My cabinetmaker said that either would be fine. I used 12" Restoration Hardware pulls that were $15 each, rather than $75 or more for an appliance pull. I'm not a physicist, but I do think the length may matter a bit, as it seems a 12" pull would distribute strength a little better than a 6" pull on a large panel. Perhaps if you have a French Door fridge it wouldn't matter as much?

This is good news for my budget! It has really puzzled me why the appliance pulls cost so much. I am surprised that RH hasn't relabeled the 12 inch pulls as appliance pulls and marked them up $100 like everyone else. And I have actually been planning to get the RH pulls so you answered my question more directly than I had expected- good point about the larger size. Thanks!

Real appliance pulls are significantly stronger than door pulls as are their screws. Some fridges just won't work well with a thinner pull (Sub zero for one) and my KA as well needs real appliance pulls. But a door with a seal that's not as strong might be ok. To market a pull as an appliance pull just because it's long would be a bit of a liability if someone damaged a pull or door due to a poorly constructed (for it's purpose) pull.

DW's can be done with either, but I have to say I'm glad I used an appliance pull there as well. My pulls are pewter,which is a bit soft (I can bend the regular pulls by hand) and that also adds to the need for real appliance pulls. The same could be said for other metals or hollow core pulls.

Igloo beat me to it...I was gonna say to make sure you use a beefy appliance pull if it's a SZ!

BTW, I found my smaller appliance pulls (8") for my fridge and freezer drawers for $69!! I do think this size would work on a big refridge door, too.

Any tips on matching appliance pulls to cabinet hardware? If I'm going with totally integrated appliances, I don't want to announce their presence with different pulls.

After reading this discussion I did find some (I think) compatible 8" pulls at RH and while I haven't confirmed my fridge choice, I suspect I'll want something beefy. But not appliancey.

fori: there are many manufacturers that have matching pulls in a range of sizes, so that shouldn't be a problem.

We have a completely different pull on the fridge. It's an old piece of hardware I found at an architectural salvage place in NYC. Because the fridge is built in, I think it gives it the look of an old fashioned icebox. I LOVE this piece. To echo what others have said, it's pretty heavyduty for our super suction Liebherr fridge. The hardware handles we used elsewhere would not have been strong enough.

Before installation:

After cabinets were painted and distressed:

Eliz

Thanks everyone for the input. The pulls that I am looking at are 8 inch solid brass so hopefully they will work for an integrated french door fridge, I guess I need to take a close look at the screws to make sure they will not strip or snap.
I was just kidding about the RH price markup- I just have a lame sense of humor.

elizpiz- I love your pull and had at one point considered doing something very similar.