To add extra capacity to a family fridge-freezer, choose a format that suits the space available and how you access your food. An upright freezer makes it easy to organise food in drawers, while a chest freezer is ideal for larger amounts if you have enough floor space. For a smaller boost, consider a compact model too. Before you buy, check the dimensions and delivery access, the permitted ambient temperature range, the storage time during a power cut and the specific model’s annual energy consumption.
If your fridge-freezer compartment is no longer big enough, work out how much extra capacity you need and how often you’ll want to find specific items. A chest freezer offers open storage space, while an upright freezer lets you sort food into drawers.
A separate room can house the appliance without taking up space in your kitchen. Make sure you measure the spot and the delivery route, then check that the room’s temperature stays within the range permitted for your chosen model.
If you only have a few items that won’t fit in your current freezer, consider a compact, table-top or under-counter model. Check its usable capacity, internal layout and the dimensions needed for installation.
Start with how much you need to store and how you want to access your food. Then compare each format with the space available and the features of the model.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Format and storage | Compare the net capacity and internal layout. An upright freezer has drawers; for a chest freezer, check the baskets and how easy it is to reach food at the bottom. | I open the freezer often and want to find food quickly, or I’d prefer open storage for bulk purchases. |
| Extra capacity | Estimate what regularly won’t fit in your current freezer compartment. Consider a compact model for a small capacity boost, or the net capacity of a separate appliance if you need to store more. | I’m short of space for a few items, or I need to store meals and bulk purchases. |
| Replacing the fridge-freezer | If you also need to replace your fridge-freezer, compare the net freezer capacity and dimensions of a new combined appliance with those of a separate freezer. | I’d rather consider one appliance than add a second, but the new freezer compartment must be large enough for my supplies. |
| Installation | Measure the appliance, the space, the door or lid opening and the delivery route. Check the clearances required in the instruction manual. | My kitchen is already full, or the freezer has to fit through doors, up stairs or along a narrow corridor. |
| Room temperature | Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures throughout the year with the climate class or ambient temperature range specified for the exact model. Check model by model whether it is suitable for an unheated room. | I plan to use a cellar or garage, so the freezer needs to suit the temperatures the room actually reaches. |
| Energy consumption | Check the kWh/year alongside the net capacity and energy rating, rather than looking at the rating letter alone. According to ADEME, freezers run continuously. | As an extra appliance will be plugged in all the time, I want to compare capacities suited to my needs without overlooking annual energy consumption. |
| Power cuts and freezing capacity | Check the storage time in hours during a power cut and, separately, the freezing capacity in kg/24 h if you often add fresh food. | I keep a large supply of food, or regularly freeze several purchases or meals at once. |
Its width, depth and lid clearance need to suit the space. The appliance must also fit along the delivery route.
Check the dimensions of your chosen model and measure doors, corridors and stairways. Consult the instruction manual for the clearance needed around the appliance.
The permitted ambient temperature depends on the model. For example, Beko says its HSM46740 can operate in ambient temperatures as low as −15 °C, but this feature does not apply to all chest freezers.
Compare the operating range in the model’s documentation with the temperatures the room reaches in winter and summer.
A freezer runs continuously, ADEME points out. The rating letter alone doesn’t tell you the annual energy consumption you need to compare across appliances.
Check the kWh/year and net capacity on each model’s label, then choose a capacity that suits the amount you store.
Storage time refers to a power cut; freezing capacity, expressed in kg/24 h, refers to adding food to be frozen. These figures relate to different needs.
Check the storage time if you keep a large supply of food, and the freezing capacity if you regularly add large quantities of fresh food.
These models are examples of different formats and features to compare. Always check the details of the model you’re considering to make sure it suits your space.
The range includes chest and upright freezers. If you plan to use one in an unheated room, check that the specific model is suitable.
The HCE200EFR chest freezer is an example of extra capacity to compare with the space you have available.
The GFT61PZCSE upright freezer is worth considering if storage behind a door suits your habits better than a chest freezer.
These five chest freezers offer a range of extra storage capacities, from a small boost to more substantial storage. If you’re looking for drawers or an under-counter appliance, compare models in the relevant format instead.
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For a large family supply, this chest freezer has a stated capacity of 291 L and a removable basket. Bear in mind that you’ll also need to reach food stored beneath the basket. It can switch between freezer and fridge modes and has an E energy rating. Check its dimensions, ambient temperature range, storage time and kWh/year to make sure it suits your needs.
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With a capacity of 197 L, this model can supplement your fridge-freezer compartment if you want separate storage. It has a removable basket, fridge and freezer modes, and an E energy rating. Check the delivery access, permitted ambient temperature range, storage time and kWh/year for this model.
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At 95 L, this model is suited to a small capacity boost rather than a large family supply. It has a removable basket, a 7-setting thermostat, fridge and freezer modes, and an E energy rating. Check the dimensions and permitted ambient temperature range before choosing a spot, along with the storage time and kWh/year to compare it with other models.
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With a stated capacity of 141 L, this chest freezer offers a useful middle ground if you don’t need a large amount of extra storage. It has a removable basket and a 7-setting thermostat, as well as fridge and freezer modes and an E energy rating. Compare its dimensions, ambient temperature range, storage time and kWh/year with your household’s needs.
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With a stated capacity of 99 L, this model is better suited to a modest capacity boost than a large supply of food. The JR99DWE is described as a 4-star chest freezer with a removable basket, sliding lid and E energy rating. Check its dimensions, permitted ambient temperature, storage time and kWh/year before comparing it with other formats.
Compare their annual consumption in kWh alongside their net capacities, rather than looking only at their energy ratings. The European Commission says that the EPREL database, accessed via the QR code on the energy label, provides details including annual energy consumption, dimensions and capacity. Check these figures for the models you’re interested in.
Yes, as long as the model’s specified ambient temperature range covers the temperatures in your garage throughout the year. For example, Beko says its HSM46740 can operate in temperatures as low as −15 °C. Don’t assume this applies to another freezer without checking its documentation.
No. Storage time describes how long food stays cold during a power cut; freezing capacity in kg/24 h refers to the amount of food you can add to be frozen. For its freezer testing protocol, UFC-Que Choisir measures, among other things, how long it takes for the temperature to rise from −17 °C to −9 °C without power. Check these two features separately to make sure the model suits your needs.