For a household with several people, first work out how much usable space you need for fresh and frozen food, then choose a style that can be delivered, installed and opened in your kitchen. Que Choisir suggests allowing 100 to 150 L for one person, plus 50 L for each additional person. A fridge-freezer is worth considering if width is limited, while a multi-door or American-style fridge calls for careful checks of the available space and delivery route.
If you store several days’ worth of fresh food and prepared meals, work out how much usable space you need before choosing between a fridge-freezer and a larger model. Que Choisir’s guide links this need to household size and shopping habits.
Freezer capacity matters more to you than the total volume alone. Que Choisir distinguishes a proper freezer compartment from a small freezer box when frozen food makes up a significant part of your shopping.
Measure the space, check how the doors open and plan the entire delivery route before choosing a larger model. Bosch and Samsung’s installation guidance shows why these checks need to be made for the specific model you choose.
Fridge-freezers, multi-door and American-style fridges suit different storage needs, but capacity alone won’t help you choose between two appliances. The space available and the balance between fresh and frozen storage matter too.
Consider it if: you want a separate freezer compartment and have limited width in your kitchen.
Bear in mind: check that each compartment has enough room for your shopping, rather than relying on the appliance’s width alone.
Consider it if: you want to spread a large shop across several compartments and have a suitable space for the appliance.
Bear in mind: larger models take up more space, so check their dimensions and make sure they can be brought all the way into your kitchen.
Consider it if: you need plenty of storage space and can fit a wide appliance with its doors open.
Bear in mind: depending on the model, a water or ice dispenser may also need a water connection, so check before you buy.
| Criterion | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Space for fresh food | Compare the total usable volume with the litres allocated to refrigeration. Use Que Choisir’s guideline — 100 to 150 L for one person, plus 50 L for each additional person — as a starting point, and adjust it to suit your shopping habits. | If I shop for several days at a time, I need enough room for fresh food without relying on the freezer capacity. Around 40% of consumers put this storage need first. |
| Space for frozen food | Check the freezer’s usable volume separately and see whether its drawers are large enough for the frozen food you usually buy. | If frozen food makes up a large part of my shopping, I want to be able to store it all without relying on a small freezer box; around 40% of consumers prioritise this capacity. |
| Access and installation | Check the packaged appliance dimensions and the delivery route, then confirm the door and ventilation clearances specified for the exact model. | In a kitchen or block of flats with narrow access, I need to know that the appliance will fit through and that its doors can open. For around 20% of consumers, this compatibility matters more than the style. |
A large appliance may not leave enough room for frozen food, depending on your habits. Que Choisir points out that a small freezer box won’t meet the needs of a household that eats a lot of frozen food.
Compare the fridge and freezer capacities separately, then check whether the drawers can hold the food you regularly buy.
An appliance needs to fit its final space and pass through any doors, corridors and lifts along the way. Samsung recommends measuring the route for the appliance while it is still packaged.
Check the packaged dimensions of the model you’re considering and measure the whole route. Then make sure there’s enough room for the doors to open once it’s in place.
Ventilation requirements vary depending on the appliance and how it is installed. Bosch’s guidance for certain styles should not be treated as a universal measurement for all fridges.
Use the installation diagram and clearances specified in the manual for the exact model, especially if you plan to fit it into an alcove.
In France, the Ministry of the Economy explains that the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to goods sold by a business to a private individual. An extended commercial warranty is a separate contract.
Before taking out an extended warranty, compare the faults covered, exclusions, labour and call-out charges with the legal protection that already applies to your purchase.
Bosch product information makes it easy to compare freestanding fridge-freezers. According to Bosch Électroménager France, the KGV36VWEAS has 214 L of fridge space and 94 L of freezer space, and measures 186 × 60 × 65 cm.
To give you an idea of the scale of a large multi-door model, LG France lists a total capacity of 750 L for the GMW765STGJ, including 504 L of fridge space and 246 L of freezer space.
Samsung’s range includes examples of American-style and side-by-side fridges to consider if your kitchen can accommodate a larger appliance.
This selection includes fridge-freezers and larger-capacity appliances for households with several people. Compare the stated capacity with your needs for fresh and frozen food, then check the style and installation requirements for each model.
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Worth considering if you need plenty of space and several doors for your household shopping.
Stated total capacity: 467 L; Total No Frost; energy rating E.
Before ordering, check the packaged appliance dimensions, delivery route and clearances specified in the manual.
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Worth considering if your household needs plenty of storage space and has room to install a larger appliance.
Stated capacity: 495 L; energy rating E.
Check the exact door layout, packaged dimensions and clearances for this model. If you plan to use a dispenser, check its water supply requirements too.
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Compare it with larger styles if you’d prefer a fridge-freezer with a separate freezer compartment.
Stated total capacity: 333 L; energy rating C.
Check there’s enough room for frozen food, along with the packaged dimensions and clearances specified in the manual.
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Worth looking at if you need plenty of storage for a household of several people.
Stated capacity: 488 L; energy rating E.
Check the style and door opening, the route for the packaged appliance and the ventilation requirements. If you’re considering the dispenser, check its water supply requirements too.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a fridge-freezer for several people rather than a larger multi-door model.
Stated total capacity: 344 L; energy rating D.
Compare the freezer capacity with your usual needs, then check the depth, packaged dimensions and required clearances before buying.
Start with the size of your household, then adjust for your shopping habits and how often you eat at home. Que Choisir suggests an average of 100 to 150 L for one person, plus 50 L for each additional person. Then compare the fridge and freezer capacities separately.
Compare the packaged appliance dimensions with every door, corridor and lift on the delivery route. Also check there’s enough room for the appliance doors to open; Samsung recommends measuring the whole route, not just the final space.
Follow the installation diagram for the fridge you’ve chosen, as the required clearance depends on the model and how it is installed. In its guide to one built-in American-style fridge, Bosch specifies at least 5 cm at the sides and above. This guidance is not a substitute for the manual for a different appliance.
Not necessarily; it depends on the features of the model. If you want a water or ice dispenser, check the product information and manual to see whether it uses a tank or needs a mains water connection.
Compare annual energy consumption in kWh, compartment capacities and noise levels, taking into account any difference in size between the appliances. The European Commission says the energy label includes this information as well as the energy efficiency rating.