Cabinet Cutout Sizes for a Built-In or Counter-Depth Fridge

Built-in and some counter-depth refrigerators drop into a cabinet cutout — and the cutout is not the same as the fridge’s dimensions. It’s deliberately bigger, by an amount the manufacturer specifies, and on this one the spec sheet is the law. Here’s how cutout sizing works.

Cutout size is the product plus required gaps

A “36-inch” built-in doesn’t mean a 36″ cabinet hole. The cutout is the product’s width, height, and depth plus the airflow and installation gaps the manufacturer requires — so the published cutout is always larger than the unit itself. Cut to the product dimensions and the fridge won’t go in (or won’t breathe once it does).

Typical cutout allowances

These are common ranges; your model’s sheet is the one that counts.

Cutout dimension	Typical allowance over the unit
Width	+ ⅛–¼″
Height	+ ¼–½″ (plus grille space on built-ins)
Depth	set by the cabinet run, ~24″ for counter-depth

Built-in vs counter-depth vs freestanding

Built-in models are designed for an exact cabinet enclosure and need the precise cutout, including a top grille for ventilation. Counter-depth models are freestanding but sit flush, so you’re matching the cabinet depth rather than cutting an enclosure (see counter-depth vs standard-depth). Freestanding fridges don’t use a cutout at all — they just need the standard clearances.

Never cut to the product dimensions

Always build the opening to the model’s published cutout, not its body size. The gap is intentional — it’s how the unit slides in and sheds heat.

Measuring an existing cutout

Replacing a built-in? Measure the existing opening’s width, height, and depth, then match a model whose required cutout is equal or smaller. The three-point method in how to measure for a new refrigerator applies to cutouts too.

Frequently asked

What is a refrigerator cutout?

The cabinet opening a built-in or flush model installs into — sized as the unit’s dimensions plus the manufacturer’s required gaps, so it’s larger than the fridge.

How much bigger is the cutout than the fridge?

Usually a fraction of an inch on width and height, plus ventilation/grille space on built-ins. Always use the model’s spec sheet for the exact figures.

Do counter-depth fridges need a cutout?

No — they’re freestanding. You match the cabinet depth so they sit flush, but you don’t cut an enclosure the way you do for a true built-in.

Measured from official ENERGY STAR data + manufacturer spec sheets · Last verified June 2026