For a studio flat or house share, first work out how much space you need for fresh food and frozen items, then check that the appliance will fit in your chosen spot. A table-top fridge is best suited to one person who shops regularly and stores few frozen foods; a fridge-freezer is a better match for shared shopping or if you need a separate freezer. If it’s close to your living space, compare the stated noise levels too. For an integrated model, check the niche, door and ventilation requirements for the exact model.
If you shop regularly, a table-top fridge can help save space in your studio flat. UFC-Que Choisir’s guide suggests 100 to 150 L as a starting point for one person; check separately how much room you’ll need for frozen food.
You’ll need enough room to organise fresh food for everyone, as well as a freezer that can handle shared supplies. UFC-Que Choisir suggests adding 50 L for each additional person to its volume guide, adjusting this according to how often you shop.
If it’s near your bed or desk, compare the stated noise level in dB(A), and don’t overlook the door clearance and installation instructions. How noisy an appliance seems also depends on the room and how it’s installed.
First decide how much fresh and frozen food you want to store: a small freezer compartment and a separate freezer aren’t suited to the same needs. Then check the noise level and where the appliance will go. Whether an integrated model will work depends on your existing kitchen, not just the capacity you want.
| Feature | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh food capacity | Compare the fridge’s usable capacity with the space needed to open the door. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 100 to 150 L for one person, then 50 L for each additional person as a starting point. | When we share the shopping, I want room for everyone’s fresh food without choosing an appliance that’s too bulky. Around 31% of consumers prioritise this need for fresh food storage. |
| Freezing | Check the freezer compartment’s usable capacity and rating, rather than just whether the appliance has a small freezer compartment. | If I regularly keep frozen food or join in with group shopping, a small freezer compartment might limit how much I can store; around 31% of consumers prioritise freezer capacity. |
| Noise | Compare the stated dB(A) level and the noise emission class for the exact model. | In a room where I sleep or work, I want to know how noisy the appliance is said to be before choosing it. Around 23% of consumers put this first. |
| Placement | Measure the space or niche, the clearance needed for the door, and the ventilation gaps specified in the instructions. | If my kitchen has a niche or a tight space, I first need to know whether the appliance will fit there; around 15% of consumers put this compatibility first. |
Two small appliances can have very different fresh food capacities and freezer compartments. A small freezer compartment may not suit less frequent or shared shopping.
Compare the usable fridge and freezer capacities separately, rather than looking only at the total capacity.
The niche, door system and ventilation openings must match the instructions for the model. The visible height of the front panel alone isn’t enough to confirm that it will fit.
Check your kitchen measurements against the installation diagram and instructions before ordering.
Depending on your kitchen, installation may require modifications to the cabinet or a professional installer; Bosch recommends using a professional for integrated installation.
A fridge close to your bed or desk may be audible while it’s running. The stated noise level helps you compare models, but it doesn’t tell you exactly how noisy the appliance will seem in your room.
Check the dB(A) level for your chosen model and follow the instructions to install it on a stable surface.
A function designed to reduce frost doesn’t replace setting the right temperature or carrying out the appliance’s recommended maintenance.
Check the temperature after installation and read the defrosting instructions. ANSES recommends keeping food between 0 °C and +4 °C at the coldest point in the fridge.
Worth considering for a freestanding fridge-freezer or an integrated kitchen project.
Worth considering if a table-top fridge with a small freezer compartment suits your needs.
A brand to consider if you’re comparing table-top fridges for a living space.
Worth comparing if your fitted kitchen needs an integrated fridge-freezer.
Worth considering among freestanding and integrated fridge-freezers, depending on the space available.
These fridge-freezers have space for both fresh and frozen food. Compare their capacities with your usual shopping, then check the dimensions, noise level and installation instructions for the model you’re interested in.
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Worth considering if you want to split your shopping between fresh and frozen food. The model name lists 153 L of fridge capacity, a 74 L 4-star freezer, a width of 54 cm and a reversible door.
Low Frost doesn’t mean you can skip checking the maintenance requirements. Confirm the height and installation clearances before choosing where to put it.
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For a small household that wants separate storage for fresh and frozen food, the product name lists 182 L of fridge capacity and 71 L of freezer capacity. It also mentions No Frost, a reversible door hinge and a noise level of 39 dB.
Check the width, depth and door clearance. The model’s instructions require 10 cm of clearance above, behind and on both sides.
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Its separate bottom freezer is worth comparing with your needs for shared shopping. The product name lists a total capacity of 282 L and an energy rating of E.
If the appliance will be near your bed, check its noise level in dB(A). Also compare the dimensions and clearances in the instructions with the space available.
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This freestanding fridge-freezer is worth considering for a small home where a separate freezer compartment is important. Its name mentions Low Frost, an adjustable thermostat and a reversible door.
If the appliance is next to a sleeping area, check the noise level in dB(A), as well as the ventilation clearances and maintenance requirements in the instructions.
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Its stated total capacity of 368 L could suit a house share that shops together, provided you have enough room for it. The product name lists an energy rating of E.
Before you buy, check how the capacity is split between the fridge and freezer, the noise level in dB(A), the door clearance and the delivery route.
UFC-Que Choisir’s guide suggests 100 to 150 L for one person, then 50 L for each additional person as a starting point. Adjust the capacity according to how often you shop, and compare the space for frozen food separately.
A small freezer compartment may suit limited supplies, but not necessarily group shopping or a high consumption of frozen food, as UFC-Que Choisir points out. Check its net capacity and rating before comparing it with a separate freezer.
Compare the stated noise levels in dB(A) for the models you’re considering, along with their noise emission class if it’s listed. The declared figure alone can’t predict how noticeable the noise will be: the room and installation also make a difference.
Measure the height, width and depth of the niche, then check the door system and ventilation openings in the model’s instructions. For the KNS3SE18S specifically, Electrolux lists a niche size of 1780 × 560 × 550 mm; these measurements don’t apply to other appliances.
ANSES recommends keeping food between 0 °C and +4 °C at the coldest point in the fridge. Check the temperature regularly and avoid overfilling the appliance, especially when several people are storing their shopping in it.