If your fridge’s freezer compartment is no longer big enough, choose a chest freezer for storing larger quantities, an upright model for easy access to food, or a table-top or under-counter model if space is tight. It’s also worth considering a larger fridge freezer if you need to replace your fridge or make more room for fresh food. In every case, compare usable capacity, the space needed to open the appliance, annual energy consumption and the ambient temperatures it can operate in.
If you store bulk buys, home-grown produce or batch-cooked portions, start by working out how much usable capacity you need. Then check that the room can accommodate the appliance and that its stated storage time during a power cut gives you peace of mind.
If you often need to find something without moving everything else, look at how the drawers are laid out and how easy it is to reach each compartment. For you, an upright freezer’s vertical storage could matter more than the capacity of a large chest freezer.
If you need room for a few extra items under a worktop or in a narrow space, measure the available height and depth, as well as the clearance for opening, before choosing a compact model.
When your fridge’s freezer compartment is no longer big enough, first work out what’s causing the biggest problem: lack of capacity, access to food, available space or the need to replace the fridge as well.
Consider it: if you need plenty of storage and have enough room for the freezer and its lid to open.
Bear in mind: items at the bottom are less accessible; check the capacity and stated storage time during a power cut for each model.
Consider it: if you check your frozen food regularly and want to separate items into drawers.
Bear in mind: drawers and the door need clearance, even though the appliance takes up less floor width than a large chest freezer.
Consider it: for extra storage when the available height or space calls for a compact appliance.
Bear in mind: check that its usable capacity is enough for your needs, and follow the installation instructions in the manual.
Consider it: if you also need to replace your fridge or need more space for fresh food.
Bear in mind: compare the capacity of the freezer compartment alone with that of a separate appliance, not the fridge freezer’s total capacity.
| Priority | What to check | Consumers with this need |
|---|---|---|
| Stock up in bulk | Compare usable capacity in litres and the stated storage time in hours for each model. | When bulk buys or prepared meals no longer fit in my fridge freezer, what matters most is having enough extra capacity and knowing how long it can keep food frozen during a power cut. Around 31% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Access food easily | Check the drawers or baskets and whether you can remove items without taking everything else out. | When I take food from the freezer almost every day, I’d rather find each type quickly than rummage at the bottom of a chest. Easy access and organisation would be priorities for around 31% of consumers. |
| Keep space to a minimum | Measure the appliance, the route to the room and the clearance needed for the door or lid to open. | In a small kitchen or narrow utility room, I need to be able to install and open the appliance without blocking the way. Around 23% of consumers would prioritise this space constraint. |
| Review your appliances | Compare the freezer capacity and kWh/year of the exact models, as well as the condition of your current fridge. | If my fridge also needs replacing, I want to know whether a larger fridge freezer will meet both needs before adding a second appliance. Around 15% of consumers would put this decision first. |
ADEME points out that a freezer runs continuously. To compare appliances sold in the European Union, check the energy label and EPREL database for information about energy consumption, and compare this with the usable capacity you need.
The minimum temperature in a garage or cellar may fall outside the range the appliance is designed for. Bosch and Beko distinguish between climate classes and models specifically designed to operate at lower temperatures.
Check the expected temperatures in the room, then compare them with the ambient temperature range stated in the manual for the model you’ve chosen. A general “garage” label doesn’t replace this check.
A large capacity doesn’t guarantee easy access to items at the bottom. UFC-Que Choisir also recommends checking that you can remove food from the different compartments.
Look at how the baskets are arranged and how much space you need to open the lid. If you check your frozen food every day, compare this with access to an upright freezer with drawers.
A freezer runs continuously, ADEME points out. To understand what a model could mean for your household, its energy rating letter isn’t enough on its own; you also need to consider its annual consumption and usable capacity.
Compare the kWh/year figures for the models you’re considering and check that their capacity suits the amount you usually store.
An appliance might fit in the space you’ve chosen but still not leave enough room to open the door, lift the lid or remove the drawers.
Measure the delivery route, the space where the appliance will go and the clearance needed to open it fully. Check the manual for any additional installation clearances, too.
Worth considering if you want vertical storage and easy access to food, depending on the upright model you have in mind.
Worth looking at if you need an upright freezer for a cold room, but only if the specific model is explicitly designed for this use.
Consider its chest freezers if you need plenty of storage or want to install the appliance in a cold room.
A range of chest freezers to explore if your room isn’t heated or frost build-up is a factor in your decision.
This selection includes chest freezers for extra frozen food storage and fridge freezers to consider if you also want to replace your fridge. Before deciding whether to add or replace an appliance, compare the freezer capacity of each model.
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Worth considering if you want to add a chest freezer for extra storage rather than replace your fridge. The product name indicates that it can switch between fridge and freezer modes, and lists an E energy rating, a removable basket and LED lighting. Measure the clearance above the lid and check the manual for the ambient temperature range suitable for your room, as well as the storage time during a power cut.
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An option if you also need to replace your fridge: the stated 467 L capacity is for the whole appliance, not just the freezer compartment. The product name indicates Total No Frost and an E energy rating. Check the freezer compartment’s capacity, the dimensions and the model’s ambient temperature range before comparing it with a separate chest freezer.
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Worth comparing if you need more freezer space and are also replacing your fridge. Its stated total capacity is 360 L; the product name indicates three doors, Total No Frost, an E energy rating, Wi-Fi and My Zone. Check the freezer capacity and installation dimensions separately.
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This chest freezer could suit you if 197 L is enough for the extra food you want to store. The product name indicates that it can switch between fridge and freezer modes, and lists an E energy rating and a removable basket. Check the dimensions, permitted ambient temperature range and stated storage time before installing it in a cold room.
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If you want to add 141 L of storage, compare this chest freezer with the space you have and the amount you usually store. The product name indicates that it can switch between fridge and freezer modes, and lists an E energy rating, a seven-level thermostat and a removable basket. Allow room to open the lid, and check the model’s ambient temperature range and storage time.
Yes, as long as the model’s specified ambient temperature range covers the temperatures the room actually reaches and you follow its installation requirements. Bosch and Beko distinguish between standard climate classes and certain models stated to work down to −15 °C. Check the manual for the exact appliance rather than assuming it’s suitable based on its format alone.
Compare the kWh/year figures for the exact models alongside their usable capacities, rather than looking only at their energy rating letters. ADEME points out that freezers run continuously. For appliances sold in the European Union, the energy label and EPREL provide information about energy consumption.
It can help you compare appliances if power cuts are a concern or you store a large amount of food. The figure varies by model: Bosch states 14 h for the GSN51AWDV. Check the stated figure for each model you’re considering rather than assuming all chest or upright freezers offer the same storage time.
No. In France, you can claim under the legal guarantee of conformity from the professional seller if a product doesn’t conform, as explained by the Ministry of the Economy. Any commercial warranty is separate: check its terms and don’t confuse it with your statutory rights.