Households that batch-cook several meals
If you regularly freeze portions, containers and bags of food, drawers can make it easier to separate everything and find what you need. The capacity you need depends on how much you want to store at once.
Who would benefit from an extra freezer?
Households with a pantry, cellar or garage
A chest freezer can hold a large stock, provided there’s enough floor space, room to open the lid and the model’s specified ambient temperature range is suitable for the room.
Smaller kitchens that need extra capacity
An under-counter freezer is worth considering when space is limited. Before choosing this compact style, compare its usable capacity with the amount of food you need to store.
What should you compare when choosing a style?
Start with how much you need to store and how you’ll use it, then check the installation requirements and specifications of each model.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and storage | Compare the usable capacity with the amount you plan to store. UFC-Que Choisir and Beko explain that upright models separate food into drawers or compartments, while chest freezers offer one large open space. Check for baskets and how easy it is to reach food at the bottom. | I want to find specific portions easily, so separate storage matters just as much as the number of litres. For larger items, an open space may suit me better. |
| Available space | Measure the width, depth and height, and check the delivery route. Allow enough room to open the door or lid fully, as well as for the clearances specified for the model. | In a narrow kitchen, I could make use of the height with an upright freezer or consider an under-counter model. A chest freezer needs enough floor space and room to access it from above. |
| Room temperature | Check that the room’s minimum and maximum ambient temperatures fall within the climate class for the exact model. Bosch, for example, states that climate class SN covers 10 to 32 °C. If a model is suitable for colder rooms, this should be stated explicitly. | For an unheated cellar or garage, I need to consider the temperatures the room actually reaches, rather than relying on the intended location suggested by the product name. |
| Power cuts | Compare the stated storage time during a power cut, and check how it is defined for each model. UFC-Que Choisir’s test measures the time it takes for the temperature to rise from −17 °C to −9 °C without power. Don’t mistake this for a guarantee that food will stay frozen indefinitely. | If I’m storing a large amount of food, I want to know how long the specific model I’m considering will keep it frozen during a power cut. |
| Energy and noise | The European Commission says the current label uses an A to G scale and shows details including annual energy consumption, capacity and noise. Compare the annual kWh for appliances of a similar size and with similar use, rather than relying on the old A+, A++ or A+++ ratings. | As a freezer runs all the time, I want to check its annual energy consumption without losing sight of how much capacity I actually need. |
| Separate appliance or fridge freezer | Check how much freezer space you already have in your fridge freezer, then compare it with the meals and provisions you plan to store. Also check how much room each option will need. | If I only need a little more space, a larger fridge freezer could be an option. If I want to build up a separate stock, I should measure how much extra capacity a standalone freezer would give me. |
What should you watch out for before buying?
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Choosing a chest freezer for its capacity without measuring the space
The freezer may have enough room for everything you want to store, but take up too much width or depth, or leave too little space to lift the lid.
Measure the space and delivery route, then check the dimensions and clearance requirements for the model you choose.
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Assuming any model will work in a cellar or garage
The climate class sets out the ambient temperature range the appliance is designed for. A statement that a model is suitable for an unheated room won’t necessarily apply to every model in the range.
Check the room’s seasonal temperatures and confirm the suitable range on the product page or rating plate for the exact model.
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Comparing old and new energy ratings directly
The old A+, A++ and A+++ ratings don’t correspond to the A to G scale used on the current EU energy label, as set out by the European Commission.
To compare similar appliances, check their current labels, annual kWh consumption and usable capacity.
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Choosing an under-counter model for a large stock of meals
A compact model may limit how much you can store. Bosch lists a capacity of 83 l for its under-counter GTV15NWEB, compared with 308 l for the Whirlpool W3RHS31DW2 chest freezer, according to the manufacturers’ product information. These figures relate to two specific models, not every appliance of each style.
Estimate how much room your containers, portions and provisions will take up before deciding whether a compact model will be enough.
Brands and models worth knowing
These models give you examples of specifications to compare on product pages; they don’t represent every model in each brand’s range.
Liebherr
The brand offers several freestanding upright freezers, including the FNe 4605 and FNd 522i Plus NoFrost.
- Liebherr states that these models have capacities of 199 l and 277 l respectively. The brand also says that FrostProtect allows these models to operate at ambient temperatures as low as −15 °C.
- Check the temperature range and dimensions for the model you’re considering: these specifications don’t apply to every Liebherr upright freezer.
Whirlpool
The brand offers chest and upright freezers. The W3RHS31DW2 chest freezer is one option for storing a large stock.
- Whirlpool lists a capacity of 308 l, a 36-hour storage time during a power cut, a freezing capacity of 15 kg/24 h and Freezer Guard down to −15 °C for this model.
- Its stated dimensions of 112 × 85 × 71,5 cm mean you’ll need to check the available space and room to open the lid. These figures apply to the W3RHS31DW2 only.
Bosch
The GTV15NWEB is an example of an under-counter freezer to consider for extra capacity rather than a large stock.
- Bosch lists a capacity of 83 l, dimensions of 85 × 56 × 58 cm, a 16-hour storage time during a power cut and a freezing capacity of 4 kg/24 h.
- Check that the capacity is enough for the food you want to store; this model’s specifications don’t represent other Bosch freezers.
Beko
Beko offers chest, upright and under-counter styles for different storage needs and spaces.
- In its guide, the brand highlights the compartments in upright freezers and the open space in chest freezers. It also states that Freezer Guard allows certain chest freezers to operate down to −15 °C.
- Check the climate class and dimensions for each model: the suitability stated for some chest freezers doesn’t apply to the whole range.
Freezers to consider on Joybuy
This selection includes chest freezers in different capacities and upright models to give you extra freezer space. Compare their storage options and capacity with the food you plan to store, then check that each model is suitable for the space you have in mind.
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AUCMA convertible chest freezer, 291 l
This chest freezer is suited to a household looking to build up a stock of food and happy to organise it in one open compartment. Its product name lists fridge and freezer modes, a removable basket, LED lighting, five-level digital temperature control and an E energy rating. Check the dimensions, permitted ambient temperature and storage time during a power cut to make sure it suits your setup.
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CHiQ JR99DWE chest freezer, 99 l
With a capacity of 99 l, this chest freezer is better suited to topping up your existing storage than building a large food stock. Its product name lists a removable basket, adjustable thermostat, sliding lid and an E energy rating. Check how much room you’ll need to open it, its permitted ambient temperature and its storage time during a power cut if these details matter for your needs.
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COMFEE' RCU60WH2(E) upright freezer, 60 l
This 60 l upright model is designed for extra storage where keeping portions separate matters more than having a large capacity. Its product name lists a reversible door and an E energy rating. Check the interior layout of the model being sold: the title and description don’t agree about its storage compartments. You should also check that the ambient temperature range is suitable for your room.
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Heinrich´s freezer, 161 l, No Frost, stainless steel
This upright style may suit you if you want to store meals and provisions separately. Its product name lists a capacity of 161 l, drawers, a No Frost function, an alarm, a reversible hinged door and a C energy rating. Check its dimensions and the specified ambient temperature range before deciding where to put it.
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AUCMA convertible chest freezer, 95 l
This 95 l chest freezer could provide extra space for a limited amount of food. Its product name lists fridge and freezer modes, a removable basket, a seven-level thermostat and an E energy rating. The basket doesn’t divide the whole compartment, so also check the space you have available and the specified ambient temperature range.
Frequently asked questions
Which climate class should I choose for a cellar or garage?
Choose a model whose ambient temperature range covers the room’s actual minimum and maximum temperatures. Bosch gives SN as 10 to 32 °C and SN-T as 10 to 43 °C, for example. If the room drops below 10 °C, look for an explicit statement that the exact model is suitable, rather than relying on the word ‘garage’ alone.
Is a chest freezer the right choice whenever it has more litres?
Not necessarily. A chest freezer offers open storage that’s useful for a large stock, but it needs floor space and a way to keep everything organised. If you regularly need to find specific portions, the drawers in an upright freezer may make access easier, as explained in guides from UFC-Que Choisir and Beko.
How do I compare storage times during a power cut?
Compare the times stated for the specific models and check how they’re defined. UFC-Que Choisir’s test measures how long it takes for the temperature to rise from −17 °C to −9 °C without power. Manufacturers list 36 hours for the Whirlpool W3RHS31DW2 and 16 hours for the Bosch GTV15NWEB; these figures don’t apply to every model of their respective styles.
What should I look for on a freezer’s energy label?
Check the A to G rating, annual energy consumption in kWh, capacity and noise level. The European Commission says this scale has been in use since 1 March 2021. To compare energy use, look at appliances of a similar size and with similar usage rather than comparing their ratings directly with the old A+, A++ or A+++ labels.