Despite first appearing in the 1940s, side-by-side refrigerators are still fairly popular. They provide easier access to the drawers and shelves than French door fridges since they use the whole height of the cabinet and require less space to fully open their doors, though you do take a hit to overall capacity compared to other fridge layouts. Of course, not every side-by-side is built alike. The best of them maximize capacity, have thoughtful convenience features that improve overall usability, and simply do a better job of ensuring your food stays cold and fresh.
We've tested more than 25 fridges, and the following are our recommendations for the best side-by-side refrigerators. Since refrigerators are routinely sold at considerable discounts, the price difference between our recommendations can be quite small. For more recommendations, check out our picks for the best refrigerators, the best French door refrigerators, and the best counter-depth refrigerators.
Quick Look
We've recently started testing refrigerators. We independently purchase each unit from major retailers, just like you, to keep our reviews free from manufacturer influence. Each refrigerator goes through the same tests to measure objective data for metrics like temperature uniformity, produce preservation, and actual storage capacity so you can easily compare the results.
Want to learn more about how we operate? Check out our about us page.
-
Best Side-By-Side Refrigerator
Everyday Use7.8Produce Preservation8.0Refrigerator Capacity6.6Freezer Capacity7.9Temperature Uniformity8.1Ice Making7.9Standard Width36" (91 cm)StyleSide By SideCounter-DepthYesIce MakerFreezer DoorSee all our test resultsWater DispenserIn-DoorThe best side-by-side refrigerator we've tested is the KitchenAid KRSC703HPS. This premium fridge uses a dual evaporator design, allowing it to retain more humidity in the refrigerator compartment, meaning that delicate produce like celery or spinach will last for longer even when stored outside of the produce drawers. Another benefit of this model is impressive temperature uniformity in both the fridge and freezer compartments, which allows you to store temperature-sensitive items like milk or ice cream in any bin or shelf you like. As far as features go, you'll find an in-door water dispenser and ice maker. The ice maker produces around 4 lbs of ice in 24 hours, which is more than enough for medium-sized family gatherings, but you'll have to purchase a bag of ice for hosting large cocktail parties.
The fridge's main weakness is its capacity. Its counter-depth design limits the depth of the already narrow cabinets. This is especially apparent in the fridge, where the drawers and door bins are shallow, short, and narrow, so you'll have difficulty storing large items. However, it's more convenient in the freezer since the ice maker and ice tray fit entirely within the door, leaving the rest of the freezer available for storage.
-
Best Mid-Range Side-By-Side Refrigerator
Everyday Use7.3Produce Preservation6.1Refrigerator Capacity8.2Freezer Capacity9.5Temperature Uniformity7.5Ice Making7.7Standard Width36" (91 cm)StyleSide By SideCounter-DepthNoIce MakerFreezer DoorSee all our test resultsWater DispenserIn-DoorThe best mid-range side-by-side refrigerator we've tested is the Whirlpool WRS588FIHZ. This fridge is related to the more expensive KitchenAid KRSC703HPS, though it differs with its standard-depth sizing, resulting in far more room. In fact, it's one of the highest-capacity side-by-side models we've tested, although its deep cabinets can make it challenging to access items at the very back of either compartment. Like the KitchenAid, the ice maker and ice dispenser stay out of the way in the freezer door. You can store even large items, such as casserole dishes, in the freezer, although you'll need to orient them on their narrow side. It also features excellent temperature uniformity in the refrigerator section, allowing you to store temperature-sensitive items wherever you prefer.
However, the single evaporator design results in low humidity inside the fridge, and since the crisper drawer doesn't seal very well, produce dries out and begins wilting fairly quickly. We also found that freezer temperature uniformity is only fair, with noticeably warmer temperatures in the lower section of the freezer. This inconsistency might negatively impact temperature-sensitive frozen items like ice cream and meat.
-
Best Budget Side-By-Side Refrigerator
Everyday Use7.2Produce Preservation6.3Refrigerator Capacity8.2Freezer Capacity7.8Temperature Uniformity7.8Ice Making8.1Standard Width36" (91 cm)StyleSide By SideCounter-DepthNoIce MakerFreezer CompartmentSee all our test resultsWater DispenserIn-DoorIf you want to save some money without giving up too much performance, consider the Frigidaire FRSS2623AS. This refrigerator provides outstanding temperature uniformity in the freezer, allowing you to store frozen items conveniently without worrying about inconsistent freezing or freezer burn. The refrigerator compartment provides impressive capacity. The freezer's capacity is very good, but the ice maker occupies a significant amount of space in the upper third of the freezer. In terms of features, there's a large ice tray, storing plenty of ice for large gatherings, with an in-door ice and water dispenser.
Unfortunately, the single evaporator creates low humidity in the fridge section. Though the produce drawer's seal is quite good, maintaining a fairly high humidity in the drawer, it can only do so much in such a dry environment, so produce preservation is only passable. Also, the refrigerator temperature uniformity is mediocre, with the top shelves warmer than the rest of the fridge.
Notable Mentions
-
Whirlpool WRS321SDHZ:
If you only have space for a 33-inch refrigerator, consider the Whirlpool WRS321SDHZ. It's similar to the 36-inch Whirlpool WRS588FIHZ, offering the same produce preservation performance as its larger sibling. However, it has benefits like much better freezer temperature uniformity and a larger ice tray. The decreased width creates narrow compartments, especially in the freezer, lowering capacity.
See our review
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are currently the best side-by-side refrigerators to buy. We don't just base our results on overall performance but also on factors like availability, price, and reader feedback.
If you'd like to do the work of choosing yourself, here's the list of all our side-by-side refrigerator reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While there's no single fridge that's perfect for every use, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.