What Is the Difference Between Household Refrigerators and Commercial Refrigerators?

Choosing a fridge for your home or business may be more complicated than you’d expect. Much like any home or business appliance, you’ll have a wide range of models to choose from, in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and prices.

If you’re looking to cut costs, you might think that using a residential fridge in your commercial kitchen is a good choice. Or, you might consider a larger commercial under-counter refrigerator in your home as a way to add space. After all, how different could they be?

While both serve a similar purpose, there are more differences between residential and commercial refrigerators than you might think.

What’s the Different Between Commercial Refrigeration and Residential?

Let’s take a closer look at some of the major differences between commercial refrigeration and residential refrigeration.

Size

One big difference between commercial refrigeration and residential refrigeration is size. In most cases, a commercial fridge will be larger than a domestic refrigerator. That’s because a restaurant or business kitchen usually needs to hold far more ingredients than you have on hand at home for your family.

Durability

Because they have to stand up to heavy use, and thanks to the higher price tag, commercial fridges also tend to be more durable than your fridge at home. 

This may be a perk that homeowners are willing to pay extra for. While investing in a commercial fridge for your home will cost more and require more space, it can also provide you with years and years of extra storage for cold items in your kitchen.

Versatility

Just a couple of decades ago, the only versatility options homeowners had when choosing a fridge were the size, quality, and color. Today, there are far more options available. You can get a smart fridge that can be controlled from your phone, one designed to blend in with your cabinets, or one that offers a massive freezer drawer.

However, commercial refrigerators are known for offering far more versatility. Glass-door commercial refrigerators allow employees to spot ingredients inside. Commercial under-counter refrigerators keep important items close to where they are needed.

The options for customizing your fridge are endless. View more here to see just how versatile commercial fridges really are.

Residential vs Commercial Refrigerators: Making the Right Choice

Now that you know a few of the biggest differences between residential and commercial refrigerators, it’s time to make the right choice. While a residential fridge is almost always the best choice for a home, those who love cooking and want top-of-the-line refrigeration in their home might appreciate the extra power, and not mind the added cost.

However, if you’re looking to save money while building your commercial kitchen, think twice before trying to get by with a small residential fridge—you’ll quickly find that the lack of versatility and durability will wind up costing you more over time.

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