Fridges for a 15-inch slot: eight models and the space each needs

How we chose these

Each one is sold for built-in use, is no wider than 15 inches, and has a manual from its maker that we read. We haven’t tested any of them. They’re grouped by what you’re chilling, then by how much the manual tells you. That’s not a ranking.

The short answer

A slot exactly 15 inches wide is tight. Once you add the side gaps their manuals ask for, the Summit and Whynter 15-inch models all need a bit more than 15 inches. Yet Summit’s own cutout tables list a 15-inch opening, and Whynter lists 15 or 15.05 inches. If your slot is 15 inches, ask the maker which figure to follow, in writing.

The NewAir models are the reverse problem: their manuals give no air gaps at all. They fit the slot on paper, but you won’t know how much air they need until NewAir tells you.

The space each one needs

All figures are inches, from each maker’s documents. “Needs” adds the built-in air gaps to the body, and that sum is our math.

Watch the depth too. Summit asks for 2 inches behind the fridge, so its models need 24.75 to 25.63 inches front to back. Handles stick out in front as well: the ALBV15 is 25.38 inches deep with its handle.

Want to try your own numbers? The Will it fit? tool checks all of these at once.

For cans and drinks

Summit gives capacity in cubic feet, not cans: 2.45 for the SCR1536BG and 2.6 for the ALBV15. Our can-capacity guide explains why can counts vary so much.

For wine

Not sure you need two zones? Our single or dual zone guide helps you decide.

See all the drinks fridge specs

Drinks fridges for a 15-inch slot compared. These are the manufacturer's figures, not our own measurements.

What to check	Summit SCR1536BG	Summit ALBV15	Whynter BBR-838SB	Whynter BBR-801BG	NewAir ABR-960
Size (W × D × H)	14.75 in × 22.75 in × 34.00 in; 24.63 in deep with handleWidth × depth × height. The manual’s table agrees. The product page lists the cabinet at 33.88 in high and 34 in nominal, so plan around 34 in. With the door open to 90°, it needs 36.25 in of depth.	14.88 in × 23.63 in × 32.00 in; 25.38 in deep with handleWidth × depth × height, using the larger figure where the documents differ. The manual’s table gives 14⅞ in wide and 22¾ in deep; the product page gives 14.75 in wide and 23.63 in deep. With the door open to 90°, it needs 38.25 in of depth.	14.75 in × 22.25 in × 34.00 in; 24.25 in deep with handleWidth × depth × height. The body figures are the manual’s; the depth with the handle comes from the product page.	15.00 in × 22.50 in × 33.75 inWidth × depth × height. The handle is recessed, and neither document gives a separate depth with it.	14.80 in × 22.60 in × 33.75 in; 24.25 in deep with handleWidth × depth × height, from the product page. The manual says 14.8 in × 22.4 in × 33.9 in. Plan around the larger figures.
Weight	77 lbThe manual gives no weight.	68 lbThe manual gives no weight.	72 lb	68 lb	76 lb
Built-in or freestanding	Built-in or freestanding, front-breathing	Built-in or freestanding, front-breathing; sized for 32 in ADA counters	Built-in or freestanding, with a front vent	Built-in or freestanding, with a front vent	Built-in or stand-alone, per the product pageThe manual refers to a built-in structure and says to keep ventilation openings clear. It also says to keep the front kick-plate free of obstruction and never to operate the unit behind closed doors.
Air gap it needs	Built in: ¼ in at each side, 2 in at the back, ⅛ in at the topThe manual words these as advice (“it is better to keep at least”). For freestanding use it suggests 5 in at the back and sides and 4 in on top. Its cutout table lists a 15 in × 22¾ in × 34⅛ in opening, which leaves less room than those gaps. Ask Summit which to follow before you build it in.	Built in: ¼ in at each side, 2 in at the back, ⅛ in at the topThe manual words these as advice (“it is better to keep at least”). For freestanding use it suggests 5 in at the back and sides and 4 in on top. Its cutout table lists a 15 in × 22¾ in × 32⅛ in opening, which leaves less room than those gaps. Ask Summit which to follow before you build it in.	Built in: ¼ in at each side and the top; no back figureFor freestanding use the manual suggests 5 in at the back and sides, with no figure for the top. Its minimum cabinet opening is 15.05 in wide, less than the body plus ¼ in at each side (15.25 in). Ask Whynter which to follow, and about the back gap, before you build it in.	Built in: ¼ in at each side and the top; no back figureFor freestanding use the manual suggests 5 in at the back and sides, with no figure for the top. Its minimum cabinet opening is 15 in wide, less than the body plus ¼ in at each side (15.50 in). Ask Whynter which to follow, and about the back gap, before you build it in.	No figures in the manualReplies in the product page’s Q&A conflict: one says 0.25 in at the sides and back, another says 2.5 in at each side. Ask NewAir in writing for your setup.
Door and shelves	Reversible glass door with a factory lock; 3 adjustable chrome shelves	Reversible glass door with a lock and two keys; 3 adjustable glass shelves	Reversible glass door with a lock and two keys; 3 large shelves and 1 small	Reversible glass door with a lock and two keys; 4 slide-out shelvesThe product page’s spec table says 3 shelves. The manual and the page’s feature list say 4.	Door lock; 5 racks. Door reversal isn’t covered in the manualThe manual’s parts list shows a lock and a right upper hinge. A NewAir reply in the product page’s Q&A says the door isn’t reversible. The page says the shelves adjust and lists 5 racks.
How much it holds	2.45 cu ft; no can count given	2.6 cu ft; no can count given	112 standard 12 oz cans; 3.0 cu ftThe cubic feet come from the product page. Its headline says 128 cans, but its own shelf-by-shelf count adds up to 112, the manual’s figure.	100 standard 12 oz cans; 3.0 cu ftThe manual calls 100 its approximate maximum, counting cans stacked in bulk. The product page says 128 cans.	96 standard cans; 3.2 cu ftThe can count comes from the manual’s cover and the product page, and no can size is given. The page calls this eight six-packs, but 96 cans is 16.
Temperature range	One zone, 36–43°F	One zone, 36–43°F	One zone, 34–54°F	One zone, 34–54°F	One zone, 36–66°FDigital controls in 1-degree steps. The product page says 37–66°F.
Room temperature it needs	Not below 60°FThe manual also gives 44–90°F as a range, but says indoor-only models like this one shouldn’t go where the temperature falls below 60°F.	72–78°F recommended; not below 60°F	Above 60°F and below 90°F; 72–78°F recommended	Above 60°F and below 90°F; 72–78°F recommended	No room temperature range statedThe manual lists climate class T/ST/N/SN without explaining it, and the warranty excludes extreme temperatures.
Where you can use it	Indoors only; home or commercial use	Indoors only	Indoors, away from heat and moisture; not on carpet	Indoors; not on carpet	“Household, office and similar environments”The product page calls it “ideal for commercial & home use,” but the manual’s warranty excludes commercial use. Avoid excessively moist or humid places.
Power	115 V, 60 Hz, 1.0 A; grounded three-prong outlet on a 15 A circuit	115 V, 60 Hz, 1.0 A; 15 A circuit	115 V, 60 Hz, 0.9 A; grounded three-prong outlet on a 15 A circuit	115 V, 60 Hz, 1.0 A, 80 W; 15 A circuit	110–120 V, 60 Hz, 90 W, 1.2 A. Never use an extension cord
Noise	No dB figure found	33 dB, per the product pageThe manual gives no noise figure.	Under 38 dBA, per the product pageThe manual gives no noise figure.	Under 42 dBA, per the product pageThe manual gives no noise figure.	No dB figure foundThe product page calls it quiet without giving a figure.
Yearly energy use	250 kWh a year, per the product page	280 kWh a year, per the product page	No annual kWh figure foundThe product page’s 85 W is a power rating, not annual use.	1.05 kWh per 24 hours	No annual kWh figure found90 W is a power rating, not annual use.
Warranty	1 year parts and labor; 5 years on the compressor (part only)	1 year parts and labor; 5 years on the compressor (part only)	One-year limitedFor the original owner in the 48 continental states.	One-year limited	1 year (manual); 2 years (product and warranty pages)NewAir’s manual says one year of parts coverage from purchase. The product page says “2-Year Warranty Included.” NewAir’s warranty page says two years for purchases on or after November 12, 2025, “unless otherwise stated in your product’s manual.” Get the term in writing before you rely on it, especially if you buy from another seller.

See all the wine fridge specs

Wine fridges for a 15-inch slot compared. These are the manufacturer's figures, not our own measurements.

What to check	Summit CL155WC1	NewAir AWR-290DB	Whynter BWR-208SB
Size (W × D × H)	14.88 in × 22.88 in × 34.00 in; 24.63 in deep with handleWidth × depth × height, using the larger figure where the documents differ. The manual’s table gives 14⅞ × 22¾ × 34 in; the product page gives 14.75 × 22.88 × 33.75 in.	14.80 in × 22.60 in (24.25 in with handle) × 33.75 in	11.75 in × 22.50 in × 34.00 in; 24.50 in deep with handleWidth × depth × height. The depth with the handle comes from the product page, whose spec table also lists 22.25 in deep. Plan around 22.50 in.
Weight	74 lbThe manual gives no weight.	79 lb (manual); 70 lb (product page)The two NewAir documents disagree. Plan the move around the heavier figure. The manual lists a 94 lb shipping weight.	71 lb (manual); 62.61 lb (product page)
Built-in or freestanding	Built-in or freestanding, front-breathing	Sold as built-in or stand-alone. The manual is titled “15” Built-in” and says never to install or operate it behind closed doorsThe product page describes front venting and says it can slide into base cabinets. The manual requires the front kick-plate to stay unobstructed.	Built-in or freestanding, with a front vent
Air gap it needs	Built in: ¼ in at each side, 2 in at the back, ⅛ in at the topThe manual words these as advice (“it is better to keep at least”). For freestanding use it suggests 5 in at the back and sides and 4 in on top. Its cutout table lists a 15 in × 22¾ in × 34⅛ in opening, which leaves less room than those gaps. Ask Summit which to follow before you build it in.	No numeric side, top or back clearance foundAsk NewAir for the cutout and clearances in writing before building it in.	Built in: ¼ in at each side and the top; no back figureFor freestanding use the manual suggests 5 in at the back and sides, with no figure for the top. Its minimum cabinet opening is 11.85 in wide, less than the body plus ¼ in at each side (12.25 in). Ask Whynter which to follow, and about the back gap, before you build it in.
Door and shelves	Reversible glass door with a lock in the kickplate; 5 removable shelves	Door-opening clearance and door reversal are not covered. Five removable racks are listedThe manual covers fitting the handle, which adds 1.65 in to the depth.	Reversible door with a lock and two keys; 6 pull-out shelves
How much it holds	20 Bordeaux or Burgundy bottles on the shelves, plus 3 shorter bottles on the floorThe page’s spec table rounds this to 23 bottles. The floor takes bottles up to 10¾ in tall.	29 “standard wine bottles”; 3.2 cu ftNewAir doesn’t define “standard” for this model or say how the 29 split between zones. Treat 29 as a maximum.	20 standard 750 ml bottles
Temperature range	One zone, 41–68°F	Upper 40–50°F; lower 50–66°FThe product page text says 40–55°F for the upper zone. ChillShelf uses the manual.	One zone, 40–65°F
Room temperature it needs	72–78°F recommended; not below 60°F	No numeric room-temperature range foundThe warranty excludes abnormal conditions such as extreme temperatures.	Above 60°F and below 90°F; 72–78°F recommended
Where you can use it	Indoors only	“Household, office and similar environments.” No outdoor rating foundThe product page also mentions garages and commercial use, but the warranty excludes commercial use. Ask before relying on either.	Indoors, away from heat
Power	115 V, 60 Hz, 1.0 A; 15 A circuit	110–120 V, 1.2 A, 60 Hz, 90 W. Grounded outlet; never an extension cord	115 V, 60 Hz, 80 W, 0.9 A; 15 A circuit
Noise	32.1 dB, measured by SummitThe manual gives no noise figure.	No dB figure foundThe product page calls it “quiet” without a measurement, so ChillShelf makes no noise claim.	Under 38 dBA, per the product pageThe manual gives no noise figure.
Yearly energy use	No annual kWh figure found	No annual kWh figure found90 W is a power rating, not annual use.	No annual kWh figure found80 W is a power rating, not annual use.
Warranty	1 year parts and labor; 5 years on the compressor (part only)	1 year parts (manual); 2 years (NewAir warranty page)NewAir’s manual says one year of parts coverage from purchase. NewAir’s warranty page says two years for purchases on or after November 12, 2025, “unless otherwise stated in your product’s manual.” Get the term in writing before you rely on the longer one.	One-year limited

Worth double-checking before you order

• Whynter can counts. The BBR-838SB and BBR-801BG product pages both say 128 cans. Their manuals say 112 and 100.
• Summit sizes. The ALBV15 and CL155WC1 manuals give slightly different sizes from their product pages. We plan around the larger figure each time.
• Summit room temperature. Its manuals give more than one room temperature range. All three say not to install these indoor models anywhere that falls below 60°F.
• Open floor needs more room. If you stand one of these on open floor instead, Summit asks for 5 inches at the back and sides and 4 on top, and Whynter for 5 inches at the back and sides.

What we don’t know yet

We can’t tell you how quiet these are in a real kitchen, how steady they hold temperature, or what they cost to run. Some makers print a noise figure and some don’t. Summit gives a yearly energy figure for its two drinks models, Whynter a daily one for the BBR-801BG, and the rest give none.

Each model has its own page with every spec and where it came from. Start at all fridges.

How this was made. Drafted with AI, based on manuals, product pages and other published documents, not hands-on testing. Figures were checked against those documents. A person hasn't yet reviewed this article. See how we check.

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Product photos: Summit Appliance, Whynter, NewAir.

ChillShelf is owned and published by Charles McQuain.