Who are these styles suited to?

Families who freeze meals in portions

If you regularly prepare meals, drawers can help you keep portions separate and find the ones you need without rummaging through your entire stock.

Households that stock up in bulk

If you store large quantities of food or bulky containers, consider the usable capacity and the floor space available. With a chest freezer, you’ll also need a way to organise your food.

Households with limited installation space

In a small kitchen, pantry or unheated room, dimensions alone aren’t enough. You need to be able to open the appliance, allow the clearances specified in its manual and check its permitted ambient temperature range.

What sets these styles apart?

Start by choosing according to how much food you need to store and how often you need to access it. The available space and room temperature may then rule out a style that would otherwise suit your storage needs.

Upright freezer

Consider it if: you often take out different portions and want to organise them in drawers.

Bear in mind: its maximum capacity is generally lower than a chest freezer’s. Also check that the drawers can be removed once the appliance is in place.

Chest freezer

Consider it if: you store large batches or bulky containers and have plenty of floor space.

Bear in mind: access from the top and the lack of fixed dividers mean you’ll need to be more organised to find smaller portions.

Table-top or under-counter freezer

Consider it if: space is tight and you only need a modest amount of extra freezer capacity.

Bear in mind: its smaller capacity is less suited to large family stocks. UFC-Que Choisir puts table-top and under-counter models at between 30 and 100 L.

Larger fridge-freezer

Consider it if: you also need to buy a fridge and want a moderate increase in freezer space without adding a separate appliance.

Bear in mind: compare the freezer compartment’s usable capacity with the amount you actually store before ruling out an upright or chest freezer.

Criteria What to check before buying Who it matters to
Access to meals Drawer or basket layout; whether you can reach and remove portions easily. I want to find each portion quickly, even when several meals are stored. Around 36% of consumers prioritise easy everyday access.
Storage capacity Usable capacity in litres; freezing capacity in kg/24 h if you often add a lot of fresh food. After a big shop or a cooking session, I mainly need room for batches and large containers. This is the priority for around 29% of consumers.
Suitability for the room The room’s minimum and maximum temperatures compared with the model’s range; dimensions and required clearances. My cellar, garage or small kitchen narrows down the options before I can even compare capacity. For around 21% of consumers, whether the location is suitable comes first.
Use and maintenance Energy consumption in kWh/year for a comparable capacity; defrosting type and stated power-cut storage time. I want to keep defrosting to a minimum and consider the day-to-day running of an appliance that stays on. Around 14% of consumers put these considerations first.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Choosing capacity without considering access to food

    A chest freezer can hold large stocks, but access from the top and the lack of compartments can make it harder to find different portions every day.

    Make a list of the types of food you store most often. For a variety of portions, look at the drawers in an upright freezer; for large batches, plan how you’ll organise a chest freezer.

  • Installing the appliance in a cellar or garage without checking its climate range

    The room temperature may fall outside the model’s specified operating range, even if the appliance physically fits in the space.

    Find out the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures, then compare them with the range specified for the exact model.

  • Comparing only the energy label rating

    The rating alone doesn’t tell you how much food two different models can hold or how their interiors are organised.

    For appliances with similar functions and capacity, also compare annual energy consumption in kWh, usable capacity, noise, power-cut storage time and defrosting type.

  • Measuring the space without allowing for opening the appliance

    An upright freezer with drawers that can’t be pulled out, or a chest freezer whose lid can’t open far enough, will be difficult to use.

    Measure the route into the room and the space in front of the door or above the lid, then allow for the ventilation clearances specified in the model’s manual.

Brands to consider by model

These ranges offer a useful point of comparison for each style. Check the specifications of the model you’re interested in rather than assuming they apply to an entire brand.

Bosch

Bosch offers freestanding upright freezers, built-in models and under-counter freezers to suit different storage needs.

  • According to Bosch Électroménager France, the GSN58AWCV upright freezer has a usable capacity of 366 L, a noise level of 38 dB(A) and a stated power-cut storage time of 13 h.
  • These figures apply to the GSN58AWCV. A Bosch under-counter model such as the GTV15NWEB, with a stated capacity of 83 L, is designed for different storage needs.

Beko

The range includes upright and compact models, with installation requirements that vary by model.

  • Beko France states that its B1RFNE314W can operate at an ambient temperature of down to −15 °C.
  • Don’t assume this means every Beko freezer is suitable for a cold room. Check the chosen model’s temperature range against the temperatures in your room.

Liebherr

Liebherr chest freezers may suit households that prefer an open space for storing food.

  • For relevant models, Liebherr describes StopFrost as a feature designed to reduce frost build-up.
  • Check each model’s capacity, defrosting system, energy consumption and climate range. The description of a technology doesn’t tell you about all these features.

Haier

Haier France lists both upright and chest freezers, so you can compare the two ways of accessing your food.

  • The range shown by Haier France includes a variety of capacities in both styles.
  • Compare the dimensions, usable capacity and energy data of specific models rather than choosing based on style alone.

Whirlpool

Whirlpool France offers large-capacity No Frost upright freezers, including models with drawers for storing food.

  • According to Whirlpool France, the WHFF 6403 W4E has a capacity of 404 L, six drawers, a noise level of 38 dB and a power-cut storage time of 11 h.
  • These figures apply to the WHFF 6403 W4E. Check its dimensions and climate range too before choosing this model.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

What climate class do you need for a freezer in a garage or cellar?

The model’s specified ambient temperature range must cover the temperatures the room actually reaches. For example, Bosch Électroménager France gives a range of 10 to 32 °C for climate class SN and 10 to 43 °C for class SN-T. Measure the minimum and maximum temperatures in your chosen location and check the specifications for the model you’re considering.

Is No Frost essential for storing family meals?

No. Your choice mainly depends on whether you want to reduce defrosting and on the model’s other features. UFC-Que Choisir advises defrosting a manual-defrost appliance when the frost layer reaches around 3 mm. Compare usable capacity, internal layout and annual energy consumption too.

What should you look for on a freezer’s energy label?

Check the energy rating and annual consumption, then compare them with the usable capacity of the models you’re considering. The European Union uses a scale from A to G; the rating alone doesn’t replace checking the capacity and the model’s other specifications.

Does a new freezer bought from a retailer come with a legal guarantee in France?

Yes. As the French Ministry of the Economy explains, the legal guarantee of conformity in France applies to new goods sold by a business to a private individual. It covers faults in conformity. Keep your proof of purchase and the product description so you can report any fault to the seller.

What should you do with your old freezer when replacing it?

You can arrange for it to be taken back when you buy an appliance of the same type. The French Ministry for Ecological Transition explains that this “one-for-one” take-back scheme applies to household electrical appliances, among other items. Agree the practical arrangements with the seller before delivery.