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Side-by-side refrigerators put the freezer at eye level, need far less door-swing room than French door models and usually cost less, which makes them a smart fit for galley kitchens and busy families. To find the best side-by-side refrigerators, we compared specs, expert testing and owner reviews from Samsung, Frigidaire, Maytag, GE, LG and Amana, covering standard-depth, counter-depth, smart and narrow 33-inch models.
Part of our Home Comfort, Backup Power & Tool Guides.
Quick picks
Price tiers: $ under $1,300, $$ $1,300 to $1,800, $$$ $1,800 to $2,500, $$$$ $2,500 and up. Appliance prices change weekly, so check the current price and delivery terms.
| Product | Best for | Price range | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Bespoke Side-by-Side RS28CB7600 | Best overall | $$$ | See price |
| Frigidaire FRSS2623AS | Best value | $ to $$ | See price |
| Samsung RS27T5200SR | Best for big families | $$ | See price |
| Maytag MRSF6636RZ | Best full-size | $$$ | See price |
| Frigidaire Gallery GRSC2352AF | Best counter-depth | $$ | See price |
| GE GSE25GYPFS | Best Energy Star pick | Check price | See price |
| Samsung RS27T5561SR Family Hub | Best smart side-by-side | $$$ | See price |
| LG LRSOS2706S InstaView | Best ice maker | $$$ | See price |
| Frigidaire FRSS2323AS | Best for narrow spaces | $$ | See price |
| Amana ASI2575GRS | Best budget pick | $$ | See price |
1. Samsung Bespoke Side-by-Side RS28CB7600: Best overall
Samsung’s Bespoke side-by-side earned top marks in expert testing for steady temperatures and generous fridge space. Instead of an exterior dispenser, it hides ice and water inside a beverage center with an auto-fill pitcher, which keeps the doors clean and flat.
An Auto Open Door sensor helps when your hands are full. Testers wished the crisper drawers held humidity better.
Key specs
- Capacity: about 28 cu ft
- Size: about 35.9 W x 70.6 H x 33.7 D in (standard depth)
- Dispenser: internal beverage center with auto-fill pitcher
- Features: Auto Open Door
- Finishes: Bespoke glass and stainless options
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Reviewers praise the steady cooling and convenience features. The crisper drawers are the main weak spot.
2. Frigidaire FRSS2623AS: Best value
This 25.6 cu ft Frigidaire is the value pick in more than one expert roundup. It held even temperatures and used little power in testing, and it includes an exterior ice and water dispenser, LED lighting and removable glass shelves.
The trade-off is a fairly small freezer and limited shelf adjustability. It is also slightly wider than 36 inches, so measure a tight cutout carefully.
Key specs
- Capacity: 25.6 cu ft
- Size: 36.13 W x 69.88 H in (standard depth)
- Dispenser: exterior ice and water
- Features: EvenTemp cooling, LED lighting
- Finishes: stainless, black stainless, black, white
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Owners praise the look, space and value, along with the ice maker and bright lighting. Shelf stability and adjustability are common complaints.
3. Samsung RS27T5200SR: Best for big families
A no-frills Samsung with a large fridge section, this model kept steady temperatures in testing and adds an exterior dispenser for water plus cubed and crushed ice. It skips smart features, which keeps the price reasonable for its size.
Testers noted that the shelves and bins have few repositioning options, so tall items can be tricky.
Key specs
- Capacity: about 27 cu ft
- Size: about 35.9 W x 70 H x 33.5 D in
- Dispenser: exterior water, cubed and crushed ice
- Features: multi-vent cooling
- Finishes: stainless, black stainless
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Owner ratings are strong, with most buyers praising the cooling and capacity. Shelf layout is the usual gripe.
4. Maytag MRSF6636RZ: Best full-size
At 28.3 cu ft, this Maytag is one of the roomiest side-by-sides you can buy. It has an exterior ice and water dispenser plus a store-in-door ice bin, PowerCold and PowerFreeze for quick chilling, and an LED light tower.
Maytag backs the compressor for 10 years, longer than most rivals. Not every drawer is humidity-controlled.
Key specs
- Capacity: 28.3 cu ft
- Size: 36 W x 69 H x 35 D in
- Dispenser: exterior ice and water
- Features: EvenAir cooling, PowerCold, PowerFreeze
- Warranty: 10 years on the compressor
- Counter-depth version: MRSC6636RZ
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Reviewers highlight the capacity and fast-chill modes. Limited humidity control in the drawers is the main gap.
5. Frigidaire Gallery GRSC2352AF: Best counter-depth
If you want a built-in look, this counter-depth Frigidaire Gallery sits about 31 inches deep while still offering good storage for its class. It held steady temperatures in testing and includes an exterior dispenser and ethylene gas filters in the crispers to help produce last.
Its default settings ran a little warm, which a quick adjustment fixes.
Key specs
- Size: 36.13 W x 69.73 H x 31 D in (counter-depth)
- Dispenser: exterior water, cubed and crushed ice
- Features: ethylene gas filters in crispers
- Finishes: stainless, black stainless
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Reviewers like its built-in look and steady cooling once the temperature is adjusted.
6. GE GSE25GYPFS: Best Energy Star pick
GE ranks at the top of recent brand reliability surveys for side-by-sides, and the GSE25GYPFS is a well-equipped, Energy Star certified model. Its filter reduces lead and trace pharmaceuticals, and you get an exterior dispenser with chilled water plus cubed and crushed ice.
Handy extras include a door alarm, vacation mode and LED lighting. Check the depth with the door open if your kitchen is tight.
Key specs
- Capacity: 25.3 cu ft
- Size: 36 W x 69.6 H x 34.75 D in
- Dispenser: exterior water, cubed and crushed ice
- Energy Star: yes
- Features: advanced water filter, door alarm, vacation mode, LED lighting
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Model-specific owner feedback is limited, but GE side-by-sides rate well for reliability in owner surveys.
7. Samsung RS27T5561SR Family Hub: Best smart side-by-side
This Samsung adds a 21.5-inch Family Hub touch screen to the door for calendars, photos, grocery reordering and even doorbell camera views. It also has an exterior dispenser for water, cubed and crushed ice, and testers found fridge temperatures steady.
Freezer temperatures were less consistent in testing, and you pay a premium for the screen.
Key specs
- Capacity: about 26.7 cu ft
- Size: 35.9 W x 70.1 H x 33.5 D in
- Smart: 21.5-inch Family Hub screen, AI Energy Mode
- Dispenser: exterior water, cubed and crushed ice
- Finishes: fingerprint-resistant stainless, black stainless
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Reviewers rate the smart features highly. The price and freezer consistency are the main drawbacks.
8. LG LRSOS2706S InstaView: Best ice maker
LG’s InstaView side-by-side lets you knock twice on the glass panel to see inside without opening the door, and it makes slow-melting round Craft Ice in addition to cubed and crushed. The dispenser nozzle is cleaned with UV-C light every 24 hours.
LG side-by-sides have drawn some compressor complaints in owner surveys, so a longer warranty or protection plan is worth considering.
Key specs
- Capacity: about 27 cu ft
- Ice: Craft Ice plus cubed and crushed
- Features: InstaView door, UV-C nozzle cleaning
- Finishes: PrintProof stainless, black stainless
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Owners love the round ice and the see-inside panel. A few report door sealing problems.
9. Frigidaire FRSS2323AS: Best for narrow spaces
Only 33 inches wide, this 22.3 cu ft Frigidaire fits openings where most side-by-sides will not. It is Energy Star certified and includes an exterior dispenser, humidity-sealed crispers and door-ajar, high-temperature and power-failure alarms.
It needs about 48 inches of depth with the door open 90 degrees.
Key specs
- Capacity: 22.3 cu ft
- Size: 33.1 W x 69.9 H x 35 D in
- Dispenser: exterior cubed and crushed ice
- Energy Star: yes
- Alarms: door ajar, high temperature, power failure
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Owner ratings are strong overall. The narrower freezer is the main trade-off for the slim width.
10. Amana ASI2575GRS: Best budget pick
Amana’s 24.6 cu ft side-by-side keeps things simple: a dual-pad exterior ice and water dispenser with an EveryDrop filter and dispenser lockout, plus a factory-installed ice maker. The sealed system carries a 5-year warranty.
It is not Energy Star certified and lacks a deli drawer.
Key specs
- Capacity: 24.6 cu ft
- Size: 35.9 W x 68.6 H x 34.1 D in (with handle)
- Dispenser: exterior ice and water with lockout
- Warranty: 5 years on the sealed system
- Finishes: stainless, black, white
👍 Pros
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👎 Cons
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What owners say: Owners say it stays cold, makes lots of ice and is easy to move. Complaints include fingerprints, a narrow freezer and occasional dispenser drips.
How to choose a side-by-side refrigerator
- Measure the opening. Check width at the floor, counter and upper cabinets. Leave about 1 inch at the top and back for airflow and about 2 inches on the hinge side so the door opens fully. Measure doorways and halls on the delivery path too.
- Door swing and depth. Side-by-side doors are narrow, but the total depth with the door open 90 degrees can reach 46 to 50 inches. Check this spec in tight kitchens.
- Capacity. A rough guide is 12 to 16 cu ft for one or two people, 18 to 25 for three or four and 25 or more for larger households or frequent hosts. Narrow shelves make pizza boxes and sheet pans harder to fit.
- Standard vs counter-depth. Standard models stick out about 6 inches past the counters but hold more. Counter-depth looks built-in but usually holds around 22 cu ft.
- Dispensers and filters. Ice makers and dispensers are the most common cause of service calls. Note the filter type and replacement cost.
- Reliability and warranty. Recent brand surveys rank GE highest for side-by-sides. Longer sealed-system or compressor warranties add peace of mind.
- Energy Star. Certified models can save meaningful money over the fridge’s life.
FAQ
Is a side-by-side or French door refrigerator better?
Side-by-sides offer eye-level freezer space and narrow doors that need less swing room. French door models handle wide platters and trays better and put the freezer in a drawer below. Choose based on your kitchen layout and what you store most.
How long do side-by-side refrigerators last?
Expect around 10 years, often longer with good care such as cleaning the coils and replacing the water filter on schedule.
Will a side-by-side refrigerator fit a 36-inch opening?
Most full-size models are 35.5 to 36.1 inches wide, so check the exact spec and leave clearance on the hinge side. For tighter openings, look at 33-inch models like the Frigidaire FRSS2323AS.
What temperature should a side-by-side refrigerator be set to?
Experts recommend about 37°F for the fridge and 0°F for the freezer.
Related guides
- The Best French Door Refrigerators
- The Best Counter-Depth Refrigerators
- The Best Chest Freezers
- The Best Dishwashers
- Home Comfort, Backup Power & Tool Guides
Sources
We drew on Reviewed’s side-by-side refrigerator testing, This Old House, GE Appliances’ size guide, Lowe’s refrigerator size guide, Quartz’s summary of Consumer Reports brand reliability, and manufacturer specifications from Amana, GE, Samsung, Frigidaire, Maytag and LG. Owner feedback is summarized in our own words from public reviews. Photos courtesy of Unsplash.