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Black Friday Refrigerator Deals 2026: What to Compare

Black Friday 2026 refrigerator checklist: door clearance, delivery path, cubic feet, counter depth, freezer layout and the warranty terms worth reading first.

By Appliance Error Codes editorial teamUpdated October 31, 20264 min readHow we research

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Measure before you compare Black Friday 2026 refrigerator deals: the opening, the door swing and the route through your home. Then choose capacity and freezer layout, and compare yellow EnergyGuide labels on the models that fit. If your current refrigerator shows a code, read it first: Samsung’s OF OF, for one, means a demo mode needing no service.

Refrigerator measurements that decide what fits

Refrigerator measurements come before any other comparison, because a machine that will not fit or open is the wrong one at any spec. GE Appliances advises measuring height to the top of the hinge, width, and case depth without the handle. It asks for at least 1 inch of space at the top and back, and about 2 inches on the hinge side, or room to pull the refrigerator forward. Samsung’s guide recommends 2 to 4 inches of clearance on all sides for ventilation, at least 3/8 to 1 inch if space is really tight, and 2 to 4 inches on the hinge side when it sits against a wall. Follow the installation guide for the exact model.

Doors need room of their own. GE says doors must open fully without hitting walls or cabinets. Stand in the kitchen and check what is on the hinge side, including trim, a neighboring door frame and any island across from it.

Then walk the route in. GE says to measure hallways, stairwells and doorways. Samsung adds that if you plan to unbox in the kitchen, check the shipping box measurements as well.

A woman holding a glass pitcher at an open refrigerator — An open door reaches well into the room, so check the floor space in front of the refrigerator as well as the opening.

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What to compare in a refrigerator

Once a refrigerator fits, these specs are the ones worth lining up side by side.

Spec	What it tells you
Capacity	Total cubic feet. Samsung suggests 10 to 14 for one or two people, 15 to 20 for three or four, 21 or more for five or more
Freezer layout	Top-freezer, bottom-freezer, side-by-side or French door
Depth	Standard, or counter-depth to sit flush with the cabinets
Yearly energy	Yellow EnergyGuide label, with a range for similar models
Certification	ENERGY STAR: about 9% less energy than the federal minimum

Freezer layout and energy use

Freezer layout changes more than where the frozen peas live. ENERGY STAR says top-freezer models tend to use the least energy, while bottom-freezer and side-by-side models generally use more. It also says larger refrigerators generally use more, that fewer doors help, and that the most efficient models are typically 16 to 20 cubic feet.

ENERGY STAR says an old refrigerator uses, on average, about 20% more energy than an ENERGY STAR model, and that one over 15 years old could cost about $95 more a year to run. Find your model number on its model label to look up your refrigerator’s details, then compare the EnergyGuide figures on anything you are considering.

Counter-depth refrigerators and the space you give up

A counter-depth refrigerator sits flush with the cabinets for a built-in look. GE Appliances notes that the trade-off is slightly less interior space. Measure case depth without the handle, as GE advises, then allow for the handles when you check the room in front of the doors.

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Samsung refrigerator codes to read before replacing

Samsung refrigerator codes range from a demo mode that needs no service to a compressor lock that needs a technician. Our Samsung refrigerator code page has more, and your model may differ.

OF OF. Samsung calls this Cooling Off mode, a demo or shop mode, and says service is not required. Food left inside will spoil if the mode stays on for an extended period, so deal with it quickly.
22E. Samsung links this fan error to a door that may have been open too long. Its steps are to unplug the refrigerator, leave the doors open for a few hours and plug it back in, and to request service if the code returns.
84C. Samsung lists this as a compressor lock with no home steps, and its page says to request service through the Support Center for codes like this one, so this is where a repair estimate is useful.

Delivery day: the old refrigerator and the new warranty

Ask about the old refrigerator before delivery day: ENERGY STAR says many appliance retailers will pick up and recycle it when you buy a new one, so check what your seller offers.

Then inspect the new one on arrival. LG’s refrigerator warranty, as one example, does not cover scratches and dents from transport unless they are reported within one week of delivery. It also does not cover service trips to deliver or install the product, refurbished products, or anything sold as is. Warranty documents differ between makers, so read the one for your model.

For more on delivery, warranties and judging a listing, see the Black Friday appliance guide. Replacing more than one machine? There are also guides for a dishwasher and a washer and dryer.

Frequently asked questions

How much space does a refrigerator need around it?

GE Appliances asks for at least 1 inch at the top and back and about 2 inches on the hinge side, or room to pull the refrigerator forward. Samsung's guide recommends 2 to 4 inches of clearance on all sides for ventilation, at least 3/8 to 1 inch if space is really tight, and 2 to 4 inches on the hinge side when it sits against a wall. Check the installation guide for the exact model, since figures differ.

What size refrigerator does a family need?

Samsung suggests about 4 to 6 cubic feet per person: 10 to 14 cubic feet for one or two people, 15 to 20 for three or four, and 21 or more for five or more. ENERGY STAR notes larger models generally use more energy.

What does OF OF mean on a Samsung refrigerator?

Samsung says OF OF means Cooling Off mode, a demo or shop mode, and that service is not required. Samsung also warns that food left in a refrigerator in this mode for an extended period will spoil, so read the code and follow its steps to leave the mode before you think about replacing the machine.