Measuring for appliance delivery

The fridge fits the kitchen. Now make sure it fits through the front door.

In a vast open-plan walnut kitchen with a beamed high ceiling and windows facing the ocean, two delivery workers move a full-size boxed refrigerator strapped to an appliance hand truck toward an empty opening as the homeowner watches

Short answer: walk the route from the truck to the final spot and measure every door jamb to jamb, every hallway and every turn.^{[1 2 · Oct 29, 2026]} Compare each with the appliance's smallest carrying dimension: often the fridge's depth with the doors removed.^{[1 · Oct 29, 2026]}

Minimum widths in makers' guides

What	Minimum	From
Gates and arbors on the path, refrigerators	38 in (33 in for top or bottom mount)	LG refrigeration guide^{[1 · Oct 29, 2026]}
Unobstructed delivery path	3 ft	Samsung delivery instructions^{[3 · Oct 29, 2026]}
Gates, doorways (at the narrowest point) and hallways, one large washer and dryer pair	30 in	LG laundry guide^{[2 · Oct 29, 2026]}
Corners and stair landings, same pair, to turn 90°	43.4 in	LG laundry guide^{[2 · Oct 29, 2026]}

Doorways

Measure each doorway at its narrowest point, counting knobs, latches, door closers and screen doors.^{[2 · Oct 29, 2026]}
Plan for the doors on the fridge to come off: on LG's French door example that takes the depth from 37⅛ in to 30⅜ in.^{[1 · Oct 29, 2026]} The delivery team may remove fridge doors or a house door's hinges; LG doesn't recommend removing fridge doors yourself.^{[1 · Oct 29, 2026]}
A house door on fixed-pin hinges can be unscrewed and taken off to gain width.^{[2 · Oct 29, 2026]}

Hallways, turns and stairs

Measure every hallway and doorway from the nearest entrance.^{[4 · Oct 29, 2026]} LG's 30 in hallway minimum is measured past shelves and other wall-mounted items.^{[2 · Oct 29, 2026]}
Tight corners and stair landings need more than the straight-line width: 43.4 in for one large laundry pair to make a 90° turn.^{[2 · Oct 29, 2026]}
Removing a stair railing may be needed to get the 30 in clearance.^{[2 · Oct 29, 2026]}
Samsung's delivery instructions ask for elevator access or no more than 3 flights of stairs.^{[3 · Oct 29, 2026]}
Can a refrigerator be laid on its side or back to get it up a staircase? Unverified. We couldn't confirm a reliable source for this yet. Ask the delivery team and check the model's manual.

Before delivery day

Clear a path at least 3 ft wide.^{[3 · Oct 29, 2026]}
Finish any construction or remodeling first.^{[3 · Oct 29, 2026]}
For an ice maker, have a water shut-off valve within 6 ft.^{[3 · Oct 29, 2026]}

Sources: 1. LG, Refrigeration “Measure First” installation guide (PDF, dated 2014). 2. LG, “Measure First” installation guide for refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers and laundry (PDF). 3. Samsung US, Home appliance delivery instructions. 4. Whirlpool, Guide to refrigerator sizes and dimensions. Checked Oct 29, 2026. Trademarks belong to their owners; figures are restated in our own tables, not reproduced.