If your large household is running out of room for frozen food, an upright freezer is a good choice when you need to sort and access food regularly. A chest freezer is better suited to storing larger quantities or bulky items, provided you can easily reach in from above. If you also need to replace your main appliance, a large fridge-freezer is worth considering; check how much freezer space it offers. Whichever option you choose, measure the space and check that the room temperature falls within the model’s climate class.
If your usual shopping no longer fits in your current freezer compartment, work out how much space you need for your regular purchases. A chest freezer can hold bulky items, while an upright freezer makes it easier to organise a variety of foods.
If you prepare meals using frozen food stored in different categories, an upright freezer’s front access and compartments are worth considering. Check the layout of the model you have in mind.
If you’re putting the freezer in a garage, cellar or utility room, note the temperatures the space reaches throughout the year. The model’s specified operating range needs to cover them. A feature that allows one range to work in cold conditions doesn’t apply to every appliance from that brand.
Worth considering: if you open the appliance often and want to find a variety of foods from the front.
Bear in mind: check that the drawers and storage areas can fit your bulkiest items.
Worth considering: if you need to store large quantities of shopping or bulky items and have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: you’ll need enough clearance to open the lid, and food at the bottom can be harder to reach.
Worth considering: if you also need to replace your current fridge and would prefer to keep just one appliance.
Bear in mind: the total capacity doesn’t tell you how much space you’ll actually have for frozen food.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the capacity of the freezer compartment or freezer mode, then consider how much room your usual packaging takes up. For a chest freezer, check the baskets too. | I want to store my frozen food shopping without choosing an appliance based only on its external size. |
| Access to food | Check the opening, the depth of the compartment, and the model’s drawers, shelves or removable sections. | For everyday meals, I need to be able to find different types of food quickly, including items stored at the bottom. |
| Location | Measure the space and allow enough clearance to open the appliance. Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the climate class specified for the freezer. | If I put the freezer in a garage or cellar, I need to confirm that this model is suitable for the room’s temperatures. |
| Use and maintenance | Compare the energy label, stated energy consumption, noise level and defrosting method. If you’re storing a large reserve of food, also check the exact model’s freezing performance and power-failure storage time; UFC-Que Choisir includes these performance factors in its freezer tests. | I want to understand what it’s like to use and maintain the appliance, not just its stated capacity. |
The compartment can hold bulky items, but stacked food packages can make it harder to find something you use every day.
Make a note of the packaging you need to store and how often you reach for it. Check whether the freezer has baskets or dividers, or consider an upright model if easy access matters as much as storage space.
According to Beko France and Whirlpool France, a climate class specifies the range of ambient temperatures the appliance is designed for. So the chest-freezer format alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable for your space.
Note the temperatures in the room and check the documentation for the exact model. Any feature designed for cold rooms should be listed for that specific model.
Two appliances with the capacity you need can differ in storage layout, noise level and performance. UFC-Que Choisir also assesses temperature stability, freezing performance and ease of use in its freezer tests.
For the models on your shortlist, compare the energy label with the dimensions, layout, stated features and any test results available for each specific model.
These feature examples apply to the models named or to certain ranges, not to every freezer from each brand.
Bosch offers upright freezers with layouts that vary from model to model.
Whirlpool offers chest freezers in a range of sizes and layouts.
Some Liebherr chest freezers are presented with features for unheated rooms or frost management.
Beko highlights features for cold rooms and frost management on some chest-freezer ranges.
These appliances offer dedicated freezer space worth considering for a large household: four chest freezers and one upright model. To compare them, match their stated capacity to your shopping habits, then check how easy the food is to reach and whether the planned location is suitable.
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A chest freezer worth considering for bulk shopping if you have enough floor space and clearance to open the lid. The model is listed with a capacity of 291 L and a convertible fridge-freezer function; check its usable capacity in freezer mode. Its title also mentions a removable basket, LED lighting and an E energy rating. If you plan to put it in an unheated room, check its climate class.
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This chest freezer gives you extra storage space to compare with the amount of food you buy. Its title lists a capacity of 140 L, a basket, a counterbalanced lid, adjustable feet and an E energy rating. Check that top access suits you and, if you’re putting it in an unheated room, check the model’s climate class.
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Worth considering as extra storage, rather than assuming it will hold all the frozen food a large household needs. The title lists a capacity of 99 L, a removable basket, an adjustable thermostat and an E energy rating. The description specifies manual defrosting; also check the climate class if you plan to put the appliance in an unheated room.
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An upright model could suit you if you regularly reach for different foods and prefer front access. The title lists a capacity of 161 L, three drawers, a No Frost function and a C energy rating. Measure the space and check the clearance needed, as well as the climate class, before installation.
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This chest freezer is worth comparing as extra space for some of your household’s frozen food. Its title lists a capacity of 98 L, a basket, a counterbalanced lid and an E energy rating. Check the capacity available in freezer mode, the space it takes up and the climate class for your planned location.
No. The type of appliance alone doesn’t confirm that it’s suitable for the room. Compare the temperatures the space actually reaches with the climate class and installation instructions for the exact model. Features designed for low temperatures only apply to models that specify them.
Whirlpool France says it’s shown on the rating plate and in the product’s technical description. Check these details before buying if the freezer is going in an unheated or very warm room.
Compare the stated energy consumption and energy labels for the exact models. The ministry responsible for the ecological transition says the label ranks appliances from A to G according to their energy consumption. Also check that the temperature where you plan to install the freezer is within its specified climate class.
A chest freezer can hold bulky items without the constraints of drawers or shelves, as Darty points out in its comparison of the two types. If you often reach for a variety of foods, consider ease of access too: items at the bottom of a chest freezer are less easy to reach, while an upright model opens from the front.