If you simply need more room for frozen food, choose a separate freezer based on the space available and how often you’ll be reaching for your supplies. An upright model makes it easier to organise food in drawers, while a chest freezer suits larger stocks if you have enough floor space. A compact model is better for a little extra capacity; consider a larger fridge freezer if your main fridge also needs replacing. In every case, check the dimensions with the door or lid open, along with the model’s permitted ambient temperature range.
If you prepare meals in advance and often reach for a bag of vegetables or a single portion, prioritise storage that makes everything easy to find. The drawers in an upright freezer work well for this; check their dimensions if you also use large containers.
For bulk buys, seasonal supplies or bulky packs, consider the usable capacity and how easy it is to reach the bottom of a chest freezer. If the appliance will be kept in a garage or cellar, its permitted ambient temperature range matters just as much as its capacity.
When space is tight, a small upright freezer can provide a little extra capacity. Remember to measure the space needed to open the door, too. If you’re planning an under-counter installation, check the model’s installation requirements rather than relying on its height alone.
Choose one if: you regularly take out meals or portions and want to organise them in compartments.
Bear in mind: you’ll need room to open the door, and drawers that are the right size for your containers.
Choose one if: you store large quantities or bulky packs and have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: you’ll need room to open the lid, and food at the bottom can be harder to reach.
Choose one if: a small amount of extra storage is all you need and you have a compact space available.
Bear in mind: capacity will be more limited. An under-counter installation must meet the clearances and ventilation requirements specified for the model.
Consider one if: your main fridge also needs replacing.
Check: the capacity of the freezer compartment, as the appliance’s total capacity does not tell you how much space is available for frozen food.
| What to consider | What to check | Who should consider it? |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and dimensions | Compare the usable capacity in litres, the dimensions and the space needed to open the door or lid. Measure the route the appliance will take on delivery, too. | If I want to store plenty of supplies, I need enough capacity without blocking the way through the room. Around 36% of consumers would make this balance their priority. |
| Access to food | Check the size of the drawers or baskets and how easy it is to reach the bottom. | If I often take out a prepared portion, I want to find it without moving all my other food. Around 29% of consumers would put organisation ahead of other factors. |
| Room temperature | Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the permitted ambient temperature range for the exact model. | If I’m installing my freezer in a cellar or garage where the temperature varies, I need an appliance suited to that space. This would be the priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Usage and power cuts | Check annual energy consumption in kWh, noise in dB and the stated storage time in the event of a power cut, in hours; an alarm is no substitute for this last figure. | If the appliance will be near living areas and hold supplies I want to protect during a power cut, I need to consider noise, electricity use and how long it will keep food cold. Around 14% of consumers would put these factors first. |
The permitted ambient temperature depends on the model, not its shape. Beko, for example, identifies certain appliances as suitable for unheated rooms; this feature is not available on all freezers.
Note the room’s lowest and highest temperatures, then compare them with the climate class and the manufacturer’s guidance for the appliance you’re considering.
A chest freezer has an open cavity, but food at the bottom can be difficult to reach. Drawers in an upright freezer make it easier to sort food, but they can limit the size of containers you can fit inside.
Make a list of what you reach for each week and what you store for longer, then check the drawers, baskets and usable internal dimensions.
The rating alone doesn’t tell you the available capacity, annual energy consumption or noise level. When comparing appliances of a similar size and type, these details are more useful for everyday decisions.
Look at the kWh per year, litres and dB on the energy label together, then check the stated storage time in the event of a power cut separately.
These features serve different purposes and vary by model. A temperature alarm can warn you about a problem without helping the freezer keep food cold for longer.
Check each appliance’s product details for its defrosting system, alarm type and stated storage time in the event of a power cut, in hours.
Beko offers chest and upright freezers, with storage and defrosting features that vary by model.
Whirlpool offers upright freezers with compartments, as well as chest freezers for extra frozen food storage.
Bosch offers upright freezers with storage and defrosting options that vary by model.
Electrolux offers compact and integrated models that are worth considering when space is limited.
These Joybuy models include upright freezers for organising portions, chest freezers for stocking up and compact models for extra capacity. Start by choosing the type and location, then check the installation requirements and storage time for the model you’re interested in.
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An upright freezer to consider if you want to keep meals separate from frozen food you reach for regularly.
The product name states that it has a 161 L capacity, three freezer drawers, two additional compartments, No Frost, an alarm and a C energy efficiency class.
Before choosing a location, check its dimensions with the door open, its permitted ambient temperature range and its storage time in the event of a power cut.
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This chest freezer is suited to households with enough floor space that want to store bulky supplies rather than access each item every day.
The product name states that it has a 291 L capacity, fridge or freezer modes, a removable basket, LED lighting and an E energy efficiency class.
The mention of a garage in its name doesn’t confirm that it’s suitable for a cold room. Check the permitted ambient temperature range, the clearance needed to open the lid and the storage time in the event of a power cut.
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This freestanding model is worth considering for a small amount of extra space for portions, rather than as a large family freezer.
Its name states that it has a 60 L capacity, three drawers, a reversible door, temperature control and an E energy efficiency class.
If you’re planning to put it under a worktop, check that the dimensions and clearances allow for this installation. Check the climate class and storage time, too.
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A chest freezer to consider for a little extra storage if you’re happy to access your food from above.
Its name states that it has a 99 L capacity, a removable basket, an adjustable thermostat and an E energy efficiency class.
Allow space to open the lid and reach the bottom. Check the model’s permitted ambient temperature range, annual energy consumption and storage time, too.
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This chest freezer could suit you if you need extra storage and have room for the lid to open upwards.
Its name states that it has a 140 L capacity, a storage basket, a counterbalanced lid, temperature control and an E energy efficiency class.
Measure the space with the lid open, then check the climate class, annual energy consumption and storage time in the event of a power cut.
No. The permitted ambient temperature range must cover the temperatures in the room. Compare its minimum and maximum temperatures with the model’s climate class. Beko says some Freezer Guard appliances are designed to work down to −15 °C, but this doesn’t apply to all freezers.
You can’t tell from the type alone. Compare the stated storage time for the specific models you’re interested in. In its freezer tests, UFC-Que Choisir measures how long food stays below −9 °C during a simulated power cut; take into account the conditions attached to any figures you compare.
Compare annual energy consumption in kWh, freezer capacity and noise emissions, not just the rating. The European Commission explains this information on the energy label for household refrigeration appliances. Where possible, compare models of a similar type and capacity, then check their installation requirements and storage time separately.
No Frost is worth considering if you want to reduce manual defrosting, but it shouldn’t be the only factor in choosing a type or capacity. Check that the exact model has this feature, and compare its storage options, noise level, permitted ambient temperature range and storage time based on where you’ll put it and how you’ll use it.