Updated: 23 September 2026 · EuroVan Shop
In short: The right campervan fridge size depends on your cabinet first and your trips second. As a starting point, 40–50 L suits one or two people on weekends, 75–90 L a couple for a week between shops, and 105–170 L full-time living or a family. Measure height, width and depth, then keep room behind the fridge for ventilation (10 cm on the DCR range).
See all fridges by capacityWhat size fridge do you need in a campervan?
For most campervan builds, a fridge between 50 and 90 L is a sensible range: 50 L fits a seat box, while 80–90 L lets a couple do a weekly shop. The real limit is usually the cabinet rather than your appetite, so measure first and choose the largest fridge that fits with its ventilation space.
Litres alone can mislead. Two 50 L fridges can have very different freezers (4.5 L on the 50 L SVR, 10 L on the 50 L BCD), and two 85 L fridges can differ in depth. That is why this guide lists every VanCool model with its dimensions and fridge/freezer split.
Comparing the ranges (SVR, DCR, BCD) and their power use? See our 12V compressor fridge buying guide.
Every VanCool fridge by litres, dimensions and freezer
Here is the full VanCool range from smallest to largest, with height × width × depth in cm and the fridge + freezer split in litres, as listed on each product page.
| Model | Fridge + freezer (L) | H × W × D (cm) | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| VanCool 40 L | 34 + 6 | 56.3 × 44.6 × 52.3 * | −12 °C |
| VanCool 50 L SVR | 42 + 4.5 | 53 × 38 × 49 | −18 °C |
| VanCool 50 L DCR | 36 + 6.6 | 52.5 × 38 × 51 | −18 to −5 °C |
| VanCool 50 L BCD | 40 + 10 | 53 × 38 × 50 | −18 °C |
| VanCool 60 L DCR | 50 + 10 | 62.5 × 47.5 × 45 | −18 to −5 °C |
| VanCool 70 L drawer freezer | 68 L net, fridge or freezer | 75 × 43 × 54 | down to −18 °C |
| VanCool 75 L DCR | 62 + 10 | 62.5 × 47.5 × 53.5 | −18 to −5 °C |
| VanCool 76 L BCD | 56 + 20 | 75 × 43 × 54 | −18 °C |
| VanCool 80 L DCR | 65 + 15 | 81 × 47.5 × 45 | −18 to −5 °C |
| VanCool 85 L SVR | 72 + 8 | 63 × 47 × 54 | −18 °C |
| VanCool 85 L BCD | 77 + 8 | 63 × 47 × 55 | −18 °C |
| VanCool 90 L DCR | 74 + 16 | 97.5 × 42 × 49 | −18 to −5 °C |
| VanCool 90 L RCN | 70 + 20 | 96.5 × 41.8 × 48 | −18 °C |
| VanCool 105 L DCR | 82 + 22 | 81 × 47.5 × 53.5 | −18 to −5 °C |
| VanCool 140 L | 112 + 28 | 123 × 52 × 49 † | −18 °C |
| VanCool 150 L Slim | 135 + 15 | 149 × 41.8 × 56 | −18 °C |
| VanCool 170 L | 112 + 58 | 140 × 52 × 49 ‡ | −18 °C |
* With the trim frame; 51 × 39 cm on the face without it, and 52.3 cm is the depth at floor level including the compressor. † 126 cm high with the feet on. ‡ 145 cm high with the feet on. The split is the manufacturer's figure; on some models fridge + freezer does not add up exactly to the headline capacity. Every model runs on 12/24 V.
How many litres per person and per trip?
As a rough guide, plan around 40–50 L for one person or a couple on short trips, 75–90 L for two people shopping once a week, and 105 L or more for full-time living or a family. Treat these as starting points, not rules: how often you shop, how much you cook and how many drinks you keep cold matter as much as headcount.
| Who and how | Suggested capacity | Example models |
|---|---|---|
| Solo, weekends | 40–50 L | 40 L, 50 L SVR |
| Couple, weekends and short trips | 50–60 L | 50 L DCR, 60 L DCR |
| Couple, a week between shops | 75–90 L | 75 L DCR, 85 L SVR, 90 L RCN |
| Family, or a couple full-time | 85–140 L | 85 L BCD, 105 L DCR, 140 L |
| Full-time, weekly shop and a frozen reserve | 150–170 L | 150 L Slim, 170 L |
Frozen food is the other variable. If you buy fresh every few days, a small compartment is enough; if you want a week or more of frozen meals, look at the freezer column rather than the total.
How to measure your cabinet for a campervan fridge
Measure the finished opening in height, width and depth, keep the smallest figure of each, then subtract the ventilation space the fridge needs. A fridge that fits exactly but cannot breathe runs longer and cools less well.
- Height: from the cabinet floor to the underside of the worktop or shelf. On the 140 L and 170 L the feet come off, saving 3 cm and 5 cm.
- Width: between the side panels, at the narrowest point (battens, hinges, cables).
- Depth: from the front face to the van wall or back panel, minus the rear clearance.
- Door swing: check that the open door clears seats, drawers or the sliding door, and choose the hinge side accordingly.
- Airflow: plan ventilation grilles so the warm air from the compressor can leave the cabinet.
| Model | Space to leave (per product page) |
|---|---|
| DCR, 50 to 105 L | At least 10 cm behind, with ventilation grilles |
| 85 L SVR | At least 5 cm behind and above |
| 40 L | About 2 cm on each side and behind, plus room for the compressor |
| 140 L and 170 L | 10 mm above, 5 mm each side, 59 mm behind, or an exterior vent grille |
| Other models | Clear space behind with ventilation grilles |
If you cannot free 59 mm behind a 140 L or 170 L, an exterior vent grille on the bodywork, opposite the cooling unit, lets the heat go straight outside and reduces the rear clearance needed.
50 L or 80 L fridge: which one for your van?
Choose a 50 L fridge if you have a seat box or narrow cabinet and travel mostly at weekends; choose 80–85 L if you can give it a column or a full under-worktop cabinet and want a week's food for two. The step up costs more in space than in power: our product pages give both the 50 L and the 80 L DCR at 25 to 30 W in real use.
- 50 L: all three versions are 38 cm wide and about 53 cm high. The SVR draws least (20–25 W), the DCR has two separate settings, the BCD has the biggest freezer at 10 L.
- 80 L DCR: a column of 81 × 47.5 × 45 cm with a 15 L freezer, for the side wall of a panel van.
- 85 L SVR or BCD: 63 cm high, so it still goes under a worktop, with 72 or 77 L of fridge.
VanCool 50 L SVR
42 L + 4.5 L at −18 °C, 53 × 38 × 49 cm, 20–25 W in real use.
VanCool 85 L SVR
72 L + 8 L at −18 °C, 63 × 47 × 54 cm, same front as the Dometic it replaces.
How big should the freezer be?
As a guide, a 6–10 L freezer covers ice and a few days of frozen food, 15–22 L holds a week's reserve, and 28 L or more suits full-time living. Every VanCool model except the 40 L reaches −18 °C; the 40 L holds −12 °C, fine for frozen food bought on the road but not for long storage.
On the DCR range the freezer divider comes out: switch to single zone and the whole cabinet runs as a fridge from −8 to +10 °C. Need a lot of freezer space without giving up fridge space? The 170 L has 58 L of freezer, and the 70 L drawer unit can be added as a dedicated freezer at −18 °C or set as a second fridge.
VanCool 105 L DCR
82 L + 22 L, the largest DCR freezer, 81 × 47.5 × 53.5 cm.
VanCool 70 L drawer freezer
Down to −18 °C or used as a fridge, 75 × 43 × 54 cm.
Which fridge fits when width, depth or height is the limit?
If one dimension is tight, pick the model built around it:
- 38–39 cm wide: 50 L SVR, DCR or BCD, or the 40 L at 39 cm without its trim frame.
- About 42 cm wide: 90 L DCR (42 cm), 90 L RCN and 150 L Slim (41.8 cm).
- Only 45 cm deep: 60 L DCR under a worktop, 80 L DCR as a column.
- Under a worktop at about 63 cm: 60 L and 75 L DCR (62.5 cm), 85 L SVR and BCD (63 cm).
- Tall space left by a three-way fridge: 140 L, 150 L Slim or 170 L, running on 12/24 V without gas.
Replacing an older compressor fridge? The SVR keeps the footprint and front panel of the Dometic compressor fridges it replaces, and the 90 L RCN and 90 L DCR replace the Dometic RC 10.4 and Thetford T2090. See the replacement fridges and our guide to replacing a 3-way fridge.
Does a bigger campervan fridge use more battery?
Not in proportion to its size. On our product pages the DCR fridges from 50 L to 105 L are all given at 25 to 30 W in real use, and the 140 L and 170 L at around 30 W. The exceptions are the 85 L BCD (about 35 W) and the 150 L Slim (about 45 W); the SVR is the low-consumption choice at 20 to 25 W.
For daily Ah estimates and battery sizing, read how long a 12V fridge runs on a leisure battery. Still unsure which size fits? Send us your cabinet measurements through our contact page.
Not sure which fridge fits your cabinet?
Send us the height, width and depth of your cabinet (or a photo). Our France-based technical team answers within 24 hours.
Ask our technical teamFrequently asked questions
What size fridge is best for a campervan?
As a guide, 50 to 90 L suits most campervans: 50 L for weekends and small cabinets, 75 to 90 L for a couple shopping once a week. Choose the largest model that fits your cabinet with its ventilation space.
Is a 50 L fridge big enough for two people?
For weekends and short trips it usually is. For a week between shops, 75 to 90 L is more comfortable. Check the freezer too: among the VanCool 50 L models it ranges from 4.5 L to 10 L.
What are the dimensions of a 50 L campervan fridge?
The VanCool 50 L models are 53 × 38 × 49 cm (SVR), 52.5 × 38 × 51 cm (DCR) and 53 × 38 × 50 cm (BCD), height × width × depth.
What are the dimensions of an 80 L fridge?
The VanCool 80 L DCR is 81 × 47.5 × 45 cm with 65 L of fridge and a 15 L freezer. The 85 L SVR and BCD are lower and deeper, at 63 × 47 × 54 and 63 × 47 × 55 cm.
How much space does a fridge need behind it?
It depends on the model. The DCR range asks for at least 10 cm behind with ventilation grilles, the 85 L SVR at least 5 cm behind and above, and the 140 L and 170 L 59 mm behind or an exterior vent grille.
Which fridge fits a 42 cm wide cabinet?
The VanCool 90 L DCR (42 cm), the 90 L RCN (41.8 cm) and the 150 L Slim (41.8 cm). For narrower spaces, the 50 L models are 38 cm wide.
Got your measurements? Compare every model by litres and dimensions.
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