Apartment size refrigerator: narrow full-size models compared
743 certified full-size refrigerators are 28.5 inches wide or less. Enter your opening to count the ones that fit your apartment kitchen.
Example for a 28.5 × 66 inch opening — change any figure to see your own result
Certified models that fit
275
of 2,700 certified full-size refrigerators, every width up to yours
| Every width that fits | 275 in all: 103 are 28 inch, 172 are narrower |
| Typical capacity (the middle model) | 11.6 cubic feet |
| Typical energy use | 310 kWh a year |
| Typical running cost at the U.S. average price | $56 a year |
| Lowest use at about 28 inches wide | 204 kWh (ELEMENT EUF14CE**, 28 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frigidaire FFHT1820V* | 28 in × 65.90 in | 18.0 cu ft | 368 | $67 |
| Frigidaire FFHT1820V*, ice maker | 28 in × 65.90 in | 18.0 cu ft | 452 | $82 |
| LG LT18S1100* (4 versions, same size and use) | 27.50 in × 65 in | 17.5 cu ft | 344 | $62 |
| LG LT18S1200*, ice maker | 27.50 in × 65 in | 17.5 cu ft | 440 | $80 |
| Frigidaire FRTE1622AB (3 versions, same size and use) | 27.60 in × 64.60 in | 17.0 cu ft | 347 | $63 |
Compiled by Radif Partners · How the figures are built
An apartment size refrigerator is a full-size refrigerator built narrow, usually 24 to 28 inches wide, for small kitchens where a 30 inch model does not go in. The term is a sales label, not a category on the ENERGY STAR list, so this page takes every certified full-size model up to 28.5 inches wide: 743 of them on the list of November 12, 2026. They hold a median 12.5 cubic feet, from 3.3 to 19.1, and stand a median 67.40 in tall. 224 of them are 62 inches tall or less, for kitchens with a low cabinet above. A median narrow model uses 333 kWh a year, $60 at the U.S. average price of August 2026. A compact refrigerator uses less in total, 246 kWh at the median, but much more per cubic foot of space: 69.8 kWh a year per cubic foot against 26.4 for the narrow full-size models. For anything beyond a studio, the narrow full-size model is the better use of the power you pay for.
Apartment size refrigerator capacity, from small to large
Narrow refrigerators are bought by capacity as much as by width. The table groups the certified models up to 28.5 inches wide by cubic feet, with the median width and height of each group and the energy it uses. The larger bands mean taller models, so the height you can free decides how far up the table you can go.
| Capacity | Models | Typical width | Typical height | Typical kWh a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 cu ft | 58 | 21.90 in | 69.70 in | 373 |
| 10 to 13 cu ft | 329 | 23.60 in | 66.80 in | 310 |
| 13 to 16 cu ft | 216 | 27.60 in | 67.95 in | 332 |
| 16 cu ft or more | 140 | 28 in | 66.90 in | 360 |
Measure the kitchen and the way in
In an apartment, the delivery path is as tight as the kitchen. Measure the entry door, any turn in the hallway, the elevator door and its depth, and the kitchen doorway; a refrigerator travels on its back or upright on a dolly, so compare its depth and height with each opening. Then measure the kitchen space itself: width at the narrowest point, height to the underside of the cabinet above, and depth to the front of the counter. The measuring guide goes through each step.
Narrow models that fit your apartment kitchen
Example for a 26 × 64 inch opening — change any figure to see your own result
Certified models that fit
156
of 2,700 certified full-size refrigerators, every width up to yours
| Every width that fits | 156 in all: 135 are 24 inch, 15 are narrower, 6 are wider than 24.5 in |
| Typical capacity (the middle model) | 10.1 cubic feet |
| Typical energy use | 297 kWh a year |
| Typical running cost at the U.S. average price | $54 a year |
Top freezer is the norm at this width
Most narrow full-size models put the freezer on top. It is the most frugal layout on the list and the one that gives the most food space for the width. Bottom-freezer narrow models exist and suit people who use the freezer little; they are usually taller. Landlords replacing a unit should also check the electrical outlet position and whether the old model had a water line for an ice maker.
Running cost for a renter
Renters usually pay the electricity, so the yearly kWh matters even on a landlord's appliance. At 333 kWh a year, a median narrow model costs $95 a year in New York, $64 in Illinois and $53 in Texas at the prices of August 2026. The width pages go further: 24 inch and 28 inch; for a studio, the mini fridge sizes.