To add plenty of freezer storage, choose a chest freezer if you have enough floor space and need to store bulky items. An upright freezer may suit you better if easy access and organising food by category are more important. A compact model is better for a modest amount of extra storage. If you also need to replace your main fridge-freezer, compare its freezer capacity with that of a separate appliance before deciding whether to add another one.
If your bulk shopping includes bulky items, compare the storage capacity with the space the appliance can actually take up. UFC-Que Choisir’s guide highlights the difference between the open storage space of a chest freezer and the compartments of an upright model.
If you need to find different types of food quickly, ease of access can matter just as much as the advertised capacity. Consider how each part of the appliance opens, how easy it is to reach and how you can organise it.
If you need to fit the extra freezer in a kitchen, utility room or another specific space, measure the route to get it there, how it opens and the clearance required. For an unheated room, check that its temperature stays within the climate range specified for the model.
Start by considering the volume and shape of the food you need to store. Then rule out any models that won’t fit in the room or make everyday access too difficult. Chest, upright and compact freezers each meet different needs. A larger fridge-freezer is only worth considering if you also need to upgrade your main refrigeration appliance.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and bulky items | Compare the usable capacity and interior space with your usual stock; measure how much room a chest freezer needs. | When I have lots of large packs to store, I want to fit them in without filling the appliance straight away. Around 36% of consumers prioritise this need for capacity. |
| Access and organisation | Check the drawers or baskets, access to the back and the space needed to open the appliance. | If I reach for frozen food often, I want to find each type without having to move everything else. Around 29% of consumers put easy access first. |
| Where it will go | Measure the route in, opening space and required clearances; check the room temperature against the climate class. | In a narrow or unheated room, the first priority is making sure the appliance can be installed and operate within the specified temperature range. Around 21% of consumers prioritise whether it will suit the space. |
| Energy use and your main appliance | Compare the energy information for the specific models and decide whether your main fridge-freezer also needs replacing. | If my main appliance no longer meets my needs, I want to compare replacing it with adding another appliance that will also be running continuously. Around 14% of consumers put this decision first. |
Its capacity won’t help if the appliance won’t fit through the access points or gets in the way once installed. UFC-Que Choisir says chest freezers can hold up to 600 litres, with common models measuring 110 to 140 cm wide and around 70 cm deep. These figures are no substitute for checking the dimensions of the model you’re considering.
Measure the space, doors, corridors and turns along the delivery route. Remember to allow room to lift the lid, too.
The climate class specifies the ambient temperature range an appliance is designed for. Check the actual temperatures in an unheated cellar, garage or utility room rather than relying on the room’s name or where you live.
Record the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures, then compare them with the climate class specified for the exact model. Beko France describes this class as the temperature range the appliance is designed to operate in.
The space needed for ventilation depends on the appliance and how it is installed. Guidance for a fridge-freezer does not automatically apply to a separate freezer or one fitted between cabinets.
Check the manual for your chosen model and leave the specified clearances. Make sure you don’t block its ventilation openings. Also check that there is enough room to open the door or lid and pull out the drawers.
Two appliances with suitable capacities can differ in how easy they are to use and how they perform. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing takes factors such as ease of use, temperature stability and freezing performance into account.
Once you’ve chosen a size, compare the energy information for the specific models and check their storage options and how they open. If it matters to your household, look at how long food will stay frozen in the event of a power cut, too.
This selection includes chest freezers in a range of capacities, an upright freezer with compartments and a compact vertical freezer. Choose the right one for you based on the space available, how much you need to store and how you like to access your food.
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Worth considering if you want a dedicated appliance for bulky items and have enough room for a chest freezer. The product title lists a removable basket, LED lighting, a five-level digital control and an E energy rating. The fridge and freezer modes are alternatives, not available at the same time. Check the climate class and the clearances in the manual for the room where you plan to install it.
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Consider this if you prefer organised compartments and easy access to an open storage space for bulky items. The product title mentions drawers, an LED display, a reversible door hinge and a C energy rating. Check that there is enough room to open the drawers, and confirm the model’s dimensions, climate class and required clearances.
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This chest freezer is better suited to a modest amount of extra storage than to stocking up for a large family. The product title lists a removable metal basket, an adjustable thermostat, a four-star rating and an E energy rating. Before putting it in a cold or narrow room, check its climate class, how it opens and the required clearances.
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Worth comparing if you need a medium-sized chest freezer rather than a very large one. The product title mentions a basket, a counterbalanced lid, temperature control and an E energy rating. Check the space needed to open the lid, the climate class and the ventilation requirements. If you often freeze large quantities at once, check the model’s freezing capacity as well.
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Consider this for a small amount of extra freezer space, not as a replacement for a large family freezer. The product title lists a reversible door, temperature control and an E energy rating. Check the interior layout before counting on a specific number of drawers, as the product descriptions differ on this point. Also check the climate class and the clearances in the manual.
Choose a model whose climate range covers both the minimum and maximum temperatures in the room. Beko France lists the SN range as 10 to 32 °C, N as 16 to 32 °C, ST as 18 to 38 °C and SN-T as 10 to 43 °C. Record the temperatures where you plan to install the appliance, then compare them with the specifications for the exact model.
Follow the ventilation clearances in the manual for your exact model, then allow extra room to open the door or lid and handle the drawers. As a guide for the fridge-freezers covered by its installation advice, Darty recommends 3 cm at the sides and 5 cm at the back and above. These measurements are not a general rule for every freezer.
Compare the information on each appliance’s energy label, and make sure their capacities and formats meet the same needs. The European framework set out by EUR-Lex requires energy labelling for the household refrigeration appliances it covers. The energy class alone won’t tell you whether an appliance will fit in your room or hold everything you need to store.
When buying a similar appliance, you can ask the retailer about taking your old one away. France’s Ministry for Ecological Transition describes this ‘one-for-one’ take-back scheme as part of the collection of electrical and electronic equipment. Check with the retailer how they handle the collection of a large freezer.