If you want a separate frozen-food store, start by looking at a chest freezer if you have floor space and are happy to access it from the top. Choose an upright model if you open your freezer often and want to organise food in drawers. A large fridge-freezer is a better fit if you also need to replace your fridge: compare the capacity of its freezer compartment alone with the amount of storage you need, then check the space available and the model’s storage time during a power cut.
If you regularly freeze batch-cooked meals or food bought in bulk, a chest freezer is worth considering for its dedicated storage capacity. Do check that you have enough floor space and that the room is within the recommended temperature range.
An upright freezer lets you sort food into drawers and find what you need without rummaging at the bottom of a chest freezer. Also measure the available height and make sure there’s enough room to open the door.
A fridge-freezer combines both functions in one appliance. To see if it can store enough frozen food, check the litres allocated to the freezer compartment rather than the total capacity shown.
Consider it: for dedicated storage if there’s enough floor space and the lid can open freely in the room.
Bear in mind: food at the bottom is harder to see, and installing the freezer in a cold room requires the model to be approved for those conditions.
Consider it: if organising food in drawers and accessing it often matter more than reaching into a top-opening freezer.
Bear in mind: check the delivery route, available height and space needed to open the door.
Consider it: if you need to replace your fridge and its freezer compartment has enough space for your needs.
Bear in mind: the total capacity includes the fridge section too, so it doesn’t represent the freezer capacity.
| Priority | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Storage capacity | Capacity of the freezer compartment alone, in litres; appliance dimensions and delivery access. | When batch-cooked meals and bulk buys start to pile up, I want a separate place to store frozen food without choosing a capacity based only on the appliance’s external size. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise storage capacity. |
| Access to food | Drawer or basket layout; space needed to open the door or lid. | If I take frozen food out every day, I want to find and separate it easily. This everyday access would be the main concern for around 29% of consumers. |
| Installation | Dimensions, required ventilation and permitted room-temperature range for the model. | In a garage, utility room or kitchen where space is tight, I need to be able to install the appliance in line with its instructions. Suitability for the room would come first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Storage time during a power cut | Advertised time in hours and the conditions used to measure it. | If power cuts are a concern, I want to compare how long the freezer keeps food cold without confusing this with its other features. Around 14% of consumers would put this storage time at the top of their list. |
Total capacity includes the fridge section. For example, Whirlpool lists 270 L for its WHK25294B6E fridge-freezer, of which 76 L is for the freezer.
Before ruling out a chest or upright freezer, compare the space available for frozen food with what you actually need.
A chest freezer needs floor space and room above the lid; an upright freezer needs enough height and space in front of the door. Dimensions vary from model to model.
Measure the space, delivery route and opening clearance, then check the instructions for ventilation requirements.
Permitted temperatures depend on the model. Beko lists an SN-T climate class for the CF200EWN, while Liebherr says its CFe 2500 Pure has FrostProtect down to -15 °C.
Compare the room temperature with the range explicitly given in the technical specifications and instructions for the model you choose.
The advertised time during a power cut doesn’t tell you everything about usable capacity, internal layout or installation conditions. UFC-Que Choisir assesses these separately in its freezer tests.
Compare storage times using the same definition, then check the other features that matter to your household independently.
The CF200EWN chest freezer is a useful point of comparison if you’re looking for a dedicated freezer with a mid-range capacity.
The CFe 2500 Pure chest freezer is worth considering if you need a large capacity or plan to keep it in a cold room.
The models listed let you compare a dedicated upright freezer with a fridge-freezer that can replace your fridge too.
These models illustrate the three options for family freezer storage: a chest or upright freezer to add dedicated storage, or a fridge-freezer if you also need to replace your fridge. For every fridge-freezer, check the capacity of the freezer compartment separately.
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Worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge too: the 467 L capacity is the total, not the capacity of the freezer alone.
The model name specifies Total No Frost and an E energy rating. Check the freezer compartment capacity, installation dimensions and permitted room temperature before choosing.
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If you want storage you can access from the top, this chest freezer has a stated capacity of 291 L and a removable basket.
The model is described as convertible between fridge and freezer settings, with LED lighting and five-level digital controls. Check its permitted room-temperature range and stated storage time during a power cut if these affect your choice.
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This fridge-freezer is for households replacing their fridge too; its total capacity of 360 L is not all available for frozen food.
The model name lists Total No Frost, an E energy rating, Wi-Fi and My Zone. Compare the capacity of the freezer alone with your needs and check the installation requirements.
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This 140 L chest freezer is worth considering if you want extra dedicated storage without opting for a very large model.
The model name lists a storage basket, a counterbalanced lid and an E energy rating. Check the lid clearance and the permitted room-temperature range for the space where you plan to put it.
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If you want dedicated storage with food organised by category, this upright freezer has a stated capacity of 161 L and comes with drawers.
The product name lists No Frost, a C energy rating and a reversible door hinge. Measure the space and check the installation requirements and storage time during a power cut if that matters to you.
Yes, as long as the model’s permitted temperature range covers the temperature in your garage. Beko specifies a range of 10 °C to 43 °C for the CF200EWN, while Liebherr says the CFe 2500 Pure with FrostProtect is suitable down to -15 °C. Check the specifications and instructions for the model you’re considering rather than assuming these figures apply to other models.
It’s the time the freezer can keep food cold, and should be considered alongside the conditions used to measure it. It isn’t an overall rating of the freezer. UFC-Que Choisir simulates a power cut and measures, among other things, how long food stays below -9 °C. To compare the times quoted by two manufacturers, check the definition used in each product’s documentation.
Yes. The European Commission says that domestic fridges and freezers in the European Union are subject to energy labelling and ecodesign requirements. When comparing models, check the information for each appliance rather than trying to estimate its energy use from its type alone.
According to the French Ministry of the Economy, private consumers buying a new product from a trader are covered by the legal guarantee of conformity. It covers cases where the product does not conform to the contract and is separate from any retailer’s returns policy for a change of mind.