If you want to increase your storage capacity significantly, consider a chest freezer first if you have enough floor space. An upright freezer may suit you better if you need to find and reach food regularly. A large fridge-freezer is more likely to appeal if you want to keep just one appliance: compare the freezer compartment’s capacity with your actual needs before deciding to replace your current appliance. In every case, check the dimensions, the permitted ambient temperature in the room and the chosen model’s annual energy consumption.
If your fridge-freezer’s compartment is no longer big enough, a chest freezer is worth considering for storing a larger supply of food. According to UFC-Que Choisir, this format can offer plenty of capacity. Make sure, though, that you have enough space and can reach items stored at the bottom.
If you open your freezer frequently and organise food by category, the drawers in an upright freezer make it easier to find what you need. Check that they’ll still be accessible once the appliance is installed and can accommodate your packaging.
If your need for extra frozen-food storage is relatively modest, compare a large fridge-freezer with adding a dedicated freezer. It’s the capacity of the freezer compartment, not the fridge-freezer’s total capacity, that will help you decide whether this option is right for you.
The right format depends first on how much you need to store and how often you need to access your food. The available space may rule out a model that looks suitable on paper.
Consider it: for storing a large supply or bulky packaging, if you have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: food at the bottom takes more organising to make it easy to find.
Consider it: if you want to organise food and regularly access different portions.
Bear in mind: the drawers may restrict how you store very large items.
Consider it: if a little extra freezer space is enough and you’d rather install just one appliance.
Bear in mind: its total capacity includes the fridge, so it may not replace a large dedicated freezer.
| Criterion | What to check before buying | Which shoppers is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and footprint | Compare the usable freezer capacity in litres with the external dimensions and the space needed to open the door or lid. | If I shop or cook in bulk, I want enough storage without making the room impractical to use. Around 42% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Access and storage | Check the drawers or baskets, how easily they can be removed and the space available for bulky packaging. | If I often need a particular portion, I want to find it without moving the rest of the food. Around 33% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Installation and use | Check the permitted ambient temperature range for the room and compare the kWh/year figures for appliances of a similar type and capacity. | If space for a second appliance is limited, or I’m planning to install it in a cellar or garage, I need to choose a format that’s suitable for the room and keep an eye on its energy consumption. Around 25% of consumers would put these considerations first. |
ADEME recommends checking the suggested ambient temperature for the room where you plan to keep your freezer. For appliances covered by the rules in the European Union, the energy label includes the annual consumption in kWh. The letter rating alone isn’t enough to compare appliances of different capacities.
A chest freezer may offer the capacity you need but take up too much floor space. According to UFC-Que Choisir, chest freezers commonly featured in its guide are 110 to 140 cm wide and around 70 cm deep. These measurements don’t replace checking the dimensions of the model you choose.
Measure the space, the route to the room and the clearance needed to open the appliance. For an upright freezer, also make sure you’ll be able to remove the drawers once it’s in place.
UFC-Que Choisir points out that a garage can get too cold for the conditions specified by some manufacturers. Just because there’s space available doesn’t mean it’s suitable for the model you’re considering.
Read the manual and compare the permitted ambient temperature range with the temperatures the room may be exposed to.
Installing an appliance outside this range may affect how well it works.
The energy rating alone doesn’t tell you how much electricity an appliance of a different capacity or type will use.
Compare the kWh/year figures for models with a similar capacity and format, then check the capacity and noise level shown on the label. Scan the QR code to view the model’s listing in the European EPREL database.
The open space can hold food in a variety of shapes, but items stored beneath other products are less immediately accessible than they are in a drawer.
If you often take out different small portions, consider an upright freezer or check the basket layout in a chest freezer. If you choose a chest freezer, plan storage categories you can keep up over time.
These ranges offer useful points of comparison for different formats and layouts. Features vary by model.
The French range includes freestanding and integrated freezers, including some NoFrost upright models.
The French range includes freestanding and integrated upright freezers.
The French range includes chest freezers, some of which are convertible models.
The French range includes chest and upright freezers, with a variety of interior layouts.
These models illustrate three different needs: adding a chest freezer for extra storage, adding an upright freezer for compartmentalised storage, or choosing a large fridge-freezer to keep just one appliance. Compare their freezer capacity and installation requirements for the option you have in mind.
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Worth considering if you want to add a chest freezer for extra storage and have enough room to open it.
The title lists a capacity of 291 l, an E energy rating, a removable basket, LED lighting and five-level digital controls. The model is described as convertible between fridge and freezer modes.
Before installing it in a garage or cellar, check the permitted ambient temperature range.
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Worth considering for extra compartmentalised storage rather than a large reserve.
The title lists a capacity of 60 l, drawers, a reversible door, temperature control and an E energy rating. Check the exact interior layout if you need a specific number of drawers.
Compare the kWh/year figure and permitted ambient temperature range before choosing where to put it.
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Worth considering if you want to add a 140 l chest freezer and that capacity suits your storage needs.
The title lists a top-opening lid, an adjustable thermostat and an E energy rating. Check whether a basket is actually included, as the information about what comes with the product is inconsistent.
Also check the kWh/year figure and permitted ambient temperature range, especially if you plan to keep it in an unheated room.
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Worth considering if you want extra freezer capacity with drawer storage.
The title lists a capacity of 161 l, NoFrost, an LED display, an alarm and a C energy rating. Check the exact arrangement of the drawers and shelves, as the number provided is unclear.
Measure the space and check the model’s kWh/year figure and permitted ambient temperature range.
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Worth considering if you want to replace your current appliance rather than add a separate freezer.
The title lists a total capacity of 495 l and an E energy rating. This capacity includes the fridge, so check the freezer compartment’s capacity separately before comparing it with a chest or upright freezer.
Also confirm the door configuration, dimensions and permitted ambient temperature range for the room.
No. A chest freezer is worth considering if you need to store a large supply, but its suitability also depends on the space available and how easily you can reach your food. UFC-Que Choisir says some chest freezers have a capacity of up to 600 l, while the largest upright freezers can reach 400 l. Compare the capacities of models that will actually fit in your room.
An upright freezer generally makes it easier to organise food in compartments and access it regularly. If you store large packages, though, check the drawer sizes and whether the interior fittings of your chosen model can be moved or removed.
Yes, provided the model’s permitted ambient temperature range covers the conditions in the room. ADEME recommends checking the suggested temperature before you buy. Don’t assume an appliance will suit your space just because its description mentions a “garage”.
Check the annual consumption in kWh, capacity and noise level, as well as the energy rating. For appliances covered by the rules in the European Union, the European Commission specifies an A to G scale. You can use its EPREL register to view the product information for a particular model.
No. First choose between a chest freezer, upright freezer and fridge-freezer based on the capacity you need, access to your food and the space available. Then check whether the specific model has NoFrost, without overlooking its capacity, kWh/year figure and installation requirements.