To build up a large stock of meals and groceries, choose a chest freezer if you have floor space to spare. If you often reach for individual portions, the drawers in an upright model make it easier to keep everything organised. A tabletop or under-counter model is better suited to a more modest extra capacity. Whichever style you choose, check the dimensions, ventilation requirements and ambient temperature range for the specific model, especially if it will be kept in an unheated cellar or garage.
If batch-cooked meals and bulk buys are taking up more space than your existing fridge-freezer can offer, start by comparing usable capacity and how you’ll organise your supplies. The stated storage time in the event of a power cut may also influence your choice.
If you want to find portions and packets quickly, look at the layout of the drawers, compartments or baskets rather than relying on the advertised capacity alone.
Whether it’s a small kitchen, cellar or garage, measure the available space and check the room temperature. These conditions determine which models can be installed there according to their instructions.
Best for: households with a large amount to store and enough space for a horizontal appliance.
Bear in mind: food at the bottom can be harder to reach, so use baskets or containers to keep it organised and accessible.
Best for: keeping portions separate and easy to reach in drawers or compartments.
Bear in mind: the door needs room to open and you’ll need space in front of the appliance, even though its storage is vertical.
Best for: adding a modest amount of extra storage in a suitable compact space.
Bear in mind: check that its capacity matches the amount you actually store before relying on it as the main freezer for a large family.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Family storage | Usable capacity in litres and stated storage time in the event of a power cut. | If I batch-cook several meals in advance, I want to store them alongside my groceries without relying solely on my fridge-freezer. Around 42% of consumers put this extra storage capacity at the top of their list. |
| Everyday access | Layout of the drawers or baskets and access to the deeper areas. | When I use portions every day, I’d rather be able to find them without moving a large part of the freezer’s contents. Easy access and organisation are a priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Location | Dimensions and required ventilation; the model’s ambient temperature range and kWh/an. | In a small or unheated room, I first need to find an appliance that can be installed there according to its instructions. This compatibility is the main requirement for around 25% of consumers. |
This term doesn’t tell you the ambient temperatures at which a particular model can operate. Beko and Bosch explain that a climate class corresponds to a temperature range. Some unheated rooms may fall outside the range supported by the model you’re considering.
Check the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures, then compare them with the range stated in the product details and instructions for the exact model.
A chest freezer can hold bulk supplies, but food at the bottom is less easy to reach. An upright model lets you divide portions between drawers or compartments.
Think about where you’ll put boxes, bags and portions, then check the internal layout and the space needed to open the door or lid.
The appliance needs the ventilation clearances specified for that model. The requirements for a freestanding model may not apply to a built-in one.
Measure the recess, allowing for the clearances set out in the instructions, before choosing an appliance.
According to ADEME, a freezer runs continuously. So when comparing models with similar capacities and intended uses, it’s worth checking their stated annual energy consumption as well as their energy rating.
Compare the kWh/an figure, usable capacity and features you genuinely need across the models you’re considering.
Beko offers chest freezers, including models designed for unheated rooms.
Whirlpool offers chest freezers for storing larger quantities, as well as upright models with vertical storage.
Bosch offers freestanding and built-in upright freezers, with a range of vertical storage options.
This selection includes chest freezers for building up a stock of food, an upright model for organising meals, and a compact vertical freezer for extra capacity. Compare their capacities and layouts, then check the installation requirements for each model against the room where you plan to put it.
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Worth considering if you have floor space for extra meals and groceries.
Stated capacity of 291 L; removable basket, LED lighting and energy rating E.
If you’re placing it in a cellar or garage, check the ambient temperature range for this model. If it matters to you, also compare its stated storage time in the event of a power cut.
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Worth considering if you want to keep meals and portions separate in a vertical appliance.
Stated capacity of 161 L; drawers, No Frost function and energy rating C.
Before choosing a location, check the dimensions, ventilation clearances and ambient temperature range for this model.
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Worth considering if you want a small amount of extra freezer space in a kitchen where room is limited.
Stated capacity of 60 L; reversible door and energy rating E.
Check the internal layout before buying: the number and type of compartments described for this model don’t match. Also check the clearances required for your chosen location.
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Worth considering for extra storage if you’d prefer a smaller chest freezer.
Stated capacity of 99 L; removable wire basket, adjustable thermostat and energy rating E.
Check that this capacity is enough for your supplies, then compare the ambient temperature range and annual energy consumption before deciding where to put it.
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Worth considering if you have floor space for extra storage, with a basket for smaller items.
Stated capacity of 140 L; counterbalanced lid, storage basket and energy rating E.
Check the ventilation clearances and ambient temperature range for your chosen room, as well as the stated storage time in the event of a power cut if that’s important to you.
Yes, provided the ambient temperature range stated for the model covers the temperatures the room actually reaches. For example, Beko and Bosch give 10 °C as the lower limit for common SN and SN-T climate classes, so don’t assume a model in these classes will work below that temperature. Some models are rated for colder conditions; always check the instructions for the exact model.
Leave the clearances specified in the instructions for your chosen model, including if it’s going into a recess. Ventilation requirements vary by model and installation type. Also allow enough room to open the door or lid fully.
Compare annual energy consumption in kWh/an with the freezer’s capacity in litres, rather than looking at the energy rating alone. If the appliance will be near a living area, check its noise level in dB(A) too. Compare models with similar capacities and intended uses.
No, you can’t tell from the style of freezer alone. Compare the stated storage time for the models you’re considering. Whirlpool gives 36 h for its W3RHS37EW1 chest freezer; that figure applies to this model and doesn’t extend to other chest freezers.