At a Glance:
Are you in the market for a new oven but unsure which door style suits your kitchen best? The type of oven door you choose can impact the functionality and aesthetics of your space. When it comes to oven door styles, there are various options available, each with its unique features and benefits. From a traditional French door oven to space-saving sliding doors, you are spoiled for choice.
However, choosing an oven with the right door type can make your cooking experience easier. To help you, we've compared different types of ovens and doors in this oven buying guide. Continue reading to find out more as we compare wall ovens with different door styles.
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Shop Wall OvensDrop Down Oven Door
A drop down oven door, also referred to as a traditional oven door, is hinged and opens downward, with the handle positioned at the top. The door lies flat when opened, creating a horizontal surface in front of the oven. This type of style is more common and can easily be found in a variety of brands.
User Experience
✅ Stability: The flat, open door provides a stable surface for placing baking trays or dishes, making it easier to handle hot items.
✅ Simplicity: The straightforward design is intuitive, familiar to most users, and easy to operate.
✅ Cost-Effective: Drop-down doors are found on more affordable oven models, making them accessible to a wider range of consumers.
Drawbacks:
⛔ Space Limitation: When open, the door requires additional space in front of the oven, which can be restrictive in small kitchens.
⛔ Safety Concerns: The hot door can pose a risk, especially for children or pets, as it lies within reach when open.
⛔ Ergonomics: Bending down to access the oven can be uncomfortable for some users, particularly those with mobility issues.
Ideal Household/Buyer
A drop-down oven door is for households with ample kitchen space and individuals comfortable with the bending motion required to access the oven. It’s ideal for families who appreciate the stability of placing dishes on the open door or those looking for a budget-friendly option. Check out our featured drop-down ovens below.
Learn More: Best Wall Oven with Air Fryer Picks
GE Profile™ 27" Stainless Steel Electric Built In Single Oven
Although this GE Profile stainless steel oven has a traditional drop down door, it has a stunning design. It has a digital display that's 7 inches, that also gives you custom backgrounds. Additionally, it has built-in Wi-Fi via the SmartHQ app, so you can manage your oven from anywhere. Other features include true convection baking and self-cleaning with an optional steam cleaning.
⭐Featured GE Profile PKS7000SNSS Review:
“Excellent design easy to set up & use. User friendly. Easy to set up & cook variety of foods & most important cakes.”
Frigidaire® 30" Stainless Steel Single Electric Wall Oven
This wall oven blends a sleek, modern design with the convenience of a traditional drop-down door. Its Fan Convection feature ensures faster, more even baking across multiple racks, while the self-cleaning options in 2, 3, and 4-hour cycles simplify maintenance. The responsive 4.3-inch touchscreen control panel adds a premium feel.
Side Swing Oven Door
If you’re searching for a new design on the oven door, consider a side opening oven. Rather than opening down, this door style opens to the side similar to a refrigerator door. This type of oven door is hinged on one side, which allows it to swing open horizontally. This design provides direct access to the oven cavity without reaching over a door that opens downward.
User Experience
✅ Accessibility: A side swing oven door allows for easier access to the appliance, so it reduces the need to bend or reach over a hot door.
✅ Space Efficiency: This design can be more space-efficient in kitchens with limited space in front of the oven since it doesn’t require the same clearance as a drop-down door and sits flush against cabinets when open.
✅ Safety: Side swing oven doors reduce the risk of accidentally touching a hot surface, which is particularly beneficial in households with children or pets.
✅ Many installation types: You can get a side swing wall oven or slide-in unit depending on your setup. The wall oven side swing door style is ideal for those who don't want appliances that protrude.
Drawbacks:
⛔ Hinge Location: Depending on the kitchen layout, the side on which the door swings open can be less convenient for some users, particularly if the oven is installed near a corner or another appliance.
⛔ Limited Availability: Side swing doors are less common than traditional drop-down doors, which can limit options when choosing an oven, especially in lower price ranges.
⛔ Space Requirements: The side swing oven design requires adequate clearance on the side of the oven, which may not be ideal in tight spaces or if the oven is placed near a wall.
Ideal Household/Buyer
A side swing oven door is ideal for households that prioritize ease of access and safety, particularly for individuals with mobility issues or those who prefer not to bend over to reach into the oven.
It’s also a good choice for kitchens with limited space in front of the oven, where a drop-down door might be impractical. However, this design is better suited for kitchens with enough side clearance and for buyers who are willing to invest in a less common, potentially more expensive option. The following models are great examples of the design done right.
Frigidaire Gallery® 27" Stainless Steel Single Electric Wall Oven
Shop This Frigidaire Gallery Oven
Featuring nearly 4 cubic feet capacity, this Frigidaire Gallery wall oven gives you plenty of room for multiple dishes. The side swing door, which can be installed to open left or right, adds convenience by allowing easy meal access. Best of all, it’s full of great features such as the Express-Select Control panel that simplifies temperature settings and True Convection for superior, even baking.
Bosch® 800 Series 30" Black Stainless Steel Left-Hand Single Electric Wall Oven
This Bosch® 800 Series wall oven has a convenient left SideOpening door that gives you effortless access to its spacious interior with over 4.5 cubic feet of capacity. This oven combines multiple cooking tools, including an integrated air fryer for healthier, crispier dishes. The Convection Pro system ensures even baking across all racks, and the full-extension telescopic rack makes handling heavy dishes easier.
⭐Featured Bosch HBL8444LUC Review:
“Just got my side opening oven and love the convenience. Space between my counter and oven is somewhat limiting and this solved the problem. Also, taking heavy items out of the oven is easy with the moveable bottom rack and being able to get closer to the racks by not leaning over a door.”
French Door Oven Door
A French door oven features two doors that open outwards from the center, similar to French refrigerator doors. Each door is hinged on the side, and both typically open simultaneously when one handle is pulled. This design is usually found on single ovens, or on either the top or bottom section on double oven models, although some premium ovens feature dual French door ovens for a higher price point. French door wall oven models come in single, double, and microwave combination units that accommodate a variety of cooking needs and lifestyle.
User Experience
✅Easy Access: The French door design allows for convenient access to the oven cavity, eliminating the need to lean over or reach across a hot door.
✅Space Efficiency: Since the doors open to the side, less forward clearance is needed, making them a practical choice for tighter kitchen spaces.
✅Stylish Appearance: The French door design adds an elegant and professional look to the kitchen.
Drawbacks:
⛔ Higher Cost: French door ovens are typically more expensive and can be found in high-end models.
⛔ Side Clearance: Like side swing doors, French doors require sufficient space on both sides of the oven, which may only be ideal for some kitchen layouts.
Ideal Household/Buyer
A French door oven is ideal for households that value both convenience and aesthetics, particularly those looking for a premium appliance that offers easy access and a sophisticated look.
The design is well-suited for kitchens where space in front of the oven is limited, but side clearance is ample. This design is perfect for home cooks who frequently use their ovens and appreciate the ergonomic benefits of not having to bend or reach. Take a look at our top picks below.
Café™ Professional Series 30" Stainless Steel Single Electric Wall Oven
If you frequently cook with large trays and dishes, then this Cafe Professional wall oven will be a joy to cook with. On top of its French door design that gives you easy access with just one hand, this 30" oven has a sleek, customizable look to match any kitchen style. Precision Cooking ensures perfectly prepared meals every time, while built-in WiFi, powered by the SmartHQ App, makes managing your kitchen effortless and modern.
BlueStar® 30" Stainless Steel Single Electric Wall Oven
This BlueStar French door oven has convenient doors that allow you to access the oven without reaching over a hot door. Its spacious 4.6-cubic-foot capacity fits full-size commercial sheet pans and provides professional-level performance with 9 cooking modes. The customizable, full-color touchscreen enhances visibility, making it user-friendly and stylish.
Retractable Oven Door
An oven with retractable door design (also known as an oven with sliding door) features a unique design where the door slides into a compartment beneath the oven cavity when opened. This mechanism allows the door to retract out of the way completely.
User Experience
✅Unobstructed Access: The fully retractable door offers direct, open access to the oven, making it easier to load and unload dishes without working around a door.
✅Ideal for side by side installations: The door slides in and out like a drawer so you can opt for two side by side oven units.
✅Safety: With the oven door tucked away, there’s less risk of accidental burns or tripping over a hot door, especially in busy kitchens.
Drawbacks:
⛔ Mechanical Complexity: The sliding mechanism adds complexity, which may lead to higher maintenance or repair costs over time than traditional doors.
⛔ Higher Cost: Ovens with retractable doors are generally more expensive, as this feature is typically found in premium models.
⛔ Limited Options: This design is less common, limiting the number of models and brands that offer it.
Ideal Household/Buyer
An oven with a sliding door is best suited for households prioritizing safety, accessibility, and space efficiency. It’s an excellent choice for small kitchens where every inch counts and for those who frequently use their oven and appreciate the convenience of having an unimpeded workspace.
Comparing Oven Door Types
Use this handy chart to compare different oven door styles to decide which design suites your needs best.
| Oven Type | The Look | Price | Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drop Down Oven Door | Gives an oven retro style appeal or a traditional look | 💲 | • The door provides a stable surface when open • Familiar design • Cost-effective design |
| Side Swing Oven Door | Sleek and ergonomic | 💲💲 | • Easier oven access with minimal bending • Space-friendly and ideal for tight kitchens • Safer for households with pets and children |
| French Door Oven Door | Elegant and professional | 💲💲💲 | • Provides full access to the oven interior • Requires less front clearance compared to drop-down oven doors |
| Retractable Oven Door | Modern and commercial | 💲💲💲 | • Hides completely away for no obstructions • The retractable door makes the design great for tight kitchens • Reduces the risk of burns or accidents |
Deciding on an oven door type goes beyond aesthetics. Selecting the design that works for your kitchen layout and best suits your user experience means a more enjoyable experience overall. With a growing number of options available to today’s consumers, it helps to have a team of experts to guide you through the selection, and Fred’s Appliance is your go-to retailer with the answers to all your oven door questions. Visit us today to learn more about oven doors!
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When you shop with Fred's Appliance, you can be sure that you're getting the best brands at the best prices. In our store, you will find a variety of refrigerators, ranges, wall ovens, cooktops, dishwashers, and more. We also carry washers and dryers in both front-load and top-load styles. Not only are we dedicated to providing an unbeatable selection of appliances, but we are equally committed to the local community. We proudly support many charitable organizations throughout Washington, Idaho, and Montana. When you shop at Fred's Appliance, you're not only getting a great product but helping out your neighbors too!
Shop French Door Ovens & More at Fred’s Appliance
If you're looking for a great appliance shopping experience, shop cooking appliances online or visit one of our showrooms in Washington, Idaho, or Montana to see what a difference buying locally with an experienced retailer makes. Our appliance experts will be happy to help you explore French door oven models and more to match your kitchen’s aesthetic. Contact us today and discover the perfect appliance for your home.
Learn More: Gas vs Electric Oven Guide