Choose a chest freezer if you want to store large quantities of food and have enough floor space for the appliance and its lid to open. An upright freezer is better suited to keeping food organised and easy to access; a fridge-freezer is mainly worth considering if you also need to replace your main fridge, and only if its freezer compartment has enough capacity for your needs. Whichever option you choose, check the dimensions, installation requirements and usable freezer capacity of the model you have in mind.
If you freeze large food shops, home-grown produce or bulky items, a chest freezer is worth considering if the room has enough space for it to be installed and for the lid to open fully. You’ll also need to be happy organising food stored at the bottom.
If you want to separate food and quickly find a bag or a prepared meal, an upright freezer with drawers can make everyday storage easier. However, check the depth of the compartments, the space needed to open the door and the route for delivery.
A fridge-freezer keeps fresh and frozen food in one appliance. Compare the capacity of each compartment separately: the total capacity won’t tell you how much frozen food you can store.
Worth considering: for large quantities of food or bulky packaging, if you have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: food at the bottom takes more organising and may be harder to reach.
Worth considering: if you want to organise food by compartment and access it frequently, and have room for a taller appliance.
Bear in mind: drawers may be less flexible for some large packages; a high-capacity upright freezer will still be tall and deep.
Worth considering: if you’re replacing your main fridge and want to keep fresh and frozen food in one appliance.
Bear in mind: some of the total capacity is taken up by the fridge; check that the freezer compartment meets your needs.
| Feature | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and dimensions | Compare usable freezer capacity, dimensions and the space needed to open the appliance. Measure the delivery route too. | If I freeze large food shops or bulky items, I want enough room without blocking movement around the room; around 36% of consumers would prioritise finding a capacity that suits their available space. |
| Access and storage | Look at the drawers or baskets, how deep they are and how much space they offer for larger items. Check the cooling system if you want to reduce manual defrosting. | If I often take out small amounts of food, being able to find each category without moving the whole stock matters more to me; around 29% of consumers would prioritise this kind of organised access. |
| Installation requirements | Check the manual for the permitted ambient temperature range, ventilation clearances and stated power-cut storage time. | If I’m putting the appliance in a cellar, garage or room affected by power cuts, I need to know whether it can operate in the conditions it will face; around 21% of consumers would prioritise suitability for the location and keeping food cold. |
| Main appliance and usage | For a fridge-freezer, check the fridge and freezer capacities separately. Also compare annual energy consumption in kWh and noise levels in dB(A). | If I’m replacing my main fridge, I want a single appliance without compromising on space for frozen food or everyday convenience; around 14% of consumers would prioritise having one appliance for both. |
A spacious chest freezer can be awkward to use if the lid can’t open fully or food at the bottom is hard to reach. Que Choisir also points out that chest freezers take up more floor space than upright models.
Before choosing, measure the space, the delivery route and the clearance needed for the lid to open and for ventilation.
Whether an appliance can operate in a cold room depends on the model. Whirlpool states that the W3RHS37EW1 can be used at temperatures down to −15 °C, and Liebherr specifies the same limit for the FNe 5006; this does not apply to every freezer.
Check the room temperature throughout the year, then compare it with the operating range stated for the exact model.
A fridge-freezer splits its capacity between fresh and frozen food. Bosch lists 103 L of freezer capacity for the KGN362WDF, compared with 366 L for its GSN58AWEV upright freezer, so these models suit different storage needs.
Compare the capacity listed for the freezer compartment with the amount of food you expect to store.
These brands offer models that are useful for comparing different types of freezer; the details below apply to the models mentioned, not to their entire ranges.
Upright freezers and fridge-freezers to consider if you’re deciding between dedicated freezer storage and replacing your main fridge.
Chest freezers to consider if your priority is storing plenty of food in a horizontal space.
Upright and chest freezers to consider for storing larger items and, depending on the model, installing in a cold room.
A useful comparison for households that don’t need as much capacity as a large chest freezer offers.
These two options offer different ways to store frozen food: a convertible chest freezer for horizontal storage and an upright freezer for organising food. Compare their capacities with the amount you need to store, then check the available space and installation requirements.
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For storing provisions in a chest freezer, make sure there’s enough room for the lid to open as well. This convertible model has a stated capacity of 291 L, a removable basket, LED lighting and five-level digital controls. If you’re planning to use it in a cold room or switch between the two modes, check the permitted ambient temperature range and the capacity for each mode.
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To organise food in an upright freezer, compare its stated capacity of 161 L with the amount you plan to store. This model has drawers, a No Frost function, an LED display, an alarm and a reversible door hinge. Measure the space and delivery route; if you’re putting it in a cold room, check the permitted ambient temperature range too.
Follow the ventilation clearances given in the manual for the model you choose, rather than assuming one distance applies to every freezer. Electrolux reminds users that air must be able to circulate around the appliance; also check the space needed to open it and, as instructed in the manual, keep it away from heat sources.
Yes, if the model’s specified ambient temperature range covers the temperatures in that room. Whirlpool states that the W3RHS37EW1 can be used at temperatures down to −15 °C, as does Liebherr for the FNe 5006. Check the manual before installing any other model.
No. No Frost is mainly useful if you want to reduce the need for manual defrosting. If you’re storing a large amount of food, also check the usable capacity, how easy it is to access your food and whether the appliance is suitable for the room.
Compare the energy rating, annual energy consumption, compartment capacities and noise level of the models you’re considering. With a fridge-freezer, pay particular attention to the freezer capacity: the total capacity includes the fridge too.
Follow the waiting time specified in your model’s manual before plugging it in. For the freezers covered by its installation advice, Electrolux recommends waiting at least four hours to allow the oil to flow back into the compressor.