If you shop less often or buy lots of frozen food, start by comparing the actual freezer capacity you need with the space available: a large fridge freezer may be enough if its freezer section can hold your usual stock. If you need a separate appliance, an upright freezer makes it easier to organise food by type, while a chest freezer is better suited to larger packs, provided you have enough floor space. In both cases, check energy consumption, noise levels and the ambient temperature range specified for the installation location.
How often you shop, the food you store and the space available all help determine which format is right for you.
If you buy enough frozen food to last a week or more, compare how much space it already takes up in your freezer with the extra capacity you’ll need after a shop. Capacity in litres and freezing capacity in kg/24 h answer two different questions: how much you can store and how much you can freeze at once.
If you regularly want to find prepared meals, the drawers in an upright freezer make it easy to keep different types of food separate. If you mainly store large containers, also look at the open space and baskets in a chest freezer.
A utility room, cellar or garage could accommodate a separate appliance, as long as its dimensions are suitable. Before choosing a model for an unheated space, check that the room’s temperatures fall within the operating range specified by the manufacturer.
Consider this if: you’re replacing your fridge too, and the stated freezer capacity is enough for your shopping.
Bear in mind: the total capacity of a fridge freezer isn’t the same as the space available for frozen food. UFC-Que Choisir points out that a small freezer compartment may not be enough if you eat a lot of frozen food.
Consider this if: you open the appliance often and want to keep bags, boxes and portions separate.
Bear in mind: drawers help keep everything organised, but make sure they can accommodate your largest packs.
Consider this if: you store bulk purchases or large containers and have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: with baskets and open storage, you’ll need a plan for finding food at the bottom.
Once you’ve chosen a format, compare the freezer capacity with the amount you usually store, then check the specific model’s installation requirements and features.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Freezer capacity | Compare the capacity in litres of the freezer compartments, shown on the energy label, with the amount you usually store and what you plan to add. Don’t confuse it with the total capacity of a fridge freezer. | I want enough room for frozen food and prepared meals at the same time. Among nearly 1,500 respondents to an online UFC-Que Choisir survey published in France in 2014, 100% bought frozen food and 83% stored homemade food; these uses could overlap. |
| Freezing food after shopping | Check the freezing capacity in kg/24 h if you’ll be adding a large amount of fresh food at once. This is different from storage capacity in litres. | After a big shop, I sometimes freeze fresh food I’ve bought. This was the case for 65% of the nearly 1,500 respondents to the online UFC-Que Choisir survey published in France in 2014; this figure doesn’t determine the capacity your household needs. |
| Access to food | Check the size of the drawers in an upright freezer and whether they can be removed, or look at how the baskets are arranged in a chest freezer. Make sure there’s room for your boxes and larger packs. | I check my supplies often, so being able to separate portions and find a bag without moving everything else matters just as much as the stated capacity. |
| Defrosting and cooling | Check the defrosting technology on the exact model. If you’ll be adding large amounts of food or keeping the appliance in a warm room, also look for comparable test results on how well it maintains the temperature, where available. | I want to keep maintenance to a minimum and choose an appliance that suits how I fill my freezer, without assuming how it will perform based on a single advertised feature. |
| Energy use and noise | The European energy label shows details including annual energy consumption in kWh and airborne noise emissions. Compare these figures across appliances with a similar format and capacity, rather than looking only at the A to G energy rating. | If the appliance is near a living space, noise matters to me. For a large amount of food, I also want to know its annual energy consumption. |
| Location | Measure the available floor space and height, and allow room to open the door or lid. For a cellar or garage, compare the room temperature with the model’s climate class or stated operating range. | I may have an extra room available, but I need to be able to install and open the appliance there in the conditions specified by its manufacturer. |
A large fridge freezer may devote much of its capacity to refrigeration. If you shop in bulk, it’s the space in the freezer compartments that determines how much you can store.
Make a list of what you’d buy during a big weekly shop, then compare the freezer capacity in litres, layout and freezing capacity of the models you’re considering.
The ambient temperature range an appliance is designed for is especially important in a room that can get cold in winter or warm in summer.
Check the room’s temperature throughout the year and look at the climate class or temperature range specified in the documentation for the exact model.
Appliances with different capacities won’t necessarily meet the same storage needs. The energy rating letter alone doesn’t tell you their annual energy use or noise level.
Check the kWh/year and noise figures on the energy label, then compare appliances with similar capacities and formats.
These ranges highlight features to check on each model; a brand won’t offer the same features across all its appliances.
Upright freezers to consider if defrosting and a vertical format are important to your search.
Upright freezers to consider if interior organisation is a key factor in your choice.
Chest freezers to consider if you’re looking for horizontal storage for your supplies.
This selection includes two fridge freezers for anyone replacing their fridge as well, two upright freezers for separate storage and a compact chest freezer. Before choosing, compare their freezer capacity and installation requirements with your shopping needs.
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Worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge too and want to keep your frozen food in a fridge freezer. The 467 L capacity is for the whole appliance, so check separately how much space is available for freezing. The product description lists Total No Frost and an E energy rating.
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This fridge freezer is suited to households that need refrigeration and freezing in one appliance. Its stated capacity of 360 L is for the whole appliance, so check the freezer compartment capacity before choosing it for less frequent shopping. The product description lists Total No Frost and an E energy rating.
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This separate freezer could help you divide a small amount of food between three drawers. With a stated capacity of 60 L, compare it with the amount you bring home during a big shop. The product description lists an E energy rating; check the noise level, annual energy consumption and ambient temperature range for your chosen location.
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This separate upright freezer is worth considering if you want 161 L of stated capacity for your frozen food. The product description mentions drawers, No Frost and a C energy rating. Measure the space and check the annual energy consumption, noise level and ambient temperature range before deciding where to install it.
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This separate chest freezer offers a stated capacity of 99 L, with open storage and a removable basket to help organise some of your food. Allow room to access it from above, and bear in mind that it needs manual defrosting. The product description lists an E energy rating; check the annual energy consumption and ambient temperature range if you’re considering putting it in a cellar or garage.
Compare the capacity of its freezer compartments with what you already store and what you add after shopping. UFC-Que Choisir recommends considering how much frozen food you eat and how often you shop: a small freezer compartment may not be enough if you buy a lot of frozen food.
No. Its open space can suit larger packs, but you’ll need enough floor space and a way to find food stored beneath the baskets. UFC-Que Choisir notes that some chest freezers have a capacity of up to 600 L. If you often need to access small portions, compare the drawer layout of an upright freezer too.
Yes, as long as the room’s temperature stays within the ambient range specified for the model. Check its climate class or the manufacturer’s specific guidance, and take account of the room temperature in both winter and summer.
For household refrigeration appliances covered by the European energy label, check details including annual energy consumption, compartment capacity and airborne noise emissions, as well as the A to G rating. Compare kWh/year and noise levels across appliances with similar capacities; the rating letter alone doesn’t tell you about every trade-off.