For storing large dishes or bulk buys, choose a chest freezer if you have room for it and can keep its contents organised. If you regularly reach for individual portions, an upright freezer with drawers will be more convenient. A small under-counter model is better suited to extra storage. Consider a larger fridge-freezer if you also need to replace your fridge, provided its freezer compartment has enough room for your supplies.
How often you take food out and the size of the items you store matter just as much as the stated capacity.
A chest freezer can hold large packs and batches of prepared meals, provided you have enough floor space and organise the food so you can find it again. Darty points out that items can become harder to reach as they pile up at the bottom of a chest freezer.
For individual meals, vegetables or containers you need to find regularly, an upright freezer’s drawers make it easy to separate the contents without rummaging through a deep compartment. Check that the drawers can accommodate your largest containers, though.
A compact or built-in model can give you more storage without taking up the floor space needed for a large chest freezer. Compare its net capacity with the amount you usually store. If you’re choosing a built-in model, check the dimensions of the housing and the installation requirements.
First decide whether you need a dedicated freezer or whether your fridge also needs replacing. Then compare the usable capacity for frozen food, ease of access and the space required.
Consider it: for large dishes, bulk buys or a substantial stock of food, if you have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: food at the bottom is harder to reach, and baskets don’t remove the need to organise the compartment.
Consider it: if you regularly take out portions and want to sort them into drawers or compartments.
Bear in mind: the shape of the drawers may limit the space available for bulky containers.
Consider it: as extra storage when you have space beneath a worktop.
Bear in mind: capacity is limited. A freestanding appliance must not be installed like a built-in model unless the instructions allow it.
Consider it: if you also need to replace or upgrade your fridge.
Bear in mind: a large total capacity doesn’t guarantee a freezer compartment big enough for your meals.
| Criterion | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and location | Compare the freezer’s net capacity, not the total capacity of a fridge-freezer. Measure the width, depth and height, as well as the clearance needed to open it. | I want to store my meals and supplies without choosing an appliance that won’t fit in the space I have. |
| Access to food | Check the size of the drawers, the baskets and how easy it is to reach the bottom. Que Choisir recommends checking that you can easily remove the drawers and food. | If I take out a portion every day, I want to find it quickly. For large containers, I need to make sure they fit easily. |
| Room temperature | Compare the room’s ambient temperatures with the model’s climate class. Bosch and Beko say that any specific suitability for use in cold conditions should be stated for the model in question. | My garage or cellar may be unheated, so I need to check the temperatures there before installing the appliance. |
| Power cuts and everyday use | Compare the stated power-cut storage time in hours for each model. For appliances that meet similar needs, also compare kWh/year and noise levels on the energy label, as recommended by ADEME. | I want to know how long the appliance is stated to stay cold during a power cut and compare the energy use of models that suit my space. |
Darty says that food piled up at the bottom of a chest freezer can be difficult to reach. A large capacity is less useful if the portions you use often end up out of sight.
Put small items in the baskets and group the rest by category or date. If you take out portions every day, consider an upright freezer with drawers instead.
The permitted ambient temperature range depends on the model, not its shape. Bosch and Beko say that installing an appliance outside this range can affect how it works.
Check the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures throughout the year, then look at the model’s climate class or check that its instructions specifically state it is suitable for cold conditions.
An energy rating alone doesn’t tell you whether the capacity will meet your needs. ADEME says the energy label also lets you compare energy use and noise levels.
For appliances that meet your needs, compare kWh/year, net capacity and noise levels, then separately check that the model is suitable for the room.
In France, the Ministry of the Economy points out that the statutory guarantee of conformity applies, among other things, to new goods sold by a professional to a private customer. An additional commercial warranty does not replace it.
Before taking out an extended warranty, read about its duration, exclusions and the services it adds to the rights that already apply to your purchase.
The specifications below relate to the models named, not every freezer made by each brand.
The convertible W3RHS31DW2 chest freezer is one option for storing a large amount of food.
The freestanding GSN33VWEP upright freezer is designed for vertical storage.
The brand offers built-in freezers in different capacities and for different niche heights.
Beko’s information on climate classes is useful if the room is not well heated.
The CF126EWE0FR is an example of a small chest freezer for extra storage, featured on Joybuy.
These models include fridge-freezers for replacing your fridge as well, a compact chest freezer and upright freezers for extra or separate storage. If you’re looking for an appliance to go under a worktop, make sure you distinguish between a freestanding model and a built-in one.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you’re also replacing your fridge: the 360 L refers to the total capacity of the fridge-freezer, not just its freezer. The model name lists Total No Frost, an E energy rating, Wi-Fi and My Zone. Check separately that the freezer compartment has enough room for your meals.
Image unavailable
This fridge-freezer is worth considering if you want fresh and frozen storage in one appliance; its 262 L capacity is not for the freezer alone. The model name lists a 70/30 split, a width of 54 cm and a height of 176 cm. Check the freezer capacity and available space before choosing it.
Image unavailable
This 99 L chest freezer is better suited to extra storage than a very large stock of food. Its model name lists a removable basket, adjustable thermostat, sliding lid and E energy rating. Also consider how you’ll reach food stored beneath the basket.
Image unavailable
This 60 L freestanding model can provide extra storage in a small space, as long as you follow its installation requirements. Its model name lists a reversible door and E energy rating. Check the internal layout before buying, as descriptions of the compartments vary.
Image unavailable
A 161 L upright freezer is worth considering if you want to organise portions in a dedicated appliance rather than a fridge-freezer. The model name lists No Frost and a C energy rating. Check that the installation dimensions and internal layout suit your needs.
No. Compare the garage’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the ambient temperature range specified for the exact model. For example, Bosch gives a range of 10 to 32 °C for climate class SN. Beko says that suitability for temperatures down to −15 °C applies only to certain models designed for this purpose.
No. Compare the stated storage time during a power cut for each appliance. Whirlpool lists 36 hours for the W3RHS31DW2 chest freezer, while Bosch lists 9 hours for the GSN33VWEP upright freezer. These figures apply to two specific models and don’t let you draw conclusions about all chest and upright freezers.
For freezers with a similar capacity that meet your needs, check the energy rating and annual consumption in kWh, then compare noise levels if the appliance will be near a living area. ADEME describes the energy label as a tool for comparing these figures. The rating alone doesn’t tell you how much space you have or whether the installation conditions are suitable.
Yes, if you also need to replace your fridge and the freezer compartment’s net capacity can genuinely hold your supplies. Check this capacity separately from the total capacity, along with the drawer space and stated storage time during a power cut.
According to the Ministry of the Economy, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new goods sold in France by a professional to a private customer. It also covers second-hand and refurbished goods in this context. Contact the seller to have a fault or a discrepancy with the description assessed. An optional commercial warranty does not replace this right.