Choose an upright freezer if you open it often and want to organise portions in drawers. Consider a chest freezer if you have enough floor space for bulkier items. If you’re replacing your fridge too, compare fridge freezers, but look at the space set aside for frozen food rather than the total capacity. If the appliance will be installed in a room with little or no heating, always check the permitted temperature range for the exact model.
The right format depends as much on how you store food as on how much space you have.
If you often need to find a particular tub or bag, the drawers in an upright freezer make it easy to separate different types of food. Beko France describes this format as a vertical appliance arranged into separate compartments.
A chest freezer can hold bulky items in its main compartment, provided you have enough room for the appliance and to open the lid. If you’re planning to keep it in a garage, cellar or utility room, check the temperatures permitted for the model too.
A larger-capacity fridge freezer is worth comparing if you want more space for both fresh and frozen food. Check the freezer compartment’s capacity separately: the total capacity doesn’t tell you how much room is available for frozen food.
Start by working out what needs to fit in the freezer and where you’ll install it. Then compare how easy it is to reach your food, the operating conditions and the energy label information.
Consider one: if you often need to find portions stored in drawers, and would rather use the room’s height than its width.
The trade-off: according to Que Choisir, the largest capacities are generally found among chest freezers, so check the capacity of each upright model you’re considering.
Consider one: for bulkier items, if you have enough floor space.
The trade-off: you’ll need to organise the main compartment to reach food stored at the bottom.
Consider one: if you’re replacing your main fridge and need more room for both fresh and frozen food.
The trade-off: its total capacity isn’t the same as its freezer capacity, so check the capacity of each compartment.
| What to consider | What to check | Depending on your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and location | Compare the net freezer capacity in litres, then measure the width, depth and height, the delivery route and the clearances specified in the manual. For a fridge freezer, check the fresh and frozen food capacities separately. | I need room for bulk buys, but the appliance also needs to fit without getting in the way. |
| Access to food | Check the drawers and compartments in an upright freezer, or the baskets and main compartment in a chest freezer. Beko France describes these as different storage layouts, so check the one offered by your chosen model. | If I freeze a variety of small portions, I want to find them without moving everything else around. |
| Room temperature and power cuts | Compare the temperatures the room may reach with the ambient temperature range specified for the model. Check its stated power-cut storage time separately; a model’s advertised low-temperature performance won’t necessarily apply to every model in the range. | My appliance may be in an unheated room. I need to check it can operate there, then compare the stated storage times of the models I’m considering. |
| Energy use | According to the European Commission, the EU energy label shows the A to G rating, kWh/year, capacity and noise level, among other details. Focus on comparing kWh/year between appliances with similar formats and capacities. | The freezer will be running all year, so I want to look at its stated energy use rather than rely on the rating letter alone. |
A large compartment may be less practical if the appliance blocks a walkway, the lid can’t open fully or food at the bottom is hard to reach.
Measure the space, the delivery route and the clearance needed to open the lid. If you’re storing lots of small items, plan to organise them in baskets or containers.
According to Beko France, the climate class corresponds to an ambient temperature range. Installing an appliance outside that range may affect how it works.
Compare the temperatures your garage or cellar may reach with the conditions specified for the exact model. Don’t assume it’s suitable just because it’s an upright or chest freezer.
The letter doesn’t replace comparing stated energy use and capacity. The European Commission says the label also shows kWh/year, storage volumes and noise level.
Compare the kWh/year figures for appliances of a similar size and format, then check the model details in EPREL if you need to make a more precise comparison.
This varies by model: the specifications for two Whirlpool chest freezers state 36 h for the W3RHS37EW1 and 32 h for the WHM46122FR.
Look up the stated storage time in the technical specifications for each shortlisted model, and compare the figures rather than assuming one appliance’s performance applies to another.
These examples highlight features to check model by model; they don’t necessarily apply to every product in each range.
Its drawer-style upright freezers let you compare different capacities and installation conditions.
Its chest freezer specifications offer examples of capacities and storage times to compare with the space you have available.
The French range includes upright and chest freezers in different capacities.
This selection includes chest and upright freezers for extra frozen food storage, as well as fridge freezers to consider if you’re replacing your main appliance too. Before choosing, compare the capacity allocated to frozen food and any installation requirements.
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Worth comparing if you’re replacing your fridge too, rather than looking for a separate additional freezer. The product title lists three doors, Total No Frost technology and an energy rating of E. Check the freezer compartment capacity separately from the stated total of 360 L.
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Its upright design is worth considering if you want to organise portions in a separate freezer. The title lists three freezer drawers, No Frost protection and an energy rating of C. Before installing it in a cellar or garage, check its dimensions, storage time in the event of a power cut and permitted ambient temperature range.
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This chest freezer offers separate storage if you have enough floor space. Its title lists fridge or freezer modes, a removable basket and an energy rating of E. Before choosing where to put it, check the space needed to open the lid, as well as the model’s ambient temperature range and storage time.
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Worth considering if you want a smaller chest freezer to add to your household’s storage. The title says it can be set to fridge or freezer mode, and lists a removable basket and an energy rating of E. Make sure 95 L is enough for your needs, then check the installation conditions and storage time for this model.
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This fridge freezer is best suited to replacing your main fridge, rather than adding a separate freezer. Its title lists a width of 54 cm, a height of 176 cm and Low Frost technology. The total capacity of 262 L isn’t the capacity of the freezer compartment alone, so check its capacity and the permitted ambient temperature for your chosen location.
Compare the temperatures your garage may reach with the ambient temperature range specified for the exact model. Beko France explains that the climate class defines the intended temperature conditions. Some specific models are rated to operate down to −15 °C, but this doesn’t apply to all freezers.
It’s the length of time the model is stated to keep food cold during a power cut, as set out in its technical specifications. This varies between appliances: Whirlpool France lists 36 h for the W3RHS37EW1 and 32 h for the WHM46122FR.
Check annual energy use in kWh, storage capacity and noise level, as well as the A to G rating. According to the European Commission, these details appear on the labels of relevant household appliances. The kWh/year figure is especially useful when comparing freezers with similar capacities and formats. You can also use the EPREL database to check the published specifications for a model.
No. Liebherr describes No Frost as a technology designed to prevent frost forming in the freezer compartment, but it doesn’t replace the installation and maintenance instructions in the manual. Check that the feature applies to your chosen model and follow the clearances specified by its manufacturer.