If you’re adding extra frozen food storage, an upright freezer is a good choice if you want to sort food into categories and access it often. Choose a chest freezer if capacity matters most and you have room to open the lid. A large fridge freezer is better suited to replacing your main appliance without adding a second one. In each case, compare the freezer compartment’s capacity, the available space, the climate class and the stated storage time in the event of a power cut.
If you store a lot of frozen food or buy items in large packs, a chest freezer is worth considering. You’ll need enough floor space, though, and should check that its climate class is suitable for the utility room, cellar or garage where you plan to put it.
If you open your freezer often and want to find food by category, the drawers in an upright model make it easier to stay organised. Which? also points out that upright freezers generally take up less floor space than chest freezers.
If your fridge freezer is due for replacement, a larger model could give you more storage without adding another appliance. Compare the usable capacity of its freezer compartment alone with the amount of storage you need.
Consider it if: you often take food from your freezer and want to sort it into drawers.
Bear in mind: drawers can make it harder to store very bulky items; Which? notes that larger chest freezers offer greater maximum capacity.
Consider it if: a large amount of storage is your priority and there’s room to open the lid from above.
Bear in mind: a chest freezer takes up width and depth, and food at the bottom is less easy to reach.
Consider it if: you’re also replacing your fridge and don’t want to install a second appliance.
Bear in mind: some of its total capacity is for fresh food; only the freezer compartment’s capacity counts towards your frozen food storage.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Storage capacity | Compare the freezer’s usable capacity and, if you freeze a lot of fresh food, its freezing capacity in kg/24 h. | For a big food shop or batch cooking, I want enough space for the food I need to store; around 36% of consumers would make capacity their main requirement. |
| Access to food | Look at the drawers or baskets and how easy it is to reach the lower sections. | If I check my freezer often, I want to find things without rummaging at the bottom; this would be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Installation | Measure the space and clearance needed to open the appliance, then check the room temperature against the model’s climate class. | In a cramped room or one where temperatures vary, I need to be able to install and use the appliance in the conditions it’s designed for; around 21% of consumers would put this compatibility first. |
| Power cuts and everyday use | Check the stated storage time in hours, then consider energy consumption in kWh/year and noise in dB in relation to where the appliance will go. | If I’m concerned about power cuts, I want to know how long the freezer will stay cold before choosing; this would be the deciding factor for around 14% of consumers. |
A chest freezer may offer plenty of storage but not fit the space you have; an upright model may be easier to organise but less suited to bulky items.
Measure the delivery route, the space the appliance will occupy and the clearance needed to open it fully. Also check that you’ll be able to reach the drawers or the bottom of the chest.
The climate class sets the ambient temperature range the appliance is designed for. Having a plug socket in the room doesn’t, by itself, mean the freezer is suitable.
Check the room’s usual temperatures and compare them with the range stated in the manual for the model you’ve chosen.
No Frost relates to frost build-up and maintenance, not how long the freezer stays cold during a power cut. Which? assesses this separately in its freezer tests.
Compare each model’s defrosting system, usable capacity and storage time in hours separately.
In France, old freezers must be disposed of through the collection scheme for waste electrical and electronic equipment, as outlined by the ministry responsible for ecological transition.
Before delivery, ask the retailer whether they offer a take-back service or find a suitable collection point.
These ranges offer useful points of comparison for upright and chest freezers. The features mentioned apply to the models listed, not every appliance made by each brand.
Its freestanding upright freezers include models designed with interior storage in mind.
Its chest freezer range may appeal to households looking for horizontal storage.
The range includes chest and upright freezers, so compare them based on the capacity you need and how you want to access your food.
These appliances suit two different plans: replacing your main fridge freezer or adding a chest freezer. If you’d rather have a separate upright model with drawers, keep that in mind when comparing your options.
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Worth considering if you’re replacing your main appliance rather than adding a separate freezer.
Stated total capacity: 467 L; Total No Frost, energy class E. Compare the capacity of the freezer compartment alone with your current storage needs, and check the space required to open the doors.
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Worth comparing if replacing your fridge is already part of the plan.
Stated total capacity: 360 L; Total No Frost, energy class E, Wi-Fi and My Zone. Check the capacity set aside for freezing rather than comparing only the total capacity of fridge freezers.
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Consider it if you want extra storage without replacing your fridge freezer.
Removable wire basket, sliding lid and energy class E. Measure the space needed to access the contents and check the climate class if the appliance will be kept somewhere with variable temperatures.
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Worth considering if you want a chest freezer that can also be used as a fridge.
Top-opening lid, LED light, removable basket and energy class E. If you plan to use it for frozen food, check the freezer-mode specifications and the space needed to open the lid.
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Consider it if you need an extra freezer with a storage basket.
Counterbalanced lid, temperature control and energy class E. Allow enough clearance above the chest freezer and check its climate class for the room you have in mind.
Yes, provided the temperatures in the room fall within the model’s climate class. Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with those listed in the manual; a mention of ‘garage’ alone isn’t enough.
Check the storage time during a power cut, stated in hours for the specific model. You can’t work it out from the freezer’s capacity or freezing capacity; Which? tests how well it stays cold by simulating a power cut as part of its testing process.
Compare their stated annual energy consumption in kWh/year, taking usable capacity and intended use into account. The energy class is another useful guide, but the letter alone doesn’t replace comparing energy consumption and capacity.
Take it to a collection scheme for waste electrical and electronic equipment. The French ministry responsible for ecological transition outlines how this scheme works; before replacing your appliance, ask the retailer about take-back or find another suitable collection option.