Choose a chest freezer if you have a lot to store, enough floor space and don’t mind food at the bottom being harder to reach. An upright freezer makes it easier to organise food and access it regularly. If you only need a little extra space and plan to replace your current appliance, compare large-capacity fridge-freezers too. Whichever you choose, check the freezer capacity, where it will go, the room temperature, how long it can keep food frozen during a power cut and its energy label.
If you buy food in bulk, store home-grown produce or need space for large packs, and have a wide, deep space available, compare chest freezers. UFC-Que Choisir highlights their generous storage capacity, but says that reaching food at the bottom takes more organisation.
If you regularly sort through your food and look for specific items, an upright freezer with drawers is worth considering. Check the usable space in its compartments, though, and make sure there’s enough room to open the door and pull out the drawers.
The actual temperature in the room should guide your choice of model. As Bosch Électroménager France explains, the climate class shows the ambient temperatures the appliance is designed for. If a model is said to be suitable for an unheated room, check that this applies to the exact model you’re considering.
UFC-Que Choisir points to chest freezers’ generous storage space and the more compact format of upright freezers. A large fridge-freezer is also worth comparing if you only need a modest amount of extra freezer space.
Consider it: if you need to store a lot of food or bulky items and have enough floor space.
The trade-off: food stored at the bottom is less easy to reach.
Consider it: if you want to keep food separate and easy to find when you open the freezer often.
The trade-off: the drawer dimensions limit the size of the items you can store.
Consider it: if you only need a modest increase in capacity and would rather replace your current appliance than add another one.
The trade-off: its total capacity isn’t the same as its freezer capacity, which may still not be enough if you have a lot to store.
| Priority | What to check before you buy | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Storage capacity | Compare the freezer capacity in litres with the quantities and sizes of the items you plan to store, then measure the space it will occupy and the clearance needed to open the lid. | I want to store large shops without having to split everything between several small compartments, even if that means organising the chest to reach the bottom. Around 40% of consumers would prioritise this need for capacity. |
| Access and organisation | Check the size of the compartments, how far the door opens and whether you can remove the drawers where you plan to put the appliance. | When I take food out several times a week, I want to find it and get it out without moving everything else. Around 40% of consumers would put access and organisation first. |
| A measured increase in capacity | For a large fridge-freezer, check the freezer capacity. For appliances that meet your needs, also compare the kWh/year figures on the energy label. | If I only need a little more freezer space, I’d rather consider replacing my current appliance before adding a freezer that will run all the time. Around 20% of consumers would have this priority. |
A chest freezer takes up floor space; an upright freezer needs room in front of the door and to pull out its drawers. So the stated capacity doesn’t guarantee that the appliance will be practical in your home.
Measure the width, depth and height, as well as the clearance needed to open it, and don’t forget the route to its intended location.
According to Bosch Électroménager France, the climate class defines the ambient temperature range the appliance is designed to operate in. A room that’s too cold or too warm may fall outside that range.
Check the likely temperatures in the room, then compare them with the climate class and the instructions for the exact model.
The European Commission says the energy label also gives information about annual energy consumption, storage capacity and noise. Two appliances with the same rating may not offer the capacity you need.
Compare the kWh/year figures, freezer capacity and noise level of appliances that are genuinely suitable for what you need to store.
No Frost, suitability for an unheated room and how long food stays frozen during a power cut can vary by model. For example, a feature listed for one Beko model doesn’t necessarily apply to every freezer from the brand.
Check the product details and instructions for the exact version you’re considering.
Worth considering, particularly for chest freezers and plans to install an appliance in an unheated room.
Worth considering when comparing upright freezers with different storage and maintenance features.
Worth considering if drawer organisation or reducing the need for manual defrosting matters when choosing an upright freezer.
A useful source of information about climate classes before choosing an appliance for a room where the temperature varies.
This selection includes upright freezers for organising food and chest freezers that you access from above. Compare their capacity with what you actually need, then check the installation requirements and how long food will stay frozen during a power cut for each model.
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Worth comparing if you’d rather organise your stored food in an upright freezer than a chest freezer.
The product name lists a capacity of 161 L, No Frost, a reversible door and energy rating C.
Before deciding where to put it, check its dimensions and the ambient temperature range. Also compare how long food stays frozen during a power cut and its annual energy consumption.
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Its chest-freezer design is worth considering if you have a lot to store and can organise access to food at the bottom.
The product name lists a capacity of 291 L, fridge or freezer modes, a removable basket, five temperature settings and energy rating E.
If you plan to keep it in a cellar or garage, check the permitted ambient temperature range. Also check how long food stays frozen during a power cut.
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Worth considering for a modest boost in freezer capacity rather than storing large quantities.
The product name lists a capacity of 60 L, a reversible door, temperature control and energy rating E.
Check that its capacity and door opening suit the space, then look up the ambient temperature range, how long food stays frozen during a power cut and its kWh/year figure.
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This chest freezer is worth comparing if you need a little extra capacity, provided 95 L is enough for what you need to store.
The product name lists fridge or freezer modes, a removable basket, a seven-setting thermostat and energy rating E.
Allow room to access it from above and check the ambient temperature range and how long food stays frozen during a power cut, especially if it will be in an unheated room.
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Worth comparing if you want a dedicated chest freezer but don’t need as much space as the 291 L AUCMA model.
The product name lists a capacity of 140 L, a storage basket, a counterbalanced lid and energy rating E.
Check the space needed to open the lid, the defrosting requirements, annual energy consumption, ambient temperature range and how long food stays frozen during a power cut.
No. Choose a model with an ambient temperature range that covers the temperatures in your garage. Bosch Électroménager France explains that this range depends on the climate class. If the manufacturer says the model is suitable for unheated rooms, check the instructions too.
For appliances that suit your storage needs, compare the energy rating, annual energy consumption in kWh, freezer capacity and noise level. The European Commission says the QR code on the label links to more information about the model in EPREL.
Look up the figure for the exact model in its product details or instructions, then compare models tested under similar conditions. In its test protocol, UFC-Que Choisir measures how long it takes for the temperature to rise from −17 °C to −9 °C without power. Bear in mind the method used for each figure.
If you’re buying a like-for-like appliance in France, ask the retailer about taking away your old one before delivery. The French Ministry for the Ecological Transition describes this as a « one-for-one » collection service for electrical and electronic equipment. Agree the practical arrangements with the retailer.