Best Refrigerators Under 24 Inches Wide for Apartments and Small Kitchens

Under 24 inches wide, the refrigerator catalog splits into two distinct categories: compact apartment-grade units (4 to 7 cu. ft., usually under-counter or freestanding) and the premium built-in column market (8 to 14 cu. ft., designed to integrate with cabinetry). The price spread between them is the biggest in any size class: a $300 compact and a $7,000 built-in are competing for the same kitchen opening.

The catalog tracks 1,836 models under 24 inches wide. Most are compact units; the built-in column subset is smaller but the per-model spend is much higher. This guide walks both categories with the picks we'd recommend in each.

What a "24-inch refrigerator" usually means

The 24-inch width is a specific design target: it matches the depth of a standard kitchen base cabinet, so the fridge can sit recessed into a cabinet run rather than projecting forward. Two common scenarios:

A galley apartment kitchen where a full-size fridge won't fit physically. The fridge cavity is 24 inches wide; a 22-inch wide compact unit fills it with the standard ventilation buffer.

A high-end kitchen where the designer wants the refrigerator integrated with the cabinets. Built-in column refrigerators at 22 to 24 inches wide and 80+ inches tall pair with matched freezer columns. This is the Sub-Zero / Thermador / Liebherr / Fisher & Paykel format.

The decision between the two is mostly about budget and aesthetics. A compact unit at $400 to $1,500 covers the function. A built-in column at $5,000 to $12,000 covers the function plus the look.

Compact picks

For an apartment kitchen with limited space, the right answer is usually a freestanding compact in the 4 to 7 cu. ft. range. The leaders in this category:

Fisher & Paykel RS2435SB 5 cu. ft. Compact at $1,300 is a 4.6 cu. ft. compact French door with a 23.3-inch width. It's a high-spec compact aimed at premium apartment installations. Catalog rating 4.4 stars.

Liebherr UR3750 5 cu. ft. Compact at $1,300 is a 4.7 cu. ft. compact under-counter unit from a European specialist. Liebherr is unusual in this category for its compressor quietness and humidity control.

Fisher & Paykel RS2435SB 5 cu. ft. Compact

For households with a tighter budget, the broader compact catalog has models from Hisense, Avanti, and Whirlpool at $300 to $700 for a 3 to 5 cu. ft. unit. These are the dorm-grade options, less polished but functional.

Built-in column picks

If your kitchen renovation budget includes built-in integration, the column refrigerator format is the move. These are 22 to 24 inches wide, 70 to 84 inches tall, and live as a refrigerator-only unit (paired with a separate freezer column for full-feature kitchens).

Fisher & Paykel RB2470BRV2 9 cu. ft. Built-In at $6,250 is a 9.4 cu. ft. built-in at 21.7 inches wide. It pairs with an equivalent freezer column for a paired-column kitchen, or stands alone in a smaller-load household.

Fisher & Paykel RS24S 12 cu. ft. Built-In at $6,450 is a 12.4 cu. ft. single-column built-in at 23.9 inches wide. Wider than the RB-series, more useable interior space, and still flush with a 24-inch base cabinet.

The Liebherr, Sub-Zero, and Miele columns in this width all run $7,000 to $14,000 each. The capacity-per-dollar in this segment is the worst of any category in our catalog; you're paying for cabinet integration, not for cubic feet.

What you don't get below 24 inches

Three things that disappear at this width.

Through-door water and ice. The door isn't wide enough to fit the dispenser mechanism. Some built-in columns include an internal ice maker in the freezer section, but the dispenser-in-the-door feature is a 28-inch-and-wider feature.

Wi-Fi and smart features. A few premium built-in columns include connectivity, but the under-$2,000 compact catalog generally skips it.

The wide French door layout. A 22-inch fridge can have a single full-width door, or two narrow stacked doors, but the "French door" layout with two side-by-side doors requires width that the compact category doesn't offer.

Layout choices at this width

Most under-24-inch units are single-door or two-door (top-mounted freezer above a single fresh door). A few apartment-grade compacts use a bottom-drawer freezer.

For a one-person or couple household, a 4 to 5 cu. ft. single-door compact is usually enough. The freezer compartment is small (under 1 cu. ft.) but workable for a few frozen meals and ice trays.

For a small family or a kitchen that wants the compact-as-primary-fridge function, the 7 to 10 cu. ft. column refrigerators bridge the gap. They're full-spec interiors with adjustable shelves and proper crisper drawers, just in a narrower box.

Cost considerations

Under 24 inches wide, the price spread is huge:

• $300 to $700: dorm-grade compacts, basic function, limited finish options
• $1,000 to $1,500: apartment-grade premium compacts (Fisher & Paykel RS-series, Liebherr UR-series)
• $5,000 to $7,000: entry built-in columns, single-zone
• $8,000 to $14,000+: paired column refrigerators with custom panels and freezer match

Pick by use case. A college dorm doesn't need the $1,500 compact. A renovation aiming at flush integration doesn't get value from the $400 dorm unit. The two market segments rarely overlap.

Bottom line

Under 24 inches wide, you're either in the compact apartment category (under $1,500, function-grade) or the built-in column category (over $5,000, kitchen-design-grade). There's almost nothing in between. Pick which one matches your kitchen budget and the rest follows: the compact catalog has reasonable options at every price tier, and the built-in column market is small but well-defined. Don't try to compromise between the two; the trade-offs don't work out.