Updated at: 25-11-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

What should I look for when buying new appliances if I’m moving?

What’s the average weight of a refrigerator?

Full-size residential refrigerators weigh between 100 and 400 pounds, with an average weight of 250 pounds. It’s common for French door refrigerators to weigh 317 pounds, side by side refrigerators to heft 285 pounds, and mini fridges to tote in at 60 pounds, with the former two being lighter.

Refrigerators, on average, weigh 12 pounds per cubic foot of storage space.

The Samsung French Door model, for example, has a 28 cubic foot capacity and weighs 336 pounds.

Let’s dig a little more into the technicalities of how much a refrigerator weighs now that you have a rough concept.

These 58 popular refrigerators are grouped into three categories: brand name, model type, and size.

Tips for moving refrigerators without hurting yourself or your home are also included in this guide.

The last thing I’ll cover is how to get the correct fridge so you don’t have to carry along extra weight!

To learn more, click on the following links:

  • In terms of weight, how much does a fridge weigh? 58 Authentic Cases
  • Factors Affecting the Weight of a Refrigerator
  • Weight of a Refrigerator in the Context
  • How to Move a Refrigerator: A Quick Guide
  • Refrigerator Size Selection for Weight and Cost Savings

How Much Does a Refrigerator Weigh? 58 Real Examples

Refrigerator weight varies depending on the kind, brand, and model of the appliance. The most popular refrigerators on the market today were researched to provide you the most accurate data possible. Each model’s weight, capacity, and weight in pounds per cubic foot are listed in the table below.

Clicking or tapping on a fridge’s brand name will bring up more information about it. Alternatively, you can use the column headers to narrow your search to a certain refrigerator brand or model.

Average Refrigerator Weight (With 58 Examples) - Prudent Reviews

Swipe left and right on mobile devices to see the whole chart.

Showing entries 1 through 58 of 58

French Door Refrigerators

Refrigerators of this style are currently the most popular on the market. There are usually two doors on top, one for refrigeration and one or two drawers for storing frozen foods in the French Door fridge.

In terms of weight, French Door refrigerators can range from 220 to 390 pounds, with an average weight of 317 pounds. The average weight per cubic foot of these refrigerators is 13 pounds.

Side-by-Side Refrigerators

The freezer is located on one side of the unit, while the refrigerator is located on the other. A refrigerator’s ice maker and freezer are on the left side, while the rest of the refrigeration system is on the right.

The average weight of a side-by-by-side refrigerator is 285 pounds, ranging from 242 to 340 pounds. The average weight per cubic foot of these refrigerators is 12 pounds.

Classic Top Freezer Models

Refrigerators with a top freezer are often smaller, lighter, and better suited to households with fewer than three people. They range in weight from 117 to 220 pounds on average. Refrigerators with top freezers typically weigh 10 pounds per cubic foot of space.

Bottom Freezer

When it comes to refrigerators, a bottom freezer is exactly what it sounds like. These are heavier than standard bottom-freezer refrigerators. Between 119 and 288 pounds, with an average weight of 215 pounds, bottom freezer refrigerators can be found. They have a capacity of one cubic foot and weigh 11 pounds on average.

Mini Fridges

You’ve undoubtedly guessed that mini fridges are the lightest sort of refrigerator because of their small size. Between 22 and 95 pounds, the average weight of these models is 60 pounds. The average cubic foot weight of a mini fridge is 13 pounds.

Factors Impacting Refrigerator Weight

The type of refrigerator is one of the most important variables in determining its weight.

A standard French door refrigerator weighs more than 300 pounds and has a capacity of roughly 25 cubic feet.

Because they have fewer doors, drawers, and moving parts, two-door side-by-side refrigerators are typically 30 to 40 pounds lighter than French door versions (about 260 pounds) for the same cubic feet.

Lower in size and less complicated than French door or two-door models, top freezer freezers often weigh under 200 pounds.

How Much Does a Refrigerator Weigh? – Weight of Stuff

Again, your fridge should weigh no more than 10 to 12 pounds per cubic foot of space. Since there are more drawers and doors involved in the structure, the weight increases after 24 cubic feet.

The contents of a refrigerator are another key contributor to its weight.

Everybody has had to carry heavy groceries from the car to the home at some point in their lives. Make sure to keep in mind that many of those hefty groceries will end up in the fridge, which adds even more weight to the cart!

A 25 cubic foot refrigerator, like this Samsung model, can contain up to 25 bags of goods.. A full refrigerator can weigh 50 to 100 pounds more than the same empty refrigerator if those bags of items weigh merely a few pounds each.

Because of this, older refrigerators are more cumbersome to move.

With an older refrigerator, like one manufactured in the early 1990s or earlier, you’re likely to have a heavier icebox on your hands if you’ve been roped into helping someone relocate.

Weight in Context

The weight of a basic number, such as 300 or 400 pounds, is both weighty and ethereal at the same time. Is it impossible to carry a 300-pound refrigerator?

Let’s put the refrigerator’s weight in context by comparing it to other hefty objects.

Tiny mattresses, or two small mattresses placed on top of each other, can fit in most freezers. Think about the weight of two twin mattresses stacked on top of each other, which normally weighs between 45 and 60 pounds.

It’s crucial to keep in mind how large the refrigerator is. The refrigerator, in contrast to the sleek, streamlined, and purpose-built lifting apparatus of a 300-pound deadlift or bench press, is cumbersome and awkward. It’s not made to move or lift; it’s made to keep your food frozen!

Tips for Moving a Refrigerator

Refrigerators are heavy, cumbersome, and difficult to transport. To say that transporting them is a pain would be an understatement. There are, however, a few basic steps you can do to lessen the agony.

Remove the contents of the refrigerator first. You don’t want food and loose shelves bouncing around when your fridge is in motion, so this is a great way to decrease the load. Take enough ice to keep perishables chilly for the duration of time you’ll be without a refrigerator.

Let the fridge thaw before reconnecting it. Be sure to remove all the ice cubes from your ice maker before they melt and make a large mess in your kitchen. It’s important to consult your refrigerator’s user handbook for specific instructions on how to defrost and remove the water supply line (if yours has a water dispenser).

Securing wires and tubes as well as doorways is essential. You can secure the doors using moving tape to prevent the power wire and cooling tubes from dragging on the floor when you move the refrigerator.

Make a plan for your move. Measure your refrigerator’s height, breadth, and depth, as well as the hallways and doorways in your home, before purchasing a new one. Keep in mind that you can always remove the doors to your house and your refrigerator if the situation calls for it. Make a detailed strategy for how you’ll go from point A to point B, and get rid of any furniture that might get in the way.

Purchase or rent an appliance dolly. In order to clean behind your refrigerator, you may slide it forward on your own because most have wheels that can go forward and backward. If not, an appliance dolly with straps, such as this one from Amazon, is an excellent alternative. You can rent a dolly from U-Haul or a local moving business if you don’t want to spend money on a dolly you’ll only use a few times.

With the help of a dolly, move the refrigerator. Place the dolly on one of the fridge’s sides after sliding it out of the cutout. A refrigerator dolly should never be placed on the front or back of a fridge. The dolly could damage the compressors and cooling tubes on the rear of the fridge, preventing you from getting into a comfortable position. The doors, handles, and water/ice dispensers on the front of the fridge will get in the way.

After putting the dolly in place, secure the strap around the fridge as instructed by the dolly’s manufacturer. Do not over-tilt the dolly when repositioning it. Ideally, the dolly should bear the bulk of the weight. ” Because you won’t be able to see in front of you, walk backward when moving the fridge. An excellent demonstration of good technique is provided in this video.

Get the help you need. Moving a large refrigerator by yourself isn’t something you should attempt to be a hero at. Make sure you have a companion on the other side of the dolly to keep an eye out for you. When it comes to protecting your property and appliances, your assistance can at least keep you from bumping into walls and harming them.

Choosing the Right Refrigerator Size to Reduce Weight and Cost

When it comes to purchasing a refrigerator, you don’t want to overbuy.

Increases in the size of American refrigerators and an overabundance of refrigeration are the subject of an outstanding essay in the Atlantic: What Gives American Refrigerators Their Extra-Large Size? Overbuying perishables, not maximizing fridge space, and buying and discarding stuff we don’t need are all common occurrences in our homes.

Buying less and utilizing what you already have instead of letting that extra-large bag of salad go bad is one way to save money on groceries and food waste by selecting the proper size refrigerator for your home (again).

To guarantee that you buy a refrigerator that is the right size for your kitchen, measure the width of the doors, moving routes, and the cutout for a refrigerator in your kitchen (if you have one). A two-inch gap is required between the hinge side of the refrigerator and a wall or cabinet in order for the door to fully open.

Beware of being persuaded by the refrigerator cutout into purchasing a larger size than you actually require! To achieve a good, snug appearance, many people measure the refrigerator cutout and then purchase the largest size that fits. Buying a larger chill chest isn’t the only way to make more room. More cabinets, open shelves, wine storage, or even a single panel, are all viable additions to the space.

Mini fridges weigh between 40 and 80 pounds, depending on the type, making them lighter than full-size refrigerators. As much as we like to think of the “large fridge” as a sign of adulthood and affluence, many single-person households do just fine with a smaller refrigerator model with a separate freezer. The smaller the storage area, the less food you will have to buy, and it is also much easier to move around.

Refrigerator Weight FAQ’s

Why Are Refrigerators So Heavy?

A refrigerator is made up of a large number of components. In terms of sheer physical size, this is a massive appliance. The tallest full-sized versions reach heights of 70 inches (almost 6 ft). Then there are the walls that are insulated. In addition to being incredibly dense due to the considerable insulation they contain, they’re also extremely heavy (often a rigid polyurethane foam). On the other hand, mechanical components like refrigerant, compressor, and coils add a significant amount of mass to the whole package. Finally, there are no containers in the room.. There’s also a fridge full of food to go around!

What Can I Put On Top Of A Refrigerator?

Your fridge’s capacity is restricted not just by weight, but by other considerations as well. Your arms will be the limiting factor in terms of weight. If you can lift a thing above your head, you can probably put it on top of a refrigerator that is strong enough. You should, however, make sure that nothing is restricting the fridge’s airflow. The back of the house is where the warm air is exhausted, and it needs a path out. Also, anything placed on top of the refrigerator will certainly warm up, so avoid doing so with wine or fruit.

How Much Does a Refrigerator Weigh? – Mrs Cox Blog

Can A Refrigerator Harm Your Floor?

There is virtually no problem with storing a refrigerator on the floor in terms of weight and deflection. As a result, there should be no issue because we design buildings with robust safety considerations for weight (particularly ‘live’ loads like appliances and people). You should set it against a wall so that it can distribute your stress in the most efficient way possible. A fridge, on the other hand, can scratch a wooden or vinyl floor. Moving a refrigerator is best done by lifting it completely or placing it on top of a stack of towels.

Final Thoughts

French Door and Two-Door variants weigh between 250 and 350 pounds, while freezer-on-top units weigh between 150 and 200 pounds.

Just be sure you don’t get a bigger fridge than you actually need. By going smaller, you may keep the weight down and save money on groceries.

When moving a refrigerator, always get the assistance of a dolly and make sure the doorway is wide enough before attempting to lift the 300-pound item yourself.