If you’re stocking up in bulk, consider a chest freezer if you have enough floor space and need to store bulky items. An upright freezer makes it easier to access food regularly. An under-counter or compact model is mainly useful as extra capacity, while a fridge freezer may be worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge too. In every case, compare usable capacity, dimensions, the temperatures the room can reach and the stated storage time in the event of a power cut.
If you’re building up a stock of large packs, home-grown produce or prepared meals, a chest freezer can make good use of a dedicated space. However, check the room temperature, allow enough space to open the lid and consider how easily you can reach food stored at the bottom.
An upright freezer lets you organise food in drawers and reach it from the front. Check its height and make sure the compartments can accommodate the packs you usually buy.
An under-counter or compact model can add to your existing freezer space. Compare its usable capacity with the amount of food you usually keep: this type of freezer won’t meet the same needs as a large, dedicated storage freezer.
Start with how much you need to store and how you’ll access your food. Then check that the model you choose can operate in the spot you have in mind.
| Consideration | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the freezer compartment’s capacity in litres, not the total capacity of a fridge freezer. Also check how much room baskets or drawers leave for larger packs. | I want to store my usual shopping without having to split it between several small compartments. |
| Space and access | Measure the appliance, the route into the room and the space needed to open it. A chest freezer opens from the top; an upright model gives you access to its compartments from the front. | If I often take food from storage, I want to find what I need without moving everything stored in front of it. |
| Power cuts and bulk shopping | Compare the stated storage time in hours for each model. If you add a lot of fresh food at once, also check its stated freezing capacity in kg/24 h. | I may keep my appliance outside the kitchen, so I want to know how long it can keep food frozen during a power cut. |
| Room temperature | Check the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures against the model’s climate class. Bosch gives a range of 10 to 32 °C for SN and 10 to 43 °C for SN-T; the ability to operate at lower temperatures must be confirmed for the exact model you choose. | My cellar or garage can get cold, so I need to check its temperature before choosing an appliance for that space. |
| Use and maintenance | Compare annual energy consumption in kWh/year for appliances of a similar type and capacity. Check whether the model is No Frost or needs manual defrosting. | I’m looking for storage that suits my day-to-day needs, with energy consumption and maintenance requirements I can compare before buying. |
A large chest freezer may suit your storage needs, but it still needs to fit through the delivery route and into the space available. Whirlpool France, for example, lists the W3RHS37EW1 as 133 cm wide.
Measure doorways, corridors and stairs, as well as the final spot for the appliance. Remember to allow enough room to open the lid.
The recommended ambient temperature range depends on the climate class and, where applicable, the specific features of the model. Being a chest freezer doesn’t automatically make an appliance suitable for an unheated garage.
Note the room’s temperatures throughout the year and compare them with the specifications for the exact model.
An under-counter or compact model can provide extra space, but may not have enough capacity for bulk shopping. Beko France, for example, lists the FSE1174N compact freezer at 95 L.
Estimate how much food you usually store before comparing the usable capacity of different types of freezer.
In an appliance that needs manual defrosting, a build-up of ice reduces the space available for storing food.
Check the model’s manual; Electrolux France recommends defrosting when the layer of ice reaches around 3 to 5 mm.
These models illustrate different types of freezer; their specifications don’t apply to every appliance from the same brand.
The W3RHS37EW1 chest freezer is a useful point of comparison if you’re setting up storage in a dedicated space.
The GSN58VWEV upright freezer is worth considering if you’re looking for a large freezer that’s easy to access from the front.
The FSE1174N compact freezer is a useful example of a model for extra capacity rather than large-scale storage.
A fridge freezer with drawers may be worth considering if you’re planning to replace your fridge too.
This fridge freezer is best suited to households replacing their fridge as well. If you want to add a large amount of freezer space without replacing your fridge, compare the specifications of dedicated chest and upright freezers instead.
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This fridge freezer may be worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge too, rather than adding a dedicated freezer. Its 360 L capacity is for the whole appliance, not just the freezer compartment. Check the freezer compartment’s capacity, the dimensions and the ambient temperature range before choosing. The model name specifies Total No Frost and an E energy rating.
Choose a model with an ambient temperature range that covers the temperatures the room actually reaches. Bosch gives a range of 10 to 32 °C for SN and 10 to 43 °C for SN-T. If the room gets colder than this, check the specifications for the exact model to see whether it’s specifically designed to operate at lower temperatures.
No. Compare the stated storage times for the specific models you’re interested in rather than making assumptions based on the type of freezer. For example, Whirlpool France lists 36 h for the W3RHS37EW1 chest freezer, while Bosch Home Appliances France lists 12 h for the GSN58VWEV upright freezer. These figures don’t represent all chest and upright freezers.
Consider this feature if you want to reduce the need for manual defrosting, but don’t assume it tells you how much energy the appliance uses. If a model needs defrosting, check its manual; Electrolux France recommends defrosting when ice reaches around 3 to 5 mm thick.
Check their stated annual energy consumption in kWh/year and, ideally, compare appliances of the same type and similar usable capacity. If one of them is a fridge freezer, check the capacity of its freezer compartment separately.