If your fridge’s freezer compartment is no longer big enough, choose an upright model for easy access to food stored in separate compartments, or a chest freezer if you need plenty of extra storage and have room to open the lid. An under-counter model is better suited to a small increase in capacity when space is limited. If you’re also short of room for fresh food, consider replacing your fridge freezer instead. Whichever you choose, check the net capacity, dimensions, permitted room temperature, power-cut storage time and energy consumption shown on the energy label.
If you want to store bulk purchases or keep a large reserve in a pantry, cellar or garage, it’s worth comparing a chest freezer with an upright model. Bear in mind, though, that you’ll need to organise the space with baskets or storage zones, as access is from the top. UFC-Que Choisir highlights capacity and accessibility as key differences between the two formats.
If you want to find food quickly and keep different types separate, look at the drawers or shelves in an upright freezer. Make sure the door can open wide enough and that every compartment will be accessible where you plan to put it.
For a cellar or garage, the format alone won’t tell you whether an appliance is suitable. Check the actual temperatures in the room and compare them with the operating temperature range specified for the exact model.
Start by working out what your household needs: more storage, easier access, or just a few extra litres in a limited space.
Consider it: if you want to keep food separate and access it regularly, and have more room available upwards than across the floor.
Bear in mind: storage options depend on the model’s drawers, and you’ll need enough space to open the door.
Consider it: if you need plenty of extra storage and have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: it opens from the top, and food stored at the bottom can be harder to reach.
Know the difference: a small freezer can help if you’re just a little short of space. If you need more room for both fresh and frozen food, consider a higher-capacity fridge freezer.
Compare: the net freezer capacity available, rather than assuming that a larger appliance overall will give you the extra storage you need.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and footprint | Compare the net capacity in litres, external dimensions and clearance needed to open the appliance. | If your current freezer is full after bulk shopping, you’ll need more capacity without blocking the way through the room. Around 36% of consumers say extra storage is their top priority. |
| Access and storage | Look at the drawers or baskets and make sure you’ll be able to reach the food once the appliance is in place. | If you open the freezer every day, being able to find food without moving everything else matters. For around 29% of consumers, easy access and storage are the main priority. |
| Room temperature | Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the ambient temperature range specified for the exact model. | If you’re putting the appliance in an unheated garage or cellar, you’ll need to know it can work at the temperatures the room actually reaches in both winter and summer. Around 21% of consumers put this compatibility ahead of other factors. |
| Power cuts and energy use | Check the model’s storage time in hours and its annual energy consumption in kWh on the energy label. | If power cuts are a concern and an extra appliance will be running all the time, you’ll want to check both of these features before choosing. Around 14% of consumers prioritise storage time and energy use. |
UFC-Que Choisir explains that the climate class corresponds to an ambient temperature range guaranteed by the manufacturer. An unheated room may fall outside that range.
Check the room’s temperature extremes, then consult the manual for the model you’re considering. Don’t assume it will be suitable just because it’s a chest or upright freezer.
The rating alone doesn’t tell you how the annual energy consumption compares or whether the freezer capacity will meet your needs.
Check the rating, kWh/year, capacity and noise level together on the model’s energy label.
The depth of the compartment can make it harder to find food stored at the bottom. You’ll also need enough clearance above the appliance to open the lid.
Measure the space with the lid open and check which baskets are included or available.
How long food stays frozen during a power cut varies from model to model. The product specifications for the Beko, Bosch and Whirlpool models mentioned here give different storage times.
Check the storage time in hours for the appliance you choose, especially if power cuts are an important factor in your decision.
Worth considering for upright freezers with drawers, particularly if you plan to install the appliance in a cold room.
Worth considering for a chest freezer intended to provide plenty of extra storage.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a high-capacity upright freezer and have enough space for it.
Worth considering if you’d like to compare upright and chest freezers from the same brand.
This selection includes chest freezers in several capacities and an upright model with compartments. Compare them by how much extra space you need, how often you access your food and how much room you have. A product name that mentions a garage doesn’t confirm its ambient temperature range.
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Consider this model if you need plenty of extra storage and can organise access from the top. The product name mentions a removable basket, LED lighting, five temperature settings and an E energy rating. Check the clearance needed to open the lid, along with the ambient temperature range and storage time for your installation.
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This chest freezer is worth considering if you need a medium-sized reserve rather than drawer storage. The product name mentions a removable basket, five temperature settings and an E energy rating. Check there’s enough room to open the lid, then check the ambient temperature range and storage time if these matter for how you’ll use it.
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Worth considering if you prefer to keep food separate and access it from the front. The product name mentions drawers, a No Frost function, an alarm, a reversible door and a C energy rating. Measure the space and check the model’s annual energy consumption, ambient temperature range and storage time before deciding.
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This capacity could be a good option for extra storage if a top-opening appliance suits your room. The product name mentions a removable basket, a seven-setting thermostat and an E energy rating. Check there’s enough clearance to open the lid and, if the room is unheated, check the model’s ambient temperature range.
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Consider this model if you only need a little extra storage and a compact chest freezer suits the way you organise food. The product name mentions a removable basket, a seven-setting thermostat and an E energy rating. Make sure you can open the lid, and check the ambient temperature range and storage time if these are relevant to where you’ll put it or the risk of power cuts.
Only if the ambient temperature range specified for the model covers the temperatures the garage actually reaches. Check the room’s temperature extremes, then consult the manual: the climate class or stated compatibility of a different model isn’t enough.
Compare the time in hours stated for each model; don’t try to work it out from its capacity or format. UFC-Que Choisir’s test procedure measures, under its own test conditions, how long it takes for the temperature to rise from −17 °C to −9 °C without power. Bear the method in mind when comparing figures.
Its drawers can make it easier to separate food and access it regularly, but this depends on their layout. A chest freezer offers a more open space that you can organise with baskets. The main thing is to check how you’ll reach food stored at the bottom.