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A side-by-side refrigerator in a cleanly-designed modern kitchen. Credit: Samsung

The Best Side-by-side Refrigerators of 2024

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A side-by-side refrigerator in a cleanly-designed modern kitchen. Credit: Samsung

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1
Editor's Choice Product image of Samsung Bespoke RS28CB760012
Best Overall

Samsung Bespoke RS28CB760012

4.4
Check Price at Samsung

This model offers substantial storage, excellent temperature control, and a cleverly designed beverage center. Read More

Pros

  • Consistent temperature
  • Lots of fridge storage
  • Lots of useful features

Cons

  • Crispers don't hold humidity well
  • Bespoke customization options limited
2
Editor's Choice Product image of Frigidaire FRSS2623AS
Best Value

Frigidaire FRSS2623AS

4.3
Check Price at Best Buy

The Frigidaire FRSS2623AS is a great value. This side-by-side has solid temperatures, lots of storage, and a through-the-door dispenser. Read More

Pros

  • Maintains even temperatures
  • Low electricity demand
  • Lots of fridge storage

Cons

  • Freezer is a bit small
3
Editor's Choice Product image of Samsung RS27T5200SR
Best Full-size

Samsung RS27T5200SR

4.3
Check Price at Samsung

If you are looking for an excellent fridge with tons of storage and won't miss smart features, the Samsung RS27T5200SR is a great place to start. Read More

Pros

  • Steady temperatures
  • Lots of storage

Cons

  • Shelves and bins don't have many options for repositioning
4
Product image of Frigidaire Gallery GRSC2352AF
Best Counter-depth

Frigidaire Gallery GRSC2352AF

4.2
Check Price at Best Buy

The Frigidaire Gallery GRSC2352AF has steady temperatures, a through-the-door dispenser, and ethylene gas filters to keep your veggies fresh. Read More

Pros

  • Steady temperatures
  • Through-the-door dispenser
  • Good storage options for a side-by-side

Cons

  • Recommended settings are a bit warm
5
Product image of Samsung RS27T5561SR

Samsung RS27T5561SR

4.1
Check Price at Samsung

This is one of the more affordable Family Hub fridge models. It offers stable temperatures, lots of storage space, and a through-the-door dispenser. Read More

Pros

  • Excellent smart features
  • Stable fridge temperatures
  • Tons of storage space

Cons

  • Few storage customization options
  • Inconsistent freezer temperatures
  • Best Overall Samsung Bespoke RS28CB760012
  • Best Value Frigidaire FRSS2623AS
  • Best Full-size Samsung RS27T5200SR
  • Best Counter-depth Frigidaire Gallery GRSC2352AF
  • Other Side-by-side Refrigerators We Tested
  • How We Test Side-by-side Refrigerators
  • What You Should Know Before Buying A Side-By-side Refrigerator
  • More Articles You Might Enjoy

Side-by-side refrigerators use tall compartments for both the fridge and the freezer, which keeps items from each at eye level for easy accessibility.

While they may not be as grand as French door refrigerators, the best side-by-side refrigerators can offer features like through-the-door water and ice dispensers and smart features, all at a more affordable price. These features are incredibly rare to find outside of French-doors and side-by-sides.

We test side-by-side fridges in our labs for temperature consistency, storage flexibility, and humidity retention. We especially pay attention to any temperature variation within each compartment, as their columnar design can allow warm spots to form. All these metrics determine how long your fridge can keep your fresh food fresh—and it's what we base our rankings on.

After testing, our favorite side-by-side on the market is the Frigidaire FRSS2623AS (available at Samsung for $2,299.00) . It’s a great value and still excels at temperature consistency and organization.

Editor's Note: Appliances purchases are a large investment of both money and time. We’ve not only compiled lists of the best fridges to shop, but also the best places to buy in-stock appliances right now and the best times of year to buy appliances to take advantage of sales and new releases.

The Samsung Bespoke RS28CB7600 side-by-side refrigerator, sitting outside of our testing labs.
Credit: Reviewed / Michael Elderbee
Best Overall
Samsung Bespoke RS28CB760012
  • Dimensions: 70.6 in. x 35.9 in. x 33.7 in. (H x W x D)
  • Measured capacity: 11.6 cubic-foot refrigerator, 6.3 cubic-foot freezer
  • Dispensers: Internal ice and water
  • Finishes: Bespoke white glass, stainless steel

The Samsung Bespoke RS28CB7600 is one of the better side-by-sides we've tested. It excels on our performance tests, has a ton of storage, and comes equipped with a beverage center that makes it easy to dispense water from the internal dispenser or auto-fill pitcher.

We also appreciate its Auto Open Door sensor, which requires just a light touch to softly open the fridge or freezer door about an inch, making it much easier to fully open the door from there.

The only minor downside? Its crispers don't retain humidity well. If you rely on your crispers to keep your veggies fresh, this fridge may not be your best bet, but otherwise, it's an amazing option.

If you're in the market for a side-by-side, there are few fridges out there better than this one.

Read our full review of the Samsung Bespoke RS28CB7600 Side-by-side refrigerator

Pros

  • Consistent temperature

  • Lots of fridge storage

  • Lots of useful features

Cons

  • Crispers don't hold humidity well

  • Bespoke customization options limited

$2,299.00 from Samsung
The Frigidaire FRSS2623AS side-by-side refrigerator sitting outside of our fridge testing labs.
Credit: Reviewed / Beckett Dubay
Best Value
Frigidaire FRSS2623AS
  • Dimensions: 69.88" x 36.13" x 35" (H x W x D)
  • Measured capacity: 12.39-cu.-ft. fridge, 4.37-cu.-ft. freezer
  • Dispensers: Through-the-door ice and water
  • Finishes: Black, black stainless steel, white, stainless steel

The Frigidaire FRSS2623AS side-by-side refrigerator is one of the best values we’ve seen.

It manages to keep temperatures steady without being an energy hog, and it has a ton of storage in its fridge compartment. The FRSS2623AS also has a through-the-door dispenser for ice and water.

This refrigerator is near perfect. You’ll need to look elsewhere if you want a specific feature like a flex drawer or smart functionality, and the large fridge means the freezer is on the smaller side. Otherwise, this is an excellent fridge at a surprisingly low price for what it offers.

Read our full review of the Frigidaire FRSS2623AS

Pros

  • Maintains even temperatures

  • Low electricity demand

  • Lots of fridge storage

Cons

  • Freezer is a bit small

$1,049.99 from Best Buy
Two images of the Samsung RF27T5200SR side-by-side refrigerator, one with its doors closed and one with them open, showcasing a fully-stocked interior.
Credit: Reviewed / Samsung
Best Full-size
Samsung RS27T5200SR
  • Dimensions: 70.06" x 35.88" x 33.5" (H x W x D)
  • Measured capacity: 12.7-cubic-foot refrigerator compartment; 5.7-cubic-foot freezer compartment
  • Dispensers: Through-the-door water and ice (cubed and crushed)
  • Finishes: Stainless steel, black stainless steel ($100 extra)

The Samsung RS27T5200SR is one of the better side-by-sides we've tested. This fridge doesn't take advantage of Samsung's SmartHub software, which helps keep its costs down, but still comes packed with its own unique feature set.

Overall, this Samsung has great performance. Its multi-vent system helps keep its temperatures even and cuts down on warm spots, a common problem for side-by-sides. We also love how much space there is here, especially in the freezer.

Read our full review of the Samsung RS27T5200SR

Pros

  • Steady temperatures

  • Lots of storage

Cons

  • Shelves and bins don't have many options for repositioning

$1,666,267,633,633,633.00 from Samsung
Two images of the Frigidaire GRSC2352AF side-by-side refrigerator, one with its doors closed and the other with its doors open, showcasing a fully-stocked interior
Credit: Reviewed / Frigidaire

Other Side-by-side Refrigerators We Tested

Product image of Samsung RS27T5561SR
Samsung RS27T5561SR
  • Dimensions: 70.06" x 35.88" x 33.5" (H x W x D)
  • Measured capacity: 13.47-cu.-ft. refrigerator, 5.93-cu.-ft. freezer
  • Dispensers: Through-the-door water and ice (cubed and crushed)
  • Finishes: Stainless steel, black stainless steel

The first thing you notice when looking at the Samsung RS27T5561SR is its built-in 21.5" touch screen. This fridge features Samsung’s smart home platform, Family Hub, which is one of the most feature-rich on the market.

This fridge has more to offer than its smart features. The RS27T5561SR has tons of storage, with its fridge measuring 2.55 cu. ft. larger than the average side-by-side, and the freezer capacity is 0.59 cu. ft. larger than average.

During testing, it also had remarkably stable temperatures in its refrigerator compartment. On the whole, the freezer temperature was consistent, but we did see a spike of about 6°F, which was likely during a defrost program and not a huge problem.

There were some potential downsides to the RS27T5561SR, however. While there's above average storage, there's only one adjustable shelf, and that's in the freezer. If you store taller items in the fridge like wine bottles or two-liter sodas, you might want to look elsewhere. Additionally, the fridge's crispers aren't the best at maintaining humidity, and the RS27T5561SR isn't counter-depth, so it might not fit every kitchen.

Overall, the RS27T5561SR is a solid refrigerator, especially for people looking for a smart fridge at an affordable price.

Read our full review of the Samsung RS27T5561SR

Pros

  • Excellent smart features

  • Stable fridge temperatures

  • Tons of storage space

Cons

  • Few storage customization options

  • Inconsistent freezer temperatures

$2,332.00 from Samsung
Product image of GE GSS25IMNES
GE GSS25IMNES
  • Dimensions: 69.5" x 35.75" x 34.75" (H x W x D)
  • Measured capacity: 9.2-cu.-ft. fridge, 4.8-cu.-ft. freezer
  • Dispensers: Through-the-door water and ice (cubed and crushed)
  • Finishes: Stainless steel, slate

The GE GSS25IMNES has a family-friendly design, with a fingerprint-resistant exterior, brightly lit interior, and and a fridge snack drawer that 36 inches off the ground, a reachable height for kids looking for something to eat.

While temperatures were consistent during testing, the fridge was a bit warm, so you would likely want to set the temperature a little lower. Also, the fridge's drawers were a little squeaky—a food-safe lubricant, such as paraffin wax, would likely ease the squeaking.

While the GSS25IMNES is a bit pricey for what it offers, you could do worse than choosing this GE.

Read our full review of the GE GSS25IMNES

Pros

  • Easy to clean

  • Well-lit interior

Cons

  • Squeaky drawers

  • Runs a little hot

$1,199.99 from Best Buy
Product image of Whirlpool WRS325SDHZ
Whirlpool WRS325SDHZ
  • Dimensions: 69.63" x 35.5" x 33.63" (H x W x D)
  • Measured capacity: 11-cu.-ft. fridge, 4.6-cu.-ft. freezer
  • Dispensers: Through-the-door water and ice (cubed and crushed)
  • Finishes: Black, black stainless steel, stainless steel, white

The Whirlpool WRS325SDHZ, an aesthetically pleasing side by side refrigerator, has a stainless steel fingerprint resistant finish, three crisper drawers, and some flexible storage options.

While we found that this fridge runs a little hot temperature-wise, it’s very easy to make the temperature in the fridge colder by tapping on the control panel located on the through-door water and ice dispenser.

Read our full review of the Whirlpool WRS325SDHZ

Pros

  • Fingerprint resistant stainless steel finish

  • Three crisper drawers

Cons

  • Fridge temperatures can run a bit warm

$1,619.99 from Best Buy
Product image of  Whirlpool WRS555SIHZ
Whirlpool WRS555SIHZ
  • Dimensions: 69.63" x 35.88" x 33.63" (H x W x D)
  • Measured capacity: 9.9-cu.-ft. fridge, 5.4-cu.-ft. freezer
  • Dispensers: Through-the-door water and ice (cubed and crushed)
  • Finishes: Black, black stainless steel, stainless steel, white

The Whirlpool WRS555SIHZ is a handsome-looking side-by-side. Its exterior features clear, intuitive controls and it sports a brightly-lit LED interior that feels a lot more luxe than the traditional low-watt bulb.

One of the difficulties of the average side-by-side is the ability to store frozen pizza boxes: Due to their design, the freezer compartment is often too narrow for them to lay down flat. How the Whirlpool WRS555SIHZ gets around this is by including a "pizza pocket" shelf that folds down, allowing pizzas stored underneath it enough space to stand up vertically.

Read our full review of the Whirlpool WRS555SIHZ

$1,709.99 from Best Buy
Product image of  Whirlpool WRS331SDHM
Whirlpool WRS331SDHM
  • Dimensions: 66.63" x 32.75" x 33.63" (H x W x D)
  • Measured capacity: 9.1-cu.-ft. fridge, 3-cu.-ft. freezer
  • Dispensers: Through-the-door water and ice (cubed and crushed)
  • Finishes: Black, stainless steel, white

The Whirlpool WRS331SDHM is a sister model to the WRS555SIHZ above, and is similar in many respects.

The WRS331SDHM has a built-in look that the WRS555SIHZ lacks, but aside from aesthetics it scales down a lot of the WRS555SIHZ's strong suits—fortunately it's still pretty good.

Its temperatures were steady (if warm before calibration), and it provides decent storage space. One place we definitely noticed the difference, however, was in the freezer: where the WRS555SIHZ has glass shelving in its freezer, the WRS331SDHM has slightly cheap-feeling wire racks. Definitely a downgrade, but not a huge one.

Overall, we think the Whirlpool WRS331SDHM has some decent performance, a nice aesthetic, and is a more budget-friendly version of the WRS555SIHZ.

Read our full review of the Whirlpool WRS331SDHM

Pros

  • Temperatures are consistent `over time

  • LED-lit interior

  • Through-the-door dispenser

Cons

  • Needs calibration before use

  • Large temperature gradient in the fridge compartment

Buy now at Appliances Connection

How We Test Side-by-side Refrigerators

We have plenty of experience testing these products in the lab, but we've also used them as normal people would in the course of their daily lives, which means that we have a great sense for what appliances are bargains at their price points, and which appliances have really useful extra features.

We spend a week testing each fridge from two perspectives—a data-driven, objective point of view, and also as a regular person trying to get at their leftovers. The combination of these two types of experiences allows us to recommend the best fridge for you.

We test each refrigerator in a lab that conditions the air temperature to 72°F +/- 5°F (basically, room temperature), and relative humidity to 50% RH +/- 15% RH, so each fridge can perform at its best under the same conditions. Additionally, we pack each fridge with water-filled containers because refrigerators operate when there’s less empty space.

An Asian man with a clipboard stands in a room with glass walls
Credit: Reviewed / Tim Renzi

Our refrigerator lab keeps both temperature and humidity levels even, to ensure our results are comparable all year, regardless of external conditions.

To judge overall performance, we measure each refrigerator in five areas:

1. Temperature. Our ideal temperature setting for the fridge is 37°F. As 40°F is the start of the bacteria “danger zone”, fridge temperatures higher than 37° and you may have to start worrying about bacteria growth. With freezers, our ideal temperature is 0°F because food isn’t properly frozen at temperatures higher than that. Once each refrigerator is at those temperatures, we collect data over our week of testing to tells us how close the fridge and freezer are to ideal temperatures and how close the air temperature stayed to those values.

2. Humidity loss. Fridges need to strike a balance with humidity—leafy greens will dry out in a crisper that loses too much humidity, but too much humidity will cause fruit to rot. During testing, we add water to a floral foam ball, and measure how quickly it dries in a refrigerator’s veggie crisper.

3. Freezing time. Once a refrigerator is plugged in, we measure the time it takes for the freezer to cool down from room temperature to 32°F, the freezing temperature of water. This is a good measure of how quickly your fridge and freezer can cool down food or beverages that have just been placed inside the refrigerator.

4. Usable space. One of the most common refrigerator specs is the total capacity in cubic feet. While you may think that a higher capacity means more storage, that’s not always the case. Shelves, drawers, and ice makers can eat into that capacity. We measure the usable space, which is how much space is actually available for storage.

5. Energy use. Using an electric meter, we measure the fridge’s energy usage over the week of testing. The less energy used, the more efficient that refrigerator is.

We also use each fridge in a more casual sense so we can answer usability questions about the fridge’s specs and features, like the doors, shelves, controls, water/ice dispenser, and extras like smart connectivity, or flexible storage options, etc. If a refrigerator is difficult to open the doors and the control panel makes no sense, we’re going to penalize that fridge with respect to its ease of use.


What You Should Know Before Buying A Side-By-side Refrigerator

Refrigerator Type

Before purchasing a refrigerator, it's important to determine which type best fits your needs.

French door refrigerators offer a modern look, wide shelves for storage, and many feature options, but they often are more expensive than other types and freezer space may be limited.

Top freezer refrigerators are efficient and less expensive, but some might find them lacking in the aesthetics department. Bottom freezers are the reverse of top freezers, so you'll have to bend over to get things in the freezers.

Last but not least, side by side fridges keep food at eye level. Storage space is more narrow than the other fridge types, but, in general, freezers are large. Here are a few things to consider when shopping for a side-by-side.

Kitchen footprint

People with limited space in their kitchen may want to consider a side-by-side. Because the freezer is next to the fridge, they can save space in your kitchen, as there's no freezer drawer to open (like French door fridges) and the doors are smaller (unlike top and bottom freezers).

Storage needs

While side-by-sides take up less space in the kitchen, the interior can cause storage complications. Narrower fridge and freezer compartments who need space for things like frozen pizzas or serving trays. However, some side-by-sides offer storage solutions that alleviate those issues, such as the "pizza pocket" shelf found in the Whirlpool WRS555SIHZ.

A side by side could be a good option for people who plan out their meals or have lots of leftovers, as stackable containers can be easily seen in most models.

Features

All of the side-by-side refrigerators we tested had through-the-door water and ice. They also all had stainless steel finish available as a finish option. Features beyond those vary, but whether you're looking for water filtration or smart features, there's a side-by-side model that will fit your needs.

How Do You Organize a Refrigerator?

There are a few points to remember when cleaning and organizing your refrigerator.

First, it’s a good idea to empty everything out and give the fridge a once-over with a soapy sponge. Even though you’re probably not spilling stuff constantly, your fridge will get gross over time, and organizing it is a great time to also knock out a quick cleaning.

Once that’s done, you next need to figure out which items make sense to be on the door. You don’t want particularly perishable items kept on the door, because repeatedly opening the door during normal use will mean those items are slightly warmer than the average temperature elsewhere in the fridge. Keep items like milk and eggs toward the back of the fridge, where the coolest, more even temperatures will be.

It’s also important to keep fruits and vegetables separate. Many fruits give off ethylene gas, which can exacerbate the ripening process for other fruits and vegetables. This is why fridges come with two crisper drawers: To keep your fruits and veggies happier and healthier for longer. Use both.

Finally, keep in mind that cold air needs to circulate around your fridge for it to work properly. Stacking shelves to the ceiling will cut off airflow and lead to hot spots around your fridge where food will spoil much faster. On top of that, overstocked fridges often result in lower visibility, which means food will get hidden and forgotten, only to be uncovered later, teeming with new life. Keeping clutter controlled will keep this kind of food waste to a minimum.


Meet the testers

Mark Brezinski

Mark Brezinski

Senior Writer

@markbrezinski

Mark Brezinski works on the Home Team, reviewing refrigerators, minifridges, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, air conditioners, air purifiers, and fans.

See all of Mark Brezinski's reviews
Jonathan Chan

Jonathan Chan

Senior Manager of Lab Operations

@Jonfromthelab1

Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.

See all of Jonathan Chan's reviews
Julia MacDougall

Julia MacDougall

Senior Scientist

@reviewed

Julia is the Senior Scientist at Reviewed, which means that she oversees (and continually updates) the testing of products in Reviewed's core categories such as televisions, washing machines, refrigerators, and more. She also determines the testing methods and standards for Reviewed's "The Best Right Now" articles.

See all of Julia MacDougall's reviews

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