Every week, somewhere in Australia, a new fridge arrives on a delivery truck and doesn't fit. The buyer measured the old fridge instead of the cavity, forgot the hinges need side clearance, or found out the hallway is two centimetres narrower than the box. The fridge goes back on the truck and the household lives out of an esky for another week.
Ten minutes with a tape measure prevents all of it. This guide covers how to measure properly, which fridge type suits how you actually shop and cook, how many litres your household really needs, and why energy stars matter more on a fridge than on any other appliance — plus specific picks at every size.
How to choose a fridge
Measure the cavity, not the fridge
Measure the width, height and depth of the space where the fridge will sit — and measure at several points, because walls and floors are rarely square. Then allow the ventilation gap the manufacturer asks for: typically around 5 cm behind, 5 cm above and 2–3 cm on each side. A fridge squeezed in with no breathing room runs hotter, chews more power and fails sooner.
Check the delivery path too. Measure every doorway, hallway and stair turn between the street and the kitchen. Most full-size fridges are 60–75 cm deep with the doors on, and side by side models can be 90 cm wide. If the old fridge came in through a door that's since had a frame added, don't assume the new one will.
Think about door swing
A single-door fridge needs its door to open past 90 degrees, or the crisper bins won't slide out. If your fridge sits hard against a wall or next to an island bench, that's a real problem. French door models solve it — each door is half the width, so you need far less swing room. Many smaller fridges have reversible doors, which lets you hinge the door on whichever side suits your layout.
Fridge types in plain terms
- Bottom mount: freezer drawers down low, fresh food at eye level. The most practical layout for daily cooking, since you open the fridge far more often than the freezer.
- Top mount: freezer up top, fridge below. The classic layout — usually the cheapest per litre and the most compact.
- French door: two half-width fridge doors over a freezer drawer. Best for tight kitchens and wide platters.
- Side by side: full-height fridge and freezer next to each other. Big capacity and often a water dispenser, but check your cavity width and note the narrow shelves.
- Bar fridge: 45–100L compact units for offices, granny flats, garages and drinks duty.
How many litres do you need?
As a working rule: one to two people, 200–400L. Three to four people, 400–550L. Five or more, 550L and up. Shop fortnightly rather than weekly, or entertain often? Size up. Going too big wastes power cooling empty space; going too small means a permanently overstuffed fridge that cools unevenly. Bar fridges from 65–95L handle a single room or overflow drinks without touching the kitchen.
Energy stars pay you back
A fridge is the one appliance in your house that runs 24 hours a day for a decade or more, so the energy label deserves more attention here than anywhere else. As a rule of thumb, each extra star means roughly 20 per cent less electricity for a fridge of the same size. The gap between an ordinary rating and a 5.5-star model adds up to hundreds of dollars over the fridge's life — often more than the price difference up front.
The picks, by size
Cheapest way in: Kogan 65L Bar Fridge Black
The Kogan 65L Bar Fridge Black Compact Chiller (currently out of stock) is $299.42, down from $310.21 — a saving of about $71. The reversible door means it works in a corner on either side, and 65L is enough for drinks, snacks and lunch storage. Suits an office, teenager's room or garage without demanding much floor space.
Quietest small fridge: Kogan 93L Bar Fridge Silver Inverter
The Kogan 93L Bar Fridge Silver Inverter is $354.14, down from $401.11. The inverter compressor is the point here: it hums along quietly instead of clunking on and off, and the 4-star energy rating keeps running costs low. The right pick for a bedroom, home office or studio where a droning compressor would drive you mad.
For drinks on show: Kogan 66L Glass Door Bar Fridge
The Kogan 66L Glass Door Bar Fridge is $407.34, down from $412.96. The glass front and LED lighting turn it into a proper display cooler for a home bar, games room or covered entertaining area. Worth knowing: glass doors leak a little more cold than solid ones, so keep this one for beverages rather than groceries.
Small household all-rounder: Kogan 85L Top Mount Fridge White
The Kogan 85L Top Mount Fridge White is $381.50, down from $456.44. Unlike a bar fridge, this has a genuine freezer compartment up top, which makes it a workable only-fridge for a studio, granny flat or first apartment. The reversible door helps in tight layouts.
Best family fridge: Haier 433L Bottom Freezer HRF420BW
The Haier 433L Bottom Freezer HRF420BW is $1,355.99, down from $1,898.38 — a saving of just over $540. The 5.5-star energy rating is exceptional for this size and will keep power bills down for years, while the bottom-freezer layout puts fresh food where you can see it. Sized right for a household of three to four, and Super Freeze locks in nutrients when you're loading up after a big shop.
Water dispenser without a plumber: Samsung 495L French Door SRF5300SD
The Samsung 495L French Door SRF5300SD is $2,255.99, down from $3,158.38 — around $900 off. The water dispenser is non-plumbed, filled from a tank inside, so renters and anyone without a water line behind the fridge cavity get chilled water anyway. French doors need minimal swing room, making this the pick for galley kitchens and fridges beside island benches.
Big-capacity value: Kogan 631L Side by Side
The Kogan 631L Side by Side with Water Dispenser is $1,440.94, down from $2,011.55 — about $464 saved. That's serious capacity per dollar for a household of five or more, with a water dispenser built in. Measure carefully before ordering: side by side fridges are wide, and this style suits an open kitchen with a generous cavity.
The second freezer: Haier 386L Vertical Freezer HVF430VW
Not a fridge, but the natural partner to one. The Haier 386L Vertical Freezer HVF430VW is $2,555.97, down from $3,578.36 — a saving of over $1,000. An upright freezer beats a chest freezer for organisation, since drawers stop food disappearing into the depths. Suits bulk buyers, big families and anyone who stocks up on half a beast from the local butcher.
Quick comparison
| Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Kogan 65L Bar Fridge Black | Budget drinks and office duty | $238.62 |
| Kogan 93L Bar Fridge Silver Inverter | Quiet rooms, low running costs | $308.54 |
| Kogan 66L Glass Door Bar Fridge | Home bars and entertaining | $317.66 |
| Kogan 85L Top Mount Fridge White | Studios and granny flats | $351.10 |
| Haier 433L Bottom Freezer HRF420BW | Families of 3–4, lowest bills | $1,355.99 |
| Samsung 495L French Door SRF5300SD | Tight kitchens, chilled water | $2,255.99 |
| Kogan 631L Side by Side | Households of 5+ | $1,547.34 |
| Haier 386L Vertical Freezer HVF430VW | Bulk buyers, second freezer | $2,555.97 |
Fridge FAQs
What size fridge does a family of four need?
Between 400L and 550L covers most four-person households. The Haier 433L sits at the efficient end of that band; the Samsung 495L gives more headroom if you shop fortnightly or cook in batches.
How much clearance does a fridge need?
Most manufacturers ask for about 5 cm behind, 5 cm above and 2–3 cm each side, but always check the manual for your exact model. The gap lets heat escape from the condenser — skip it and the fridge works harder for the same result.
Can I lay a fridge down to move it?
Transport it upright if you possibly can. If it has to travel on its side, stand it upright at the destination and leave it unplugged for several hours — at least as long as it was lying down — so the compressor oil settles back where it belongs before you switch it on.
Do bar fridges cost much to run?
Old ones can be surprisingly thirsty for their size. Newer models with inverter compressors and 4-star ratings, like the Kogan 93L, cost very little to run. Glass door models use a bit more, which is the trade-off for the display factor.
Get the tape measure out
Measure the cavity, check the delivery path, match litres to your household, then buy the best star rating you can. Every fridge above ships from our Sydney warehouse with a 1-year warranty and 30-day returns, and you can compare the full range in our fridges collection.
Related guides
Prices correct at publication and may change. Stock levels update daily.