With all the crap hanging from the door you need to open it almost 180 degrees to clear all the shelves.
Clearance to open refrigerator door.
However most of the issues are height.
Many refrigerators need to be open to 90 degrees or more to allow full access to vegetable and door bins.
It s always tricky putting a fridge next to the wall because of clearance unless you have a sub zero or something similar.
Many of the newer refrigerators are taller than the older products of 10 15 years ago.
These refrigerators need very little clearance on the sides typically 1 4 to 1 2 inch for.
When you purchase a new refrigerator just measure the old refrigerator as well as the cabinet.
The french refrigerator doors are half the size of a standard one door refrigerator.
The standard depth of a refrigerator extends about six inches past the front edge of the counters.
Generally the refrigerator is 2 inches narrower than the opening.
So plan on the width of the door to be opened.
When it comes to the door opening of a new refrigerator you need to think about how far the door will open and fill the space of your kitchen.
Refrigerators are available in a number of standard sizes which fit into 30 33 or 36 inch wide spaces.
My 33 side by side has a 20 inch door so a 21 inch pantry is in the corner for proper spacing to fully open the door.
The other issue is the width of 15 year old or older refrigerators.
Standard refrigerator dimensions vary depending on the type of refrigerator.
Whether you are envisioning a bottom freezer top freezer side by side or french door model fridge you can expect a standard fridge to have exterior measurements that range from 28 3 4 inches to 39 3 4 inches in width 61 3 4 inches to 71 1 4 inches in height and 28 3 4 inches to 34 5 8 inches in depth.
Refrigerators are designed for these cabinets widths.