Does the constant hum and clunky ice dispenser on your refrigerator drive you crazy? Many people want the wide-open space of a side-by-side fridge but don’t need or want an automatic ice maker. Choosing a refrigerator can feel like a maze. You see all these fancy models, but the ice maker takes up valuable freezer space and sometimes breaks down. Finding a reliable side-by-side that skips this feature can feel like searching for a hidden gem.
If you value extra storage and simpler mechanics, you are in the right place. This post cuts through the noise. We will explore why ditching the ice maker is smart and exactly what features to look for in the best side-by-side refrigerators without one. Get ready to discover models that offer maximum efficiency and perfect organization for your kitchen.
Top Side By Side Refrigerator Without Ice Maker Recommendations
No. 1
Kenmore 36" Side-by-Side Refrigerator with Freezer - Accela Chill, Water & Ice Dispenser, Adjustable Glass Shelves, ENERGY STAR Certified, 20 cu. ft. Capacity - Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel
- Counter Depth, Large Capacity: This 36-inch, counter-depth refrigerator offers 20 cu. ft. of space-saving storage, maximizing your kitchen’s footprint while providing ample room for fresh and frozen foods - perfect for families and entertaining
- Chill & Multi-Flow Air System: Quickly cool groceries with a dedicated chill feature, and enjoy even temperature throughout with a multi-flow air system for fresh food on every shelf
- Water & Ice Dispenser with Water Filter: Enjoy fresh, filtered water and cubed or crushed ice instantly with a factory-installed ice maker and dispenser. Every drink tastes pure—perfect for any kitchen
- Adjustable, Edge-to-Edge Glass Shelves: Sleek, spill-proof glass shelving stretches from edge to edge for a modern finish and flexible storage. Easily customize your refrigerator interior to fit platters, jugs
- ENERGY STAR Certified: Bright LED lighting illuminates every area, so food never gets lost, while the inverter compressor runs quietly and efficiently; the fingerprint-resistant finish keeps your refrigerator stylish
No. 3
Iceblue 15.6 Cu.Ft. Side-by-side Refrigerators, 33" Full Size Refrigerator, Zoning Temperature Control Beverage Refrigerator with Freezer, Frost Free Beverage Fridge - Black Stainless Steel
- Premium Side by Side Refrigerator: The iceBlue side-by-side refrigerators offers spacious storage capacity. The beverage fridge has a total capacity of 15.6 cubic feet, making it perfect for all family members. This refrigerator with freezer provides ample space for storing food and drinks
- Black Stainless Steel Design: The iceBlue side-by-side refrigerators features a flat surface design and easy-to-open handles. This beverage fridge can seamlessly match your other household appliances. With perfectly proportioned height and depth, this refrigerator with freezer fits flawlessly into modern kitchens
- Large Capacity: The iceBlue side-by-side refrigerators has a storage capacity of 15.6 cubic feet. The dimensions of this beverage fridge are 32.9 inches × 24.5 inches × 70.1 inches (width × depth × height). This refrigerator with freezer achieves separate storage for refrigerated and frozen items, with a refrigeration capacity of 9.54 cubic feet and a freezing capacity of 6.08 cubic feet
- Electronic Temperature Contro: The freezer compartment of the iceBlue side-by-side refrigerators has a temperature range from -10°F to 5°F, which can keep all frozen foods fresh. The refrigeration compartment of this beverage fridge has a temperature range from 32°F to 42°F. This refrigerator with freezer is equipped with 5 variable temperature settings, which can be manually switched according to your needs
- Crisper Drawers & Dairy Compartment: The iceBlue side-by-side refrigerators has transparent humidity-controlled crisper drawers.The beverage fridge allow you to select the ideal humidity level to keep fruits and vegetables fresh.Alos the refrigerator with freezer can store all your butters and spreads at their optimal temperature
No. 4
Hamilton Beach HBF1558 15.6 cu ft Counter Depth Full Size Refrigerator, Side Doors, Stainless
- LARGE CAPACITY: Side by side doors 15.6 CuFt Capacity, perfect for all the family members
- OVERSIZE DOOR BINS: Our gallon-size bins are designed to store more, so you can fit a variety of beverages
- DIGITAL DISPLAY: Easily adjust your refrigerator and freezer settings from the digital display control panel conveniently mounted on the inside of the refrigerator door
- SIDE-BY-SIDE DOOR DESIGN: Allows you to organize and store your fresh and frozen foods to easily find what you need
- _Easily adjust the feet Height and remove or interchange your shelves for a personalized experience
No. 5
DUURA Elite DE210FDBMDSS Refrigerator Built in with French Doors Adjustable Glass Shelves Dual Drawer Bottom Freezer with Ice Maker, LED Interior Light and Stainless Steel Exterior, 36-Inch, Metallic
- FREEZER AND REFRIGERATOR: 585 Liter/20.7 Cubic Foot 4-door fridge and freezer provides ample fresh and frozen food storage with built-in ice maker
- ADJUSTABLE TEMPERATURE CONTROL: Refrigerator 34 - 44°F (1 to 7℃); Freezer -8 - 9°F (-22 to -13℃); Electronic Temperature Control
- LOADED WITH FEATURES: This refrigerator has adjustable cantilever shelves, humidity controlled crispers, adjustable gallon door bins, French doors, interior light, adjustable temperature control, butter box and egg shelf
- VERSATILE FREEZER: Dual-drawer freezer at the bottom of the refrigerator for all your frozen food needs. Includes built-in ice maker with scoop
- EASY INSTALLATION: Front exhaust for built-in installation. 35 9/10 W x 28 7/10 D x 69 9/10 H
No. 6
Forno Salerno 36" Side by Side 20 Cu.Ft Free Standing White Fridge - Stainless Steel Refrigerator with Ice Maker & Decorative Grill - Touch Control Kitchen Fridge with Child Lock and Vacation mode
- 𝟐𝟎 𝐂𝐔. 𝐅𝐓. 𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐀𝐃𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆: Forno kitchen fridge with a spacious 19.2 cu. ft. interior capacity you can store all of your items, avoiding frequent trips to the store and two large freezer drawers, keep your food organized and you can easily access.
- 𝐓𝐎𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐓-𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐍: The Forno 36"" frost free fridge eliminates the need for manual defrosting, saving you time and effort. It also helps to maintain consistent temperatures throughout the refrigerator, which can help to extend the life of your food.
- 𝐌𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐈 𝐀𝐈𝐑 𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐖 𝐂𝐎𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐘𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐌: The Forno refrigerator has a multi air flow cooling system which circulates cool air throughout the refrigerator, ensuring that all of your food is stored at the proper temperature. This helps to prevent spoilage and keep your food fresher for longer.
- 𝐃𝐈𝐆𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐂𝐇 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐋 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐃 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐊 𝐌𝐎𝐃𝐄: The Forno fridge with easily usable LED display allows you to quickly change temperatures for the refrigerator, crisper drawer, and freeze compartments without having to open the doors. Child Lock safety feature provides peace of mind by preventing children from tampering with the refrigerator controls.
- 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐇 𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒: The kitchen fridge features like 3 glass shelves with 12.12 cu.ft, 1 gallon bin, 2 pull-out freezer drawers with 7.14 cu. ft capacity. This allows you for easy organization and you can keep everything in its place, making it easier to find what you need.
No. 7
Forno Salerno 36" Side by Side 20 Cu.Ft Free Standing Black Fridge - Stainless Steel Refrigerator with Ice Maker & Decorative Grill - Touch Control Kitchen Fridge with Child Lock and Vacation mode
- 𝟐𝟎 𝐂𝐔. 𝐅𝐓. 𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐀𝐃𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆: Forno kitchen fridge with a spacious 19.2 cu. ft. interior capacity you can store all of your items, avoiding frequent trips to the store and two large freezer drawers, keep your food organized and you can easily access.
- 𝐓𝐎𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐓-𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐍: The Forno 36"" frost free fridge eliminates the need for manual defrosting, saving you time and effort. It also helps to maintain consistent temperatures throughout the refrigerator, which can help to extend the life of your food.
- 𝐌𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐈 𝐀𝐈𝐑 𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐖 𝐂𝐎𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐘𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐌: The Forno refrigerator has a multi air flow cooling system which circulates cool air throughout the refrigerator, ensuring that all of your food is stored at the proper temperature. This helps to prevent spoilage and keep your food fresher for longer.
- 𝐃𝐈𝐆𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐂𝐇 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐋 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐃 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐊 𝐌𝐎𝐃𝐄: The Forno fridge with easily usable LED display allows you to quickly change temperatures for the refrigerator, crisper drawer, and freeze compartments without having to open the doors. Child Lock safety feature provides peace of mind by preventing children from tampering with the refrigerator controls.
- 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐇 𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒: The kitchen fridge features like 3 glass shelves with 12.12 cu.ft, 1 gallon bin, 2 pull-out freezer drawers with 7.14 cu. ft capacity. This allows you for easy organization and you can keep everything in its place, making it easier to find what you need.
No. 8
Kenmore 4675525 30' French Door Refrigerator with Freezer - Accela Chill, Ice Maker, Adjustable Glass Shelves, ENERGY STAR Certified, 17.5 cu. ft. Capacity - Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel
- Counter-Depth Space Saver: This 30-inch counter-depth refrigerator offers 17.5 cu ft. of ample storage, saving space and giving your kitchen a sleek, built-in look
- Chill & Multi-Flow Air System: Quickly cool groceries with a dedicated chill feature, and enjoy even temperature throughout with a multi-flow air system for fresh food on every shelf
- Gallon Door Bins & Organization: Six gallon-size bins fit large bottles, and a two-tier freezer drawer keeps frozen items organized and easy to access for busy families
- Factory-Installed Ice Maker & LED Lighting: Enjoy ice on demand with the built-in ice maker plus bright, long-lasting LED lighting for easy visibility, day or night
- Fingerprint-Resistant & ENERGY STAR Certified: The stainless steel finish resists fingerprints, and ENERGY STAR certification plus an inverter compressor help reduce energy costs
The Smart Buyer’s Guide to Side-by-Side Refrigerators Without Ice Makers
Choosing a new refrigerator can feel overwhelming. If you want the space of a side-by-side model but don’t need or want the hassle of an automatic ice maker, you are in the right place! These models offer excellent storage and often cost less. This guide helps you pick the best one for your kitchen.
Key Features to Look For
Even without an ice maker, several features matter for performance and daily use.
Capacity and Dimensions
- Size Matters: Measure your space carefully! Side-by-side units are tall and relatively narrow. Check the height, width, and depth before you buy.
- Internal Volume: Look at the cubic feet (cu. ft.). More space means you can store more groceries. A family of four usually needs 22 cu. ft. or more.
Temperature Control
- Precise Settings: You need digital temperature controls. These let you set exact temperatures for both the fridge and freezer sections. Good control keeps food fresher longer.
- Fast Cool/Freeze Functions: These settings quickly lower the temperature when you load a lot of warm groceries. This feature is very helpful.
Shelving and Storage Flexibility
- Adjustable Shelves: Can you move the glass shelves up or down? This flexibility lets you fit tall items like pitchers or large pots.
- Door Bins: Check how deep the door bins are. Deep bins hold gallons of milk or juice easily.
Important Materials and Build Quality
The materials inside and outside affect how long your fridge lasts and how easy it is to clean.
Interior Construction
- Durable Shelving: Look for tempered glass shelves. These resist spills and hold heavy items without cracking. Plastic shelves tend to break more easily over time.
- Crisper Drawers: High-quality drawers slide smoothly. Some models include humidity controls, which help fruits and vegetables stay crisp.
Exterior Finishes
- Fingerprint-Resistant Stainless Steel: If you choose stainless steel, look for this coating. It significantly reduces smudges from little hands and daily use.
- Sturdy Handles: Handles should feel solid when you pull the doors open. Cheap plastic handles can become loose quickly.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Quality is about more than just the price tag. Pay attention to these details.
Factors That Improve Quality
- Energy Star Rating: An Energy Star certified refrigerator uses less electricity. This saves you money on utility bills.
- Good Insulation: Better insulation means the compressor runs less often, which keeps the unit quieter and more efficient.
- LED Lighting: Bright, long-lasting LED lights illuminate the interior better than old incandescent bulbs.
Factors That Reduce Quality (Watch Outs)
- Excessive Noise: If the refrigerator hums or rattles loudly, it often signals poor fan quality or weak insulation. Read reviews about noise levels.
- Plastic Components: Too much cheap plastic inside, especially for drawer runners, means parts wear out faster.
User Experience and Use Cases
How you use your kitchen should guide your purchase.
Ideal Use Cases
- Large Families: Side-by-side design works well when multiple people access the fridge simultaneously. You get immediate access to both frozen and fresh goods.
- Apartment Living: If you have a narrow kitchen entryway, the side-by-side configuration often fits better than a wide French door model.
- People Who Buy Bulk Ice: If you always use bagged ice or make ice in trays, skipping the built-in maker saves energy and space you can use for extra freezer storage.
Daily Use Tips
Since there is no automatic ice maker, you gain usable freezer space. Use this extra room for frozen pizzas or bulk meat storage. Make sure the door alarms work well. A door alarm reminds you if someone leaves the fridge open, preventing food spoilage.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Side-by-Side Refrigerators Without Ice Makers
Q: Why would I choose a model without an ice maker?
A: You save money upfront, reduce potential repair costs later, and gain valuable freezer storage space that the ice maker mechanism usually takes up.
Q: Are these models usually cheaper than those with ice makers?
A: Yes, generally they are. Removing the complex plumbing and ice maker unit lowers the manufacturing cost, making the price tag lower for you.
Q: How do I keep ice if I don’t have a built-in maker?
A: You simply use standard ice cube trays or buy bags of ice from the store and keep them in the freezer section.
Q: Do these refrigerators use less energy?
A: They often use slightly less energy because the ice maker unit itself draws a small amount of power, even when not actively making ice.
Q: What is the standard width for a side-by-side refrigerator?
A: Most standard models range between 33 to 36 inches wide. Always double-check the exact specifications before ordering.
Q: Is the freezer section smaller in these models compared to others?
A: No, the freezer section is typically the same size as its ice-making counterpart. The ice maker is usually tucked into the upper left corner of the freezer compartment.
Q: What should I check about the water dispenser if I still want chilled water?
A: Look for models that offer a water dispenser without the ice maker hookup. You will need a water line installed for the chilled water function.
Q: How important is a good seal on the doors?
A: Very important! Good door seals keep cold air in and warm air out. Poor seals make the fridge work harder and waste energy.
Q: Are these models as noisy as models with ice makers?
A: Noise levels vary by brand, but models without the ice maker might be slightly quieter because you eliminate the sound of the ice maker dropping cubes.
Q: Where should I place the refrigerator in my kitchen?
A: Place it away from direct heat sources like ovens or sunny windows. This helps the refrigerator run more efficiently and keeps food colder.