A separate freezer is most worthwhile if you regularly run out of space for frozen food. Choose an upright model if you often need to access food stored in drawers, or consider a chest freezer for bulkier supplies if you have enough room and are happy to access it from above. If you’re also short of space for fresh food, compare the fridge and freezer capacities of a larger fridge freezer instead.
Whether an extra appliance is worthwhile depends on how often your current freezer runs out of room, not just on the odd large shop.
If you buy frozen food in bulk or often freeze cooked portions, compare the freezer capacity available with what you actually want to store. Que Choisir distinguishes the capacity of separate freezers from that of fridge-freezer compartments.
If you regularly need to find portions, vegetables or meals, an upright freezer with drawers makes it easier to keep food separate and access it from the front. Check that the door can open and the drawers can slide out where you plan to put it.
A pantry, utility room or cellar could accommodate a chest freezer, provided there’s enough floor space and room to open the lid. As Que Choisir points out, the climate class matters too: check the model’s permitted temperature range against the actual conditions in the room.
Worth considering: if you mainly need more space for frozen food and want to access separately stored items regularly.
Bear in mind: drawers make food easier to reach, but you’ll need space in front of the appliance to use them; Que Choisir notes that chest freezers can offer greater maximum capacity.
Worth considering: for large stocks or bulky items, if you have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: you access it from above, and food at the bottom may be harder to reach.
Worth considering: if both the fridge and freezer compartments in your main appliance are too small.
Check: the total capacity doesn’t tell you how many litres are available for frozen food; compare the freezer compartment’s net capacity, as Que Choisir recommends.
| Criteria | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity needed | Compare net freezer capacity separately from the total capacity of a fridge freezer. Distinguish a regular lack of space from an occasional overspill. | Do my frozen food or cooked portions regularly exceed the available space, or do I also need more room for fresh food? |
| Access to food | Look at how the drawers, baskets or compartment are laid out. Check that you can remove the storage units and reach food at the bottom. | I often take out small portions: being able to find them without moving other items matters more to me than having one large open compartment. |
| Installation | Measure the appliance, the delivery route and the clearance needed to open it. If it’s going in a utility room or other separate space, check the room temperature against the model’s climate class or stated temperature range. | A chest freezer could store my supplies, but do I have enough room on the floor and above the lid? In a cold room, the model needs to be suitable for the actual temperatures. |
| Energy and maintenance | Compare the A to G energy rating alongside kWh/year and net capacity for similar appliances. Check separately whether defrosting is automatic; ADEME notes that the old A+, A++ and A+++ ratings have been phased out. | As the appliance runs continuously, I want to compare its stated annual energy consumption rather than choosing based on the rating letter alone. |
| Power cuts and everyday use | Compare the stated power-cut storage time and noise level. Que Choisir also assesses temperature stability and ease of use in its freezer tests. | If I store a lot of food, the stated storage time and how easily I can reach the food will influence my choice. |
A chest freezer may offer plenty of room but still not suit your space: it takes up floor area and opens from above.
Measure the space, the delivery route and the room needed to open it. For an upright model, also check the clearance in front of the drawers and which way the door opens.
The temperature in a cellar or garage may fall outside an appliance’s stated operating range. Beko’s stated suitability for its RFNE448E35W model does not automatically apply to other models.
Before choosing where to put it, check the climate class and the minimum permitted ambient temperature for the specific model.
Two freezers with the same rating letter may have different capacities and stated annual energy consumption. According to ADEME, a freezer runs continuously.
Compare kWh/year and net capacity between appliances of a similar size and capacity, then consider the features that matter for the way you’ll use it.
As a guide to energy use, the table published by ADEME in May 2026 gives an average of 300 kWh per year for a freezer; this average does not predict the consumption of any particular model.
Stated storage time during a power cut and how easy it is to reach food vary from one appliance to another. Que Choisir takes factors such as usability and food preservation into account in its tests.
Check the model’s stated storage time and make sure you can use its door, drawers or compartment in the space you’ve chosen.
These ranges and models are examples to help you compare specific features; they don’t indicate whether an appliance is currently available.
Beko France features upright freezers in a range of sizes, with features that vary by model.
Liebherr’s French catalogue includes freestanding freezers in several capacities, with NoFrost or SmartFrost models.
Whirlpool France features upright freezers with several drawers, including high-capacity models.
This Joybuy selection includes upright freezers, a chest freezer and fridge freezers. Compare dedicated freezers if you only need more room for frozen food; consider a fridge freezer if you also need more space for fresh food.
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Worth considering if you want a separate appliance with storage that’s easy to access from the front. Its product title lists a capacity of 161 L, drawers, No Frost, a reversible door and a C energy rating.
Check its dimensions, kWh/year, power-cut storage time and the permitted temperature range for your chosen location.
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This top-opening chest freezer is worth considering for storing larger quantities. Its product title lists a capacity of 291 L, fridge or freezer modes, a removable basket and an E energy rating.
Allow for access to the bottom of the compartment and enough room to open the lid. If it’s going in a cold room, check the permitted temperature range for this model as well as its power-cut storage time.
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This model may suit you if you need a little extra storage rather than room for large stocks. Its product title lists a capacity of 60 L, three drawers, a reversible door and an E energy rating.
Compare this capacity with your usual supplies and check the dimensions, clearances, kWh/year and temperature range suitable for the room.
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Consider this fridge freezer if you’re looking to replace your main appliance and gain space for both fresh and frozen food. Its product title lists a total capacity of 360 L, three doors, Total No Frost and an E energy rating.
Check the freezer’s net capacity separately: 360 L is the total capacity, not the space available for frozen food. Also check the dimensions and installation clearances.
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Consider this fridge freezer if you also need more space for fresh food and want to keep just one appliance. Its product title lists a total capacity of 262 L, a 70/30 split, a width of 54 cm and a height of 176 cm.
Before replacing your current appliance, compare the freezer’s net capacity with the amount of storage you actually need. Also check the clearances and the temperature range suitable for its location.
Consider a separate freezer if you regularly run out of room for frozen food. If you’re also short of space for fresh food, a larger fridge freezer could meet both needs. If so, compare its net freezer capacity, not just its total capacity, as Que Choisir recommends.
Yes, provided the actual temperature in the room stays within the permitted range for the model you choose. Que Choisir recommends checking its climate class; a manufacturer’s claim that one model is suitable for unheated rooms does not apply to every chest freezer.
Compare the A to G rating, kWh/year and net capacity across appliances of a similar size and capacity. ADEME notes that the old A+, A++ and A+++ ratings have been phased out: the letter alone doesn’t replace comparing stated annual energy consumption.
For a purchase from a professional seller in France, the Ministry of the Economy states that you can claim under the legal guarantee of conformity for two years for new or second-hand goods. A commercial warranty is separate and optional, so check what additional cover it offers beyond this legal protection.
Ask the seller about taking back your old appliance. The Ministry for Ecological Transition distinguishes, among other options, ‘1-for-1’ take-back, which is linked to buying a product of the same type. Ask how this works for a bulky freezer.