For a family’s weekly shop, first measure the access route and available space, then compare fridge and freezer capacities separately. A fridge-freezer keeps everything in one appliance that’s narrower than the multi-door and American-style models featured here. These wider formats need more room, while a separate freezer can meet a greater need for frozen food, but requires a second space and uses additional electricity.
If you put away fresh food, drinks, fruit, vegetables and ready meals all at once, look at the capacity in litres of each compartment and how the shelves and drawers are arranged, rather than focusing on the total capacity alone.
Compare freezer capacity with the space your usual shopping and batch-cooked meals take up. If you’re considering a separate freezer, check where it will go, its freezing capacity and the electrical specifications of both appliances.
Measure the delivery route, the space where the appliance will go and the room needed to open the doors. Then check the model’s instructions for the required ventilation clearances.
Consider this if: you want fresh and frozen food in one appliance and have around 60 to 70 cm of width available.
Bear in mind: check the freezer compartment carefully if you store lots of frozen food.
Consider this if: you want to organise your shopping across several doors and drawers, and have room for a wider appliance.
Bear in mind: the delivery route, depth and door clearance must all work in your home.
Consider this if: you prefer separate fridge and freezer columns in one wide appliance.
Bear in mind: compare the capacity of each column. The total capacity won’t tell you how much room there is for frozen food.
Consider this if: keeping plenty of frozen food is your main priority and you can accommodate two appliances.
Bear in mind: allow for two ventilated spaces and check the electricity consumption of each appliance.
| What to consider | What to check | How it relates to your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Separate capacities | Compare the fridge and freezer capacities in litres, then look at the space provided by the shelves and drawers. The European Commission says these capacities appear on the energy label for the appliances it covers. | I do a big shop and want to store fresh food without reducing the space available for frozen food. |
| Access and installation | Measure the appliance’s width, height and depth, the delivery route and the clearance needed to open the doors. Check the instructions for the ventilation clearances required for that model. | A wide appliance needs to fit through doors and hallways, then open properly in my kitchen. |
| Energy and noise | Look at the energy class, kWh/year and noise emissions together on the European energy label. To compare energy use, look at appliances with similar formats and capacities. | In an open-plan kitchen, noise matters just as much to me as the energy use of an appliance that runs continuously. |
| Putting the shopping away | Check the layout of the compartments and whether air can circulate once the appliance is full. Anses recommends checking that the coldest point stays between 0 °C and 4 °C. | Once I’ve put the shopping away, I need to be able to find food without piling it up or blocking the air vents. |
| Freezer capacity | If you’re considering an additional appliance, compare its usable capacity and freezing capacity, as well as the space and ventilation it needs. | When frozen food makes up a large part of my shop, I prefer to assess its storage space separately from the space for fresh food. |
A large advertised capacity doesn’t guarantee that the freezer compartment will have enough room for your frozen food.
Compare the fridge and freezer capacities in litres separately on the model’s specification sheet, then check the interior layout.
The Samsung and Hisense multi-door and American-style models mentioned in the manufacturers’ specifications are 908 and 910 mm wide respectively. You’ll also need to allow for the packaging during delivery.
Measure doorways, hallways and lifts, then check the space where the appliance will go and the clearance needed to open its doors.
An appliance that won’t fit through or whose doors can’t open properly may mean you have to rethink your kitchen layout.
The energy class doesn’t tell you the annual consumption in kWh, particularly when appliances have different capacities.
According to the European Commission’s guidance on the energy label, you should also compare compartment capacities and noise levels, ideally between appliances with similar formats and needs.
Anses recommends allowing air to circulate and checking the temperature, particularly when the fridge is full or its door is opened often.
Arrange food without blocking the air vents and check that the coldest point is between 0 °C and 4 °C.
These models are examples of different formats and dimensions to compare. Their specifications don’t apply to every model from each brand.
Two models offer a chance to compare a standalone fridge-freezer with an option that includes a tall freezer.
The RF24BB620EB1EF multi-door model is an example of a large appliance for which you’ll need to check access and layout.
The RS5P628WSPID is an example of an American-style fridge-freezer to consider if you want one appliance with two columns.
These multi-door and American-style models let you compare different ways of dividing space between fresh and frozen food. Before choosing one, check that its dimensions, compartments and installation requirements suit your kitchen and usual shopping habits.
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To divide your shopping between fresh and frozen food, the stated capacities are 311 L and 156 L. This model has four doors, six door balconies and two freezer drawers. Check the delivery route, door clearance and the ventilation clearances specified in the instructions.
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The stated capacities, 407 L for the fridge and 221 L for the freezer, are worth comparing with the way you shop. The appliance is listed as 91.3 cm wide, with packaging measuring 97.2 cm: check the delivery route and the space needed to open the doors. The water dispenser needs a water connection, so plan for this as directed in the installation instructions.
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The stated capacity is split into 330 L for the fridge and 165 L for the freezer, with two salad drawers and two freezer drawers. Check the dimensions for delivery and door clearance, along with the water dispenser setup if a water connection is important to you.
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Its stated capacities of 333 L for refrigeration and 192 L for freezing let you assess how much space is available for each type of shopping. The model name specifies No Frost and 37 dB. Check its dimensions, door clearance and kWh/year on the energy label before comparing it with other formats.
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This four-door model has a stated total capacity of 474 L, with drawers and storage compartments. To see if it has enough room for your frozen food, check the net capacity of each compartment separately. Also check the energy label and instructions for energy use, noise and installation clearances.
Compare the energy class, annual consumption in kWh, the capacities of the fridge and freezer compartments, and noise emissions. The European Commission provides these details for the fridge-freezers and freezers covered by its scheme. The kWh/year figure is most useful when comparing appliances with similar formats and capacities.
Follow the clearances specified in your model’s instructions. For its freestanding fridges, Whirlpool gives 5 cm above and 10 cm behind as a guide. These figures don’t replace the instructions for another appliance or for a built-in model.
A multi-door or American-style fridge-freezer has to fit through doorways, hallways and any lifts before it can be positioned in your kitchen. Samsung specifically advises checking that the packaged appliance will fit through. Measure the entire route against the dimensions of your chosen model, then check that its doors can open properly.
Anses recommends checking that the coldest point in the fridge is between 0 °C and 4 °C. Avoid packing food in too tightly so that air can circulate, especially when the appliance has just been filled or its door is opened often.
Follow the setup steps in the instructions before loading it with food. For its appliances, Whirlpool advises waiting 24 hours before plugging them in for the first time, then allowing the compartments to reach their operating temperature.