If your main aim is to increase your frozen food storage, choose a separate freezer: a chest model if you have floor space and store bulky items, or an upright model if you often need to access and organise your food. A compact model is better suited to providing a little extra capacity. If you also need to replace your fridge, consider a large fridge freezer, but check the capacity of its freezer compartment: Bosch lists 89 l for frozen food out of a total capacity of 368 l for the Bosch KGN39VLEB.
The extra capacity you need isn’t the only thing to consider: the space available and how often you access your food will also help you decide.
If you buy in bulk, cook ahead or freeze bulky food, it’s worth considering a chest freezer or a large separate upright model. A chest freezer does need floor space and room above the lid to open, so check that the room you have in mind suits the specific model.
An upright freezer with drawers lets you sort food into categories without rummaging through a deep compartment. Make sure there’s enough room to open the door fully and pull out the drawers where you plan to put it.
A compact or under-counter freezer can add a limited amount of storage to your existing fridge without the need for a large appliance. Compare its usable capacity and dimensions before deciding whether it will suit the way you shop and eat.
Start by working out how much frozen food you need to store. Then consider how each format will fit in the room and how you’ll use what’s inside.
| Priority | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and format | Compare the usable freezer capacity in litres, not just the total capacity of a fridge freezer. Measure the width, depth and height, as well as the space needed to open it. UFC-Que Choisir describes chest freezers as large-capacity appliances, while a compact format is better suited to more limited extra storage. | I want to store bulk buys or large items: a chest freezer or a large separate upright model could suit my needs. For just a few extra items, I’d look at a smaller format. |
| Access to food | Look at the drawers and compartments in an upright model, or the baskets and depth of a chest freezer. Check that the door or lid and storage compartments will still be easy to use once the appliance is in place. | If I take frozen food out almost every day, I want to find it without moving things stored at the bottom. If I’m storing bulky food that I use less often, an open chest could work well for me. |
| Energy use and noise | Compare the energy rating from A to G and the kWh/year figures for appliances of a similar type and capacity. Also check the noise level in dB(A) if it will be near a living area. The DGCCRF notes that household refrigeration appliances are covered by European energy labelling rules. | An extra appliance will be running continuously in my home, so I want to compare its stated energy use with similar models rather than relying on the letter rating alone. |
| Location and power cuts | Check the model’s permitted ambient temperature range against the actual temperatures in the room, especially in an unheated garage. Check the stated power-cut storage time in hours and allow for the clearances specified in the manual. | My appliance will be in a room where the temperature varies, so I need to confirm it can operate there. If power cuts are a concern, I’ll compare the stated storage times of specific models rather than assuming they’re the same for every freezer. |
A chest freezer might fit in the room but leave too little space to lift the lid. An upright model may also lack the room needed to open the door or pull out its drawers.
Measure the appliance, the delivery route and the clearance needed once it’s installed before comparing capacities.
The permitted ambient temperature varies by model. For example, Beko says that some models with Freezer Guard are suitable for temperatures as low as −15 °C, but this doesn’t apply to its entire range.
Check the room’s temperatures throughout the year and compare them with the range stated in the manual for the model you’re considering.
The letter rating on its own doesn’t tell you the freezing capacity, the space the appliance takes up, its noise level or how long it can keep food frozen during a power cut. The old A+, A++ and A+++ ratings aren’t directly comparable with the current scale.
For similar appliances, compare the kWh/year, usable capacity, noise level and dimensions together.
Used refrigeration appliances must be taken to an appropriate collection point. ADEME says you can hand one over to the retailer or delivery driver when replacing it, or take it to the designated area at a recycling centre.
Arrange collection or drop-off before your new appliance is delivered, and check the options available for your order.
These models show a range of capacities and formats; their features don’t automatically apply to other models from the same brand.
Bosch offers upright freezers and fridge freezers. Consider which option suits you depending on whether you want to add an appliance or replace your main one.
The CFe 2500 Pure chest freezer is worth considering if you need to store a large quantity of food and have plenty of floor space.
Beko offers compact formats and upright models, among others. Capacity and installation requirements vary by model.
This selection includes four chest freezers with capacities from 95 to 291 l, and one 161 l upright model. They’re options to consider if you want to add a separate freezer. If you’re thinking of replacing your fridge as well, compare the freezer capacity of fridge freezers.
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A chest freezer worth considering if you need plenty of extra capacity, provided you have enough floor space and room above the lid. The listing states that it has a removable basket, selectable fridge and freezer modes, a five-level digital control and an E energy rating. Before installing it in a garage, check the permitted ambient temperature range for this model.
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This 140 l chest freezer offers more extra capacity than a compact model, while keeping food accessible from above. The product title mentions a basket, a counterbalanced lid, temperature control and an E energy rating. If you often use food stored at the bottom, consider how much moving things around will be needed to reach it.
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This 95 l chest freezer is better suited to providing a little extra storage than to storing large bulk buys. The product title states that it has selectable fridge and freezer modes, a removable basket, a seven-level thermostat and an E energy rating. Check that its capacity and the space needed to open the lid suit your needs.
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This upright model is worth considering if you’d prefer organised access to your frozen food rather than a deep chest. The product title lists a capacity of 161 l, No Frost, an alarm, a reversible door and a C energy rating. Check the dimensions, door clearance and interior layout of this model before deciding where to put it.
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This 99 l chest freezer is suited to a modest amount of extra storage rather than large stocks. The product title lists a removable metal basket, an adjustable thermostat and an E energy rating. Check the interior layout of this model and the space you’ll need to access its contents.
Add a separate appliance if your main aim is to increase your frozen food storage significantly and you have room to install it. A fridge freezer is worth considering if you also need to replace your fridge. If so, check the capacity of its freezer compartment, which is separate from the total capacity. For example, Bosch lists 89 l of freezer capacity out of a total of 368 l for its KGN39VLEB.
Yes, if the model’s permitted ambient temperature range covers the actual conditions in your garage. Beko says that some upright models with Freezer Guard are suitable for temperatures as low as −15 °C, and Liebherr makes the same claim for the CFe 2500 Pure chest freezer with FrostProtect. Always check the manual for the model you choose.
Compare the stated duration in hours for each specific model rather than trying to work it out from its capacity or format. UFC-Que Choisir assesses this in its tests by measuring how long food stays below −9 °C during a simulated power cut. Bear in mind the conditions attached to any stated figure.
Check the A to G rating, annual energy use in kWh, usable capacity and noise information, then compare appliances of a similar type and capacity. According to the DGCCRF, household refrigeration appliances are covered by European Delegated Regulation 2019/2016 on energy labelling, which has applied since 1 March 2021.
ADEME says you can hand the old appliance over to the retailer or delivery driver, or take it to the designated area for electrical and electronic equipment at a recycling centre. Check the collection arrangements before delivery, and don’t leave a refrigeration appliance with ordinary bulky waste.