Which type of refrigerator is more energy efficient for a small family?

For small families, single-door refrigerators are generally more energy-efficient than double-door models. They are typically smaller, have simpler cooling mechanisms, and consume less power.

How much space do I need for a single door vs. a double door refrigerator?

Single door refrigerators are small, measuring about 1.2 to 1.4 meters (4-4.5 feet) in height and 0.55 to 0.65 meters (1.8-2.1 feet) wide, requiring little space. Double-door refrigerators are much larger than single-door refrigerators, measuring 1.6 to 1.8 meters (5.2-6 feet) high and 0.65 to 0.85 meters (2.1-2.8 feet) wide, necessitating greater kitchen space as well as additional room for door swings.

Are single door refrigerators reliable?

Single door refrigerators can be reliable, particularly for individuals or smaller families, due to their energy efficiency, compact size, and affordability. However, they often have smaller storage capacity and may require manual defrosting.

Why Choose a Single Door Refrigerator Over a Double Door Refrigerator for a Small Family?

For small families, a single-door refrigerator is often the smarter choice. It's more energy-efficient, budget-friendly upfront, and perfect for compact kitchens in comparison to double-door refrigerators. While its lower running costs and suitable capacity for 2-3 members make it a practical and economical choice, especially for those prioritising savings and space. Let’s dive into deep details!

By : Srishty Singh
Last Updated on Jun 18, 2025 15:15 IST
Published on Jun 17, 2025 18:37 IST

Single Door Refrigerator for Small Family

Refrigerator isn't just an appliance for any house; it's the heart of the kitchen, preserving everything from daily vegetables to festive leftovers. For a small family, typically 2-3 members, selecting between a single-door and a double-door refrigerator can be a very puzzling decision. While double-door fridges often flaunt advanced features and larger capacities, are they truly the best fit for your compact kitchen or your budget?

Our compiled details and top picks for your home solutions and electronics aim to resolve that dilemma for buyers. We will delve into why a single-door refrigerator often emerges as the more practical, energy-efficient, and cost-effective solution for nuclear families. From its lower initial price point and reduced electricity consumption, crucial given rising utility costs in India, to its compact footprint ideal for urban apartments, we will explore the compelling reasons why less can truly be more when it comes to keeping your food fresh and your wallet happy.

How Single Door Refrigerator is Best for Small Family?

When looking for a refrigerator for small family, buyers simply go and buy a refrigerator, but there are many factors to consider. As a small family, why do you need to choose a single door refrigerator instead of double door refrigerator?

Primarily, there are many high-end features that a double door fridge offers, like the frost-free technology and separate compartments for the freezer and fresh food. The design often leads to more efficient cooling for each respective compartment and generally boasts a more sophisticated aesthetic, but do you really require these things?

However, these benefits come with notable drawbacks, the most significant is the higher initial purchase cost, making it a larger upfront investment compared to single-door alternatives. Double-door refrigerators also typically have greater electricity consumption due to their larger volume and the energy required to cool two distinct compartments, which can translate to higher electricity bills. Moreover, their larger footprint demands more kitchen space, a crucial consideration for compact urban apartments commonly found in India, potentially making them less suitable for smaller living environments.

Top Five Products

Haier 190 L, 4 Star Single Door Refrigerator
Meet Haier, one of the beautiful and energy star refrigerators with a premium steel pattern called Dazzle Steel. This refrigerator is ideal for families of two to three people or bachelors, with a freezer capacity of 14 Ltr and a fresh food capacity of 176 Ltr. This single door refrigerator's compressor provides increased energy efficiency, lower noise, and long-lasting performance, all backed by a 10-year warranty. The three toughened glass shelves allow for the safe storage of heavy pots and pans.
It comes with a 4-star rating, which makes it one of the best energy efficient refrigerators for small home. The fridge boasts an auto-connect home inverter technology, which allows you to enjoy continuous cooling even during power outages. In addition, the LED light improves visibility.
Specifications:
- Brand: Haier
- Model: HED-204DS-P
- Colour: Dazzle steel
- Pattern: Solid
- Finish Type: Glass
- Door Material: Stainless Steel
- Capacity: 190 litres
- Freezer Capacity: 14 Litres
- Voltage: 220
- Shelf: Toughened Glass
- Shelves: 3
Pros:
- It has an LED light
- The fridge features 1-hour icing technology
- As per the offered features, it is worth buying
Cons:
- Many buyers mentioned, they experience that the door is hard to close and open in the new
01
Samsung 183 L, Direct-Cool Single Door Refrigerator
Samsung's 182L refrigerator has a Digital Inverter Compressor, which provides improved energy efficiency, reduced noise, and long-lasting performance while requiring 50% less electricity, and comes with a 20-year warranty. With a 5-star rating, this energy-efficient refrigerator for small home is a reliable choice. This single door refrigerator is a good choice for a small family size and comes in the Modern Himalayan Poppy Red motif. This fridge provides powerful chilling that can last longer.
Furthermore, this compact refrigerator for small families has stabiliser-free operation to safeguard the refrigerator from power fluctuations and keep it running smoothly and consistently. If the voltage rises too high, the refrigerator automatically turns off the electricity to avoid electrical damage.
Specifications:
- Brand: Samsung
- Model: RR20D2825HV/NL
- Capacity: 183 litres
- Configuration: Freezer-on-Top
- BEE Star Rating: 5 Star
- Colour: Blue-2024
- Pattern: Floral
- Freezer Capacity: 18 Litres
- Voltage: 230 Volts
- Shelf Type: Toughened Glass
- Racks: 3
- Sections: 1
Pros:
- The fridge has digital inverter technology
- It has an antibacterial gasket
- Samsung fridge features stabiliser-free operations
Cons:
- A few people faced poor after-sales service
02
LG 185 L, Single Door Refrigerator
LG 185 L energy star refrigerator offers effective cooling and timeless design, making it ideal for freshness, convenience, and energy savings in any Indian home. The LG Direct Cool refrigerator's unique Smart Connect technology allows you to connect it to your home's inverter in the event of a power outage. With its Smart Inverter Compressor, this single door refrigerator for small families provides long-lasting freshness while providing effective cooling and conserving electricity.
Its Moist 'N' Fresh technology maintains the ideal moisture balance, keeping fruits and veggies fresher for longer. With quick ice manufacturing, you can always have enough ice for guests. This refrigerator maintains constant cooling and freshness, regardless of the conditions.
Specifications:
- Brand: LG
- Model: GL-D201APZU.BPZZEBN
- BEE Star Rating: 5 Star
- Colour: Shiny Steel
- Pattern: Floral
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Capacity: 185 litres
- Freezer Capacity: 16 Litres
- Voltage: 220 Volts
- Shelf Type: Toughened Glass
- Shelves: 2
- Sections: 2
Pros:
- Best refrigerator for a limited space apartment with compact design
- It is a perfect blend of color and design
- This small refrigerator consumes low power
Cons:
- People mentioned they received the fridge in a dented condition (easily replaceable)
03
Whirlpool 184 L 2 Star Refrigerator
The Whirlpool single door refrigerator with Intellisense Inverter Technology has a capacity of 184L and is ideal for families with 2-3 members. It offers a superior combination of storage, style, durability, and energy efficiency. This single door refrigerator for small family size also provides 9 hours of cooling retention during a power cut.
The compact refrigerators for small families have a low starting voltage of 95V and are certified by VDE Germany, ensuring 25 years of compressor dependability. It includes up to 9 hours of cooling retention during power outages, easy manual defrosting, jumbo storage for up to three 2L bottles, insulated capillary technology, auto connect to home inverter, large vegetable crisper, honeycomb lock-in technology, and a quick chill zone.
Specifications:
- Brand: Whirlpool
- Model: 205 WDE CLS 2S
- BEE Star Rating: 2 Star
- Colour: SAPPHIRE BLUE-Z
- Pattern: Solid
- Finish Type: Matte
- Door Material: Stainless Steel
- Capacity: 184 litres
- Freezer Capacity: 14.3 Litres
- Voltage: 220
- Shelves: 2
Pros:
- It auto-connects to the home inverter
- It’s insulated capillary technology significantly prolongs cooling retention in refrigerators
- It features a Zumbo bottle storage
Cons:
- Most of the buyers mentioned, they faced poor customer service
04
Samsung 183 L, 3 Star, Digital Inverter Refrigerator
The Samsung 183L refrigerator features a Modern Elegant Inox motif. Its Digital Inverter Compressor provides improved energy efficiency, reduced noise, and longer-lasting performance while using 50% less electricity, with a 20-year warranty. The fridge provides quick chilling to keep food fresh, chill drinks, and generate additional ice. Power Cool cools food in the fridge 31% faster, while Power Freeze freezes ice 31% faster. With the compact design, this can be the best refrigerator for a limited space apartment.
The toughened glass shelves are developed and tested to safely support weights of up to 175 kg. It has a Deep Door Guard that can safely store larger bottles, bulky cartons of milk and juice, and other drinking goods without taking up room. It can fit three 2L bottles and one 1L bottle in the door at the same time.
Specifications:
- Brand: Samsung
- Model: RR20C1723S8/HL
- BEE Star Rating: 3 Star
- Pattern: Solid
- Finish: Solid
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Capacity: 183 litres
- Freezer Capacity: 18 Litres
- Voltage: 230 Volts
- Shelves: 2
Pros:
- It has a deeper door guard
- The small refrigerator is designed well with a solid pattern
- It consumes less energy
Cons:
- People said they noticed a little noise while working
05

Single Door vs Double Door Refrigerator Price Comparison

When comparing refrigerator prices to make a final decision, single-door models are consistently the more budget-friendly option. Typically ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000, they offer an accessible entry point for small families or individuals. In contrast, double-door refrigerators generally start from around Rs 22,000 and can go upwards of Rs 50,000 for models with advanced features like inverter technology, larger capacities, and sophisticated designs.

This significant price difference primarily stems from the double-door's frost-free cooling system, larger storage volume, and often more premium build. Therefore, while single-door fridges offer substantial initial savings, double-door models require a larger upfront investment.

Also Read: What Are The Best Brands For Side-by-Side Refrigerators?

Disclaimer: At Jagran, we prioritize providing the up-to-date information on the latest trending commodities and goods. This Article is written and vetted by our in-house category authors in sync with the Google guidelines on product reviews and shoppable content. Jagran is in an associate partnership, so we may earn a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, concerning the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.

Faq's

Which type of refrigerator is more energy efficient for a small family?
+
For small families, single-door refrigerators are generally more energy-efficient than double-door models. They are typically smaller, have simpler cooling mechanisms, and consume less power.
How much space do I need for a single door vs. a double door refrigerator?
+
Single door refrigerators are small, measuring about 1.2 to 1.4 meters (4-4.5 feet) in height and 0.55 to 0.65 meters (1.8-2.1 feet) wide, requiring little space. Double-door refrigerators are much larger than single-door refrigerators, measuring 1.6 to 1.8 meters (5.2-6 feet) high and 0.65 to 0.85 meters (2.1-2.8 feet) wide, necessitating greater kitchen space as well as additional room for door swings.
Are single door refrigerators reliable?
+
Single door refrigerators can be reliable, particularly for individuals or smaller families, due to their energy efficiency, compact size, and affordability. However, they often have smaller storage capacity and may require manual defrosting.

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