If you do a big food shop less often, start by comparing the usable capacity of each compartment with your actual needs, rather than looking at total capacity alone. A fridge freezer may suit you if its compartments are large enough; a multi-door fridge or two separate appliances will need more space, so check the model’s dimensions and installation requirements.
If you leave longer between food shops, first work out how much room you need for chilled food and the containers you normally use. UFC-Que Choisir recommends taking into account how often you shop and whether you buy enough food to last several days.
If your freezer drawers fill up first, compare the usable capacity and layout of the freezer compartment. Total capacity alone won’t tell you whether you’ll have room for all your frozen food.
If you’re thinking about a multi-door fridge, check the route into your kitchen, the space available and the door clearance before choosing its capacity.
Consider this if: the fresh and frozen capacities of a single appliance suit your shopping habits and it fits in your kitchen.
Check: the capacity in litres of each compartment separately, as well as the depth, door clearance and required ventilation.
Consider this if: you want more storage space and have a suitable location and access route for a larger appliance.
Check: how much of the capacity is reserved for the freezer and whether the appliance, including its packaging, will fit along the delivery route.
Consider this if: frozen food is taking up most of the available space in your current appliance.
Check: the freezer capacity against your usual purchases, while making sure there’s still enough room for fresh food.
Consider this if: a single appliance doesn’t provide the balance of capacity you want and you have room for two appliances.
Check: the space required, ventilation and the stated annual energy consumption of each appliance.
To choose between these formats, start by working out how your shopping is split between fresh and frozen food. Then check that the appliance can be delivered and installed in your kitchen.
| What matters | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Room for fresh food | Fridge capacity in litres; shelf and drawer layout for your containers. | When I shop for several days at a time, I want to store fresh food without overcrowding the fridge. Around 36% of consumers prioritise space for fresh food shopping. |
| Freezer capacity | Freezer capacity in litres; the number and layout of drawers for the packaging you usually buy. | If I regularly buy frozen food, I check that the freezer compartment can hold it without taking up all the space for fresh food. Around 29% of consumers put frozen food storage at the top of their list. |
| Installation and access | Appliance and packaging dimensions; delivery route, door clearance and ventilation requirements in the manual. | Before choosing a large model, I measure the route in and the space needed to open the doors in my kitchen. Ease of fitting the appliance into the home is the priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Energy use, noise and maintenance | Model label: A to G energy rating, kWh/year and stated noise level; maintenance features listed for the model. | Once the capacity and installation requirements are right, I compare energy-use figures and maintenance needs. Around 14% of consumers consider these their main priority. |
UFC-Que Choisir highlights the importance of considering how often you shop and how much frozen food you buy. When comparing appliances, the energy label provides information including capacity, annual energy consumption and noise level.
The total figure doesn’t tell you whether you’ll run out of room for fresh food or in the freezer first.
Compare the listed capacities of both compartments with the amount of food you usually store before deciding between formats.
An appliance might fit in its intended spot but still be too large to get through the delivery route or leave enough room to open its doors.
Measure the access route, the space available and the door clearance; follow the ventilation clearances specified in the manual for your chosen model.
A separate fridge and freezer need two spaces, and you’ll need to check the annual energy consumption of each appliance individually.
Compare this option with a suitable fridge freezer, taking into account the space available and the information on each appliance’s energy label.
The brand’s freestanding fridge freezers can be a useful reference when comparing the balance of fresh and frozen storage.
The RB53DG703ES9EF fridge freezer is an example of a wider appliance.
The HDPR1618CNPK and HCR79F18CHMB models show two different formats: a fridge freezer and a multi-door fridge.
The RF815N4SWSE multi-door fridge is an example of a large freestanding appliance.
The brand offers fridge freezer ranges as well as separate freestanding fridges and freezers.
This selection includes fridge freezers and multi-door or American-style fridges, so you can compare fresh and frozen capacities with the space available in your kitchen.
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The stated split makes it easy to compare the space for fresh food shopping with the space for frozen food.
347 L fridge capacity and 197 L freezer capacity; No Frost; water dispenser.
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The separate capacities make it easy to check whether there’s enough room for fresh and frozen food to suit your shopping habits.
235 L fridge capacity and 125 L freezer capacity; three freezer drawers; 59,5 cm wide; Total No Frost; E energy rating; Wi-Fi.
The product information recommends placing the appliance on a stable surface with sufficient ventilation around it.
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This format lets you compare a large stated capacity with the space actually available in your kitchen.
336 L fridge capacity and 149 L freezer capacity; Total No Frost; two freezer sections; E energy rating; 38 dB.
Allow for a stable surface, sufficient ventilation and enough clearance to open the doors, in line with the installation instructions.
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The stated capacity of each compartment helps you compare it with your fresh food shopping and frozen food purchases.
276 L fridge capacity and 168 L freezer capacity; 83 cm wide; No Frost; E energy rating; 40 dB.
Check the clearance needed for ventilation and to open the doors before installation.
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This fridge freezer is worth comparing if you want a single appliance that’s 60 cm wide.
211 L fridge capacity and 99 L freezer capacity; reversible door; inverter compressor; E energy rating.
Check the fridge and freezer capacities in litres separately on the model’s label, then compare them with the food you usually buy. Total capacity on its own doesn’t show how that space is divided.
Measure the delivery route, the space for the appliance, the clearance needed to open the doors and the clearances specified in the model’s manual. Samsung advises checking that its RB53DG703ES9EF will fit through the route while still packaged; Bosch’s recommendation to allow 200 cm² for ventilation relates to its installation guidance and isn’t a universal measurement.
Anses advises against overfilling the fridge so that air can circulate, and recommends checking the temperature in its coldest area, which should be around 4 °C. It also recommends keeping chilled and frozen food out of the cold chain for as little time as possible during transport.
Compare the kWh/year figures on the labels of models whose capacity and installation requirements already suit your needs. If you choose two appliances, check the energy-use figures for each one.
For household appliances covered by the regulations, energy labelling is governed by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2016, which has applied since 1 March 2021, according to the DGCCRF. The label includes the energy rating, annual energy consumption, capacity and noise level; it doesn’t require buyers to choose a particular rating.