Kegerator Dimensions: How Much Space to Leave

Start with the space, not the listing

The first number in kegerator planning is not on a listing; it is on your tape measure. Before comparing cabinets, write down the height, width, and depth of the spot you intend to fill. Note the floor area and the gap under a counter or inside a cabinet bay, plus the hallway, doorways, and stairs the unit must pass through on its way in.

This article explains what the dimensions on a listing mean and what they leave out. The goal is to match a cabinet to your space so the door opens, the tower clears, and a keg can be loaded without moving furniture. If you have not measured yet, start with the general kegerator guide and take measurements afterward.

Reading height, width, and depth on a listing

Kegerator listings usually state the cabinet width in inches at the top of the bullet list, with height and depth in the same block. A title often carries the width as a size name, such as 15 inch, 18 inch, or 24 inch. The bullet list is where you find the rest: total height, depth with the door closed, and sometimes the weight.

Compare two listings by reading the same dimensions in the same order. A 24 inch listing means the cabinet width is 24 inches; the height and depth still vary by model. Kegerator reviews compared on stated details list these numbers side by side, so you can check a cabinet against your opening.

When you read a bullet list, look for these four numbers in order:

• Cabinet width in inches, often the first number.
• Total height, including the tower if one is listed.
• Depth with the door closed.
• Weight, if stated, for planning the delivery path.

The tap tower adds height

A kegerator with a tower is taller than the cabinet alone. The tower sits on top and holds the faucets, so the total height is the cabinet height plus the tower. If you are placing the unit under a counter or in a low cabinet bay, you need the total height, not just the cabinet height.

Listings that include a tower usually state the tower height or the total height in the bullet list. When a listing does not state it, treat the total height as an open question. For more on how towers add to a cabinet, see tower height and taps on a tower.

Door swing and access for a keg

A cabinet is wider than its footprint when the door opens. Plan space in front of the unit so the door can swing fully, because you need that opening to reach the keg and the shelf. A door that cannot open fully turns a fitting cabinet into a nuisance.

Hinge side matters for a built-in look. A left-hinged or right-hinged door changes which side needs the swing room. If you are choosing between a 15 inch and a 24 inch cabinet, the door swing is part of the decision. See door swing and 15 inch versus 24 inch for the details.

The path from the door to the spot

Measure the route the unit will travel before delivery. A kegerator that fits the counter may still fail to fit through a hallway turn or a narrow doorway. Write down the width of every door and the height of any stairs or turns.

Delivery method matters as a question to read, not as a rule. Some units arrive by parcel and others by freight; the box dimensions and the need for a second person appear on the listing or the seller's page. Keep the packaging until you confirm the unit fits and works.

Full size cabinets are the models most likely to need a wider path, so measure those routes first. See full size kegerators for the size range.

Width names: 15 inch, 18 inch, and 24 inch

Width is the main size name on kegerator listings. 15 inch models are narrow and suit tight kitchens or small bars. 18 inch models sit between the two common names. 24 inch is the common home-bar width and fits under many counters.

Cabinet type follows width. Undercounter units are sized to slide under a counter, full size units stand taller, and wide commercial units take more floor space for larger cabinets. Match the size name to your opening, then check height and depth.

For the specific size names, see the 15 inch picks, the 24 inch picks, the undercounter picks, and the wide commercial picks.

What a listing cannot tell you about size

A title can say the width, but it cannot say how much room you need in front for the door, how the tower clears a counter, or whether the unit fits the path from the delivery truck. Those answers come from your own measurements and from reading the bullet list.

Some listings do not state the depth or the total height. When that happens, treat the missing detail as an open question to ask the seller. The site compares stated details only; it cannot supply a dimension a listing omits. That is why planning starts with the space, not the listing.

What to pick for your situation

Questions

Should I plan for the tower height or just the cabinet?

Plan for the total height, which is the cabinet plus the tower. A tower adds height above the cabinet, so a spot that fits the cabinet alone may still be too low for the tower. Check the listing for the total height.

Do I need room for the door to swing fully?

Yes. You need space in front of the unit for the door to open wide enough to load a keg and reach the shelf. Measure the swing room the same way you measure the cabinet width.

What does 24 inch mean on a listing?

24 inch is the size name for the cabinet width. It tells you the cabinet is 24 inches wide, but height and depth still vary by model, so read the bullet list for the rest.

How do I measure for an undercounter kegerator?

Measure the height of the gap under the counter, the depth from front to back, and the width between the cabinets. Compare those numbers to the height, depth, and width stated on the listing.

What if the listing does not state the depth?

Treat the missing depth as an open question. Ask the seller for the full dimension list before you commit, and keep your space measurements handy to check against the answer.