36 inch refrigerator: what the widest common size uses
838 certified full-size refrigerators are about 36 inches wide, the largest width class on the list. Enter your height: the tool counts the ones that fit.
Example for 36 inch models and 70 inches of height — change any figure to see your own result
Certified 36 inch models that fit
359
of 838 certified 36 inch full-size refrigerators
| Every width that fits | 1,658 in all: 359 are 36 inch, 1,299 are narrower |
| Typical capacity (the middle model) | 25.6 cubic feet |
| Typical energy use | 658 kWh a year |
| Typical running cost at the U.S. average price | $119 a year |
| Lowest use among them | 493 kWh (VITARA VFFR2105ESE, 35.60 in wide) |
kWh (kilowatt-hour) is the unit on your power bill. The ENERGY STAR list gives no depth for refrigerators: check the depth, door swing and hinge clearance on the model’s own sheet.
| Model | Width × height | Capacity | kWh a year | Cost a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOOLMORE KM-RERFDSSIW-31, ice maker | 35.80 in × 69.90 in | 31.7 cu ft | 714 | $130 |
| Midea MDRF1178FGF04PRR, ice maker (2 versions, same size and use) | 35.80 in × 69.90 in | 31.7 cu ft | 714 | $130 |
| Samsung RF32CG5100**, ice maker (4 versions, same size and use) | 35.80 in × 70 in | 31.5 cu ft | 709 | $129 |
| Samsung RF32CG5400**, ice maker (3 versions, same size and use) | 35.80 in × 70 in | 30.5 cu ft | 785 | $143 |
| Samsung RF30BB6602**, ice maker | 35.80 in × 70 in | 30.1 cu ft | 545 | $99 |
Compiled by Radif Partners · How the figures are built
The 36 inch refrigerator is the large-kitchen format, and the ENERGY STAR list of November 12, 2026 holds 838 full-size models wider than 35 and up to 36.5 inches. Almost all are bottom-freezer models, a group that includes French door designs (717), followed by side-by-side models (81) and refrigerators without a freezer (40). They hold a median 22.7 cubic feet and stand a median 70.10 in tall, from 67.20 in to 85 in. This is also where energy use peaks: the median model uses 628 kWh a year, $114 at the U.S. average price of August 2026. Side-by-side models use a median 625 kWh against 631 for bottom-freezer ones. 220 models of this width are counter-depth and 177 are built-in. The most frugal certified 36 inch model, the Liebherr MRB3600, uses 260 kWh a year.
36 inch refrigerator layouts compared
At this width the choice is between three layouts, and the list shows a clear difference in energy. The table gives the count, height, capacity and yearly use of each. French door models, two doors over a freezer drawer, are filed with bottom-freezer models; the list does not separate them.
| Layout | Models | Typical height | Typical capacity | Typical kWh a year | Cost a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom freezer and French door | 717 | 70.10 in | 22.8 cu ft | 631 | $115 |
| Side-by-side | 81 | 70 in | 24.1 cu ft | 625 | $114 |
| No freezer | 40 | 83.70 in | 20.6 cu ft | 345 | $63 |
Why wide models use more
A larger box has more wall to lose cold through, and wide models carry the features that cost energy: through-the-door ice and water and automatic ice makers. The federal maximum grows with the adjusted volume of the refrigerator, so a certified 36 inch model can use more than a certified 30 inch one and still beat its own standard. When you compare two wide models, the yearly kWh on the yellow label is the figure to read; the electricity page explains it.
Yearly cost of a 36 inch refrigerator in your state
Example: the middle 36 inch side-by-side refrigerator at the U.S. average price — change any figure to see your own result
Typical certified 36 inch model, cost a year
$114
625 kWh a year at the U.S. average price, 18.16¢ per kWh in August 2026
| Per month | $9.46 |
| Average power draw, day and night | 71 watts |
| Certified 36 inch models compared | 81, from 460 to 694 kWh |
| Cost range among them | $84 to $126 a year |
Height and depth in a 36 inch opening
Most kitchens with a 36 inch opening also have a cabinet above it. With a median height of 70.10 in, many models clear a 70 inch space, but not all: 359 do. Depth is the other limit. A standard-depth 36 inch model stands out past the counter, sometimes by several inches with the handles; the counter-depth page lists the 220 shallower models of this width. Built-in models (177) sit flush with the cabinets but need their own cutout.
Running cost by state
The median 36 inch model, at 628 kWh a year, costs $187 in California, $121 in Illinois and $94 in North Carolina at the prices of August 2026. Over the life of a refrigerator the gap between the most frugal and the hungriest model of this width adds up: 260 kWh against 799 a year. For a slightly narrower opening, see the 33 inch class.