Households that buy in bulk
If your fridge-freezer compartment is no longer large enough, work out how much space you need for your usual supplies before choosing between the capacity of a chest freezer and the storage layout of an upright model.
Who is this choice for?
Households with a separate room
If you plan to install your freezer in a garage, cellar or unheated utility room, check that the room’s temperatures fall within the permitted ambient range for the exact model. Also check its dimensions and the route to its intended position.
Households that use their frozen supplies often
An upright freezer with drawers can make it easier to sort and access everyday food. However, make sure its usable capacity and height suit your supplies and the room.
What should you compare?
Start with how much you need to store and how often you’ll access it, then check whether your chosen format can be installed and used in the room you have in mind.
Chest freezer
Consider it: for large packs of food, if you have enough floor space.
The trade-off: you’ll need to organise items stored at the bottom so they’re easy to find.
Upright freezer
Consider it: if you sort and take out food often, or have more height than width to work with.
The trade-off: check the usable capacity and how much room the drawers leave.
Large fridge-freezer
Consider it: if you only need a modest amount of extra freezer space and one appliance is enough for you.
The trade-off: its total capacity isn’t the same as the space available for frozen food.
| Criterion | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the usable capacity in litres with the amount you store and how often you replenish your supplies. For a fridge-freezer, check the freezer compartment’s capacity, not just the capacity of the whole appliance. | I want extra storage, but not an appliance with space that would go unused. |
| Access and storage | Look at how the drawers or baskets are arranged and whether there’s room to separate different types of food. With a chest freezer, plan how you’ll find items stored at the bottom. | If I often take out different foods, I’d prefer to spot and reach them without moving the whole stock of food. |
| Location | Measure the appliance, check it will fit through the route into your home and allow for the clearances specified. ADEME recommends checking the climate class, which is expressed as an ambient temperature range, for the room where you plan to install it. | I might put my freezer in a garage or cellar, so the model’s documentation needs to cover the temperatures in that room throughout the year. |
| Energy use and power cuts | Compare the stated kWh/year for appliances with similar formats and capacities, then check the stated storage time during a power cut separately. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing procedure measures energy use at 25 °C and 32 °C and simulates a power cut to assess how long the temperature stays below −9 °C. | I want to take electricity use into account and know what stated storage time during a power cut my choice is based on. |
What mistakes should you avoid?
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Choosing a chest freezer by capacity alone, without checking access
A chest freezer may be big enough for your supplies but too wide for a doorway or the space you have in mind. Whirlpool lists the W3RHS37EW1 as 133 cm wide; Liebherr lists the CFe 2500 Pure as 167 cm wide.
Measure the room, doors, corridors and stairs, then check the model’s manual for installation clearances.
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Assuming every chest freezer will work in a cold garage
The permitted ambient temperature range varies by model. Whirlpool and Liebherr state that certain specific models can operate down to −15 °C, but this does not apply to all chest freezers.
Check the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures, then compare them with the conditions given in the documentation for the appliance you’re considering.
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Comparing only capacity or energy rating
Different capacities won’t meet the same needs. Ease of access, energy use and storage time during a power cut can also help you choose between appliances suited to your space.
First compare formats and capacities that make sense for your supplies, then look at the stated kWh/year, internal layout and storage time for each model.
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Taking out an extended warranty without checking what it covers
In France, the Ministry of the Economy distinguishes between an optional commercial warranty and the statutory legal guarantee of conformity: the former does not replace the latter.
Before taking one out, compare exclusions and cover for parts, labour or call-outs with the legal rights that apply to your purchase.
A few brands to consider
Whirlpool
Whirlpool offers, among other models, the 371 L W3RHS37EW1 chest freezer and the 404 L WHFF 6404 X5E upright freezer.
- According to Whirlpool, the W3RHS37EW1 chest freezer measures 133 × 85 × 70.5 cm (W × H × D) and has a 36-hour storage time during a power cut.
- The FreezerGuard feature, stated to work down to −15 °C, applies to the W3RHS37EW1. Check the installation conditions separately for any other model.
Liebherr
The range includes the 277 L FNd 522i Plus NoFrost upright freezer and the 497 L CFe 2500 Pure chest freezer, according to their Liebherr product specifications.
- Liebherr lists the FNd 522i as 185.5 × 59.7 × 67.5 cm (H × W × D) and the CFe 2500 Pure as 82 × 167 × 71 cm (H × W × D).
- The FrostProtect feature, stated to work down to −15 °C, is listed for the CFe 2500 Pure. Don’t assume it’s available on the upright freezer or other models.
Beko
Beko offers chest freezers, including some models labelled Freezer Guard for installation in a cold room.
- Beko states that the relevant Freezer Guard models can operate down to −15 °C.
- This doesn’t automatically apply to every Beko freezer. Check the climate class and product specifications for the model you choose.
Freezers available on Joybuy
These two appliances provide separate freezer storage: an upright model with a 161 L capacity and a chest freezer with a 140 L capacity. If you have a large household, compare each capacity with the amount you actually plan to store. The format alone won’t settle the choice.
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Heinrich´s, 161 L No Frost upright freezer, stainless steel
This upright design is a good fit if you want separate freezer storage that you can check and organise regularly. The product name lists three freezer drawers, a reversible-hinge door, an alarm, a temperature setting range of −14 °C to −22 °C and a C energy rating. Compare the 161 L capacity with your supplies. Before choosing where to install it, check the model’s dimensions and ambient temperature range.
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TCL CF182EWE0FR, 140 L chest freezer
This chest freezer provides separate storage to compare with the amount of food your household keeps frozen. Its product name lists a storage basket, a counterbalanced lid, temperature control and an E energy rating. Check that 140 L is enough, then check the climate class before installing it in an unheated room.
Frequently asked questions
Can you install a freezer in an unheated garage or cellar?
Yes, as long as the room’s actual temperatures stay within the ambient range specified for the exact model. ADEME recommends checking its climate class. A stated ability to operate down to −15 °C on certain Whirlpool, Liebherr or Beko chest freezers does not apply to other models.
Is a large chest freezer always better for a large household?
No. Choose a chest freezer if capacity and large packs of food are your priorities and you have enough floor space. Consider an upright freezer if you often need to sort through and reach your supplies. In either case, compare usable capacity with the amount you usually store rather than basing your choice on household size alone.
How should you compare energy use and storage time during a power cut?
Compare the stated kWh/year for appliances with similar capacities and formats, then look at storage time separately. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing procedure measures energy use at 25 °C and 32 °C and, during a simulated power cut, how long the food stays below −9 °C. Results from the same testing procedure are easier to compare.
Does an extended warranty replace the legal guarantee in France?
No. For a freezer bought from a professional seller in France, the Ministry of the Economy states that an optional commercial warranty does not take away the buyer’s statutory legal guarantee of conformity. Read the extended warranty terms to see exactly what additional cover it provides.