If your current freezer compartment no longer has enough room, choose based on how much you need to store and how often you need to find things: a chest freezer’s open compartment can take large packs, while an upright freezer’s drawers make it easier to keep everything organised. An integrated model can provide extra capacity if it fits the available space; a large fridge freezer will only save you buying a separate freezer if its freezer compartment is genuinely big enough. Whichever you choose, check the space available, the room temperature, annual energy consumption and the stated storage time in the event of a power cut.
If multipacks and large packs are already filling the freezer in your fridge freezer, start by estimating how much extra usable capacity you need. UFC-Que Choisir says chest freezers can hold up to 600 litres, but their open compartments need to be organised carefully to make food easy to find.
If you store a variety of meals and ingredients, drawers can make it easier to organise everything and reach what you need. Bosch, for example, describes transparent drawers on some upright models. Check the layout of the model you’re considering and how much room it leaves for bulky packs.
Whether it’s going in a fitted kitchen, utility room, cellar or garage, measure the space and allow enough room to open the door or lid. Also compare the room’s actual temperature range with the operating range of the appliance you’re considering.
First, choose a format that suits your storage needs and the room it will go in. Then compare the layouts and practical features of the models you’re considering.
Consider it: if you need plenty of storage or have bulky packs, and have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: food at the bottom of the compartment needs more careful organising and can take longer to reach.
Consider it: if you keep lots of different portions separate and want to access them regularly.
Bear in mind: the compartments may leave less room for very large packs.
Consider it: for extra capacity built into a kitchen, provided it fits the available space.
Bear in mind: capacity and replacement options depend on the dimensions and layout of the unit.
Consider it: if you also need to replace your fridge and want both functions in one appliance.
Bear in mind: a large total capacity doesn’t guarantee that the freezer compartment will be big enough for your needs.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Storage capacity | Compare usable freezer capacity and the space available for your packs. For a fridge freezer, don’t go by its total capacity. | When bulk buys no longer fit in my current freezer, I want to store large packs without relying on the fridge section. Around 36% of consumers put this extra storage capacity at the top of their list. |
| Access to food | Check the drawers or baskets, their dimensions and whether they can be removed. | If I store lots of different portions, I want to find a meal without having to move the rest of my food. For around 29% of consumers, easy day-to-day access is the top priority. |
| Installation room | Measure the appliance, the clearance needed to open it and any available space in the cabinetry. Compare the appliance’s permitted temperature range with the room temperature. | In a fitted kitchen or an unheated room, I first need to know whether the appliance can be installed and run in the conditions available. Around 21% of consumers put compatibility ahead of other considerations. |
| Continuous use and power cuts | Check the kWh/year on the energy label and the stated storage time in hours for the model, comparing appliances with a capacity that suits your needs. | As my freezer runs all the time, I want to know how much energy it uses. If power cuts are a concern, I also check its storage time. Around 14% of consumers make these practical features their top priority. |
The climate class describes a range of ambient temperatures; on its own, it doesn’t mean an appliance will work in a cold garage. Beko explains that exposure to temperatures outside the stated range can affect how it works.
Check the room temperature in winter and summer, then compare it with the range specified for the exact model. The ability to operate down to −15 °C, stated for some Beko or Liebherr appliances, doesn’t apply to every model in those ranges.
A fridge freezer may devote most of its capacity to the fridge: Bosch lists 200 litres of fridge capacity and 70 litres of freezer capacity for its built-in KIV87NSE0 model.
To decide whether a fridge freezer can replace a dedicated freezer, compare the usable capacity of its freezer compartment alone with the amount you want to store.
The open compartment can take bulky items, but smaller products can be hard to spot if they’re buried beneath everything else.
Check whether it has baskets and plan how you’ll group your food. Also measure the space needed to lift the lid and reach what’s inside.
Worth considering if the room where you’ll install your freezer can get cold, or if you’re looking for an upright model with organisation or defrosting features to suit your needs.
Worth considering for a chest freezer intended for a cold room, or for a built-in installation where precise dimensions matter.
Worth considering if drawer storage is important when choosing an upright freezer, or if you’re also thinking of replacing your fridge.
These appliances show different options for adding storage with a chest or upright freezer, as well as a fridge freezer to consider if you’re replacing your fridge too. Before choosing, compare freezer capacity and check that the appliance is suitable for your room.
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Worth considering if you need a chest freezer for family-sized storage and have enough space to open the lid from above.
The title lists a capacity of 291 L, an energy rating of E, a removable basket, LED lighting and a five-level digital control. Check the permitted ambient temperature range for the room you have in mind, and plan how you’ll reach food at the bottom.
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Consider this upright format if you’d rather keep portions separate than store them together in an open compartment.
The title mentions drawers, No Frost, an energy rating of C, an LED display, an alarm and a reversible door hinge. Check the manual for the temperature range stated in the title, as well as the ambient conditions permitted in your room.
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Worth considering if you’re also replacing your fridge, provided the freezer compartment can hold everything you need to store.
The title lists a total appliance capacity of 467 L, four doors, Total No Frost and an energy rating of E. Check the usable capacity of the freezer compartment alone before comparing it with a dedicated freezer.
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Worth considering if you want extra storage in a chest format and 140 L is enough for the amount you need to store.
The title mentions a basket, a counterbalanced lid, temperature control and an energy rating of E. Allow enough space to open the lid and check that the ambient temperature range is suitable for your room.
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This format is worth considering if you want extra storage in an open compartment, but don’t need as much capacity as the 291 L AUCMA chest freezer featured above.
The title lists a capacity of 141 L, an energy rating of E, a seven-level thermostat and a removable basket. As it’s convertible, check which mode is selected for your intended use; also check the permitted ambient temperature range for the room.
Choose a model whose ambient temperature range covers the room’s actual temperatures, in both winter and summer. According to Beko, SN covers 10 to 32 °C and SN-T covers 10 to 43 °C: neither is enough on its own for a room that falls below 10 °C. Some Beko and Liebherr models are rated to operate down to −15 °C; check this feature for the exact model number.
Check both, but use the kWh/year figure for each model to compare its energy consumption with appliances of a capacity and format that suit your needs. ADEME points out that a freezer runs continuously, so it’s worth considering its annual energy consumption alongside the capacity it offers.
Yes, if the usable capacity of its freezer compartment alone is enough for your usual stock and you also want to replace your fridge. The total capacity won’t tell you that: for example, Bosch lists 70 litres of freezer capacity and 200 litres of fridge capacity for its built-in KIV87NSE0 fridge freezer.
Check the collection options offered when you order your new appliance and confirm they’re suitable for your delivery location. Make sure there’s also enough access to remove the old freezer and bring in the new one.