The kitchen is the heart of the home, and the fridge is the heart of the, uh, heart. As far as appliance purchases go, there's nothing more important to get right than the fridge.
If you're looking to upgrade from your top mount or bottom mount fridge to something bigger and more exciting, a French door model is just the ticket.
A French Door Fridge is a large fridge and freezer with two doors at the top and a single freezer drawer at the bottom. They can also have two drawers, or two doors at the bottom - these are called Quad Door or Multi Door Fridges.
These models of double doors are increasingly popular amongst Australian households for their style, luxury features and size. We have a huge range of French doors available, and we've created this guide to help you find the right fridge for your home.
Top Brands for French Door Fridges
Every major appliance brand in Australia has a French door refrigerator model on offer.
Electrolux
With Swedish Thinking driving their design, Electrolux offers sleek, minimalist design with smart features. The Electrolux range includes French and Multi Door models with advanced temperature control and energy efficiency features built-in.
Electrolux offers a standard 24 month manufacturer's warranty.
Westinghouse
The Westinghouse range features reliable, family-friendly French door fridges with practical design and spacious interiors. Designed for families, the Westinghouse range has both French and Multi door fridges in a range of sizes and finishes.
Westinghouse offers a standard 24 month manufacturer's warranty.
LG
LG is a brand renowned for innovative design and technological X-factor. They offer a range of Quad Door fridges with features like InstaView, door-in-door design and craft ice makers. Customers looking for a slim width Quad Door can find one in the LG range.
LG offers a standard 24 month manufacturer's warranty.
Haier
Haier offers budget-friendly French door options that balance essential features with affordability. Haier's focus is on creating quality appliances that promote the health and wellbeing of their customers.
Haier offers both the Quad door and French door style fridges in a range of sizes and finishes.
Haier offers a standard 24 month manufacturer's warranty.
Fisher & Paykel
Fisher & Paykel is a household name in appliances, beloved by Australian families. They're known for premium French door fridges that combine modern aesthetics with innovative cooling technology.
Fisher & Paykel offers the Quad door style of fridge as well as the traditional drawer-style French door. Their range features a number of capacities and finishes.
Fisher & Paykel offers a standard 24 month manufacturer's warranty.
Hisense
Hisense is popular for offering affordable, high performance French door fridges with stylish designs at competitive price points. The Hisense range features both the traditional French door style with drawers and the more modern Quad door style of fridge.
Hisense offers a 3 year manufacturer's warranty on their fridges.
Samsung
Celebrated for their feature-rich French door fridges that include smart connectivity, flexible storage, and cutting-edge technology like Family Hub.
Samsung's range features the traditional French door style with the drawers and Quad doors.
Samsung offers a standard 24 month manufacturer's warranty.
Key Features to Consider
There are a number of features to consider when looking for your new fridge.
Water and Ice Dispenser
Many French-door fridge models come with a built-in water and ice maker. Cheaper models have water and ice dispensers with a tank that the user manually refills.
More expensive models will have the ice and water plumbed in, meaning the user has the model installed into the wall by a plumber. This adds to the initial expense of the fridge, however, it's extremely convenient and never needs to be refilled.
Some models have ice in the freezer and not in the door, and this is available in both plumbed and non-plumbed models. Many customers find this style to be cleaner with a greater volume of ice produced.
Finally, some models will produce different types of ice. Some models produce both crushed and cubed ice, with LG offering Craft Ice (big balls of ice).
Storage Space
French door design is better for storing wide platters and other awkwardly shaped items. Westinghouse offers a range with an offset door design: one door is wider than the other. This allows the user to open one door and leave the other closed, giving the convenience of a single door fridge with the size of a French door.
Higher-end models will feature extra storage compartments, slide back and flip up shelving, and customisable door shelving.
Style and Finish
A French door fridge is as much a style statement as it is an appliance. With the amount of models on the market, you will be able to find one that matches your fine taste in décor.
Flat door design is the dominant trend in appliances at the moment. The idea is that the doors sit flat and flush against the cabinetry for an integrated look.
The finish, or the colour of the fridge is the first thing you notice when looking at a fridge. Here are some of the finishes available:
- Stainless steel
- Dark stainless steel
- Black stainless steel
- Matte black
- Gloss black
- Silver
- White
- Matte white
Our top picks for finish are black, silver and dark stainless. Black is trendy, either in a gloss or matte finish. Silver is classic and will match most decors, and dark stainless combines the best of both black and silver.
Shop dark stainless fridges here
Apart from the finish, there are also two different handle types:
- Pocket handle (flat front with a pocket underneath or on top)
- Traditional pole-type handle (this is less common)
Energy Efficiency Ratings
Being a large appliance, traditionally French and quad door fridge models don't have high energy Star Ratings.
This is changing as technology advances, and each year brands bring out more energy efficient models. Currently we've got models up to a 5.5 Star Energy Rating.
Shop energy efficient Quad Door Fridges
Shop energy efficient French Door Fridges
Size and Capacity Options
Making Sure It Fits
The biggest thing to consider when buying a new fridge for any kitchen is the size. Multi door fridges are large appliances in physical size and it's critical to measure the fridge alcove and get a model that will fit.
The standard fridge alcove size in Australia is 900mm wide, 1800mm high, and 600mm deep. Homes come in all shapes and sizes, however, so it's increasingly common for brands to produce slimmer models.
NOTE: All models will require a minimum space of at least 25mm to be left around them on all sides for heat to escape.
Click here to shop slim French door fridge models
Interior Capacity
Fridge capacity is measured in litres, and the size you should buy depends on factors like family size and lifestyle.
Multi door models come in capacities in the low 400Ls ranging to over 600L. Here's a general guide for fridge size based on your family - however it will come down to personal preference for each person.
- Small family (two adults, one child) look for 400L or more
- Medium family (two adults, two children) look for 500L or more
- Large families (two adults, three or more children) look for 600L or more
Think about your lifestyle when you buy a French door fridge. If you entertain a lot, go for a large capacity model that holds a lot of food.
Innovative Technology in French Door Fridges
Door-in-Door Design
Door-in-Door design is where there's a second compartment in one of the fridge doors. The idea is to store snacks and drinks in this compartment so the main fridge door is opened less, keeping the inside cool. This keeps food inside the fridge fresh and saves power.
LG takes this concept further with their InstaView technology. InstaView is a clear glass panel so you can see inside the fridge without ever opening the doors. To turn the lights on, all you have to do is knock twice on the door.
Check out LG InstaView fridges here.
Flexible Compartments
A flexible compartment is a space where the temperature can be adjusted to be either a fridge or freezer compartment.
The flexible compartment will come with several pre-set settings to choose from. They range from freezer to ultra chilled (for fresh meat or fish) to chilled (for beverages) to normal fridge temperature and even wine fridge temperature.
Most major brands have a model with a flexible compartment, here are our favourites:
We love how truly flexible this flexible compartment is! You can adjust it to any temperature between -18°C and +5°C.
We love the flexible compartment design of the drawer. This model also has the ice maker in the freezer drawer, saving space in the door.
We love this model's striking dark interior design, with a flexible compartment on the bottom right hand side.
Smart Home Features
There are a range of Smart Home features available in a French door fridge. Many models are Wi-Fi compatible, ready to integrate with the rest of your Smart Home ecosystem.
Samsung's Family Hub is a fridge with a screen on the front that you can use to watch TV, check your security cameras, or keep a calendar. Some Samsung models use an internal camera so you can see what's in your fridge in real time.
Other brands use apps to keep in touch with your fridge settings and troubleshoot any issues.
Price Ranges and Budget Considerations
Price Range
The cost of a multi door fridge depends on factors like brand, size and features. Generally, they're more expensive than other types of fridges due to their size. At the very lowest end of the market you can expect to pay $1000 or more, not including delivery or any installation costs.
A premium fridge with a large capacity and heaps of features can cost $4000 or more.
Hidden Costs
When budgeting for a new fridge make sure you leave room in the budget for delivery costs, including rubbish removal and removal of the old model.
If your new fridge has plumbed ice and water dispensers, factor the plumbing installation into your budget. Before you purchase, find out how often you need to replace the filters in the water dispenser and how much they cost.
Customer Reviews and Satisfaction Ratings
In 2024, Australian customers love these fridges for their functionality and style, especially in larger households.
Customer sentiment has changed over time towards the drawer style models. More customers now prefer the accessibility of the quad door style, which is why there are more of them available.
Pros and Cons of a French Door Fridge
These are the main things that customers love and don't love about this type of fridge.
Pros
- High capacities
- Style
- Ice and water dispensers
- App integration
- Added features like InstaView or SnackZones
- Flexibility.
Cons
- Higher cost
- Lower energy efficiency
- Bulky size
- Maintenance for ice and water dispensers.
Maintenance Tips for Longevity
Maintaining your appliances is essential for prolonging their lifespan and your enjoyment of it.
Here's how to get the most out of your fridge's lifespan.
Correct Fridge Installation
Follow the manufacturer's directions in the user manual for installing your fridge. If your fridge features plumbed ice and water, get these installed by a reputable plumber.
Ensure a clearance of at least 25mm around your model so heat can escape.
Weekly Cleaning
Use a damp cloth to wipe down the outside and the inside of the fridge. Dispose of old food (this is for your longevity too).
Change the Filters
If you have filtered water in your fridge, replace the filter every 6 months. This isn't a marketing gimmick, if you leave it too long bacteria might grow on the filter. Yuck.
Organisation Tips
To cool most efficiently, keep items packed together. A full fridge will keep items cool more efficiently than a sparse fridge.
Put meat on the lower levels, at the back where it's coolest. Put drinks or sauces on the door where it's not as cold.
Buy Local
You can find a huge range of French door and quad door fridges at your local Bi-Rite shop. Come in and speak to one of our appliance enthusiasts and they'll help you find the perfect model for you. You can also shop online!
