If you often need to find portions stored in drawers, choose an upright freezer. For bulky items, consider a chest freezer if you have enough floor space. A compact or under-counter model suits a smaller top-up stock, while a large fridge freezer could save you from buying a separate appliance if its freezer compartment genuinely has enough room for your shopping. Whatever you choose, check the dimensions, room temperature requirements, energy consumption and maintenance needs of the specific model.
If you buy in bulk or prepare meals in advance, compare the open storage space of a chest freezer with the drawers of an upright model. Bulky packaging and how often you need to find a portion may point you towards different options.
An upright, compact or under-counter freezer can provide separate storage without taking up as much width as a chest freezer. Remember to measure the space needed to open the door or pull out the drawers, too.
In a cellar, utility room or garage, check the temperatures the space reaches throughout the year. The model’s specified ambient temperature range must cover these conditions, as UFC-Que Choisir points out in its guidance on climate classes.
Start with what you need to store and the space available, then compare how easy the food is to access and the features of models that will fit in your chosen location.
| Criteria | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and space | Compare the usable capacity of the freezer compartment, then check the width, depth, height and clearance needed to open the door. With a fridge freezer, don’t confuse the total capacity with the space allocated to frozen food. | I want to store my shopping and prepared meals without obstructing the walkway. If a fridge freezer’s compartment is large enough for my usual stock, I don’t need a separate appliance. |
| Access to food | Check the drawers and how easy they are to use in an upright freezer, or the baskets and access to the bottom of a chest freezer. UFC-Que Choisir and Beko France describe these formats as catering to different storage needs. | If I often need to find small portions, I’d prefer storage divided into compartments. For bulky food, I might prefer the open space of a chest freezer, if I find it easy to access. |
| Room temperature | Check the minimum and maximum temperatures in the room, then consult the range permitted in the model’s manual. UFC-Que Choisir gives SN as 10 to 32 °C and N as 16 to 32 °C; if you need an appliance suitable for a colder space, this must be specified for the model you choose. | My freezer will be in a cellar, utility room or garage, so I’ll check that the model suits the temperatures the space actually reaches, not just that it fits. |
| Energy consumption and maintenance | Read the declared annual energy consumption and compare it with appliances of a similar capacity and format. Check the cooling system and required maintenance: UFC-Que Choisir recommends defrosting a manual-defrost appliance when the ice reaches 3 mm, as it increases energy consumption. | As the appliance will be running continuously, I want to compare its energy consumption and make sure its maintenance requirements suit me. |
| Power cuts and freezing capacity | Check the stated storage time in the event of a power cut and the conditions under which it was measured. If you often add large quantities of fresh food, check the freezing capacity separately, in kg/24 h. | If I keep a large stock or freeze several meals after shopping, these two features matter more than storage capacity alone. |
According to UFC-Que Choisir, the climate class defines the ambient temperature range an appliance is designed to operate in. Just because a model is freestanding or a chest freezer doesn’t mean it’s suitable for an unheated space.
Measure the lowest and highest temperatures in the room, then compare them with the range specified in the manual for the exact model.
A chest freezer can hold bulky food, but it needs floor space and makes items at the bottom less accessible than food stored in drawers.
Allow for the space needed for the freezer and to open its lid. If you often need small portions, compare access with that offered by an upright model, too.
The rating doesn’t replace checking the declared annual energy consumption, capacity and maintenance requirements. Ice build-up increases energy consumption in appliances that need manual defrosting, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
Compare models with similar capacities and formats, then check their annual energy consumption, cooling system and defrosting requirements.
Usable capacity tells you how much space is available for food; it doesn’t tell you how much fresh food the model can freeze in a given period.
If you regularly freeze meals after shopping, check the freezing capacity in kg/24 h and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
These brands offer examples of different formats and features. Always compare the specifications of the specific model rather than assuming they apply to an entire range.
In France, Bosch offers freestanding and built-in upright freezers, worth considering if you’re looking for vertical storage or an appliance integrated into your kitchen.
In France, Beko offers upright, chest and compact formats, making it easy to compare drawer storage with open storage space.
In France, Whirlpool offers upright and chest freezers, depending on whether you prefer compartments or open storage space.
These Joybuy options include chest freezers, a compact freezer, an upright freezer and a fridge freezer. Compare each appliance with the space you have and the amount of frozen food you want to store.
Image unavailable
A chest freezer may suit a large stock of food if you have room to open its lid. The product name indicates a convertible fridge-freezer mode, a removable basket, LED lighting and an E energy rating. If you’re installing it in a cellar or garage, check the ambient temperature range in the manual.
Image unavailable
Its 60 L capacity is better suited to extra storage than to a large family stock. The product name mentions a reversible door, temperature control and an E energy rating. Check the dimensions and clearance if you plan to place it under a worktop.
Image unavailable
Vertical storage is ideal if you want to access food in separate compartments. The product name indicates a No Frost function, reversible door hinge, alarm and C energy rating. Check the dimensions and ambient temperature range before choosing where to put it.
Image unavailable
This chest freezer offers separate storage with access from the top. Make sure there’s enough room to open the lid fully where you plan to put it. The product name mentions a basket, a counterbalanced lid and an E energy rating. If the room isn’t heated, check the ambient temperature range as well.
Image unavailable
This fridge freezer could save you from installing a separate freezer if its freezer compartment is large enough for your usual stock. The 360 L in the product name refers to the total capacity shared with the fridge, so check the freezer’s capacity separately. The product name also mentions three doors, Total No Frost and an E energy rating.
Choose a model whose ambient temperature range covers the highest and lowest temperatures in the room. UFC-Que Choisir gives the following ranges: SN, 10 to 32 °C; N, 16 to 32 °C; ST, 16 to 38 °C; and T, 16 to 43 °C. If your garage gets colder than 10 °C, look for explicit confirmation that the specific model is suitable.
Yes, if the usable capacity of its freezer compartment is enough for the shopping and meals you want to store. Compare this capacity with your usual stock, not the appliance’s total capacity. If you need to store a lot or have bulky items, consider the capacity of a separate freezer as well.
No. According to Bosch Electroménager France and Electrolux France, their No Frost systems limit or prevent ice build-up in the appliances they feature on. If this function appeals to you, compare the capacity, annual energy consumption, noise level and climate class of the specific models, too.
It gives you a reference point for comparing how long an appliance keeps food cold without a power supply, based on the relevant measurement method. UFC-Que Choisir explains that its test for fridge freezers measures the time taken for the temperature to rise from −17 °C to −9 °C. Check the conditions attached to the stated figure for each model; a time quoted on its own doesn’t guarantee that all food will remain safe after a power cut.
Freezers are covered by the electrical and electronic equipment collection scheme described by the French Ministry for Ecological Transition. Check whether the retailer offers a take-back service or find out about collection options in your local area, rather than putting it out with household rubbish.