In this article, we’ll talk about how big of a wine cooler you’ll need.
The size of the unit will be determined by the type of wine fridge you choose, as well as the amount of physical space you have and the number of wine bottles you want to store.
So, without further ado, let’s go over the factors you’ll need to consider when selecting one.
What Sized Should You Get?
As we briefly stated above, it will be determined by a number of factors, including:
1) Type of
Wine coolers are classified into several types, including built-in/under-counter, freestanding, countertop, compressor, thermoelectric, single-zone, and dual-zone wine coolers.
Each type has distinct job requirements and performance constraints. As a result of this, certain types are larger than others.
Let us now discuss each type and what you can expect:
Built-in coolers (under-counter): These are units with forward-facing vents and can thus be installed in a built-in location, such as under a kitchen counter. As a result, before purchasing such a unit, you should measure the space’s height, width, and depth.
Freestanding: Because these units lack front-facing vents, they should be placed in a location where air can easily flow to the back and sides of the unit. As a result, they are not placed in an enclosed environment and thus do not have as stringent size requirements.
Countertop: These are units that are placed on a kitchen or bar’s countertop. Because of this, these are much smaller units and do not have the same wine bottle capacity as freestanding or built-in wine coolers.
Compressor: A compressor-based system powers the vast majority of large wine coolers. This is due to the fact that it is the most powerful and efficient at cooling units with larger bottle capacities.
Thermoelectric: These are small wine coolers with a bottle capacity of no more than 25 bottles. This is because a thermoelectric system cannot cool large internal spaces.
Single-Zone: These are units with only one cooling zone.
Dual-Zone: These are units with two cooling zones that can be independently cooled at various temperatures. Perfect for chilling both white and red wine.
2) Physical Size & Available Space
The physical size, including height, width, and depth, will also influence which wine refrigerator you choose. This is especially true if you’re thinking about buying a built-in unit for an enclosed space, such as under your kitchen counter.
Having said that, we recommend measuring the space and double-checking the measurements before selecting a wine fridge.
For those who are storing such a unit in their cellar (wine cellar), the size of the unit may not be an issue. But you’ll need to transport the wine fridge down there, which means you’ll need to think about the route and how to manage it logistically.
3) / Size of
The bottle capacity of a wine cooler will arguably have the greatest influence on whether you choose it. Wine collectors, for example, will need more space to store their bottles than casual wine drinkers.
On our website, we have a plethora of buyer guides available to read, with options ranging from small wine coolers to large wine coolers.
4) Costs
In general, the larger the wine fridge, the higher the price. As a result, before you look at any of the products, you should write down your budget to ensure that you don’t end up reaching for something that is far out of your price range.
After all, we always advise our readers to live within their financial means.
Please browse our buyer’s guides for wine fridges under $1000 and wine fridges under $500, as we’ve included only the highest quality products with the most favored, positive customer reviews.
5) Future Plans
It’s always a good idea to plan ahead, and if you’re thinking about becoming a wine collector, you might want to start with a large-capacity unit.
Otherwise, you’d have to either replace your unit with a larger one or buy another unit in addition to your current wine cooler.
In any case, it doesn’t take long to consider your current situation and the type of wine cooler you can become in the near to mid-future.
Roseanne is an avid wine enthusiast, and has been our expert wine connoisseur since day 1. She’s extremely informed about all varieties of wine and different types of wine fridges.