In a kitchen where a wall or narrow passage restricts how far the door can open, choose your fridge based on its installation plan, not just its width. Check the space in front of the door and whether the drawers can be removed. An integrated fridge needs a compatible housing, cabinet door and ventilation; a freestanding model avoids the cabinet-door constraint, but you’ll still need to check its door clearance. A hinge that stops the door at 90° may prevent it from hitting a nearby unit, but that doesn’t guarantee you can pull out the drawers.
Measure the housing and compare it with the installation plan for the model you’re considering. For an integrated fridge, also check the cabinet door, how it’s fixed and the specified ventilation.
Hinge position and opening angle matter just as much as access to the drawers when the door could hit an obstacle.
Compare the appliance’s depth and the space it takes up with the door open against the room you need to move around your kitchen.
Start with the space you have, then check how the specific model is fitted and how its door opens before comparing its other features.
| Priority | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Position and ventilation | Compare the housing’s width, height and depth with the model’s installation plan. Check the clearances and ventilation requirements for its type of installation. | I want to make sure the appliance can be installed in the space available, not just that it fits. |
| Door and drawers | Check which side the hinges are on, the available opening angle and how far the door extends when open. Check the manual to see whether the drawers and shelves can be removed at this angle; the door can only be reversed if the model allows it. | If the fridge is near a wall or unit, I need to access the storage without hitting the obstacle. |
| Clear passage | Mark out the depth of the appliance with the door closed, then the space it takes up with the door open, using the model’s plan. Allow for nearby windows and units. | I want to keep a usable route through the kitchen when someone opens the fridge. |
| Type of installation | For an integrated fridge, check the housing dimensions, cabinet door, fixings and ventilation. For a freestanding model, check the position, ventilation and door clearance specified in the manual. | If my kitchen already has a tall cabinet, I want to know whether the model will actually fit in it. Otherwise, I can consider a freestanding model that suits the space I’ve measured. |
| Energy use and noise | Once you’ve identified models that fit the space, compare their energy consumption, energy efficiency rating and noise level on the energy label. ADEME says the label provides information including energy performance and noise class. | In an open-plan kitchen, noise matters as much as size; I also want to compare the energy consumption of models that can be installed. |
A suitable width tells you nothing by itself about depth, ventilation or the space the door needs. According to Bosch Home Appliances France, the Bosch KGN39VLCT measures 2030 × 600 × 665 mm. Its 600 mm width alone isn’t enough to confirm it will fit.
Mark out the space it takes up with the door closed and open, then compare it with the model’s installation plan before ordering.
Haier France says the HSR3918EIMP’s hinge stops at 90°. That angle doesn’t prove you’ll be able to remove every drawer in your kitchen.
Check the clearance diagram for the exact model, or test whether you can remove the drawers with the door limited to the angle available in your kitchen.
The appliance must fit the housing and be compatible with its fixing system. Discovering a mismatch after delivery could delay installation.
Compare the housing plan, cabinet-door fixings, ventilation and opening direction with the measurements you’ve taken in your kitchen.
According to Whirlpool France, installing an integrated fridge may require a professional.
Moving your old fridge and getting it out of your home can complicate delivery of the new one.
Confirm the collection and delivery arrangements with the retailer, then check access through the stairs or lift. The French Ministry for Ecological Transition describes a “one-for-one” take-back scheme when you buy an appliance of the same type.
These models illustrate different installation requirements. Their dimensions don’t replace the installation plan for the model you’re considering.
The KGN39VLCT is a freestanding fridge freezer measuring 2030 × 600 × 665 mm, according to Bosch Home Appliances France.
The WHC20T573P is an integrated fridge freezer. Whirlpool France’s product details specify a 54 cm-wide housing and sliding hinges.
The HSR3918EIMP is a freestanding side-by-side fridge freezer with a hinge that stops automatically at 90°, according to Haier France.
These freestanding models let you compare different capacities and widths for a kitchen with limited space. Before choosing one, check its full dimensions and door clearance against your available space: the width in its name isn’t enough.
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Consider this freestanding fridge freezer if you’re looking for a stated width of 54 cm and a reversible door near an obstacle.
Its name gives a capacity of 153 L for the fridge and 74 L for the freezer, plus an E energy rating. Before deciding where to put it, check its height, required clearances and drawer access in the installation plan.
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This 92 L model is worth considering if you’re looking for compact refrigeration and its capacity suits your needs.
Its name mentions a small freezer compartment, a footprint of 0.22 m² and an E energy rating. Check its full dimensions, door clearance and access to the compartment in your kitchen.
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Consider this freestanding fridge freezer if your space can accommodate a stated width of 60 cm and you need to be able to change which way the door opens.
Its name specifies a reversible door, 211 L for the fridge, 99 L for the freezer and an E energy rating. Check its height, depth and drawer access with the door open.
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This freestanding fridge freezer offers another capacity to compare if your kitchen can accommodate a stated width of 60 cm.
Its name specifies a reversible door, 252 L for the fridge, 103 L for the freezer and an E energy rating. Before choosing a spot for it, check its height, depth and the space it takes up with the door open.
Check how far the door can open in your kitchen, then compare that angle with the installation plan for the exact model and the clearance needed to remove its drawers. A hinge that stops at 90°, like the one Haier France specifies for the HSR3918EIMP, doesn’t on its own guarantee that you’ll be able to remove them.
Not on the basis of width alone: an integrated fridge must suit the housing, ventilation, cabinet door and fixing system. Bosch Home Appliances recommends a freestanding model when the housing is too small for an integrated fridge. Either way, compare the model’s plan with your kitchen measurements.
Confirm the collection arrangements with the retailer before delivery. In France, the Ministry for Ecological Transition describes a “one-for-one” take-back scheme when you buy an appliance of the same type. Also check that your old fridge can be moved to the agreed collection point.