How Heavy is a Wine Fridge?
When shopping for wine fridges you’ve probably wondered, how heavy is a wine fridge? The obvious follow-up question to that would be, how big is the wine fridge?
Depending on their size, wine fridges can weigh anywhere from 20 pounds to hundreds of pounds. A small, 8 bottle wine fridge that can fit on your counter will usually weigh in the 20 to 30-pound range. This is on the low end when it comes to how much a wine fridge weighs.
The Antarctic Star Wine Fridge pictured above is a good example of a countertop wine fridge that fits perfectly under most kitchen cabinets. This wine fridge weighs 36 pounds and represents the typical size and weight of most countertop wine fridges.
Obviously the larger you go up in size and storage capacity the more a wine fridge will weigh. When you start moving away from the countertop models to freestanding wine fridges you will have a vast range of sizes to choose from.
In this article, I will explore what you can expect a wine fridge to weigh depending on its storage capacity and size.
What is the Standard Size of a Wine Fridge?
Wine fridges come in standard sizes, typically increasing in size by 4 bottles at a time. Standard wine fridge sizes are 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, and 48 bottles, all the way into the hundreds of bottles.
There are generally standard wine fridge dimensions for under-counter and countertop wine fridge models.
A typical under-counter wine fridge is designed to fit under a standard 36-inch countertop and is typically 24 inches wide and 25 inches deep. They are basically the size of a typical dishwasher.
A typical countertop wine fridge will be under 20 inches tall so it can fit underneath most kitchen cabinets.
- Efficient thermoelectric cooling system – for less noise and Energy consumption that holds 8 wine bottles
- Touchscreen controls easily adjust temperature and soft interior light
- Designer stainless steel trim on exterior
- 3 contoured chrome racks designed to hold up to 8, 750ml or 1500ml bottles triple-pane viewing window and adjustable feet
- Triple-pane viewing window and adjustable feet
- Included Components: 3 Racks
- Item Dimensions: 12. 3(L) x 22. 6(W) x 19. 2(H)
So what is the average size of a wine fridge? It depends on each individual wine owner’s needs and wants. If you like having a few good bottles around for company and special occasions then a 12 to 18 bottle wine fridge will probably fit your needs perfectly.
It is generally in the 20 to 30 bottle range when you have to decide if this is becoming more than a passing hobby and look into a larger storage solution.
Generally, a wine fridge in the 30 to 40 bottle range will be large enough for most people’s wine collections. Again, all of this is depending on the preferences of the wine collector.
The one thing you do want to avoid is purchasing a massive wine cooler that you only fill partially in the hopes of one day expanding your collection. Not only is that a waste of money spent on energy, but it will also be taking up a large amount of space.
So, the first thing you need to decide is how much wine you envision yourself collecting in the years to come.
How Big is a Wine Fridge?
Now that we’ve established the standard sizes and holding capacity of wine fridges, you’re probably wondering how big is a wine fridge in terms of dimensions? Again, it’s all dependent on how big you want to go.
Countertop wine fridges will usually be less than 20 inches or so in height. A good example is the KUPPET 19 Bottle Wine Cooler pictured below. It’s 18.5 inches wide, 17 inches deep, and a little over 20 inches tall. Not bad for holding 19 bottles of wine on your countertop.
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Once you move away from the countertop models you move into freestanding and built-in wine fridge models. The difference between freestanding and built-in wine fridges is that built-in wine fridges are designed to go under counters.
Due to the lack of airflow under a counter, built-in wine coolers will have their air venting in the front and not the back. An easy way to tell the difference between the two is that you can see the vents of a built-in wine fridge on the bottom of the front, beneath the fridge door.
A typical built-in wine fridge will be around 24 inches tall, which allows it to fit under most counters. A good example of a built-in wine fridge that fits perfectly under most counters is the Kalamera 46 Bottle Wine Cooler.
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The Kalamera 46 Bottle Built-In Wine Fridge weighs 104 pounds, which is pretty typical for a wine fridge of this size and holding capacity. Conversely, if you don’t need to have your wine fridge built-in under your counter, then a freestanding wine fridge would be a great option.
Freestanding wine fridges on average cost less than the built-in models, and they will typically weigh less. Here is a similarly-sized wine fridge from Kalamera that is a freestanding model.
- FREESTANDING DESIGN: Built from premium black and silver stainless steel with tempered dual pane glass front to highlight your wine collection in any room of your home
- QUIET COMPRESSOR: Advanced cooling technology keeps compressor quiet without disturbing wine sediments
- 50 BOTTLE CAPACITY: 7 beech wood racks hold up to 50 standard 750ml Bordeaux bottles, so you can stock up on your favorite wine vintages
Not only does the Kalamera 50 Bottle Wine Cooler cost a lot less, but it also holds 4 more bottles of wine and weighs 21 pounds less.
So, if you don’t need your wine cooler to be built-in, you can save yourself a bit of cash, to spend on, you guessed it, more wine!
How Much Does a Large Wine Fridge Weigh?
When you start getting into the 100+ bottle wine cooler territory you will probably need multiple people to help you install it in your house. Generally, a wine cooler with 100 bottles or more storage capacity will weigh 200 lbs or more.
Here are a couple of examples of wine coolers with 100+ wine bottle storage capacity.
- 166 standard 750ml wine bottle capacity or 161 bottles (with display shelf) capacity; Built-In / Freestanding Installation; Reversible door swing
- Product dimensions: 69″H x 23.5″W x 26.75″D (28.5″ D with handle installed); For dual temperature zone version, please see model BWR-1642DZ
This 166 Bottle Wine Cooler from Whynter weighs 278 pounds! If that is a little too much in terms of size then the 99 Bottle Wine Cooler from Allavino (pictured below) might be more manageable.
Weighing in considerably less at 167 pounds, it has dual-zone temperature capabilities and is about 5 inches shorter and not as deep as the Whynter model. These are just two of the larger-sized wine fridges on the market, but they both give you a good idea of what you’ll encounter in terms of size and weight.
- DUAL-ZONE DIGITAL TEMPERATURE CONTROLS: The Allavino Vite Series YHWR99-2SRN features a digital temperature display with push button controls that allows you to easily adjust the temperature in each zone individually. The upper zone is adjustable between 41-54 degrees Fahrenheit and the lower zone is adjustable between 54-73 degrees Fahrenheit, giving you the ability to store both red and white wines simultaneously. The lighted display can be clearly viewed through the glass door.
- COOL BLUE LED INTERIOR LIGHTING: The 64-3/o8 H x 23-1/2 W x 23-1/8 D cabinet boasts two interior light panels that showcase your wine collection in a contemporary fashion. The cool blue LED lights cast a soft glow on your bottles, stylishly illuminating them without the unnecessary heat created by standard incandescent bulbs.
Final Thoughts
When shopping for a wine fridge it is important to take into account not only the size and storage capacity but also how much it weighs. If you live in an apartment or condo this is definitely an important piece of information.
If you’re looking to store 30 to 40 bottles of wine or less, you will find most wine fridges somewhat manageable in terms of installation and moving them around. These wine fridges will generally weigh under 100 lbs. The larger the size, the heavier they will be, that’s just common sense.
Generally, freestanding wine fridges will weigh a little less than their built-in counterparts, as well as cost you less. So if you are flexible with where you want to put your wine fridge, a freestanding model might be your best choice. Less money and less weight to have to move sounds good to me!