American fridge or fridge-freezer: which should you choose?
The American fridge-freezer is a dream: huge capacity, ice cubes on tap, a kitchen look straight out of a TV series. The fridge-freezer, on the other hand, is the sensible choice for most families. Which one is right for you? Here's the full head-to-head, and our no-nonsense verdict.
- Fridge freezer : the right choice for up to 4 people
- American : 5 people or more, or frequent hosts
- The American fridge-freezer uses more energy and takes up more space.
- In between: 70–75 cm combi or multi-door
Head to head at a glance
| Criterion | 60 cm fridge-freezer | 70–75 cm combi and multi-door | American-style (side-by-side) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Width | 60 cm | 70 to 90 cm | 90 cm and over |
| Typical total capacity | 300 to 400 L | 450 to 650 L | 580 to 680 L |
| Freezer | Drawers at the bottom, wide | Drawers at the bottom, wide | Vertical column, narrow |
| Typical energy use | 110 to 210 kWh per year | Varies by energy class | 330 to 420 kWh per year (often E or F) |
| Water dispenser and ice | Rare | On some models | Common |
| Doorway clearance | No problem | To be checked | Must be measured |
| Price at Nimestore | from €369.99 | from €899.99 | from €1,089.99 |
Capacities and energy use are approximate. For a specific model, check its energy label.
The combi: the safe bet
The fridge-freezer combi (fridge on top, freezer drawers below) is the best-selling format, and that's no accident. At 60 cm wide and around 2 metres tall, it offers 300 to 400 litres, slots between two units, fits through every doorway and uses little energy: the best models are class A or B.
The freezer drawers are a real advantage: you store things by type, you can see everything, and a pizza or a bag of vegetables fits with no trouble. The fridge sits at eye level, the part you open most often.
Why people love the combi
- Compact and easy to fit
- Economical: often class A to D
- Handy freezer drawers
- Wide choice and gentle prices
- Often reversible door
What it does less well
- Limited capacity beyond 4 people
- Narrower shelves for large dishes
- Water dispenser is rare
The American: capacity and showpiece
The American-style fridge (or side-by-side) places the fridge and freezer side by side, each behind its own large door. It offers around 600 to 680 litres, often with a chilled water and ice dispenser, sometimes a compartment you can reach without opening the whole door (Door-in-Door on LG) or a connected screen (Family Hub on Samsung).
Why it's so appealing
- Huge capacity for a large family
- Chilled water and ice on tap
- Plenty of storage in the doors
- Striking look in a large kitchen
What you need to know
- 90 cm wide, considerable depth
- Sometimes won't fit through doorways
- Higher energy consumption
- Narrow freezer, awkward for bulky items
- Water filter to replace on plumbed-in models
The overlooked compromise: large combi and multi-door
In between, two formats are worth your attention:
- The 70 to 75 cm fridge-freezer : it keeps the logic of a fridge-freezer (fridge on top, drawers below) with 100 to 150 litres more. For example, the Samsung RB50DG601 and RB53DG703, over 500 litres.
- The multi-door (French door or cross door): two doors on top, two drawers below. A wide fridge that takes large platters, and a well-organised freezer. It's often the best choice for a large family that doesn't like the narrow columns of the American style.
Finally, the columns : a single-door fridge and an upright freezer of the same height, placed side by side. You get the capacity of an American-style fridge, with a large drawer freezer, and you can separate them if your kitchen changes.
Energy use: the difference in euros
At the average Belgian price of about €0.35 per kWh:
| Example | kWh per year | Cost per year | Over 13 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 m fridge-freezer, class A | ≈ 110 | ≈ 39 € | ≈ 500 € |
| 2 m fridge-freezer, class D | ≈ 210 | ≈ 74 € | ≈ 960 € |
| American-style, class E or F | ≈ 330 to 420 | ≈ 115 to 147 € | ≈ 1 500 to 1 900 € |
Over its lifetime, the gap can exceed the price of a good dishwasher. That's no reason to rule out an American-style fridge if you need one, but it's a good reason to look closely at its energy rating.
Our models in store
| Format | Model | What you need to know | Public price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 cm fridge-freezer | Bosch KGN36NLEA | No Frost fridge-freezer, a safe bet | 849,99 € |
| Fridge-freezer, 75 cm | Samsung RB53DG703ES9 | Large fridge-freezer, over 500 L for this family | 1 169,99 € |
| Fridge-freezer, 75 cm | Samsung RB50DG601ES9 | About 508 L for this family | 1 239,99 € |
| Multi-door | Hisense RQ5P470SEIE | Cross door at a tight price | 899,99 € |
| Multi-door | Haier HCR3818ENMM | Cube 83 Series 3, energy class E | 1 199,99 € |
| Multi-door | Samsung RF24BB620ES9 | French door, about 674 L, class E | 1 999,99 € |
| Multi-door | LG GMG860EPBE | InstaView: the glass lights up when you knock twice | 2 999,99 € |
| American | Haier HSR3918ENPG | Series 3 side-by-side without dispenser, class E | 1 099,99 € |
| American | Samsung RS70F64KET | Series 7 SpaceMax, 634 to 654 L depending on the family | 1 499,99 € |
| American | LG GSLC40EPPE | About 640 litres, Linear Inverter compressor | 1 599,99 € |
Prices recorded on nimestore.com on 15 October 2026. Prices change: the product page is the reference. Nimesclub members often get a reduced price. The capacities quoted come from the official specifications of the model families: check the exact product page.
Our verdict: who should choose what?
The 60 cm fridge-freezer
For the vast majority of households, it's the best choice: economical, compact, practical. Look for No Frost and a chiller drawer.
from €369.99
75 cm fridge-freezer or multi-door
More capacity, but still freezer drawers. The ideal compromise if your kitchen has 75 to 90 cm of free space.
from €899.99
The American-style fridge
If you have the space, the access and a real desire for chilled water and ice, go for it. Check the energy class carefully.
from €1,089.99
In short: the American-style fridge isn't a 'better fridge', it's a fridge for a specific purpose. If you're hesitating, a fridge-freezer or multi-door model will often be enough. To go further, read our fridge buying guide or browse the ranges Samsung, LG, Haier and Hisense, the large-format specialists.
Before you fall for an American-style fridge, count your shopping: if your current fridge overflows every Saturday and your freezer is full of big boxes, an American-style or multi-door model will change your life. If the shelves are still empty on Thursday, a good fridge-freezer will save you space and electricity.
Fridge-freezers, multi-doors and American-style fridges in store
Combined fridge freezer BOSCH KGN36NLEA€645.00
Bottom-freezer fridge freezer SAMSUNG RB53DG703ES9€949.00
Bottom-freezer fridge freezer SAMSUNG RB50DG601EB1€903.00
American-Style & Multi-Door Fridge HAIER HCR3818ENMM€778.00
American-style & multi-door fridge freezer HISENSE RQ5P470SEIE€868.00
American & Multi-Door Fridge Freezer HAIER HSR3918ENPG€691.00
American & multi-door fridge-freezer SAMSUNG RS70F64KET€1,115.00
American-style & multi-door fridge freezer LG GSLC40EPPE€1,361.00
American-style & multi-door fridge freezer SAMSUNG RF24BB620ES9€1,443.00
American-style & multi-door fridge freezer LG GMG860EPBE€2,365.00Frequently asked questions
Will an American-style fridge fit through a standard door?
Not always. It is around 90 cm wide and often 70 cm deep or more without the handles. Measure the front door, the hallway and the kitchen door. The appliance's doors can sometimes be removed to gain a few centimetres, but this needs to be planned before delivery.
Does an American-style fridge need a water supply?
Only for 'plumbed-in' models connected to the mains water supply. Many models have a simple tank to fill, or no dispenser at all. A plumbed-in model needs a filter replaced regularly and carries a small risk of leaks.
Does an American-style fridge use a lot more energy than a fridge-freezer?
Generally, yes: many American-style fridges are in class E or F, using 330 to 420 kWh a year, compared with 110 to 210 kWh for a good 2-metre fridge-freezer. At the average Belgian price, that's a difference of roughly €40 to €100 a year depending on the model.
American-style or multi-door: which to choose?
The multi-door (French door or cross door) offers a large fridge on top and two freezer drawers below, often within 70 to 90 cm. Storage is more logical than in an American-style fridge, where the freezer is a narrow column. For large platters, the multi-door wins.
Come and see the appliances in person
At our Temploux shop, we open the doors and compare drums and finishes. Or ask our expert sales adviser online, right now.
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