If your fridge still meets your needs, first work out how much extra freezer space you need. A separate freezer lets you keep your current appliance, whereas a larger fridge-freezer means replacing it. An upright freezer is handy if you regularly access food in drawers; a chest freezer is worth considering for larger amounts of food, provided a top-opening lid and the available space suit you. Then compare the exact models’ dimensions, installation requirements and annual energy consumption. Don’t assume one configuration will always use less energy than another.
Your fridge has enough room for fresh food, but prepared meals and frozen supplies no longer fit in the existing freezer compartment. In this case, usable freezer capacity matters more than the total capacity shown.
A utility room, cellar or garage could accommodate an extra appliance, as long as the model is suitable for the room’s temperature. You’ll also need to allow for ventilation and make sure the door or lid can open without obstruction.
With two appliances, you can replace the fridge and freezer independently as your needs change. This flexibility does, however, require space for both appliances and a comparison of their combined annual energy consumption.
Start by working out how much freezer space you need, then check whether the appliance you’re considering will fit and be easy to open at home.
Consider this if: you want a single appliance and its freezer compartment has enough room for your frozen food.
The trade-off: in this case, a larger freezer compartment means replacing a fridge that may still meet your needs.
Consider this if: you want to keep your current fridge and regularly access frozen food in drawers.
The trade-off: you’ll need to make space for a second appliance and allow for ventilation.
Consider this if: you need plenty of storage and have enough space to open the lid fully.
The trade-off: top access can make it less convenient to find food you use frequently.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Freezer capacity | Compare the freezer’s usable capacity in litres with the extra space you need now, rather than looking only at a fridge-freezer’s total capacity. | If frozen food is overflowing but there’s enough room for fresh food, freezer capacity is the deciding factor; around 36% of consumers in this group put it at the top of their list. |
| Space and access | Measure the space, access routes and the clearance needed for the door or lid to open. Choose between drawers and top access based on how you use your freezer. | If you often open the freezer in a narrow kitchen, being able to move around and find food easily comes first. Around 29% of consumers in this group prioritise ease of access and the space the appliance takes up. |
| Suitability for the location | Check the model’s manual for ventilation clearances and, if it’s going in an unheated room, the minimum permitted ambient temperature. | Putting an appliance in a garage or utility room only makes sense if it can operate there in the conditions specified by the manufacturer; for around 21% of consumers in this group, suitability for the location is their main concern. |
| Use and replacement | Compare kWh/year for appliances with suitable capacities; add together the figures for two separate appliances. Also decide what to do with your old appliance. | If I keep my fridge, I want to assess the cost of adding a freezer and replace each appliance when it suits me; around 14% of consumers in this group prioritise this flexibility. |
The European Commission’s EPREL database lets you look up declared information for models sold in the European Union. To compare a fridge-freezer with two separate appliances, compare their usable capacities and add together the fridge’s and freezer’s kWh/year figures.
It’s the freezer compartment that’s overflowing. Bosch lists freezer capacities of 103 L for the KGN367ICT and 129 L for the KGN49AIBT. The total capacity alone doesn’t tell you how much frozen food will fit.
Work out how much extra space you need and compare the usable freezer capacities of the models you’re considering.
The permitted ambient temperature depends on the model. For example, Liebherr says the CFe 1870 chest freezer is protected down to -15 °C; this feature doesn’t apply to all freezers.
Compare the lowest likely temperature in the room with the conditions specified in the product information and manual for your chosen model.
A fridge-freezer and two separate appliances won’t necessarily offer the same capacity. The energy rating letter alone isn’t enough to tell you which option is best for your setup.
Check the kWh/year on the energy labels or in EPREL, add together the figures for separate appliances and compare models with capacities that meet your needs.
Old fridges and freezers need to be disposed of through an appropriate collection or recycling scheme. ADEME says that, among other options, you can hand an old appliance to the retailer or delivery team when it’s replaced.
Arrange collection with the retailer before delivery, or find a suitable collection point.
These two freestanding fridge-freezers let you compare freezer space across different appliance widths.
The models considered include an upright freezer, a chest freezer and a separate fridge.
The models mentioned show a fridge-freezer with a large freezer compartment and a separate chest freezer.
The BRFNE157E20W upright freezer is worth considering if you want more freezer space without replacing your fridge.
These models cover two ways to replace your current fridge-freezer and two ways to add a freezer while keeping your existing fridge. The best place to start is with the freezer capacity you need and the space available.
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Worth considering if you’re happy to replace your fridge too, so you can keep everything in one appliance. The product name lists a total capacity of 467 L, Total No Frost technology and an E energy rating. Check the usable freezer capacity separately, along with the required dimensions and clearances.
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This option lets you keep your current fridge while adding freezer space that’s easy to access in drawers. The product name lists a capacity of 161 L, No Frost technology, three freezer drawers and a C energy rating. Before deciding where to put it, check its dimensions, kWh/year and permitted ambient temperature.
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Compare this if you’d rather replace your fridge-freezer than add a separate freezer. The product name lists a total capacity of 360 L, Total No Frost technology and an E energy rating. Make sure the freezer compartment alone has enough room for the extra capacity you need, then check the installation requirements.
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This chest freezer adds extra capacity without replacing your fridge, provided top access suits the way you use it. The product name lists a capacity of 140 L, a storage basket, a counterbalanced lid and an E energy rating. Allow enough room to open the lid, and check the kWh/year and permitted ambient temperature for your chosen location.
If your fridge already meets your needs, first compare the usable freezer capacity in litres with the extra space you need. A large total capacity can be divided very differently between the two compartments of a fridge-freezer.
Yes, but only if the garage’s ambient temperature stays within the permitted range for your chosen model. Check its product information and manual: suitability stated for a particular model doesn’t apply to all upright or chest freezers.
Follow the clearance requirements in the manual for your chosen appliance. As a guide for the freestanding fridges covered by its FAQ, Whirlpool recommends 5 cm above and 10 cm behind. These measurements don’t replace the instructions for another model.
Add together the declared kWh/year for the separate fridge and freezer, then compare the total with the fridge-freezer’s figure, taking the capacities into account. Energy labels and the European Commission’s EPREL database let you check this information for the models you’re considering.
Arrange for it to be collected or taken to an appropriate recycling facility rather than leaving it with your household rubbish. In France, when a new appliance is delivered to the place where it will be used, the decree of 8 October 2014 published on Légifrance provides for the old appliance to be collected from that location at the time of delivery, under the conditions it sets out. Check the practical arrangements with the retailer.