A 17.5 cu ft top-freezer refrigerator is about 28 inches wide, 67 3/8 inches tall, and 32 1/2 inches deep; depth is measured three ways.
For the full breakdown, see our best 17.5 cu ft Refrigerator guide.
Capacity tells you how much food a refrigerator holds, not whether it fits your kitchen. Fit depends on width, height, and depth, and manufacturers publish 17.5 cu ft refrigerator dimensions in slightly different ways. GE’s GTS18HGNRWW, a widely sold white top-freezer model, is listed at 67.375 inches tall by 28 inches wide by 32.5 inches deep.
Those three numbers describe this model only. Across GE’s 17.5 cu ft family, width and height hold steady while depth shifts slightly: the stainless GIE18GSNRSS and white GIE18DTNRWW both measure 67.375 x 28 x 32.625 inches, about an eighth of an inch deeper. Other brands’ 17.5 cu ft units follow the same general footprint, which is why retailer listings for top-freezer models cluster around 28 x 67 3/8 x 32 1/2 inches.
Typical Dimensions For A 17.5 Cu Ft Refrigerator
Home Depot and Best Buy both list the white GTS18HGNRWW at 67 3/8 x 28 x 32 1/2 inches, matching the dimensions GE publishes itself. The differences that bite buyers show up in depth and clearance, not width. Because the same model can carry slightly different rounding from one retailer to the next,
For the white model, here is how each published figure translates to your floor plan:
| Measurement | Typical Value | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 28 in | Sets the minimum cabinet-opening width. |
| Height to top of case | 67 3/8 in (67.375 in) | The number to trust under low cabinets or overhangs. |
| Depth, excluding handles | 30 1/2 in | The cabinet box alone, for tight flush niches. |
| Depth, including handles | 32 1/2 in | The real installed footprint of the unit. |
| Depth with door open 90° | 57 in (Best Buy lists 56 3/4 in) | Clearance needed in front to fully open both doors. |
| Side clearance | 3/4 in per side | Minimum air space for circulation and door motion. |
| Top clearance | 1 in | Minimum air space above the case. |
| Rear clearance | 2 in | Minimum air space behind the unit for airflow. |
Why Are Refrigerator Dimensions Listed In Different Ways?
Depth is the spec that confuses most buyers because it is never one number. Home Depot’s and Best Buy’s listings for the GTS18HGNRWW both quote 30 1/2 inches excluding handles, 32 1/2 inches including handles, and around 57 inches with the door open 90 degrees. Those three numbers are not interchangeable: the excluding-handles figure only tells you if the box fits inside a tight counter niche, depth with handles is the installed footprint, and the 90-degree figure shows how much room you need in front to pull the doors fully open.
Height has a similar trap. Spec sheets may list height to the top of the case, to the top of the door, or to the top of the hinge, and the tallest of those three is what matters under a low cabinet or overhang. GE’s case-height figure for the GTS18HGNRWW is 67 3/8 inches, so plan for that height plus the top clearance above it.
Clearance gets missed entirely. Home Depot’s installation notes for the GTS18HGNRWW call for 3/4 inch of side clearance on each side, 1 inch of top clearance, and 2 inches behind the unit for airflow. Those minimums belong to the specific model’s documentation, not to the label that says 17.5 cu ft.
Measuring Your Kitchen Before You Buy
Measure the opening, not the old refrigerator. Take the narrowest width of the bay, the vertical space from the floor to the underside of any overhang, and the depth from the back wall to the front edge of the counter or cabinet run. Then add clearance to the unit’s stated dimensions: a 28-inch-wide unit needs about 29 1/2 inches between finished walls, and a 67 3/8-inch-tall case needs roughly 68 1/2 inches of clear vertical space once the top gap is included.
Depth needs the same math. With the 2-inch rear gap included, the GTS18HGNRWW needs about 34 1/2 inches from the back wall to the front of its doors. Also leave roughly 57 inches in front of the unit for the doors to swing open, which matters when the fridge faces a wall, island, or another appliance.
Finally, confirm everything against the exact model’s documentation rather than the 17.5 cu ft capacity alone, since two units with identical capacity can differ by fractions of an inch in depth. Once the numbers line up, the next question is which model earns that space.
Write down five numbers before you shop: width, height to the top of the case, depth with handles, door-open depth, and the model’s clearance minimums. A fridge that fits on paper and fits in the kitchen clears all five.
FAQs
Will A 17.5 Cu Ft Refrigerator Fit A 28-Inch Opening?
Not if the opening measures exactly 28 inches. The unit itself is 28 inches wide, and installation guidance adds 3/4 inch of side clearance on each side for airflow and door motion, so plan a finished opening around 29 1/2 inches wide. Measure at the opening’s narrowest point, not floor-to-floor.
Which Depth Number Should I Use For Fitting Against Counters?
Use depth including handles, which is 32 1/2 inches on GE’s GTS18HGNRWW. The excluding-handles figure of 30 1/2 inches describes only the cabinet box, and the 57-inch door-open figure is for front clearance, not counter fit. Compare the with-handles depth against the distance from the back wall to the counter’s front edge.
Do All 17.5 Cu Ft Refrigerators Have The Same Dimensions?
No, and the difference is usually in depth. GE’s white GTS18HGNRWW measures 67.375 x 28 x 32.5 inches, while GE’s GIE18GSNRSS and GIE18DTNRWW measure 67.375 x 28 x 32.625 inches. Other brands vary more. Treat width and height as roughly consistent across most 17.5 cu ft top-freezer models, and always verify depth on the exact model’s spec page.
References & Sources
- GE Appliances. “GE 17.5 Cu. Ft. Top-Freezer Refrigerator GTS18HGNRWW Specifications.” Manufacturer dimensions: 67.375 H x 28 W x 32.5 D inches.
- Home Depot. “GE 17.5 cu. ft. Top-Freezer Refrigerator in White — Product Page.” Approximate dimensions, depth with and without handles, 90-degree door depth, and clearance requirements.
- Best Buy. “GE 17.5 Cu. Ft. Frost-Free Top-Freezer Refrigerator — Product Details.” Confirms core dimensions and lists 30 1/2 in depth without handle and 56 3/4 in door-open depth.
