A refrigerator is the lifeline of any household. It stores food and beverages and helps keep your family and you in good health by preserving their nutritional value. This is why buying the right type of refrigerator, which is of the right size and capacity, becomes imperative.

Despite the many latest fridge models that boast of up to 4 doors or more, two of the most commonly used refrigerators are single door and double door refrigerators. To choose between the two, consider important factors such as the size of your family, the capacity you need, and your storage requirements.

Family size

Single-door refrigerators are usually best suited for nuclear families because they are smaller in size. If you live alone or in a household with 2-3 members, a single-door fridge will meet your daily dietary requirements. A double-door refrigerator, on the other hand, has more space and is, therefore, the best bet for medium-sized or larger households with 3-5 members.

Refrigerator capacity

As mentioned earlier, single-door refrigerators are smaller in size and therefore have limited capacity. Further, these fridges have only one door for the refrigerator and the freezer. Most single-door refrigerators have an average capacity of 50-250 litres. Double-door refrigerators have more storage and usually come with a capacity of 235-495 litres.

They have two doors, one for the refrigerator and another one for the freezer. Take stock of how much food your family consumes in a day to determine which of the two types of refrigerators meet your requirements. For instance, a double door fridge may be ideal for a small family household that requires more storage space and stocks up their fridge only once every 1 or 2 months.

Power consumption

Economically speaking, a single-door refrigerator uses a lot less energy owing to their small size and hence won’t bulk up your power bills every month. Double-door refrigerators, however, need more energy to function optimally.

While the frequent opening and closing of the door of any refrigerator requires additional cooling, the amount of energy used by a single door fridge is lesser compared to the energy used by the larger, double-door refrigerators.

Double door fridges also need time to cool down and use up 30-40% more energy in order to do so compared to single-door refrigerators. However, using energy-efficient star ratings, you can find some of the best double door refrigerators that optimise usage of electricity and consume lesser power to give you reduced power bills.

Storage space

In the case of a single-door fridge, storage is limited. So, even if you are a small household but like to keep your fridge stocked heavily, choose a larger model. Single-doors usually have limited shelves and can’t accommodate larger bottles or vessels easily.

The shelves are, however, quite sturdy and are not prone to spillage. The glass shelves in the LG 4 Star Direct Cool Single Door Refrigerator, for example, are able to support a weight of up to 175kg.

Double-door refrigerators have a lot more space in the refrigerator and the freezer compartment. In some refrigerators, such as the LG 284 L 4-Star Inverter Frost-Free Double-Door Refrigerator, you can even convert the freezer into the refrigerator in case you need more space. You just have to press a button, and the transformation takes just 68 minutes.

Cooling technology

The cooling technology of both types of refrigerators is vastly different. Most single-door refrigerators come with a direct cool technology where you will have to clean out the ice build-up manually. Some single-door refrigerators also come with features that ensure your food remains fresh for hours despite a power cut.

The LG 4-Star Direct Cool Single Door fridge, for example, comes with Smart Connect technology, which automatically connects the refrigerator to a home inverter in case you lose power.

Double-door refrigerators are usually frost-free and come fitted with electric fans to circulate cool air. These models also come with an auto-clean feature, which ensures no ice forms in the freezer compartment.

This LG fridge is also equipped with a technology that helps to keep your food items fresh and cool for hours during a power cut. The LG 260 L 4-Star Inverter Frost-Free Double-Door Refrigerator, for example, comes with Auto Smart technology, which switches to a home inverter in case of voltage fluctuations and power cuts.

The technology which is used in LG Refrigerators both in the single and double door has always ensured that they never compromise with the quality in their refrigerators which makes it the best refrigerators company in the world.

Price difference

Of course, a double-door refrigerator will cost you a lot more than a single-door model. So, if you are looking to be economical in your purchase then a single-door fridge is your best bet. Its price range is anywhere between Rs.6,000 and Rs.20,000, depending on the features on offer.

However, you must know that you won’t have as many features as a double-door model and will be giving up storage space if you opt for a single-door fridge. A double-door refrigerator can cost you anywhere between Rs.20,000 and Rs.55,000. However, your savings from being able to store food for longer and preventing spoilage may ease out that cost in no time.

These are some of the basic differences between the single-door and double-door refrigerators. With this knowledge, weigh the pros and cons to make it easier for you to determine which refrigerator will meet your requirements best.

Once you have made your choice, check your pre-approved offer to get EMI financing up to Rs.4 lakh and make your purchase with ease. Remember, buy a refrigerator that will ease the amount of work it takes to run a household, not one that will only add to it.