A dedicated freezer is worth considering if home cooking or bulk shopping regularly takes up more space than your fridge-freezer can offer. A chest freezer suits bulky items if you can easily access it from above; an upright model makes it easier to organise portions, while an under-counter freezer is better as an additional option. If you only need a little extra space, a large fridge-freezer may be enough, as long as you check that it will fit and that its specified temperature range suits the room.
If you store multipacks or large cuts of food, look at the usable capacity of a chest freezer, then check the floor space it needs and whether you can easily open the lid. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the substantial storage capacity of this format.
If you want to find a particular meal or portion easily, the drawers in an upright freezer let you organise food by category. Beko describes this layout on its upright freezers, but check the configuration of the model you are considering.
A small model can provide extra capacity under a worktop. If you plan to use a garage, cellar or utility room, also check that the room temperature stays within the ambient temperature range specified for your chosen model. You cannot tell this from its format alone.
Consider it: for bulk buys or bulky items, if you have enough floor space.
The trade-off: the large compartment and top-opening lid mean it takes more effort to find food stored at the bottom.
Consider it: if you often take out individual portions and want to organise them in drawers.
The trade-off: its compartments are less suited to very large items than an open chest.
Consider it: if you need extra capacity near the kitchen but are short on space.
The trade-off: this format cannot offer the same bulk storage as a large dedicated freezer.
Consider it: if you also need to replace your fridge and a modest increase in freezer space will be enough.
The trade-off: check the freezer compartment’s own capacity rather than the total capacity of the appliance.
To decide, start with what you are actually missing in your current freezer compartment: more capacity, easier access, a smaller footprint or a model suited to the room you have in mind.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare freezer capacity in litres and the shape of the food you need to store; check the external dimensions too. | When bulk buys or large items regularly overflow from my fridge-freezer, what I really need is more room to store them. Around 33% of consumers in this situation would put extra capacity first. |
| Access and organisation | Check the size and accessibility of the drawers or baskets, as well as the clearance needed to open them. | If I often freeze portions, I want to find a meal without moving everything else. Easy access would be the priority for around 33% of consumers in this situation. |
| Space required | Measure the width, depth and height, as well as the clearance needed for the door or lid, before comparing capacities. | In a kitchen where space to move around matters, I would prefer extra capacity that fits the available space. For around 17% of consumers in this situation, the space required would come ahead of other factors. |
| Room temperature | Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the ambient temperature range specified for the model. | If the appliance is going in an unheated garage or utility room, I first need to know whether it will work at the temperatures in that room. This compatibility would be the main concern for around 17% of consumers in this situation. |
An open compartment can hold bulky food, but portions at the bottom may be harder to find than in drawers.
If you often freeze prepared meals, plan to use baskets and labels to organise them, or consider an upright model with drawers instead.
The climate class specifies the ambient temperature range the appliance is designed for. Depending on the season, a garage or cellar may fall outside that range.
Check the likely temperatures in the room against the documentation for the exact model, including any claim that it is suitable for an unheated room.
The letter on its own tells you neither how much food you can store nor the appliance’s stated annual energy consumption. Electrolux also lists capacity in litres and noise level in dB(A) among the details to consider.
Compare kWh/year, capacity, noise and dimensions across models that meet the same storage needs.
Beko’s range includes chest freezers, upright models and compact formats to consider based on the capacity you need and where you plan to install the appliance.
Bosch freezers include upright, freestanding and integrated models, which you can compare if you want to organise individual portions.
Whirlpool’s range includes upright freezers, including integrated models and No Frost options.
These models cover three dedicated storage needs: chest freezers for bulk buys, an upright model for organised portions and a compact upright option for extra capacity. For each one, check the dimensions and ambient temperature range before deciding where to put it, especially if the room is unheated.
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Worth considering for bulky items if you can access the lid from above. The title lists a capacity of 291 L, a removable basket, LED lighting and five digital settings.
Fridge mode is an alternative to freezer mode: check which setting suits your needs, as well as whether the appliance is suitable for the room where you plan to install it.
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Consider this if you want to organise portions in an upright freezer. The title lists a capacity of 161 L, drawers, No Frost, an alarm and a temperature setting range of −14 to −22 °C.
This temperature setting range does not describe the permitted ambient temperature: check the climate class, dimensions and door clearance separately.
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Compare this if you are looking for a 140 L chest freezer with a basket to keep some food separate. The title also mentions a counterbalanced lid and adjustable temperature control.
Allow for access from above and check that the ambient temperature range is suitable for the room you have in mind.
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Worth considering for extra capacity in a chest format, rather than for large stocks. The title lists a capacity of 99 L, a removable wire basket, an adjustable thermostat and a sliding lid.
Check how much space you need to open the lid and, if the appliance will be installed in an unheated room, make sure the ambient temperature range is suitable.
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Compare this 60 L model if you need extra capacity and prefer compartments to an open chest. The title lists three drawers and a reversible door.
Its capacity is less suited to storing large volumes; check the height, clearance and ambient temperature range before choosing where to put it.
No: the ambient temperature range specified for the model must cover the temperatures in the room. For example, Bosch specifies 10 to 32 °C for climate class SN and 10 to 43 °C for class SN-T. Check the climate class and any specific guidance for the model you are considering.
Compare the stated annual energy consumption in kWh/year, freezer capacity in litres and noise level in dB(A), then check the dimensions. Electrolux lists these among the specifications for its freezers. Above all, compare appliances that meet the same storage needs.
No: No Frost relates to the build-up of ice, not how easy it is to find a portion. If you regularly freeze prepared meals, also check the size and accessibility of the model’s drawers or baskets.