Households that shop weekly
If you keep several days’ worth of fresh and frozen food at home, compare the capacity of each compartment separately. A large total capacity can disguise a freezer section that’s too small for your shopping.
Which households might suit these options?
How often you shop doesn’t determine the capacity you need on its own: the space you want for frozen food and your kitchen’s limitations matter too.
Households with an open-plan kitchen or a measured space
Check the delivery route, the appliance’s dimensions, how far the doors open and the clearances specified in its instructions. If it’s near your living space, the stated noise level is worth considering too.
Households that store lots of frozen food
Regular frozen-food shops or batch-cooked meals may make a multi-door fridge or a separate freezer worth considering. Compare the freezer space you’ll actually have with the room this set-up will take up in your home.
Which format and features should you prioritise?
Start by considering what a week’s shopping looks like, then compare the available formats with your home’s measurements. Features listed for one model don’t apply to every appliance in the same format.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity split | Compare the fridge and freezer capacities in litres separately, then look at the shape of the drawers and shelves. Bosch lists 311 L of fridge capacity and 129 L of freezer capacity for the KGN492IAF. | Do I mainly keep fresh food, or does my shop also fill several freezer drawers? The total capacity won’t answer that question. |
| Format | A fridge-freezer combines fresh and frozen storage in one tall unit. A multi-door fridge offers a different layout in one appliance; a single-door fridge and a separate freezer need two spaces and two installations to check. | If I want to choose how much space to allocate to fresh and frozen food, two appliances could suit me, provided I have enough room. If I’d rather have one appliance, I’ll compare its compartments rather than focus on the format alone. |
| Delivery and installation | Measure the route to the kitchen, the space for the appliance and the door swing. Samsung specifically advises checking doors, lifts and corridors for the RF65DG960ESL multi-door model, including its packaged dimensions. Check the clearances in the instructions for the exact model you’re considering. | A large capacity won’t help if the appliance can’t get into the kitchen or its doors can’t open properly. |
| Noise | Compare the stated noise levels for the models you’re considering, using the same unit. Bosch lists 29 dB(A) re 1 pW for the KGN492IAF; this figure doesn’t describe other fridge-freezers. | In an open-plan kitchen, I’ll take the appliance’s noise level into account before deciding on its capacity or layout. |
| Energy | Check the energy class and annual consumption on the energy label for the exact model. The class listed for one model doesn’t tell you the rating of an entire format. | As the appliance runs continuously, I’ll compare the energy labels of models that already meet my storage and installation needs. |
What mistakes should you avoid before ordering?
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Looking only at the total capacity
Different configurations can allocate different amounts of space to fresh and frozen food. So a large appliance doesn’t guarantee enough room in the compartment you use most.
Think about what you typically buy in a week, then compare the capacity of each compartment in litres and the storage layout.
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Measuring only the final location
An appliance may fit in your kitchen but still not get through a doorway or corridor. Samsung advises measuring the route for its packaged multi-door model too.
Before ordering, measure the access route, the space for the appliance, the clearance needed to open the doors and the clearances specified in the instructions for your chosen model.
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Using the clearances for a different fridge
Installation guidance varies by model and installation type. The measurements in an Electrolux instruction manual and those specified by Samsung for a Kitchen Fit model aren’t interchangeable.
Before confirming the space is suitable, use the installation diagram for the exact appliance you’ve chosen.
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Waiting until delivery to arrange what happens to your old appliance
According to the government departments responsible for the ecological transition, electrical and electronic equipment can contain substances that pose environmental concerns, and should be collected and recycled through the appropriate scheme.
Arrange for the retailer to take back your old fridge, or find out where your local authority’s suitable collection point is.
Which models illustrate the different formats?
These manufacturer models give an idea of different formats and their requirements. They don’t represent every product from each brand or the Joybuy products featured below.
Bosch
The KGN492IAF is an example of a large freestanding fridge-freezer that combines fridge and freezer storage in one tall unit.
- Bosch lists 311 L of fridge capacity, 129 L of freezer capacity, an A energy class and 29 dB(A) re 1 pW for this model.
- Its stated dimensions are 2030 × 700 × 667 mm; check the installation requirements in its instructions too.
Samsung
The RF65DG960ESL is an example of a 646 L multi-door fridge in one appliance.
- Samsung lists dimensions of 912 × 1830 × 723 mm for this model.
- At this width, you’ll also need to measure the delivery route, including the packaged appliance. The E energy class listed by Samsung applies to this model, not all multi-door fridges.
Liebherr
The Rd 5000 fridge, the FNd 5026 freezer and the XRCsd 5255 side-by-side set illustrate different ways to divide up your storage.
- Liebherr lists a capacity of 348 L for the Rd 5000 fridge, 238 L for the FNd 5026 freezer and 714 L in total for the XRCsd 5255 set.
- Pairing the Rd 5000 with the FNd 5026 requires space for two appliances; check the installation requirements for each one separately.
Which fridges should you look at on Joybuy?
These Joybuy options include fridge-freezers, multi-door models and a side-by-side model for storing the family shop in one appliance. Compare the space allocated to fresh and frozen food, then check the dimensions and instructions for the model you’re interested in.
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Samsung RS80F64KEF side-by-side 640 L black
This format brings your household’s food storage together in one appliance, with a stated capacity of 640 L. Check how the capacity is split between the fridge and freezer, then measure the delivery route and the space needed to open the doors.
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Samsung RF50C530EB1 multi-door 495 L black
This multi-door fridge has a stated capacity of 495 L and could suit you if you want to organise your food in one appliance. Its model name indicates an E energy class; also check the capacity of each compartment, the dimensions and the installation clearances.
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Candy CFQQ5T817EPS four-door 467 L silver
This four-door fridge-freezer is worth considering for a family shop, with a stated capacity of 467 L. Its model name indicates Total No Frost and an E energy class; compare the fridge and freezer capacities, and check its instructions for installation clearances.
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Haier HTW5618ENMG three-door 360 L
This three-door fridge-freezer has a stated capacity of 360 L, so it’s worth comparing with the fresh and frozen food you buy in a typical week. Its model name mentions Total No Frost, an E energy class, Wi-Fi and My Zone; check the capacity of each compartment and the installation requirements for this model.
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Bosch KGN497LDF fridge-freezer 440 L grey
This fridge-freezer has a stated capacity of 440 L, with fridge and freezer storage in one appliance. Its model name indicates a D energy class. Before choosing it, check how the capacity is split, the dimensions, the clearances and the defrosting requirements for this exact model.
Frequently asked questions
How do you choose the right capacity for a weekly shop?
Compare the capacity in litres for fresh and frozen food separately with what you usually buy. To show how capacity can be split differently, Bosch lists 311 L of fridge capacity and 129 L of freezer capacity for the KGN492IAF; Liebherr lists 348 L for the Rd 5000 fridge and 238 L for the separate FNd 5026 freezer.
Does a family need a multi-door fridge?
No. It’s only worth considering if its capacity and layout suit your shopping, and you can have it delivered and installed. Samsung lists a capacity of 646 L and a width of 912 mm for the RF65DG960ESL; Bosch lists a total capacity of 440 L and a width of 700 mm for the KGN492IAF fridge-freezer. These dimensions apply to these two specific models.
How much clearance should you leave around a fridge?
Follow the installation instructions for your exact model rather than using a clearance that applies to another appliance. In its specific context, an Electrolux instruction manual recommends 40 mm at the sides and above, and 30 mm at the back. Samsung specifies different clearances for a particular Kitchen Fit model; neither set of measurements should automatically be applied to the model you choose.
Should you measure the delivery route before ordering?
Yes, especially for a wide appliance. Measure doorways, corridors and the lift, as well as the final space and the clearance needed to open the appliance doors. Samsung specifically recommends these checks to make sure its packaged RF65DG960ESL multi-door fridge can reach the kitchen.
Where can you find the installation requirements for your chosen model?
Search for the instructions using the exact model number on the manufacturer’s support website. Bosch says its instruction manuals cover installation, among other things; Samsung offers a ‘Manuals & Downloads’ section after you enter the appliance code. Make sure you check the document for your version and installation type.