For bulk shopping and meals prepared in advance, choose a chest freezer if you have large quantities to store and enough floor space; an upright freezer makes it easier to organise and access portions regularly. A large fridge-freezer is worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge too, provided its freezer compartment is big enough. If you only run short of space now and again, first see whether better organisation could make more room in your existing appliance.
If you often take a portion or a bag from your freezer, easy access matters just as much as capacity. The drawers in an upright freezer, or a suitably spacious freezer compartment in a fridge-freezer, let you sort food into categories without having to move everything around.
For less frequent shopping trips and bulky containers, a chest freezer offers flexible storage space. UFC-Que Choisir highlights it as an option for households with a cellar or pantry, for example; you’ll still need to check that there’s enough room and that the temperature is suitable.
A fridge-freezer combines fresh and frozen food storage in one appliance. Before choosing one for your extra supplies, compare the capacity of the freezer compartment on its own: the total includes the fridge section too.
Start by working out whether your supplies need more space long term or simply easier access. UFC-Que Choisir outlines the storage differences between upright and chest freezers, while the European Commission lists capacity, energy consumption and noise among the details to compare on the energy label.
Consider it: for large quantities or bulky containers, if you have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: smaller items at the bottom can be harder to reach, so you’ll need to organise them in baskets or containers.
Consider it: if you often take out portions and want to sort them into drawers.
Bear in mind: the drawers may not fit large containers; also check they can open fully in the space you have.
Consider it: if you’re replacing your fridge and its freezer compartment can hold the supplies you plan to store.
Bear in mind: a large total capacity doesn’t necessarily mean there’s much room for frozen food.
Consider it: if you only run short of space occasionally and sorting your supplies could free up enough room.
Bear in mind: reorganising portions won’t make up for a lasting shortage of capacity.
| Factor | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Amount you need to store | Compare the capacity available for freezing and the dimensions of the containers you want to store. | If bulk shopping and batch cooking regularly fill your freezer, capacity becomes the main priority. Around 33% of consumers would prioritise this extra storage space. |
| Access to food | Check the drawers or baskets and the space needed to open or remove them. | If you often take out portions without rummaging through your supplies, you need to be able to organise and find them easily. Everyday access would come first for around 27% of consumers. |
| Installation and keeping food frozen | Check the available space, the model’s ambient temperature range, its noise level and its stated power-cut storage time. | If the appliance will be in a cold room or near a living area, its location and operating conditions will shape your choice. These considerations would come first for around 20% of consumers. |
| Existing appliance | Check how much space is left after organising your food; if you’re replacing your fridge, compare the capacity of its freezer separately. | If you only need to store extra supplies occasionally, I’d check whether my current appliance is big enough before adding another one. Around 20% of consumers would prioritise this option. |
This figure combines the fridge and freezer spaces, so an appliance that looks large may leave too little room for prepared meals.
Compare the freezer compartment’s capacity alone with the amount you usually store and the size of your containers.
The floor space it takes up doesn’t tell you whether you’ll be able to lift the lid and reach food at the bottom.
Measure the space, the route to it and the clearance needed to load it; check the baskets supplied with your chosen model.
The suitable ambient temperature range depends on the appliance. A feature listed for one model doesn’t apply to the whole range.
Check the room temperature and compare it with the climate class or operating range of the exact model you’re considering.
Annual energy consumption and noise matter for an appliance that’s always on. The stated storage time during a power cut can also help you compare models if you keep large quantities frozen.
Compare the kWh/year and noise level on the energy label, then check the stated storage time for each model.
Beko France offers upright and chest freezers, including models with No Frost frost-free technology.
Liebherr France offers chest and NoFrost upright freezers, which you can compare based on the storage layout and installation space you need.
Whirlpool France’s product pages for upright and chest freezers let you compare the specifications of individual models.
These appliances represent two ways to increase or replace your freezer capacity: replace your fridge with a fridge-freezer or add a chest freezer. For fridge-freezers, check the freezer compartment capacity separately from the total; for chest freezers, make sure the capacity suits your available space and the amount you usually store.
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Worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge too and want fresh and frozen food storage in one appliance. The stated total capacity is 467 L; check how much of that is in the freezer before deciding whether it can hold your supplies.
The model name specifies four doors, Total No Frost and an E energy rating. If you’re installing it outside the kitchen, check its ambient temperature range.
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Another option if replacing your fridge is part of the plan. The 360 L capacity is for the whole appliance, so compare the capacity of its freezer section with the amount you store before choosing.
The product name specifies three doors, Total No Frost, an E energy rating, Wi-Fi and My Zone. Check that its ambient temperature range suits the space where you plan to install it.
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Consider this if you want separate space for larger quantities, provided you can open the lid and reach the bottom of the freezer. The product name states a capacity of 291 L, fridge or freezer modes and a removable basket.
It also lists an E energy rating, LED lighting and a five-level temperature control. Check the suitable ambient temperature and stated storage time if these matter for your installation.
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Compare this if you want a separate 140 L capacity rather than a chest freezer for larger quantities. The product name lists a storage basket and counterbalanced lid, but you’ll still need to allow room for it to open.
Temperature control and an E energy rating are also listed. To compare it with another chest freezer, check details such as annual energy consumption, ambient temperature range and stated storage time.
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Worth considering if a little extra freezer space could be enough; compare the stated 95 L capacity with the shopping and meals you actually want to store. This model is described as convertible between fridge and freezer modes.
The product name lists an E energy rating, a seven-level thermostat and a removable basket. Check the ambient temperature range before considering installation in a cold room.
For the relevant household appliances sold in the European Union, the European Commission lists an efficiency rating from A to G, annual energy consumption in kWh, storage capacity and noise emissions with their class. Compare the freezer capacity and kWh/year of appliances of a similar type and size, rather than relying on the letter alone.
Only if the ambient temperature range for the model you choose includes the temperatures in your garage. Check the room temperature and the specifications for the exact model. For example, Beko France states that its RFNE448E55W can operate down to −15 °C; this doesn’t apply to other freezers.
It gives you a way to compare how long food stays frozen if the power supply is interrupted, particularly if you store large quantities. Compare the stated figure for each model: a larger capacity alone doesn’t mean it will keep food frozen for longer.
Yes. According to the European Commission, it links to the model’s details in the EPREL database. You can cross-check information that matters to your choice, including capacity, energy consumption and noise, against the specifications for the model you’re considering.