To replace a built-in fridge while keeping your kitchen as it is, first choose a model that fits the cabinet niche, matches the door fixing and meets the ventilation requirements in its instructions. Then decide whether you need a freezer compartment and compare usable capacity, annual energy consumption and noise levels. A similar external height to your old appliance is no guarantee that it will fit.
Your priority is to keep the cabinet door and housing in place. Measure the niche and identify how the door panel is fixed before comparing capacities. Bosch Home Appliances recommends checking the dimensions and hinge type when replacing an appliance.
Once you’ve confirmed that the cabinet is compatible, choose according to your storage needs: a fridge-only model if you don’t need a freezer in this housing, or a fridge-freezer if you also want to store frozen food here. Compare the capacity of each compartment, not just the total volume.
If your kitchen opens onto a living area, noise levels can matter as much as annual energy consumption. Compare these figures alongside usable capacities, but only between appliances that fit your niche. An energy rating alone doesn’t tell you everything about how an appliance will perform.
Start with the requirements that could prevent installation: the cabinet’s internal dimensions, how the door panel is fixed and the ventilation openings. Choose whether you need a freezer compartment and compare energy labels afterwards.
| Factor | What to check | What consumers are looking for |
|---|---|---|
| Niche and door panel | Measure the niche and compare it with the installation dimensions in the instructions. Identify the runners or hinges used to attach the door panel. | If I’m keeping my cabinet and its door, an appliance of a similar height is no use if the door panel can’t be refitted. Around 42% of consumers would prioritise this compatibility. |
| Fridge and freezer | Compare the usable capacity of each compartment and check whether a separate freezer already meets your needs. | I want enough space for fresh food, but I need to decide whether this cabinet should also hold frozen food. Around 25% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Energy and noise | For appliances with similar formats and uses, compare kWh/year, capacities and noise levels in dB(A), as well as the energy rating. | My kitchen is close to the room where I spend time, so I want to compare noise levels without losing sight of annual energy consumption. Around 17% of consumers would put these factors at the top of their list. |
| Installation and old appliance | Check the cabinet’s air openings against the appliance instructions, and find out about installation and collection of your old fridge. | I need to have the new appliance installed without blocking its air vents, and arrange for the old one to be taken away. For around 16% of consumers, this practical step would come before the other criteria. |
External dimensions and the dimensions required for the cabinet niche aren’t the same thing. For example, Electrolux’s product information for the ENS5LE18S specifies a niche of 1780 × 560 × 550 mm. Check these measurements against your cabinet rather than estimating them from the visible height of the appliance.
Measure the internal height, width and depth, then check the tolerances in the instructions for the model you’re considering.
These systems attach the cabinet door to the fridge door in different ways. Bosch, Siemens and Liebherr specify different systems for different models, so you can’t assume that your existing door panel will be compatible with all of them.
Take a photo of the existing fixing and note down your old appliance’s model number. Then check the new model’s instructions and the parts needed for installation.
Changing the system may require additional fixing parts or mean you can’t keep the existing door panel.
The required clearances and air openings depend on the cabinet and the model. A plinth or cover that blocks an opening specified in the instructions could prevent the appliance from being installed correctly.
Locate the existing air inlets and outlets, then follow the installation requirements for your chosen fridge.
The letter doesn’t replace the annual consumption in kWh, compartment capacities or noise level. Appliances with different capacities or configurations won’t necessarily meet the same needs.
Once you’ve ruled out models that don’t fit your cabinet, compare energy labels and capacities for appliances with a similar format and use.
These examples of product ranges show what to check against your cabinet. A brand name alone doesn’t guarantee that a particular model will be compatible.
The built-in range includes different door and compartment configurations, which are useful to distinguish when replacing an appliance.
The built-in fridge-freezers in the range let you look for a balance between fridge and freezer space in a single cabinet.
Some Liebherr built-in fridges use fixed door hinges, so check whether this type of fitting will work with the door panel you’re keeping.
The built-in range includes models with pantograph hinges, for kitchens where the door panel can accommodate this type of fitting.
These built-in appliances are suited to keeping your fitted kitchen as it is. First consider the compartment layout you need, then check the niche dimensions, door fixing and ventilation requirements in each model’s instructions to see whether it can replace your current appliance.
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Worth considering if you want to keep a freezer compartment in your fitted kitchen. The title lists a total capacity of 188 L and an energy rating of E. Compare the niche dimensions, door fixing and ventilation requirements with your installation.
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Worth considering if you need fridge and freezer space in the same cabinet. The title lists a capacity of 252 L, No Frost and an energy rating of C. Check the installation dimensions, door fixing and ventilation clearances in the instructions.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a built-in fridge-freezer with the TwinTech No Frost configuration listed in its title. It has an energy rating of E. Before comparing it with other fridge-freezers, check the exact model’s niche dimensions, door fitting and annual energy consumption.
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Worth considering if you’d prioritise fridge space in this cabinet and have another way to store frozen food. The title lists an energy rating of E. Confirm the usable capacity on the product page for the exact model, then check the niche dimensions and door fixing.
Measure the internal height, width and depth of the niche, then compare them with the installation dimensions and tolerances in the new model’s instructions. Also check how the door panel is fixed and which way it opens. Bosch Home Appliances recommends checking the dimensions and hinge type when replacing an appliance.
Don’t assume that these two systems are interchangeable. Before buying, compare the current fitting, the door panel’s construction, the new fridge’s instructions and the fixing parts required.
Check the energy rating alongside annual consumption in kWh, usable capacities and noise level, comparing appliances with similar uses. ADEME recommends checking the energy label. The rating letter alone won’t tell you how much capacity you’ll have or how noisy the appliance is.
Installation must follow the model’s instructions, particularly for fixing the door panel and ventilating the cabinet. Electrolux says two people are needed to move heavy appliances and warns that non-professional work could affect safety. If you’re unsure about the installation, use a qualified professional.
Arrange for it to be taken to a collection point for electrical and electronic equipment. The FAQ from the ministry responsible for ecological transition describes the “one-for-one” take-back scheme when buying an appliance of the same type. Ask the retailer about the practical arrangements for your order.