Start by choosing according to your habits: an upright freezer makes organising and accessing food easier, while a chest freezer prioritises capacity and bulky items if you have a suitable room. An under-counter model is best as an extra appliance; a larger fridge freezer makes sense when your main appliance also needs replacing.
When the freezer compartment in your fridge freezer is regularly full, a separate appliance provides genuinely useful extra capacity. The main choice is between the capacity of a chest freezer and the drawer storage of an upright model, as explained by UFC-Que Choisir.
An additional room can accommodate a larger freezer, provided you check the ambient temperature range specified for the model. A chest freezer offers plenty of capacity, but requires more floor space.
If your main fridge is reaching the end of its life, compare adding a separate freezer with buying a larger fridge freezer. The actual amount of freezer space you need remains the starting point for your decision.
Start by working out how much extra capacity you need and where the appliance will go. Then compare the internal layout, energy consumption and installation requirements of the specific model.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity and format | Compare the usable litre capacity with the shortage of space you have identified. Check whether it is an upright model with drawers or a chest freezer with an open compartment, as well as the dimensions, door or lid clearance and delivery route. | I want to store groceries, prepared meals or bulky products without installing an overly large appliance. A chest freezer is ideal for large volumes; an upright model makes it easier to separate food for everyday use. |
| Energy consumption and label | Since March 2021, the European energy label has used a scale from A to G. Compare kWh/year, storage capacity and noise levels between appliances with similar capacities and formats. | I am looking for an appliance suited to my storage needs without relying solely on an old A+, A++ or A+++ rating. The European Commission states that the label also shows annual consumption and capacity. |
| Installation room and power cuts | Check the climate class and permitted ambient temperatures for the exact reference. Also compare the stated storage time in hours and, where necessary, whether the appliance has a high-temperature alarm. | My freezer needs to work in the kitchen, utility room, cellar or planned garage. ADEME recommends checking the suggested ambient temperature for the room where the appliance will be installed. |
| Storage and maintenance | Look at the drawers, baskets, adjustable compartments and space allocated to large items. Check whether the model uses a No Frost system or requires manual defrosting. | I want to find food easily and choose a maintenance routine that suits my habits. For a manually defrosted appliance, UFC-Que Choisir recommends defrosting when the frost reaches 3 mm, as it increases energy consumption. |
A chest freezer may offer more capacity than an upright model, but it also requires considerable floor space and is accessed from above. UFC-Que Choisir commonly cites widths of around 110 to 140 cm and a depth of 70 cm for this format; finding smaller portions can be less straightforward in a large compartment.
Measure the room, delivery route, full lid opening and the space needed to move around the appliance. If you regularly access small portions, look for baskets or choose drawers.
A garage or cellar is not automatically suitable for every freezer. The climate class corresponds to the temperatures in the installation room and must be checked for the exact model.
Record the realistic minimum and maximum temperatures in the room, then compare them with the range specified by the manufacturer. Only rely on a tolerance down to −15 °C when it is explicitly stated for the relevant reference.
The class letter alone is not enough to compare two appliances with different capacities. The European Commission explains that the A to G label also displays annual kWh consumption, storage capacity and noise level.
Compare the class with annual consumption, usable litres, noise and the internal layout. Model data can also be checked in EPREL when the QR code or reference allows it.
A large capacity does not tell you how long food will remain frozen without electricity. UFC-Que Choisir treats storage time as a separate criterion in its freezer tests.
For each shortlisted model, look for a storage time stated in hours in the technical specification, or a comparable independent measurement. A high-temperature alarm can be useful when the appliance is located in an additional room.
In France, Liebherr offers chest freezers, freestanding upright models and built-in appliances. The brand is particularly worth considering for installation in a room with little or no heating.
Beko covers chest, upright and under-counter formats, making it easy to compare vertical storage, a large compartment and a compact extra appliance.
Bosch is mainly worth considering for households looking for a freestanding or built-in upright freezer organised with drawers, with adjustable storage options on selected models.
In France, Whirlpool offers chest freezers and large-capacity upright models, suited to anyone weighing up horizontal capacity against vertical storage.
This Joybuy selection brings together chest freezers for increasing household storage, along with an upright model for households that prefer drawer-based organisation.
Image unavailable
For bulk shopping, large batches of prepared food and bulky products in a 291 L compartment.
Energy class E, 226 kWh/year, five-level digital control, LED lighting, removable basket and defrost drain. Stated dimensions: 1100 × 597 × 872 mm; allow 10 cm of clearance for ventilation. Check the climate class, ambient temperature range and storage time before installing it in a garage, cellar or utility room.
Image unavailable
For organising portions and food by category, thanks to three drawers and two shelves.
Energy class C, No Frost system, Fast Freeze function, LED display, alarm and reversible door. The model is designed for freestanding installation and is not built in; allow sufficient ventilation and check the dimensions, annual consumption, climate class and storage time before buying.
Image unavailable
For adding significant storage capacity without moving up to a very large chest freezer.
Capacity of 197 L, energy class E, 197 kWh/year, five-level digital control, removable basket, defrost drain and adjustable feet. Stated dimensions: 816 × 554 × 848 mm. You can select refrigerator or freezer mode; check the permitted ambient temperatures and storage time for installation in an additional room.
Image unavailable
For extra mid-sized storage in a home where every centimetre counts.
Capacity of 141 L, energy class E, 179 kWh/year, seven-level mechanical thermostat, removable basket and defrost drain. Stated dimensions: 632 × 554 × 848 mm. Storage is based around a compartment with a basket rather than detailed drawer organisation; check the climate class and storage time before installing it outside the kitchen.
Image unavailable
For a small storage boost in a restricted space rather than for large bulk purchases.
Capacity of 99 L, four-star freezing, freezing capacity of 4,5 kg/24 h, mechanical thermostat, removable metal basket, sliding lid and energy class E. Stated dimensions: 54,5 × 47,6 × 83,5 cm; allow 10 cm of clearance. Manual defrosting is required when frost exceeds 5 mm according to the product description.
Check the climate class and, above all, the ambient temperature range stated in the technical specification or instructions for the exact model. Do not assume that a chest freezer is suitable for an unheated room: this varies by reference. For example, Beko states that the HSM14540 has a minimum operating temperature of −15 °C and climate class SN-T.
For the relevant domestic appliances sold in the European Union, the label uses an A to G scale and shows annual kWh consumption, the volume of frozen compartments and noise level, among other details. Compare this data only between appliances suited to the same format and capacity requirements; EPREL can provide additional model information via its QR code.
Yes. It indicates how long food remains frozen during a power failure or outage. UFC-Que Choisir’s test protocol measures the time taken to rise from −17 °C to −9 °C without a power supply; therefore, compare the stated or tested figures for the models you are considering, especially for an appliance located in an additional room.
No. A No Frost system reduces or eliminates the need for defrosting, depending on the model, but you should still follow the instructions, keep the ventilation clear and clean the appliance. For manually defrosted models, UFC-Que Choisir recommends taking action as soon as frost reaches 3 mm, as it increases energy consumption.