Choose the type that matches your needs and budget

Top-freezers

Best for small spaces. They tend to be budget-friendly and energy- and spaceefficient. Also, the eye-level freezer offers easy access. Usual width: 30 to 33 inches.

But you have to stoop over to reach frequently used items in the refrigerator, and the wide-swinging door requires clearance. Very few models offer water dispensers.

Price $500 to $1,400

Bottom-freezers

Best for keeping refrigerator items at eye level. Many come in the popular French-door style, with two refrigerator doors on top and a freezer drawer below. Four-door models add an additional middle drawer. Usual width: 30 to 36 inches.

But you have to bend down to access the freezer, and items can be tough to organize.

Price $900 to $1,600; $1,400 to $2,800 for French doors; $3,000 for four-doors.

Side-by-sides

Best for spaces that can’t accommodate wide-swinging doors, such as galley-style kitchens. In-door ice and water dispensers are standard. Compared with other styles, more capacity is devoted to the freezer, and shelves make frozen items easier to organize. Usual width: 33 to 36 inches.

But they are relatively pricey and not as energy- or space-efficient as other styles. Also, they have typically been more repair-prone than top- or bottom-freezers.

Price $800 to $2,700

Built-ins

Best for a clean, unified look, thanks to their flush-with-the-cabinets design. Models with overlay panels can blend in with surrounding cabinets. Cabinet-depth models mimic the built-in look for a fraction of the price, though they protrude slightly past the cabinets. Usual width: 36 to 42 inches.

But true built-ins are expensive and require custom installation. Plus they have less usable storage space than other types.

Price $2,000 to $3,500 for cabinet-depth; $5,000 to $8,000 for true built-in models.