For stocking up in bulk, a chest freezer offers open storage space, while an upright freezer makes it easier to organise food and access meals regularly thanks to its drawers. A larger fridge freezer may be enough if its dedicated freezer compartment can hold everything you need. In all three cases, check the usable freezer capacity, the space available and the installation requirements for the specific model.
The right format depends as much on how much you store as on how often your family looks for a particular meal.
If you store lots of meals or bulky packaging, compare the capacity actually available for frozen food with the space needed to install the appliance. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes, in particular, large-capacity chest freezers from more compact upright models.
If you often need to find a portion, some vegetables or a particular bag, consider the drawers in an upright freezer or the way a chest freezer’s baskets are arranged. Capacity in litres alone won’t tell you whether food will be easy to reach.
In a cellar, utility room or garage, check the possible ambient temperatures and compare them with the range allowed in the model’s manual. Neither a chest nor an upright format is automatically suitable for a cold room.
First decide whether you need a large open space, drawer-based organisation or simply a larger freezer compartment. Then compare appliances with a similar capacity and format, checking their installation and operating requirements.
Consider it : for stocking up in bulk or storing bulky packaging, if you have enough floor space and room to open the lid.
Trade-off : food at the bottom takes more organisation to keep it accessible.
Consider it : if you want to sort meals into categories and regularly find specific portions.
Trade-off : drawers can make it harder to store bulky items.
Consider it : if you want more cooling capacity in the kitchen without installing a separate freezer.
Limitation : for frozen food storage, only the freezer compartment’s capacity counts, not the appliance’s total capacity.
| Priority | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and storage | Compare the freezer compartment’s capacity in litres, then look at the baskets, drawers and dividers. Make sure you’ll be able to reach the food in the intended location. | I stock up in bulk, but I also want to find a meal without moving lots of bags. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes the open space of chest freezers from the storage layout of upright models. |
| Everyday access | Check how the door or lid opens, the lighting and whether the drawers can be removed. With a chest freezer, plan how to divide food between the bottom and the baskets. | We take food out of the freezer several evenings a week, so clear organisation matters just as much as the stated capacity. |
| Location | Measure the floor space, depth and clearance needed to open the appliance. Compare the location’s ambient temperatures with the model’s climate class and instructions. | For a cellar or garage, I need to choose an appliance that can cope with the temperatures the room may reach, rather than relying on its format alone. |
| Power cuts and heat | Compare holdover times in hours using the same definition, and look for a temperature-stability measurement if one is available. Check whether the specific model has an alarm. | If the room gets hot or I’m concerned about power cuts, I want to know the conditions under which holdover time and temperature stability were assessed. UFC-Que Choisir, for example, measures how long food stays below −9 °C during a simulated power cut. |
| Energy and noise | Check the current energy rating, annual consumption in kWh, capacity and noise emissions. Compare these figures between appliances of a similar type and capacity. | If an appliance is near a living area, I’ll also consider how noisy it is, rather than choosing based on the letter on the label alone. The European Commission says this information appears on the labels of relevant appliances. |
| Maintenance and freezing | Check the defrosting method, then look for information about freezing fresh food if you prepare meals at home. Follow the manufacturer’s settings and instructions. | I freeze my own meals, so I need to distinguish the space available for storing them from the appliance’s capacity to freeze new food. |
A large chest freezer can hold bulky items, but portions at the bottom may be harder to reach. Drawers in an upright freezer make sorting easier, but limit the size of the packaging you can store.
Make a list of what you actually store — meal containers, bags and bulky products — then check the baskets, drawers, lighting and access once the appliance is installed.
A room that is unheated or very warm may fall outside the ambient temperature range specified for the model.
Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the climate class and temperature range given for the specific appliance.
According to ADEME, the old A+, A++ and A+++ ratings have been removed from the new label. They should not be read as equivalent to ratings on the A to G scale.
When comparing two similar appliances, consider annual kWh alongside freezer capacity and noise, rather than focusing on the letter alone.
Annual consumption adds up throughout the appliance’s lifetime; its effect on your bill also depends on your household’s electricity tariff.
Having enough room to store food that is already frozen doesn’t, on its own, tell you how much fresh food the appliance can freeze.
If you prepare meals to freeze, check the model’s information about freezing and its freezing capacity, then follow the manual.
These examples highlight features to check on specific models; a feature advertised for one model does not apply to the whole brand.
Beko offers chest and upright freezers to consider based on your preferred storage layout and installation location.
Liebherr chest freezers are worth considering if your household is looking for a large, open freezing space.
Whirlpool upright freezers are worth considering if access to separate compartments matters more than open storage space.
This selection includes chest and upright freezers in different capacities, as well as a fridge freezer. For the latter, don’t confuse its total capacity with the space available for frozen food.
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This 291 L chest freezer is worth considering for storing larger quantities, provided you can organise and reach food at the bottom.
The product name describes a convertible fridge and freezer function, an E energy rating, LED lighting, five-level digital controls and a removable basket.
Before placing it in a garage or cellar, check the ambient temperature range allowed in the manual. Also compare its holdover time in the event of a power cut.
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This fridge freezer is worth considering if you want more cooling capacity in the kitchen without adding a dedicated freezer.
Its name specifies three doors, a total capacity of 360 L, Total No Frost and an E energy rating. The 360 L is not all freezer space, so check the capacity of the freezer compartment against your storage needs.
If installing it outside the kitchen, also check the ambient temperature range specified for the model.
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This 161 L upright freezer is worth comparing if you want to organise meals, provided its capacity meets your storage needs.
The product name mentions drawers, No Frost, an alarm, a C energy rating and a stated temperature setting range of −14 °C to −22 °C. Check the manual to choose the right setting for your needs.
Measure the space and compare annual consumption and holdover time in the event of a power cut before choosing between this model and another upright freezer.
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At 99 L, this chest freezer is an option for extra storage to compare with your usual quantities; it may be too small for a family that stocks up in bulk.
The product name specifies a 4-star compartment, an adjustable thermostat, a removable basket and an E energy rating. The basket helps separate some food, but won’t organise the entire bottom of the freezer.
Check the space needed to open the lid, as well as the ambient temperature conditions for the intended location.
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This 60 L upright freezer lets you separate small quantities, but its capacity is worth checking against your family’s storage needs.
The product name specifies three drawers, a reversible door, temperature control and an E energy rating. Check there’s enough clearance for the door and drawers in your chosen location.
To compare how well it keeps food frozen and whether it’s suitable for installation outside the kitchen, check the model’s holdover time in the event of a power cut and its ambient temperature range.
Compare times in hours only after checking what each figure measures. UFC-Que Choisir’s test, for example, looks at how long food stays below −9 °C during a simulated power cut. Also check whether each model has an alarm.
Check the information about freezing fresh food and the model’s freezing capacity, rather than looking at its storage capacity alone. For the temperature setting, the Ministry of Agriculture puts a freezer’s temperature between −18 °C and −24 °C. You should also follow the appliance manual.
For relevant appliances in the European Union, the European Commission says the label includes information such as energy consumption, storage capacity and noise. Compare annual kWh and capacity between similar appliances: the A to G rating alone doesn’t tell you everything about how they’ll perform.
Yes, if the ambient temperature range specified for the model covers the conditions in your garage. Check its climate class and manual: Beko and Liebherr state that some specific models are suitable for temperatures down to −15 °C, but this does not apply to all their freezers.
No. A frost-management feature doesn’t replace the maintenance recommended in the manual. Check the cleaning and defrosting instructions for the model you choose before deciding what level of maintenance suits you.