Top-tier French door refrigerators: a comparison
Stylish French-Door Refrigerators: A Comprehensive Guide
French-door refrigerators, with their double doors that open outwards, revealing wide shelves, have become a popular choice for large households and keen entertainers. These modern appliances are known for their stylish looks and added features, such as built-in water dispensers. However, they also come with considerations regarding their price, energy consumption, and physical form.
These fridges are among the priciest models on the market, with some costing more than $5000. Prices range from $1599 to $5099, with an average price of about $2900. Despite the high cost, it's essential to note that the price doesn't always guarantee better performance.
French-door refrigerators typically offer large storage capacities, ranging from 25 to 28 cubic feet. Multiple shelving configurations are available, providing flexibility to accommodate various items. Some models even have a 'cupboard-style' freezer or one or two large freezer drawers on the bottom.
However, ice makers and water chillers can reduce freezer capacity significantly. Moreover, these appliances consume more energy than other refrigerator types, leading to a high running cost over 10 years, ranging from $1280 to $2276.
French-door refrigerators are packed with added features, such as built-in ice and water dispensers, auto-fill water jugs, and multi-use compartments. Some models, like the LG French Door Refrigerator (model LRFLC2706S), even have smart features that connect to apps for notifications on usage and maintenance.
According to CHOICE and expert sources from 2025, the best French-door refrigerators combine spacious capacity, smart features, energy efficiency, and good storage flexibility. The LG LRFLC2706S model is highly praised for its built-in look that fits flush with countertops, a spacious 26.5 cubic feet capacity, an internal water dispenser that keeps the exterior sleek, smudge-resistant finish, and smart pull handles for freezer access.
The Hisense Pureflat 4-Door Smart French Door Refrigerator is noted for an adjustable middle drawer that can be used as a fridge, beverage chiller, or soft freezer, plus app controls with temperature alerts, making it ideal for family use. However, it has been reported to be susceptible to scratches and odors lingering longer than expected.
The Frigidaire Gallery Quattro GRQC2255BF 4-Door French Door is acclaimed by experts as the best refrigerator tested so far, though details in the excerpt are limited. A broadly recommended French door refrigerator model, featured on Listful, offers a spacious 28 cubic feet capacity with ENERGY STAR efficiency and SmartPull® handles, but some users report compressor problems and warranty service difficulties.
CHOICE generally highlights French-door models for their popular, high-end designs and spacious interiors but notes they tend to consume more energy than other refrigerator types and might cost more to run. CHOICE experts have tested and reviewed dozens of French-door fridges each year, and CHOICE members have exclusive access to which French-door fridges performed best in their tests.
In summary, when considering a French-door refrigerator, it's crucial to balance capacity, style, smart features, and freshness control with energy efficiency and kitchen fit. The LG LRFLC2706S model is one of the best-regarded French-door refrigerators in expert tests and consumer reviews, while the Hisense and Frigidaire Gallery Quattro models are also top contenders with unique smart and flexible storage features.
To make an informed choice for a French-door refrigerator, one should consider not only its stylish appearance and large home-and-garden friendly storage capacity, but also its energy efficiency, running cost, and potential issues such as compressor problems or warranty service difficulties. French-door refrigerators, though pricey, offer a variety of added features like built-in ice and water dispensers, smart controls, and flexible storage configurations.
