November 17th, 2023 | 10 min. read
Learn how to find the perfect refrigeration products with our Counter-Depth Refrigerator Buying Guide
I bet you will have problems finding the best 33-inch counter-depth refrigerator for your home.
There's nothing wrong with you or your standard 33-inch cabinet.
Most manufacturers do not make a 33-inch counter-depth refrigerator.
However, your choices will increase with three new refrigerators. In this article, you will learn all about the best 33-inch refrigerators, their features, and their advantages.
Let's get started.
Looking for answers about Counter-Depth Refrigerators?
Short on time? Download our free Counter-Depth Refrigerator Buying Guide.
The Best 33-Inch Refrigerators for 2024
Best Service: GE GYE18JYLFS
GE is a twin-cooling refrigerator, meaning you have two evaporators or one for the refrigerator and freezer.
The more humid air will not be trapped in your freezer, so your frozen foods taste better. Less warm air in your freezer also means less frost.
They also have TurboCool for adding colder air into the refrigerator while loading fresh groceries.
The GE GYE18JYLFS is a smart refrigerator offering the ability to monitor and adjust settings from an app on your phone.
GE has the best service with parts and technical support of all the brands on this list.
They even operate their own service department.
Buying a GE refrigerator from a store without a service department is a good consideration.
Guess what...you probably are.
Lastly, you can buy this refrigerator with an ice dispenser or in the color-customizable, more upscale Café model CWE19SP2NS1.
Features of the GYE18JSLSS
- ClimateKeeper2: GE's ClimateKeeper2 technology uses multiple sensors to monitor and maintain optimal temperature and humidity levels throughout the refrigerator, ensuring food stays fresh longer.
- TwinChill Evaporators: This feature involves separate evaporators for the refrigerator and freezer compartments, preventing the mixing of odors and maintaining ideal humidity levels in each section.
- Quick Space Shelf: The Quick Space shelf is an adjustable shelf that can be easily repositioned to accommodate taller items in the refrigerator.
- Water and Ice Dispenser: The external water and ice dispenser provides filtered water, ice cubes, and crushed ice on demand.
- LED Lighting: LED lights illuminate the refrigerator's interior, offering bright and energy-efficient lighting to help you easily find what you need.
- Advanced Filtration System: GE's advanced water filtration system typically removes contaminants and impurities from tap water, providing clean, fresh-tasting water and ice.
- Door Alarm: An audible door alarm alerts you if the refrigerator or freezer doors are left open, helping to maintain temperature and food safety.
- Turbo Cool and Turbo Freeze: These features allow for rapid cooling and freezing of items when needed.
- Adjustable Shelves and Door Bins: The refrigerator compartment often has adjustable glass shelves and door bins for flexible storage options.
- Full-Width Deli Drawer: The deli drawer is designed to store deli meats and cheeses, making them easily accessible.
- Energy Star Certified: This refrigerator is typically Energy Star certified, indicating that it meets energy efficiency standards, potentially reducing your energy consumption and utility bills.
- Digital Controls: The external digital controls and display panel make setting and adjusting temperature and other features easy.
Best Value: Samsung RF18HFENBSR
French Door RF18HFENBSR/US 17.5 cu.ft
This refrigerator was one of the most popular searches on our website for any product. Samsung was the largest and most popular at 18 cubic feet.
It is a French-door refrigerator with a pull-out bottom freezer.
This unit is popular because of the $1,399 price.
Like GE, it has two evaporators for better temperature maintenance and no crossover between refrigerator and freezer.
However, it can be difficult to find service for Samsung appliances. Samsung has a bigger logistical problem because it is the number-one-selling brand in the US.
It's important to know how the product is fixed before buying it.
Features of the Samsung RF18FENBSR
- Capacity: This refrigerator typically has a capacity of approximately 17.5 cubic feet, including the fridge and freezer compartments.
- French Door Design: The RF18HFENBSR features a French door design with two side-by-side refrigerator doors and a pull-out freezer drawer at the bottom.
- Twin Cooling Plus: Samsung's Twin Cooling Plus technology helps maintain separate and optimal humidity levels in the refrigerator and freezer compartments, preventing odors from mixing and keeping food fresher for longer.
- Adjustable Shelves: The refrigerator compartment typically has adjustable glass shelves that can be customized to accommodate different-sized items.
- Gallon Door Bins: The door often features gallon-sized bins, providing convenient storage for large beverage containers and other items.
- LED Lighting: LED lighting illuminates the refrigerator's interior, providing bright and energy-efficient illumination.
- Power Freeze and Power Cool: These features allow rapid cooling and freezing of items when needed.
- Ice Maker: The RF18HFENBSR has an automatic ice maker in the freezer compartment.
- Door Alarm: An audible door alarm alerts you if the refrigerator or freezer door is left open, helping to maintain the temperature and food safety.
- Digital Display and Controls: The external digital display and controls on the front of the refrigerator allow you to easily adjust settings and monitor the temperature.
- Energy Efficiency: Samsung refrigerators typically meet or exceed energy efficiency standards, helping to reduce energy consumption.
Most Reliable: Fisher & Paykel RF170WDRUX5 N, RF170ADUSX4 N, and RS32A72J1
Fisher & Paykel has great aesthetics and several different model options, including a model with a water dispenser.
It's a cool-looking refrigerator with sensors throughout the refrigerator and freezer. The sensors communicate with the microprocessor to maintain the proper temperature.
Want to know precisely?
Here are the five ways ActiveSmart is designed for efficiency (Don't feel bad; I had to look it up):
- Temperature Control: ActiveSmart uses multiple sensors to continuously monitor the temperature inside the refrigerator and freezer compartments. These sensors detect any fluctuations in temperature.
- Adaptive Cooling: Based on the data collected by the sensors, the system makes real-time adjustments to the cooling and airflow inside the appliance. It ensures that the temperature remains consistent and stable to keep your food fresher for longer.
- Energy Efficiency: ActiveSmart is designed to be energy-efficient. Only cooling or freezing the specific areas of the fridge or freezer that need it reduces energy consumption. For instance, if you frequently open the fridge door, it might prioritize cooling the top shelf more than the lower shelves.
- Humidity Control: Some Fisher & Paykel refrigerators with ActiveSmart technology also have humidity control features. These features allow you to adjust the humidity level inside specific compartments to keep fruits and vegetables fresh for longer.
- Smart Defrost: ActiveSmart also includes a smart defrosting feature. It can adapt the defrost cycle based on how often and how much you use the freezer. This minimizes freezer burn and reduces unnecessary energy consumption.
The RF170 series is available with or without internal water and ice dispensers. It's less expensive without the dispenser at $2,699.
Fisher & Paykel offers a 33-inch single-door counter-depth refrigerator if you like a single-door model.
The Fisher & Paykel RF172GDUX1 refrigerator is very similar to the RF170 series. However, this refrigerator is 70.5 inches long and includes a freezer drawer.
The ice maker is in the freezer drawer, which is unique. Most internal ice makers, including other Fisher & Paykel models, are in the bottom freezer compartment, which isn't as convenient.
Lastly, if you want to panel a 33-inch counter depth, you can with the Fisher & Paykel Fisher & Paykel RS32A72J1.
Features of a Fisher Paykel Refrigerator:
- Variable Temperature Zones: Many Fisher & Paykel fridges offer multiple temperature zones within the refrigerator compartment. This allows you to adjust the temperature to suit different food or beverages.
- Flexible Shelving: Adjustable and removable shelves and door bins make it easy to customize the interior space to accommodate various container sizes and types of food.
- LED Lighting: Fisher & Paykel refrigerators typically feature energy-efficient LED lighting, which provides bright and uniform illumination while using less energy.
- Air Purification: Advanced models include air purification systems to remove odors and keep the refrigerator's interior air fresh.
- Door Alarm: An audible door alarm alerts you if the refrigerator or freezer door is left open accidentally, helping to maintain proper temperatures and food safety.
- Fast Freeze and Quick Cool: These features allow you to rapidly cool or freeze items, which can be especially useful when storing fresh groceries.
- Energy Efficiency: Fisher & Paykel strongly emphasizes energy efficiency, so many of their refrigerators are designed to meet or exceed energy-saving standards.
- Customizable Finishes: Fisher & Paykel often offers a range of finishes, including stainless steel, black, white, and more, so you can choose a style that matches your kitchen décor
And now for something new...finally.
Largest: LG LF21C6200S
At 20.5 cubic feet, LG is the largest, by about three cubic feet or about 18%.
This refrigerator is built like their successful Counter-Depth MAX refrigerators, with thinner walls and newer, more advanced insulation.
If that sentence scares you, the Counter-Depth Max refrigerator works.
The refrigerator uses one evaporator and two sensors to maintain proper temperatures instead of their standard two-evaporator design.
Features of the LG LF21C6200S
- PrintProof™ Stainless Steel
- SmartDiagnosis™
- ENERGY STAR® Qualified
- LG ThinQ® App with ThinQ Care
- ThinQ Care: Proactive smart alerts to keep your appliances running smoothly
- Preventative Alerts help you stay a step ahead of potential issues to find proactive solutions before problems arise.
- Avoid preventable repairs and service calls with real-time diagnostics for a hassle-free experience.
- Integrated within LG's ThinQ app: A smart home hub for managing your smart devices and appliances.
Best Overall: LG LRMNC1803S
33" Counter Depth 4-Door Refrigerator, 19 cu.ft.
At 19 cubic, the LRMC1803 is still large for the cabinet. You have their ice and water dispenser.
Their Door Cooling Plus is inspired. Cold air is emitted from the vents at the top of the refrigerator and freezer whenever you open the door.
The design is to keep the warmer air from raising the temperature.
It's like walking into a store in the middle of a hot summer day and feeling that AC. The store installs the fans so that hot air doesn't enter the store.
Features of the LG LG LRMNC1803S
- Smart Cooling System: LG's Smart Cooling System uses multiple sensors to maintain optimal temperature and humidity levels throughout the refrigerator, ensuring your food stays fresh for longer.
- Linear Compressor: LG refrigerators often include an Inverter Linear Compressor, designed to be energy-efficient and provide quiet and precise cooling.
- Digital Temperature Controls: These controls, often located on the front of the refrigerator, allow you to easily adjust and monitor the temperature settings.
- Door-in-Door™: Some LG models offer a Door-in-Door™ feature, which allows you to access frequently used items without fully opening the refrigerator door. This can help save energy and maintain temperature levels.
- CustomChill® Drawer: The CustomChill® drawer is a versatile middle drawer set to different temperature settings to accommodate various food and beverages.
- Adjustable Shelves and Bins: LG refrigerators typically come with adjustable shelves and bins in the refrigerator compartment, providing flexibility in storage space.
- Fresh Air Filter: An air filter helps to remove odors and keeps the interior air fresh.
- LED Lighting: LED lights provide bright and energy-efficient lighting, making it easy to see and access items in the refrigerator.
- Water and Ice Dispenser: Many LG French door refrigerators include an external water and ice dispenser, offering filtered water, ice cubes, and crushed ice.
- Smart Technology: Some LG models are compatible with LG's SmartThinQ™ technology, allowing you to remotely control and monitor the refrigerator via a smartphone app.
- Door Alarm: An audible door alarm alerts you if the refrigerator or freezer doors are left open, helping to maintain temperature and food safety.
What to Consider When Buying a 33-Inch Refrigerator
Full-Depth vs. Counter-Depth Refrigerators
The refrigerator with more cubic footage costs less on average.
Standard depth refrigerators typically have a larger capacity of 22-25 cubic feet and are less expensive than counter-depth refrigerators with a capacity of 15-20 cubic feet.
Why Buy a Counter-Depth Refrigerator?
A counter-depth refrigerator doesn't protrude into your kitchen like a standard refrigerator.
Your cabinet hides the chassis, so it looks better than seeing the textured black sides.
Pro Tip: If you want a larger refrigerator with the look of a counter depth, then build your cabinet out to match the depth of the door. Another trick is to place your refrigerator at the end of your cabinets so it won't look as bad.
Are Counter-Depth Refrigerators Reliable?
Refrigerators are more reliable now than in previous years. Ice makers aren't breaking as much, at least as much in the first year.
Counter-Depth Refrigerator Reliability
The following service rates are based on a minimum of 100 refrigerators sold and a total sample of over 3000:
| Service Rate | |
| Fisher & Paykel | 5.0% |
| LG | 6.9% |
| Café Appliances | 9.9% |
| Bosch | 10.7% |
| Thermador | 15.6% |
| GE Profile | 16.5% |
| GE Appliances | 19.6% |
| KitchenAid | 25.5% |
| Beko | 25.9% |
| Grand Total | 14.7% |
LG's inverter compressor design is working rather than focusing on class actions.
Fisher & Paykel is the most reliable refrigerator brand because they don't have an ice cube dispenser in the refrigerator yet.
Still, as a group, you should be aware of future problems.
Best 33-Inch Refrigerators: Conclusion
Finally, you have access to quality options at reasonable prices and a wide range of choices to choose from.
Samsung provides good value, LG is bigger and technically better, Fisher & Paykel stands out for its stylish design.
You can even add a custom cabinet panel to one of these.
As always, refrigerators break, so check for available service in your area before buying one.
Additional Resources
Get the Yale Counter Depth Buying Guide with features and specifications of counter depth, professional, and integrated refrigerators. You will also see inside tips for all the brands. Well over 1 million people have read a Yale buying guide.
Related Articles
- How to Buy a Refrigerator: The Ultimate Guide
- Best Counter-Depth Refrigerators
- Most Reliable Counter-Depth Refrigerators
- Project Produce: Which Refrigerator Keeps Food Fresh the Longest?
Looking for answers about Counter-Depth Refrigerators?
Choosing a new refrigerator can be a confusing and time-consuming experience. We've taken the pain out of the decision process with our Counter-Depth Refrigerator Buying Guide.
Why Should You Trust Us?
It seems that every appliance review has nothing but glowing comments about almost every product, yet you read customer reviews and they are almost universally bad.
We are here to fill in the disconnect. We'll give you the best features, and the drawbacks as well, including reliability based on over 37,000 calls performed by our service team just last year. Our goal is to give you ALL the information so you know what's right for you.
Please consider subscribing or adding to the conversation in the comments below. We appreciate you stopping by.
A Note About Pricing
Pricing on this blog is for reference only and may include time sensitive rebates. We make every attempt to provide accurate pricing at time of publishing. Please call the stores for most accurate price.
