Refrigerators have become larger and more efficient in recent years, to accommodate changes in lifestyle and design.
By NKBA Staff
It’s the start of the holiday feasting season, and in the kitchen, that usually means we need more refrigerator and freezer space. This means the big fridge plays a big role.
A recent New York Times article noted that refrigerators have grown almost every year since 1980, when the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers began tracking their size. The average size increased to 25.8 cubic feet in 2021 (the most recent data available), up from 19.6 cubic feet in 1980. Counter-depth models may have less space than standard-depth units, but they can make up for the depth with added width.
“Refrigerators are getting bigger — and especially wider — because modern kitchens now value design integration and lifestyle flexibility as much as utility,” said Andrew Shead, Sales & Marketing Manager at True Caliber. “The counter-depth trend has been a major driver. By making fridges shallower to sit flush with cabinetry, manufacturers compensate with extra width to preserve interior space. This creates a seamless, built-in aesthetic while accommodating today’s storage needs for bulk shopping, meal prep, and entertaining.”
True Residential now offers 36-inch, 42-inch, and 48-inch units, all of which contain a capacity between 25.5 and 29.4 cubic feet. If space constraints are not a concern, the luxury brand offers the option to “expand” by seamlessly uniting any combination of columns with its state-of-the-art joining kits that can yield up to 120 inches of continuous refrigeration. In fact, True’s smallest refrigerator among its large-format models is a 36-inch-wide column that can accommodate a full-size commercial sheet pan (18 inches by 36 inches).
“For many consumers, larger capacity refrigeration is about lifestyle needs,” said Dean Brindle, Senior Director of Product Management for Home Solutions at LG. “Families need space to store more food, bulk shoppers stock up for convenience, and frequent entertainers want room for every occasion. Even consumers focused on fresh, healthy eating require additional storage for produce and perishables.”
The most popular refrigerator size is still 36-inches wide with a capacity exceeding 25 cubic feet, Brindle added. LG’s Counter-Depth MAX Zero Clearance unit has a capacity of 23.7 cubic feet, while its standard depth MAX four-door French-door refrigerator has 29 cubic feet of space. SKS, the luxury brand under the LG umbrella, offers a 48-inch-wide, built-in French-door model with 26 cubic feet of interior space.
The most recent push toward larger refrigeration likely started during the pandemic, when consumers became more aware of healthier, plant-based eating and buying in bulk to minimize trips to the grocery store. The growth in delivered ready-to-cook meal kits, a $10.4 billion market in 2023, also requires refrigerator space, and that’s expected to grow at an annual rate of 11 percent through 2030, according to Grandview Research. Additionally, the sophisticated food preservation systems that are now available in many high-end refrigerators keep food fresher for a longer period — so if homeowners keep food longer, they’ll need more space to store it.
NKBA’s 2026 Kitchen Design Trends Report revealed that there is increasing demand for refrigerators that offer flexibility, space, and features to accommodate lifestyles, with 72 percent of survey respondents noting that homeowners want larger fridges to support healthy eating habits.
Additionally, 76 percent said kitchens are having a greater influence on the décor and tone of the rest of the house, and 75 percent of respondents said kitchens are getting larger, often usurping square footage from adjacent rooms. With larger kitchens comes space for larger appliances, which can include wide models up to 60 inches wide, and separate columns for refrigerators, freezers, and wine columns. Walk-in or butler’s pantries also provide space for additional refrigeration, in full-size models, under-counter styles, or drawers.
Refrigerators and freezers with generous capacity and wide shelving accommodate large, ready-to-serve platters, making it easy to transition from fridge to table.
“Miele’s refrigerator drawer capacity allows enough room for prepped trays of food ready to cook,” said Vicki Robb, National Center Program Coordinator for Miele. “Humidity and temperature-controlled drawers keep vegetables fresh and crisp, allowing you to shop days in advance.”
Miele also introduced freezers with ice makers that produce craft ice at a rate of up to 150 cubes per day, ensuring the bar stays stocked. The company recently launched an updated model of its under-counter wine refrigerator with temperature, humidity, and lighting control that’s panel-ready and designed to blend in with cabinetry.
Miele is fully aligned with the market trend toward larger refrigerators, and units that blend seamlessly with the overall décor of the living space. In its new MasterCool generation, Miele has introduced a new niche size, 42 inches, as well as its 36-inch unit, both with compatible furniture fronts.
The energy efficiency of today’s refrigerators also makes them less expensive to operate, consuming over 70 percent less energy than models manufactured in the Seventies. Combined with thinner insulation, better door seals, and LED lighting, which gives off less heat, the compressors work more efficiently, leading to lower electricity bills and less food waste.
