For storing a large amount of frozen food, choose a chest freezer if capacity and flexible storage are your priorities and you have enough floor space. An upright freezer is a better choice if you access your food often and want to organise it into compartments. Before ordering, check the delivery route for the parcel, the space needed for installation, the permitted room temperature and the delivery arrangements. To compare energy use, look at the labels for models with similar capacities and intended uses rather than assuming one type always uses less energy.
If you buy food in bulk or prepare meals in advance, start by working out how much freezer space you need. A chest freezer has room for bulky packaging, but you’ll need to organise it so you can find items stored at the bottom.
If you take food out every day, an upright freezer lets you sort it into drawers or onto shelves. Do check that the door can open fully and that the compartments will be easy to reach in your chosen spot.
In an unheated garage, cellar or utility room, the permitted ambient temperature range for the model matters more than whether it’s a chest or upright freezer. Compare it with the temperatures the room actually reaches throughout the year.
For bulk shopping, first compare the capacity you need with the space available, then choose how you want to access your food. An under-counter freezer suits more modest storage needs; a fridge freezer is worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge too.
Consider it: for storing bulk purchases in an open space, if the room has enough floor area.
Bear in mind: food at the bottom is easier to manage if you organise it in baskets or by category.
Consider it: if you want to organise frozen food and access it often, particularly when width is limited.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to work with the layout of the compartments and allow room for the door and drawers to open.
Consider it: if there’s no space for a tall or wide appliance and you only need to store a moderate amount.
Bear in mind: its capacity may not be enough for a family’s bulk shopping.
Consider it: if you’re also replacing your fridge and the freezer compartment has enough space for your needs.
Bear in mind: the stated total capacity is for the whole fridge freezer, not just the freezer compartment.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and footprint | Compare the freezer capacity with your usual shopping, then measure the width, depth and height of the space where you plan to put it. | If I store several bulk purchases at once, I want enough room without blocking the way through the room. Around 31% of consumers might put finding a capacity that fits the available space at the top of their list. |
| Access to food | Look at the layout of the drawers or baskets and check how much room is needed to open the door or lid. | When I open the freezer often, I want to find each type of food quickly rather than rummaging at the bottom. Easy, organised access would be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Installation and delivery | Check the room temperature against the model’s instructions. Measure the parcel and the delivery route too, then confirm where it will be left. | If my appliance has to go through a narrow entrance or run in an unheated room, its capacity is no use if it can’t be installed. Around 25% of consumers might make this compatibility their main concern. |
| Energy use and maintenance | For similar capacities, check the kWh/year and noise level on the energy label. Check the cooling system and defrosting instructions separately. | An appliance that runs all the time makes me think about its energy use and the maintenance it will need. These aspects would come first for around 19% of consumers. |
A chest freezer may be ideal for bulk shopping, but that doesn’t mean it will fit through a doorway, around a corner or into a lift. Where it will be left matters too: Whirlpool says standard delivery from its own shop ends at the entrance to the home or at the foot of the building.
Measure the appliance, its packaging and every access point on the way to the room. Check with the seller whether delivery includes bringing it inside your home.
If delivery ends outside, you’ll need to arrange moving the appliance to its final position yourself.
The climate class and operating temperature range apply to the specific model. Whirlpool, Beko and Liebherr state that certain models listed in their product information can operate down to -15 °C, but this doesn’t apply to all their freezers.
Note the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures, then compare them with the instructions for the exact model before choosing where to put it.
The European Commission says the label also shows annual energy use, capacity and noise. Looking only at the rating doesn’t take into account how much freezer space you need.
Compare appliances with a similar function and capacity, looking at their kWh/year, freezer capacity and noise emissions together.
The names NoFrost, SmartFrost and StopFrost don’t all describe the same features. The benefits advertised by Whirlpool and Liebherr depend on the technologies included in the specific model.
Check the cooling system and the defrosting and maintenance instructions in the manual for the model you choose.
These brands offer examples of types and features worth comparing. The details below apply to the models mentioned, not to each brand’s entire range.
The CFd 2505 Plus chest freezer is a large-capacity option to consider if storage space and installation in a cold room are priorities.
The BRFNE157E20W upright freezer is worth considering if easy access to food in separate compartments is a priority.
The WHM2112 chest freezer offers another capacity to compare with your available space and room conditions.
This selection includes chest freezers for extra storage, an upright freezer for organising frozen food, and fridge freezers if you’re replacing your fridge too. For fridge freezers, assess the freezer compartment separately from the appliance’s total capacity.
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Worth considering for storing bulk purchases if a chest freezer suits the space you have. The model is described as convertible between refrigeration and freezing, and comes with a removable basket, LED lighting and a five-level digital control.
Before installing it in a garage or cellar, check the permitted ambient temperature range in the manual. Also measure the packaging and allow for the necessary clearance.
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Worth considering if you’d rather organise food in compartments than in an open chest freezer. The product description mentions No Frost protection, a reversible hinged door, an alarm and an energy rating of C.
The stated temperature setting range of -14 °C to -22 °C applies to the freezer itself. If it will be in a cold room, check separately which ambient temperatures are permitted. Also check the installation dimensions and kWh/year on the energy label.
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Worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge too and want a separate freezer compartment. The stated 467 L capacity is for the whole appliance, not just the freezer compartment. The product description also mentions Total No Frost and an energy rating of E.
Check the freezer compartment’s capacity against your shopping needs, along with the access route, installation clearances and permitted ambient temperature range.
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Worth considering if you want extra freezer space and 140 L is enough for your needs. The product description mentions a storage basket, a counterbalanced lid and an energy rating of E.
If you buy in bulk, first compare this capacity with your needs. For an unheated room, check the permitted ambient temperature range. The energy label will also show the kWh/year.
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Worth considering if you also need to replace your fridge and want to keep frozen food separate. The 360 L in the product description refers to the whole appliance, which is also listed with Total No Frost and an energy rating of E.
Compare the capacity of the freezer compartment alone with your planned shopping. Check the door swing, installation instructions and permitted ambient temperature range before choosing where to put it.
Choose a model whose operating range covers the minimum and maximum temperatures the room actually reaches. The same climate class won’t automatically suit every garage or cellar. Whirlpool, Beko and Liebherr state that certain specific models can operate down to -15 °C; always check the manual for the model you’re considering.
Follow the clearances specified in the model’s manual rather than applying one measurement to every appliance. As a guide for its freestanding appliances, Whirlpool recommends 5 cm above and 10 cm behind. Also allow enough room to open the door or lid.
Compare the kWh/year for models with a similar function and freezer capacity, rather than judging by type alone. The European Commission says the energy label also shows capacity and noise, so look at these figures together to find an appliance that suits your needs.
Yes. The French Ministry for Ecological Transition says that when you buy a new appliance, an old one of the same type can be taken back on a « one-for-one » basis. Before ordering, check with the seller how to arrange collection and where the old freezer needs to be made available.