If you regularly use a family-sized freezer, an upright model with drawers makes it easier to organise and access your food. A chest freezer is worth considering if capacity is your priority and you have enough floor space. A fridge-freezer with a larger freezer compartment is best if you also need to replace your fridge: check that its freezer capacity is genuinely sufficient, then compare the permitted room temperature, power-cut storage time, energy consumption and noise level.
If the food you want to freeze regularly exceeds the space available in your fridge-freezer, work out how much storage capacity you need. Also consider how much the freezer can freeze after a large shop. Que Choisir assesses this use case in its freezer testing protocol.
A chest freezer can meet your need for extra capacity if you have enough room for it and can access it easily. Before choosing one, check the room temperature: it must fall within the range specified for the model.
To find everyday items easily, look at the layout of the drawers or baskets and how accessible the food at the bottom will be. The stated capacity alone won’t tell you whether the storage will work for you.
Start by considering what you need to store and how much space you have. Then compare the installation requirements and practical features of the models you’re considering.
Worth considering: if you want to keep food organised in drawers and access your frozen supplies regularly.
Bear in mind: check the drawer sizes if you freeze large packs or bulky items.
Worth considering: if you need plenty of storage and have a sufficiently large space for it.
Bear in mind: food at the bottom needs careful organisation. Que Choisir notes that a chest freezer takes up more floor space than an upright model.
Worth considering: if you also need to replace your fridge and the model’s freezer compartment meets your needs.
Bear in mind: its total capacity includes the fridge section, so check the freezer capacity separately.
| Consideration | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and storage | Compare the freezer compartment capacity, then look at the layout of the drawers, baskets or shelves. Measure the appliance, the route into the room and the clearances specified in the manual. | I want to fit in my usual shopping without losing track of food stored at the bottom. |
| Room temperature | Check the minimum and maximum temperatures where the appliance will go against the ambient temperature range specified for the model. If it has a feature for use in cold rooms, confirm this in the manual. | My cellar or garage can get cold in winter, so I need an appliance designed for the temperatures it will actually experience. |
| Power cuts and shopping | Compare the stated storage time in hours, taking its definition into account, as well as the freezing capacity in kg/24 h. In its testing protocol published in 2025, Que Choisir assesses factors including how well a freezer handles a large shop and keeps food cold during a power cut. | After a big shop, I want to know how much the model can freeze in 24 hours. Its storage time also matters if the power is interrupted. |
| Energy and maintenance | The European energy label shows details including consumption in kWh/year, capacity and noise level. Compare appliances with similar capacities. Check separately whether defrosting is manual or the model has a No Frost function. | If the appliance is near a living area, its noise level matters as much as its energy consumption and how much time I’ll spend defrosting it. |
A large capacity is no use if the appliance won’t fit through the doors or gets in the way in your larder. Que Choisir gives average chest freezer dimensions of 110 to 140 cm wide and 70 cm deep.
Measure the space and the entire delivery route, then check the manual for the required clearances and lid-opening space.
The permitted ambient temperature range varies by model. Beko notes, for example, that the SN-T climate class does not cover rooms that fall below 10 °C, while Freezer Guard is a feature available on specific models.
Check the room temperature throughout the year and compare it with the manual for the exact model, rather than relying on the word “garage”.
Two appliances with different capacities may not meet the same needs. The European energy label also shows annual consumption, storage volumes and noise level.
Compare kWh/year and noise levels across models that can hold your food supplies. Check the freezer capacity rather than just the total capacity of a fridge-freezer.
These brand references relate to specific models or features. They don’t represent the specifications of an entire range or guarantee that a particular appliance is available.
A brand to consider if you’re looking for an upright freezer with compartmentalised storage.
Worth considering for installation in a cold room if the model has Freezer Guard.
A brand to consider if you’re looking for a chest freezer and want to explore features that help manage frost.
This selection includes a dedicated freezer and fridge-freezers to consider if you also need a fridge. For fridge-freezers, check the freezer compartment capacity separately from the stated total capacity.
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Worth considering if you’re also replacing your fridge and want to organise frozen food in a fridge-freezer. The model name indicates a total capacity of 360 L, Total No Frost and an E energy rating. Check the freezer compartment capacity and ambient temperature range before choosing.
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This dedicated upright freezer could suit you if you want to organise frozen food in drawers rather than replace your fridge. Its product name lists a capacity of 161 L, No Frost, an alarm and a C energy rating. Check its dimensions, ambient temperature range and storage time to make sure it’s suitable for your setup.
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Worth considering if you want to keep a fridge in your appliance and have a model that’s 54 cm wide. The product name lists a height of 176 cm, a 70/30 split and Low Frost. Check the capacity of the freezer compartment alone, then confirm the ambient temperature range specified for this model.
Yes, provided the ambient temperature range specified for the model covers the actual temperatures in the room. Bosch, for example, gives a range of 10 to 32 °C for climate class SN and 10 to 43 °C for SN-T. If the room falls below 10 °C, look for a feature explicitly approved for the exact model. Beko, for instance, lists certain Freezer Guard appliances as suitable for temperatures as low as -15 °C.
Compare the stated or measured times for each model, taking their definitions into account. Don’t assume storage time based solely on whether it’s an upright or chest freezer. In its 2025 testing protocol, Que Choisir measures how long food stays below -9 °C during a simulated power cut. A figure given by a manufacturer may be based on different conditions.
Check their annual consumption in kWh on the European energy label and compare appliances with a similar freezer capacity. The energy rating, from A to G, doesn’t replace this comparison. The label also shows storage volumes and noise level.
If you’re replacing an appliance in France, ask about the arrangements for taking back an equivalent used appliance before placing your order. The decree of 8 October 2014, published on Légifrance, provides for the old appliance to be collected from the place of use when the new appliance is delivered there. Confirm the practical arrangements with the retailer.