How many litres of fridge do I need?
Short answer
The practical reference is about 100 to 150 litres for the first two people, plus around 50 per additional person: 250 to 300 litres for one or two people, 350 to 400 for a family of four, and 450 or more for five or if you cook a lot at home. Before deciding, measure the gap where it goes, because a fridge that won't fit through the door is the most expensive mistake.
The fridge is one of the most expensive home purchases and one most often chosen by eye. Two numbers rule: the litres (by household size) and the gap where it goes (which is measured, not estimated). And one underlying decision: no-frost or cyclic.
How many litres by household size
| People in the house | Recommended litres |
|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | 250 - 300 |
| 3 to 4 | 350 - 400 |
| 5 or more | 450+ |
| Cook a lot / big shops | 450+ |
The underlying rule: 100 to 150 litres for the first two people, plus around 50 per additional person. Go up if you cook a lot at home or do big shops and freeze.
No-frost or cyclic
The technical decision that most defines the experience:
- No-frost: a fan circulates dry cold air. No frost forms and you never defrost. Holds temperature better when you open the door. In exchange, it dries unwrapped food a little more and uses slightly more energy.
- Cyclic: cools by contact and forms that layer of ice you have to defrost by hand every so often. Cheaper and uses less, but defrosting is a chore.
Today most people choose no-frost for never defrosting. Wrapping food well solves the drying.
The most expensive mistake: not measuring
It’s what generates the most returns. Measure three things with a tape, not by eye:
- The gap where it goes — width, height and depth, leaving a few centimetres of air at the sides and back to ventilate.
- The width of doors and hallways it has to pass through. A fridge can fit its spot perfectly and not pass through the front door.
- The height with the hinges, which add more than you’d think.
On buying bigger “just in case”
A bigger fridge uses more all day even half-empty. But watch out: a fridge stuffed to the top isn’t ideal either, because cold air needs to circulate between the food and a packed fridge cools worse. The sweet spot is comfortable, neither empty nor full. If you’re torn between two sizes and your usage is normal, the smaller is usually the sensible one.
Frequently asked
What's the difference between no-frost and cyclic cooling?
It's the most important technical decision in the category. A cyclic (or 'frost') fridge cools by contact and over time forms that layer of ice in the freezer that you have to defrost by hand every so often. A no-frost fridge has a fan that circulates dry cold air, so no frost forms and you never have to defrost it. No-frost is much more convenient and holds temperature better when you open the door; in exchange, that circulating air dries unwrapped food a little more and uses slightly more energy. Today most people choose no-frost for the convenience of never defrosting.
How much freezer space do I need?
It depends a lot on how you shop and cook. If you do big shops occasionally and freeze meat, batch meals or bread, you'll want a generous freezer, and there it's worth looking at the freezer's litres separately, not just the total. If you buy fresh often and barely freeze, a small freezer is enough and you can prioritise fridge space. A practical point: on top-freezer fridges the freezer tends to be smaller, while bottom-freezer or side-by-side models offer more freezing volume. Think about your routine before the total number.
Why do I have to measure before buying?
Because it's the mistake that generates the most returns and the most expensive of all. You have to measure three things: the gap where the fridge will sit (width, height and depth, leaving a few centimetres of air at the sides and back for ventilation), and also the width of every door and hallway it has to pass through to get there. A fridge can fit its spot perfectly and not pass through the front door or a hallway corner. Measure with a tape, not by eye, and note the height with the hinges, which add up.
Should I get a bigger one just in case?
With caveats. A fridge bigger than needed uses more all day, every day, even half-empty, because it has to keep more volume cold. But unlike other appliances, a very full fridge isn't ideal either: the cold air needs to circulate between the food, so a packed fridge cools worse. The sweet spot is comfortable, neither empty nor stuffed. If you're torn between two sizes and your usage is normal, the smaller of the two is usually the sensible one; go up only if you know you'll fill it.
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