Shopping for a 48-inch counter-depth refrigerator can feel like a major undertaking.
Do you go with a side-by-side or a French door model?
Should you choose a professional-looking fridge with the compressor on top or a sleeker, integrated design that fits into your cabinets?
With so many options, it's easy to choose the wrong one.
Don’t worry.
By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly which style and brand of 48-inch fridge is right for you.
As a bonus, you’ll also learn a few inside tips about delivery and installation—crucial when bringing an 800-pound refrigerator into your home.
You won’t find this information anywhere else.
Let’s get started.
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Best For |
Type |
Capacity |
Key Features |
Starting Price |
Service Info |
|
Sub-Zero CL4850UFDID/S/P |
Food preservation & longevity | French Door, Built-In | 28.9 cu. ft. | Vacuum seal, air scrubber, Split Climate, nanotech shelves | $16,835+ | Industry-best: 5-year full, 12-year compressor warranty; strong service reputation |
True TR-48SBS-SS-C |
Durability & Custom Finishes | Side-by-Side, Built-In | 29.4 cu. ft. | All-stainless interior, 1M-pull hinges, custom finishes | $21,999+ | Tested in-house; durable components, but limited residential service details available |
Thermador Pro T48BT120NS |
Seamless Design & Smart Tech | French Door, Integrated | 26.8 cu. ft. | ThermaFlex drawer, Diamond Ice, interior | $15,999+ | Complex installation; service may require certified Thermador technicians |
SKS SKSFD4826P |
Quiet Operation & Cocktail Ice | French Door, Integrated | 24.6 cu. ft. | Craft Ice, convertible drawer, metal back, 4 sensors | $14,999+ | Challenging installation; service through SKS/LG network, mixed reliability |
Monogram ZISS480DNSS |
Best Budget Option with Smart Features | Side-by-Side, Built-In | 28.8 cu. ft. | Climate drawer, external dispenser, SmartHQ app | $13,700+ | Standard GE service network; $4,500 in rebates available for cost savings |
Sub-Zero’s 48-inch built-in refrigerators are popular for their extensive selection of features and options in this size range.
Sub-Zero is the largest family-owned American appliance manufacturer, based in Madison, Wisconsin.
They were the first to introduce twin compressors. One controls the refrigerator and the other controls the freezer.
This prevents the warmer, moist air from the refrigerator from cycling into the colder, drier freezer.
Food Fresh for Longer
The refrigerator is designed to keep food fresher for longer with its tight vacuum seal.
The seal is strong enough that you’ll feel some resistance when opening the door initially. The magnets on the crispers are also designed to keep air out.
Additionally, an air purifier "scrubs" ethylene gases from spoiling foods to reduce contamination and extend freshness.
Sub-Zero has introduced a newer (2024) French door refrigerator with a completely revamped interior and a range of new features.
Split Climate
One of the new additions is the Split Climate feature. This ensures that air circulates in multiple directions.
Your produce will have different airflow from the main compartment, maintaining a consistent temperature within a one-degree range.
Better Lighting
This model includes LED lighting at the top and a lighting system in the back, illuminating your food from every angle.
Flip-Up Dairy Compartment
A small but clever feature allows you to fit taller bottles on the bottom shelf.
Nanotechnology Shelving
The shelves are coated with nanotechnology that congeals spills, preventing sticky messes like grape juice from spreading.
You won't have to deal with sticky grape juice messes in your refrigerator for months.
Ice Dispenser
It’s available in stainless steel or with a custom cabinet panel on the front. Both styles are offered with or without an ice dispenser.
Note: I know what you’re thinking. Another part to break. You’re mostly right. Ice dispensers are a huge problem. However, Sub-Zero’s is built into the freezer compartment, so you won’t have the leakage issues you see with many other brands.
Smart Functionality
All Sub-Zero refrigerators are Wi-Fi enabled. You can control the temperature from your phone and receive text alerts if the door is left open.
Warranty
Sub-Zero offers the best warranty in the industry - five years full coverage and 12 years on the compressor.
✔️Twin compressors keep fridge and freezer environments separate
✔️Strong vacuum door seal helps preserve food
✔️Ethylene air purification system reduces spoilage and cross-contamination
✔️Magnetic crispers close tightly for better freshness
✔️LED lighting provides full interior visibility
✔️Smart features allow temperature control and alerts from your phone
✔️Available with or without anice dispenser
✔️Industry-best warranty coverage
❌Higher price point compared to many competitors
❌Ice dispensers are often a failure point, though less so with Sub-Zero
❌Strong seal can make the doors harder to open
❌Some internal storage trade-offs due to built-in components
🔍Read More: Is a Sub-Zero Refrigerator Worth the Money?
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True’s entry into the residential refrigeration market ten years ago marked a significant development.
Based in St. Louis, Missouri, True is the largest family-owned commercial refrigerator company in America.
Widely considered the best commercial product, True's appliances are a common sight in supermarkets and restaurants.
If you’ve ever grabbed frozen food or a soda at Whole Foods or Wegmans, it was likely from a True refrigerator or freezer.
True appliances are incredibly robust, from the doors to the hinges, with almost every part manufactured in their own factory.
Not only are the components made in-house, but each refrigerator is also rigorously tested.
One Million Pull Test
The unit undergoes rigorous testing, with hinges designed to withstand 1,000,000 pulls.
All Stainless
The refrigerator features a professional, all-stainless design inside and out that’s easy to clean and cools quickly.
Customization
Available in 14 finishes and six hinge accent colors, you can choose from options like green with polished brass or cobalt with gold accents.
Plus, there are custom color options as well.
Dual Compressor
Like a Sub-Zero it has a dual compressor with all its benefits.
LED Lighting
Includes ramp-up LED lighting and upfront electronic controls.
Refrigerator Drawers
Comes with all-steel crispers with soft-close hinges and door shelving, unlike their commercial units.
Balanced Forced Air Cooling
The system uses fans to continually circulate cold air evenly across the shelves and throughout the refrigerator. Digital controls provide accuracy and ease of operation.
✔️Industry-grade durability
✔️All stainless interior and exterior
✔️Dual compressor performance
✔️Custom finish and hardware options
✔️Quiet, soft-close hinges
✔️Balanced, even cooling
✔️Precision electronic controls
✔️Excellent interior visibility with ramp-up LED lighting
✔️High-end drawer and bin construction
❌No panel-ready option
❌No Wi-Fi or smart home features
📽️If you want to learn more about True, listen to their CEO from our series, Behind the Brand.
The Thermador Pro T48BT120NS is the first integrated refrigerator on this list, meaning it seamlessly blends with cabinetry.
Unlike models from Sub-Zero, True, and Monogram, its door and handle do not protrude.
However, it offers slightly less cubic footage—26.8 versus 29.1 for the Sub-Zero—so you do lose some space.
It’s a good-looking appliance, but there are potential issues to consider. But first, let's look at its features.
Stainless Steel Interior
Stainless steel is the most hygienic surface, with its solid construction preventing the proliferation of germs unlike other materials.
Ethylene Filter
This filters gases from spoiling food, keeping items fresher longer and preventing cross-contamination.
Twin Compressors/Evaporators
While now standard in most premium refrigerators, it's worth noting that the separation of the refrigerator's warmer, moist air from the freezer's colder, dry air minimizes defrosting.
This also prevents odor transfer between compartments, ensuring that your food, especially in the freezer, maintains its taste.
ThermaFlex Convertible Refrigerator Freezer
The top drawer on the right can switch between 0 to 37 degrees, offering flexibility to use it as either a refrigerator or freezer.
Thermador Pro Ice Drawer
Easily accessible by pulling out the drawer, offering two types of ice—thicker "Diamond Ice," ideal for cocktails and fine liquors, and regular ice for other beverages.
Interior Water Dispenser
Convenient access to cold, filtered water from the left-hand side in all models.
LCD Controls
Features an LCD screen that enhances the presentation by displaying all settings.
HomeConnect Wi-Fi
Adjust temperatures and check filter status via the HomeConnect app, which also allows control of other functions and sends alerts if the door is left open.
Four Cameras
Check the refrigerator's contents while shopping to avoid buying duplicate items.
Crisper Bins
Solid construction and an inch deeper than those in similar SKS models.
39 dB Quiet Operation
Operates quietly at 39 dB, surpassing the standard quietness level of 44 dB (for dishwashers).
✔️Seamless integration with cabinetry
✔️Hygienic stainless steel interior
✔️Flexible convertible drawer
✔️Twin compressors and evaporators
✔️Quiet 39 dB operation
✔️Smart features with Wi-Fi and interior cameras
✔️Custom ice drawer with specialty ice types
✔️Deeper crisper bins than comparable models
❌Slightly less cubic footage than similar models
❌Limited shelving due to an internal design
❌Height may be inconvenient for some (79.5 inches)
❌Complex installation requiring trained professionals and up to 8 hours
Read More: Should You Buy a Thermador Pro Refrigerator?
SKS is the premium line of LG. SKS marketed the first 48-inch French door refrigerator in early 2024.
If you think you're seeing double with the Thermador, you're correct. They are extremely similar.
Linear Compressor
The SKS 48-inch refrigerator has an inverter compressor.
It's worth mentioning that LG's linear compressors were involved inclass-action lawsuits in 2019 and 2024.
However, they have improved the original design. In SKS, they added a second inverter, so this refrigerator has two compressors and evaporators.
Quiet
Fewer working parts mean fewer problems, making SKS the quietest refrigerator on the market at 39 dB (decibels), tied with Thermador.
Integrated Design
SKS is integrated, meaning it is seamless to the cabinet like Thermador.
However, SKS is less deep, and so is its cubic footage, which is 26 cu. ft. compared to 28.9 cu. ft. for the Sub-Zero.
Temperature Control
SKS has four sensors and strategically placed vents throughout the body for optimal cooling performance.
Convertible Drawer
The bottom left drawer is convertible for a freezer or refrigerator with five settings from 41 degrees to –7. So, you always have flexibility.
Thermador ranges from 0 to 37 degrees.
Metal Back
While it's not entirely made of metal like True refrigerators, it does have a metal backing, which allows it to better absorb cold temperatures.
Ice Makers
This refrigerator has regular ice, Craft Ice, and larger, round spheres.
Craft Ice, like Thermador’s Diamond Ice, is slower to dissolve and ideal for scotch and other cocktails.
✔️Quiet operation at 39 dB
✔️Integrated design with cabinet-depth installation
✔️Dual compressor system
✔️Flexible convertible drawer
✔️Craft Ice for cocktails
✔️Metal backing for improved cold retention
✔️Smart temperature control with four sensors
❌Fewer cubic feet than other premium brands
❌Height of six foot three may be inconvenient for some kitchens
❌Difficult installation process, even with experienced installers
Monogram is the most budget-friendly option on this list, priced at $13,100 with up to $4,500 in rebates available.
Dispenser
I thought I would start here because the other brands don't have one except for Sub-Zero.
The well-designed stainless steel dispenser can accommodate various types of glassware, including pitchers.
Air Tower
Monogram’s 48-inch refrigerator has a unique temperature management system.
Instead of a top-down approach, they utilize an air tower encompassing each shelf, ensuring consistent cooling throughout the unit.
Climate Drawer
This system extends to their climate-controlled drawer, allowing you to quickly thaw meats or chill beverages with a button.
SmartHQ
Monogram’s SmartHQ app provides an excellent Wi-Fi experience, making it the best in the industry for connectivity and smart features.
✔️Budget-friendly compared to other 48-inch models
✔️Industry-leading smart features through the SmartHQ app
✔️Only model in this group (besides Sub-Zero) with an external water dispenser
✔️Even cooling from shelf-level air tower
✔️Flexible climate-control drawer
✔️Modern LED lighting and organized interior
❌Lacks air purification system and nanotechnology found in Sub-Zero
❌Does not have a solid stainless steel interior or customization options like True
❌Single compressor system may not offer the same precise control as dual compressor models
Read More: Sub-Zero vs. Monogram Refrigerators
There are a few ways to buy a 48-inch refrigerator.
Your first decision is whether you want a seamless look or a professional, stainless design.
The first option is buying a one-unit professional refrigerator like the SKS or Thermador models we featured above.
You can also buy a counter-depth option like Sub-Zero or Monogram, with the compressor on the top.
Counter-depth hides the chassis, but the doors will protrude slightly.
The integrated refrigerator is fully hidden behind your cabinet panel, so it looks seamless.
You can buy it as a one-piece unit, like Thermador or SKS, or as two separate columns, such as a 30-inch refrigerator and an 18-inch freezer, or two 24-inch columns.
Typically, these shallower integrated units are more expensive and have less cubic footage but blend better with cabinetry.
Integrated units are taller.
With the compressor placed below and drawers added, the topheight of a Thermador integrated refrigerator is 79.5 inches, compared to 72 inches for a professional Sub-Zero.
Here’s a quick side-by-side breakdown to help you compare the two styles:
| Pro-Style Refrigerators | Integrated Refrigerators | |
| Cubic Footage | Larger | Smaller-depth limited to align with cabinets |
| Price | Usually less expensive, but not cheap | More expensive (you're paying for that clean look) |
| Access to Shelving | Easier and shorter | Taller, sometimes awkward to reach |
| Design / Look | Sticks out - professional, bold stainless statement | Flush and seamless - disappears into cabinetry |
| Custom Panel Options | Yes, mostly stainless steel | Tons - custom panels, trim kits, the whole design buffet |
| Installation Flexibility | Easier | Trickier - needs planning, panel clearance |
| Best For | People who want performance and capacity | Design-focused folks who want their refrigerator invisible |
An integrated column refrigerator/freezer gives you more flexibility since you can choose the exact fridge and freezer sizes based on how you use them.
French doors have larger refrigerators with more lateral storage, while side-by-side refrigerators offer more freezer space and better-organized storage from top to bottom.
Side-by-sides are typically less popular, but that’s not the case with these larger units.
You have plenty of space in both the refrigerator and freezer.
🔍Read More: French Door vs. Side-by-Side Refrigerators
Many people focus on brands and features, and rightfully so.
However, you also need to be laser-focused on what happens next.
Delivering and installing an 800-pound refrigerator is not easy.
You might think delivery is simple and the same at every store.
But delivering a 600- to 800-pound refrigerator onto new, soft floors takes real professional expertise.
Check reviews for any appliance and delivery company before making a purchase.
💡Pro Tip: Make sure at least three people are involved when delivering any oversized refrigerator or freezer.
💡Pro Tip #2: This one’s crucial. If you are not installing your Sub-Zero right away, do not leave it sitting directly on the floor.
Set it on a piece of melamine to prevent the refrigerator from denting your floors.
Installation is critical for a refrigerator this large.
You must ensure the compressor is fastened to the wall, since all the weight is on the top.
The refrigerator could tip if it’s not installed properly.
Check the electrical and water specifications if you’re replacing your old 48-inch refrigerator.
They vary between brands.
For the newer models, installation can be a nightmare.
SKS and Thermador require six panels to be cut precisely.
You’re looking at a three-hour job for a tradesperson who knows what they’re doing.
Installing professional refrigerators from SKS and Thermador takes extreme patience. Even if you know what you’re doing, it can take up to eight hours.
🔍Read More: 3 Reasons to Never Buy a Counter-Depth Refrigerator
I mention this in every post: We have six showrooms and handled over 33,000 service calls last year in the Boston area alone.
Contrary to what other showrooms might tell you, service is a significant issue. For refrigerators, you need a specialized refrigerator technician.
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Below are a few of our best integrated refrigerator options, featuring a 30-inch refrigerator and an 18-inch freezer.
They’re all similar in layout to a single 48-inch unit.
You can also customize the hinging and place the refrigerators where you want—lefties, rejoice.
The cost will be higher than a one-piece unit.
Thermador has updated its Freedom refrigerator—again. Now, the interior is all stainless steel.
Thermador’s stainless interior is easier to clean and maintains a colder surface.
It also features elegant, easy-to-use TFT controls. You can scroll through many options, so there’s no need for an instruction manual.
Customizable bins on the door let you store produce or medicines for quick access.
The door can be set to pull or push open. Push-to-open is a helpful option when your hands are full.
Thermador offers the freezer column with or without an exterior water dispenser.
Wi-Fi connectivity is convenient but not essential. It allows you to adjust the temperature remotely, and you'll get text alerts if the door is left open or when it’s time to change the filter.
Sub-Zero offers a wide range of refrigerator options.
Their column refrigeration includes the same features as the PRO units: an air scrubber, nanotechnology shelving, and a vacuum seal gasket.
The new integrated refrigerators now feature a stainless steel interior.
Sub-Zero includes an ice maker and an internal water dispenser.
With an internal dispenser, you don’t have to cut holes in your panel, which preserves the seamless look. However, you do need to open the door to access ice and water.
🔍Read More: Best Ingrated Refrigerators
It depends on your priorities.
Start by deciding whether you want a seamless built-in look or a bold, professional design that makes a statement.
Still not sure? Think about how you use your refrigerator every day—and which model fits best with your kitchen and lifestyle.
What do you think? Let us know, or visit one of our showrooms to see these options in person.
Download the Yale Counter-Depth Refrigerator Buying Guide with features, specs, and inside buying tips for regular, pro, and integrated counter-depth refrigerators. Well over 1 million people have read a Yale Guide.