For storing a large harvest or bulk buys, choose a chest freezer if you have enough floor space and are happy to access it from the top. An upright freezer is a better choice if you regularly take out portions and want to organise them in drawers. An under-counter model is better suited to a small amount of extra storage, while a fridge freezer is only worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge too and its freezer compartment is large enough for your needs. In every case, check the freezer capacity, available space and the specific model’s permitted ambient temperature range.
If you freeze lots of fruit, vegetables or prepared portions, start by working out how much capacity you need, then measure the floor space available for the appliance. Que Choisir’s buying guide highlights the different space and storage considerations of chest and upright freezers.
If you often take out portions, being able to separate and find them matters just as much as capacity. Look at the drawers in an upright freezer or the baskets in a chest freezer, rather than relying on the advertised capacity alone.
If your garage or cellar has variable temperatures, compare the room temperature with the permitted range for the model you’re considering. Also check its stated power-cut storage time, rather than assuming this depends on the type of freezer alone.
First, decide how much you need to store and how often you’ll be looking for food. Then check the space you have and the model’s features: a small under-counter appliance or the freezer compartment in a fridge freezer will only meet the same needs as a separate freezer if it has enough capacity for you.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and footprint | Compare the freezer compartment capacity in litres, then measure the space, access routes and room needed to open the appliance. | If my harvest or bulk buys quickly fill up the freezer, I want plenty of room without blocking walkways; around 33% of consumers prioritise capacity and space. |
| Access and storage | Check the drawers and shelves in an upright freezer, or the number and layout of baskets in a chest freezer. | If I regularly take out prepared meals, I want to find a portion without moving everything else; easy access comes first for around 27% of consumers. |
| Room temperature | Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the permitted range for the exact model; check the clearance requirements in its manual. | In a cellar or garage with variable temperatures, I need to be able to install the appliance in the conditions specified by its manufacturer; around 20% of consumers prioritise this compatibility. |
| Power cuts and everyday use | Compare the stated storage time in hours, alarms, defrosting, noise in dB(A) and energy use in kWh/year. | If I keep a large stock or use the appliance every day, I want to factor in power cuts and maintenance; these are the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
A freezer may offer the capacity you need but be difficult to get through your doorways, or its lid may not open fully in the space you’ve chosen.
Measure access routes and the installation area, then check the manual for the clearance needed around the appliance.
According to Bosch Home Appliances, an ambient temperature outside an appliance’s specified range can affect how it works. Operation down to −15 °C only applies to models for which the manufacturer specifies this.
Check the room temperature throughout the year and compare it with the product information or manual for the model you’re considering.
A chest freezer doesn’t automatically keep food frozen for longer during a power cut, and an upright freezer won’t necessarily have the layout you want. Features vary from model to model.
Check the stated storage time in hours, baskets or drawers, alarms and defrosting type for each model you’re comparing.
The European Commission says that the label on relevant appliances also provides information about energy use, storage capacity and noise emissions. The rating alone doesn’t tell you the freezer capacity or noise level.
Compare the energy rating, kWh/year, freezer compartment capacity in litres and noise level across the models you’re considering.
These brands offer options to explore if you’re looking for a chest or upright freezer. The capacities and features mentioned apply to specific models, not their entire ranges.
The French range includes chest and upright freezers to consider, depending on the capacity and storage layout you need.
The brand’s upright freezers are worth a look if you want to organise portions and larger items.
The French range includes chest and upright freezers in different capacities.
Some chest freezers are worth considering for an unheated cellar or garage, as long as their product information confirms the required temperature range.
These models let you compare an upright freezer, chest freezers in different capacities and a fridge freezer if you’re also planning to replace your fridge. Before choosing between them, work out how much freezer capacity you really need.
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Worth considering if you regularly take out portions and prefer to store them in drawers.
The product name lists a capacity of 161 L, drawers, No Frost and an alarm. Check the permitted ambient temperature range, storage time during a power cut and installation clearances for your chosen location.
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Worth considering if you want top access to your freezer stock and its capacity and footprint suit your space.
The product name mentions a storage basket, a counterbalanced lid and an E energy rating. Check the permitted ambient temperature range and stated storage time before installing it in an outbuilding.
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Consider this for a small amount of extra storage, rather than for a large harvest or bulk buys.
The product name lists fridge and freezer modes, a seven-setting thermostat, a removable basket and an E rating. If you plan to install it in a garage, check the permitted ambient temperature range for this model.
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Worth considering if you need some extra storage and 99 L is enough, rather than a large capacity for your harvest.
The product name mentions a removable basket, adjustable thermostat, sliding lid and an E rating. Check the installation requirements and defrosting method in the model’s product information.
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Worth considering if you’re also replacing your main fridge, provided its freezer compartment is large enough for the food you want to store.
The product name lists a total appliance capacity of 495 L and an E energy rating: don’t confuse the total capacity with the freezer capacity. Check the freezer compartment capacity, internal layout and installation dimensions separately.
Choose a model whose permitted ambient temperature range covers the temperatures the room actually reaches. Bosch Home Appliances specifies, for example, +10 to +32 °C for climate class SN and +10 to +43 °C for SN-T; some Beko and Haier models are also rated to operate down to −15 °C. Always use the temperature range given for the model you’ve chosen, not one specified for another appliance from the same brand.
No: the type of freezer alone doesn’t determine how long it will keep food frozen. Compare the storage time in hours stated for each model you’re considering, and take account of the conditions in its product information instead of assuming that a chest freezer will necessarily keep food cold for longer.
Use the baskets for food you take out regularly, and group the rest by category to make it easier to find things at the bottom. Before buying, check how many baskets are included, their dimensions and how much room they leave for larger items.
Compare the energy rating, annual consumption in kWh, freezer compartment capacity and noise emissions, rather than looking at the rating alone. The European Commission says this information appears on the label for relevant domestic refrigeration appliances. It helps you compare models that may differ in type and capacity.