling Plus system allows for independent control of the refrigerator and freezer sections.

This large-capacity refrigerator from Samsung also has a full-width CoolSelect Pantry drawer, which can be set to one of three temperatures for defrosting food, storing deli meats, or chilling beverages. The 28 cubic-foot refrigerator’s large-capacity ice storage option is likely to appeal to large households or those who entertain frequently. With the Ice Max setting, this three-door fridge can store up to 4.2 pounds of cubes.

This Energy Star–certified refrigerator has both Wi-Fi and Bixby connectivity options and can be monitored from a smartphone or tablet. Other nice-to-have features include adjustable shelves, interior LED lighting, a fingerprint-resistant stainless steel finish, and ADA-compliant temperature controls.

Product Specs 

  • Material: Stainless steel
  • Size: 70 inches tall by 35.75 inches wide by 36 inches deep
  • Capacity: 28 cubic feet
  • Finishes: Stainless steel

Pros

  • Precise Twin Cooling Plus system for controlling temperature in the fridge and freezer
  • Full-width CoolSelect Pantry drawer; has a 4.2-pound ice-making capacity
  • Wi-Fi and Bixby connectivity allows monitoring and control from a smartphone or tablet
  • Fingerprint-resistant finish; is Energy Star certified, which helps reduce electricity bills

Cons 

  • Shelves flip up rather than being height adjustable, and this reduces interior flexibility

Get the Samsung three-door French door refrigerator at Best Buy, AJ Madison, or Samsung.

Best Counter-Depth

The Best French Door Refrigerator Option: Bosch 20.5 cu. ft. French Door Refrigerator
Photo: homedepot.com

This counter-depth French door refrigerator from Bosch’s 800 series has a 20.5-cubic-foot capacity, of which 6 cubic feet is the freezer. One of its most attractive features is its FarmFresh System, which employs four different technologies to preserve foods and keep them fresher longer. FreshProtect absorbs ethylene to slow the rate at which produce ripens, VitaFreshPro strikes an ideal balance between humidity and temperature levels, MultiAirFlow promotes even circulation and consistent temperature levels, and an AirFresh Filter absorbs food odors.

Other thoughtful features on this Bosch fridge include an internal water filter and dispenser; an ice maker with uniquely shaped pyramid ice cubes; a stainless steel back wall; and an adjustable flex bar to hold wine bottles, eggs, jars, and more. This stainless steel counter-depth refrigerator is Energy Star certified and also offers smart connectivity to allow users to monitor and adjust the interior temperature.

Product Specs 

  • Material: Stainless steel
  • Size: 72 inches tall by 35.625 inches wide by 31.125 inches deep
  • Capacity: 20.5 cubic feet
  • Finishes: Stainless steel

Pros

  • The FarmFresh system has 4 different methods for keeping food fresh longer
  • VitaFreshPro, MultiAirFlow, and AirFresh technologies promote consistent cool-air circulation and remove food odors
  • Industry-first flex bar plus removable shelves and door bins maximize flexibility
  • Energy Star certification means this model runs more efficiently than traditional fridges

Cons

  • Doors open out farther than width of fridge, so shoppers may want to account for this in their measurements
  • On the smaller side; may not provide the capacity needed for larger households

Get the Bosch French door refrigerator at Lowe’s, The Home Depot, or Best Buy

Best Smart

The Best French Door Refrigerator Option: LG 29.7 cu. ft. InstaView French Door Refrigerator
Photo: homedepot.com

This 29.7-cubic-foot French door refrigerator from LG is Wi-Fi enabled and offers smart-home connectivity. One of its standout features—and one likely to entertain visitors to the home—is LG’s special InstaView tinted-glass panel on the right door.

Simply knocking twice on the door displays what is inside the refrigerator without opening the door and letting cold air out. Another way LG cuts down on needless door opening (and energy wasting) is its door-in-door feature, which allows users to open a panel, rather than the entire door, to grab or replace a drink or snack. Dual ice makers are also integrated into the design and can make crushed ice, standard cubes, or special round “Craft Ice” that chills beverages more efficiently and melts more slowly. An in-door ice and water dispenser offers easy access to filtered ice and water.

This Energy Star–certified model also features LG’s linear cooling compressor, which ensures the temperature stays within 1 degree of the set level. This feature and the fridge’s door-cooling vent work together to keep produce and other foods fresh. LG’s PrintProof smudge- and fingerprint-resistant finish, hidden hinges, and contoured doors all add to the refrigerator’s modern look; overall, it’s a sleek and stylish addition to any kitchen.

Product Specs 

  • Material: Stainless steel
  • Size: 70.25 inches tall by 35.75 inches wide by 36.625 inches deep
  • Capacity: 29.7 cubic feet
  • Finishes: Stainless steel and black stainless steel

Pros

  • Wi-Fi enabled, which allows owners to adjust settings and temperature from their smartphones
  • InstaView tinted glass panel shows users the inside of the fridge without opening it
  • Dual ice makers that offer multiple ice types for different drinks and preferences
  • This model is Energy Star certified for excellent energy efficiency

Cons

  • It’s expensive, and the ThinQ app will only run on smartphones and not tablets

Get the LG 29.7-cubic-foot French door refrigerator at Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Best Buy, or AJ Madison.

Best for Tight Spaces

The Best French Door Refrigerator Option: Whirlpool 19.7 cu. ft. French Door Refrigerator
Photo: homedepot.com

Those who don’t have enough kitchen space for a large French door refrigerator may find that Whirlpool’s 19.7-cubic-foot model, which is just 30 inches wide, offers just the right fit. It has numerous features to help keep food organized, including adjustable gallon door bins, a tuck shelf that slides back to accommodate tall items, and humidity-controlled crisper drawers.

Its full-width drawer is a terrific feature and roomy enough to hold large items, such as appetizer platters or sheet cakes. One of the door bins has a carrying handle and can be removed, allowing for easy transport of condiments or beverages to the dinner table.

Whirlpool’s compact fridge has a fingerprint-resistant stainless steel finish with an exterior filtered-water dispenser. With its adaptive defrost feature, this Energy Star–certified model is also able to track the temperature of the freezer and only run the defrost feature when it’s needed. Other convenient features include a built-in ice maker, spill-containing shelves, a FreshFlow air filter to reduce food odors, and a rapid-cool setting.

Product Specs 

  • Material: Stainless steel
  • Size: 67.625 inches tall by 30 inches wide by 34.375 inches deep
  • Capacity: 19.7 cubic feet
  • Finishes: Stainless steel

Pros

  • Adjustable gallon door bins and tuck shelf provide highly customizable internal space
  • The humidity-controlled crisper drawers optimize storage for fruits, vegetables, and meats
  • Available in 4 finish options, each of them fingerprint-resistant for easy cleaning
  • Competitively priced with Energy Star certification for reduced electricity consumption

Cons

  • This model’s compactness means it may not have the capacity that some require

Get the Whirlpool 19.7-cubic-foot French door refrigerator at Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Best Buy, or AJ Madison.

Best with Ice Maker

The Best French Door Refrigerator Option: Samsung 27.9 cu. ft. Family Hub 4-Door Refrigerator
Photo: bestbuy.com

With a capacity of 27.9 cubic feet, the Samsung Family Hub French door refrigerator provides plenty of space. The fingerprint-resistant exterior is sleek and modern and features a touch panel that allows a view of the interior without opening the door. When connected to Wi-Fi and a Samsung account, this multifunction screen can also be used to post notes for family members and sync calendars. It can control smart-home features like Ring doorbells, Nest thermostats, and other devices. It can also stream TV and music.

The four-door layout has three cooling zones allowing different foods to be kept at optimal temperatures. Internal airflow and humidity-controlled crispers keep everything fresh. A multitude of door bins, drawers, and shelves, including a custom wine rack, provides highly flexible storage. The 5.75-cubic-foot freezer can be converted to a refrigerator at the touch of a button.

The ice dispenser on some French door refrigerators can sometimes prove disappointing, but not this one. Samsung’s Ice Max can produce either cool filtered water or up to 8.8 pounds of cubed or crushed ice per day.

Product Specs 

  • Material: Stainless steel
  • Size: 71.875 inches tall by 35.75 inches wide by 34.3125 inches deep
  • Capacity: 27.9 cubic feet
  • Finishes: Stainless steel and black stainless steel

Pros

  • High-efficiency triple cooling system with rapid power freeze and power cool options
  • Family Hub with Alexa assistant allows owners to leave notes, display photos, and sync calendars
  • Built-in camera with external touch screen to see contents without opening the fridge
  • High-efficiency Ice Max system can produce 8.8 pounds of ice per day

Cons

  • Though faults aren’t common, there are some reports of internal camera failure

Get the Samsung four-door French door refrigerator at Best Buy or AJ Madison.

Best with Ice Maker

The Best French Door Refrigerator Option: LG 26.5 cu. ft. Smart Refrigerator
Photo: Lowes.com

Counter-depth French door fridges can sometimes provide less space than their standard-depth competitors, but thanks to clever design, this LG model provides an impressive 26.5-cubic-foot capacity that includes an 8.6-cubic-foot freezer. Wide doors and a deep lower drawer combined with an array of shelves and bins allow this three-door model to provide very flexible storage options.

LG’s Linear Cooling technology senses temperature fluctuations and combines with the Door Cooling+ system to blast cool air around the refrigerator, thus rapidly returning it to optimal levels. This preserves the appearance and freshness of fruit and vegetables longer. Smart controls are available via Wi-Fi, allowing integration with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. The ThinQ app provides remote monitoring via Android and iOS smartphones.

External ice makers can occasionally be problematic, so instead, this LG French door refrigerator has a reliable internal ice dispenser that can deliver 2.5 pounds of cubed ice per day. There is also a separate dispenser for filtered water. This model is Energy Star compliant, helping to reduce home utility bills.

Product Specs 

  • Material: Stainless steel
  • Size: 67.875 inches tall by 35.75 inches wide by 31.625 inches deep
  • Capacity: 26.5 cubic feet
  • Finishes: Stainless steel

Pros

  • The 26.5-cubic-foot capacity is the largest available in a countertop depth refrigerator
  • Linear and Door Cooling technologies ensure cool air reaches all parts of the interior
  • ThinQ smart technology connects with Alexa and Google Assistant; provides remote notifications
  • Energy Star certified for lower utility bills and reduced environmental impact

Cons

  • The ThinQ app for remote monitoring works with smartphones but not tablets

Get the LG 26.5-cubic-foot French door refrigerator at The Home Depot, Best Buy, or AJ Madison.

Best 4-Door

The Best French Door Refrigerator Option: Whirlpool 19.4 cu. ft. 4-Door Refrigerator
Photo: Lowes.com

One of the reasons four-door refrigerators are popular is that they let people organize their groceries, so almost everything is visible and easy to get. The downside is that many models require a lot of space, which isn’t always convenient in modern kitchens. This Whirlpool model goes a long way to providing the best of both worlds. It has a 36-inch-wide countertop depth and provides 19.4 cubic feet of capacity, including a useful 8.06-cubic-foot freezer compartment.

Storage flexibility is a key feature, with a variety of bins and shelves to accommodate food containers of all shapes and sizes. Small details can make a big difference, like the pull-out shelves in the freezer compartment that allow for larger items like frozen turkeys, for example, or the ice bin divider that can accommodate cubes, freezer packs, or popsicles.

Precise temperature control plus fast-cool and fast-freeze functions allow fruit, vegetables, and meat to be kept at optimal conditions. Adjustments are easy thanks to the exterior control panel. A focus on accessible design means it meets the requirements of the ADA. It is Energy Star compliant and also has a vacation mode to reduce electricity consumption when the family is away.

Product Specs 

  • Material: Stainless steel
  • Size: 69.5 inches tall by 35.75 inches wide by 28.375 inches deep
  • Capacity: 19.4 cubic feet
  • Finishes: Stainless steel

Pros

  • 4-door layout provides flexible storage and keeps everything easily accessible
  • User-friendly features include a fingerprint-resistant finish, a flexible ice bin, and removable freezer shelves
  • Easy-to-use exterior control panel allows rapid adjustment of different zones
  • Both Energy Star and ADA compliant; has energy-saving vacation mode

Cons

  • Capacity is competitive but may not be sufficient for large families

Get the Whirlpool 19.4-cubic-foot French door refrigerator at Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Best Buy, AJ Madison, or Whirlpool.

Jump to Our Top Picks



What to Consider When Choosing a French Door Refrigerator

French door refrigerators mainly differ in capacity, configuration, energy-efficiency level, and the finish in which they’re available. Additionally, some models may offer smart technology or be more aesthetically pleasing than others. Before getting too deep into a search for the best French door refrigerator, shoppers may want to make sure they carefully measure the kitchen space it will occupy and determine priorities and preferences. Doing so helps narrow down the model that will best meet specific individual requirements.

Finish

Finish is one of the first things that shoppers notice about a refrigerator, and it will greatly affect how the appliance looks in a space. Some common material and color finishes for French door refrigerators include:

  • Stainless steel
  • Black stainless steel
  • Matte black stainless steel
  • White
  • Black
  • Slate

Size and Capacity

The size and capacity of a French door refrigerator are also very important to consider. Capacity refers to how much interior space the average refrigerator and freezer offer, which affects the amount of food that can be stored inside.

Capacity is measured in cubic feet, with most French door refrigerators’ capacities ranging between 21 and 30 cubic feet. To better conceptualize capacity, 1 cubic foot generally equals one bag of groceries. A 19- to 22-cubic-foot refrigerator is usually sufficient for a family of four with average shopping habits.

In addition to considering how much fridge capacity is thought to be needed, it’s also important to measure a refrigerator’s overall size and dimensions to confirm that it will fit in the space available. Shoppers looking to buy a new French door refrigerator will want to measure the space in the kitchen carefully and check those dimensions against the length, height, and depth of each French door refrigerator being considered. Those who have limited space in their kitchen or prefer an appliance that’s flush with their countertops may want to consider a counter-depth refrigerator.

Configuration

A French door refrigerator’s configuration affects how functional it is and how well it is able to meet individual demands. When browsing fridge configurations, shoppers may want to consider the overall layout of the shelves, the size and arrangement of the storage bins in the doors, and the design and location of the produce and meat drawers.

Because they can accommodate containers of various sizes, refrigerators with adjustable shelves are the most versatile and are preferred by many households. In addition to adjustable shelves, some French door refrigerators may also have shelves that partially slide back to fit tall items, such as stockpots.

It’s also important to think about the way in which the fridge’s freezer is designed. Though all French door refrigerators feature a pullout drawer freezer, the insides of the freezers may be laid out differently. If there is an ice maker, it should always be easy for users to access.

Freezers that have stacked shelves inside that slide in and out separately make it easier to access and organize the freezer’s contents. Some French door refrigerators may even have two separate drawers: one freezer drawer and a smaller drawer with an adjustable temperature, which enables households to apportion that additional space to beverages, frozen foods, vegetables, or other frequently used items.

Energy Rating 

A French door refrigerator’s energy rating discloses the approximate annual electricity costs of operating the refrigerator. Every appliance should be accompanied by an Energy Guide sticker or pamphlet that shows the cost range for operating similar French door refrigerators. Before buying, shoppers may want to compare the Energy Guide data of several models to find the most energy-efficient appliance that will save money on household electric bills each year.

French door refrigerators with an Energy Star label have met rigorous energy-efficiency standards that reduce energy costs and a household’s environmental footprint. Energy Star refrigerators typically use about 33 percent less energy than older, less efficient models.

Smart Technology

Smart French door refrigerators, also called connected refrigerators, offer more advanced features than are found on a standard refrigerator. Smart refrigerators can connect with other smart devices in the home to allow users to adjust the appliance’s temperature through their smartphone, tablet, or personal home assistant.

Other features that can be found in a smart refrigerator include autofill sensors for filling cups, the ability to create and share shopping lists or memos, and advanced climate-control settings. A few smart refrigerators are designed to allow users to tap on the door to see inside the refrigerator, which allows owners to browse for food without opening the door and letting cold air out.

Aesthetics

Owners will have to look at their new French door refrigerator multiple times a day, so it’s important not to discount the aesthetics of the models being considered. One detail that can affect a refrigerator’s appeal is the finish color, as mentioned above. Choosing a finish color that coordinates or matches with other appliances, countertops, and cabinets can go a long way in creating a cohesive-looking kitchen.

Many people prefer the look of a built-in refrigerator because it blends in better with the cabinets and makes the refrigerator look like it truly belongs in the space.

Additional Features

Once factors like the refrigerator’s finish, capacity, and energy rating are decided, it’s time to evaluate extra features that make French door refrigerators stand out. Some add-ons shoppers may want to consider include:

  • Door-within-door: Some French door refrigerators have a small panel on one of the doors that can be opened separately to provide quick access to a few items stored in the door’s bins. Opening just the panel rather than the whole door reduces how much cold air escapes from the refrigerator and, in turn, keeps energy costs down.
  • Temperature-controlled drawer: Several French door refrigerators provide independent temperature or humidity control for drawers, providing the perfect environment for fruit, vegetables, or meat. It may also be called a deli drawer.
  • Ice and water dispensers: Many French door refrigerators have water and ice dispensers for convenient access to these necessities. Some water dispensers are on the exterior of the refrigerator, while others may be inside.
  • Water filters: French door refrigerators may have built-in water filters to remove impurities for cleaner and better-tasting drinking water.
  • Programmable controls: French door refrigerators with programmable controls allow users to adjust the refrigerator’s temperature, lock the water or ice dispensers, check on the water filter’s status, and set a predetermined amount of water to be dispensed each time the water fill button is pressed.
  • Fingerprint-resistant finishes: Refrigerators that are fingerprint-resistant feature a unique finish that reduces smudges and fingerprints and keeps the surface looking tidy.

FAQs

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we get from shoppers who are trying to find the best French door refrigerator for their homes.

Q. What is the life expectancy of a French door refrigerator?

A French door refrigerator typically has a life expectancy of 10 to 15 years, according to most manufacturers and leading retailers, although 20 years is not unusual. French door refrigerators tend to last longer when cared for properly, and where practical, they should be rolled away from the wall a couple of times a year so the area behind them can be cleaned. Leading brands like those in our top picks may also outlast imported budget brands.

Q. What are the advantages of a French door refrigerator? 

French door refrigerators offer a spacious refrigerator space that’s well laid out and easy to organize. With the refrigerator portion of the unit on top, foods and drinks are at eye level and within easy reach. The in-door bins on a French door refrigerator are also typically larger than those you’d find on other refrigerators. French door refrigerators also have spacious freezers.

Q. What is the most reliable French door refrigerator brand?

Samsung, LG, and Whirlpool are among the most reliable built-in refrigerator out there. In our research, we have found that the best brands have a reputation for excellent manufacturing quality, with very few faults reported by owners.

Q. What is the point of a 4-door refrigerator? 

Some people find that having extra doors makes a four-door refrigerator easier to organize and view its content. With drawers, items often get stacked on top of each other, and so some of them are inevitably hidden. Of course, this depends on how you like to organize your refrigerator. Confusingly, the four-door name is often applied to French door refrigerators with two doors and two drawers. In this case, buyers might get the benefit of a temperature-controlled drawer or deli drawer. The important thing is not how the model is described but how well the layout and features fit a household’s needs.

Q. What size refrigerator do I need for a family of four? 

In most cases, a 19- to 22-cubic-foot refrigerator should be sufficient for a family of four. However, families who prefer to shop in bulk or stock up on their supermarket trips may find that a larger refrigerator, such as one with a capacity closer to 30 cubic feet, better suits their needs.

Q. Do French door refrigerators have ice maker problems?

It would be unfair to suggest that all French door refrigerators have ice maker problems. But, historically, the ice dispenser has been a weak point in some models, and although they are not common, some faults do still occur. It’s a factor worth considering carefully because repairs can be costly.

Why Trust Bob Vila

Bob Vila has been America’s Handyman since 1979. As the host of beloved and groundbreaking TV series including “This Old House” and “Bob Vila’s Home Again,” he popularized and became synonymous with “do-it-yourself” home improvement.

Over the course of his decades-long career, Bob Vila has helped millions of people build, renovate, repair, and live better each day—a tradition that continues today with expert yet accessible home advice. The Bob Vila team distills need-to-know information into project tutorials, maintenance guides, tool 101s, and more. These home and garden experts then thoroughly research, vet, and recommend products that support homeowners, renters, DIYers, and professionals in their to-do lists.