The French door refrigerator style is two doors over a bottom freezer drawer, while the design of the side by side is half freezer and half refrigerator.
French Door Refrigerator vs Side-by-Side
In a French door refrigerator everything is at eye level. Doors are capable of opening wide. This allows you to put large things into the refrigerator. Shelves can span the entire width of the refrigerator and freezer giving you enough room for large platters, pizza boxes and food storage for parties or holidays. A French door refrigerator is more expensive than a side by side.
A side-by-side is good for small kitchens because less room is needed for the doors to swing open. However, inside space is narrow making it hard to reach items at the back of shelves. Water dispenser and interior light take up additional area in the side by side refrigerator. The side-by-side refrigerators are considered not as reliable as the French door refrigerator because they have through the door water and ice makers which are a major source of needed repairs.
Features
The French door refrigerator and side-by-side both come with water and ice dispensers. Some models for both types have filtered water dispenser. Gallon size door bins, automatic defrost and sliding shelves are features found in the French door refrigerator and the side by side. Added bonuses found in the French door refrigerator are wine rack, door alarm, humidity controlled crisper and door chime to let you know if the door is left open.
Available Sizes
The width of the French door refrigerator is typically 32 to 36 inches with a depth of 28 to 36 inches. Side-by-Side refrigerators are 31 to 36 inches wide and have a depth of 28 to 34 inches. Both styles are available in capacities ranging from 20 to 28 cubic feet.
Colors
Both refrigerators depending on the model come in white, black, bisque and the more expensive stainless steel.
Price Ranges
Prices for the French door refrigerator generally are from $1,400 to $3,200. A side by side refrigerator usually costs between $1,200 and $3,000.
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