If you mainly need space for portions you’ll want to find easily, consider an upright freezer with drawers; for bulky supplies, compare chest freezers. If your fridge is also too small, a larger fridge freezer could meet both needs, provided you check its freezer capacity separately. If you’re installing it in an unheated room, check the minimum permitted ambient temperature for the specific model.
You prepare or buy portions that you’ll want to find regularly. Drawers and compartments may matter more to you than a very large chest; Gifam distinguishes between formats based on their capacity and how easy it is to access food.
You mainly need space for bags, bulky items or large quantities of food. A chest freezer is worth comparing, provided you plan where to put it and how to organise its contents, as Gifam’s guide points out.
Both compartments are too small: compare replacing your fridge freezer with adding a separate freezer. Check each capacity separately; for example, Electrolux lists 287 L of fridge space and 89 L of freezer space for its KNR7TE75S.
Consider it: if you often open the appliance to find portions, bags or prepared meals.
Bear in mind: drawers divide up the storage space, but may not accommodate a very large item as easily.
Consider it: if storage capacity and room for bulky food matter more than frequent access to smaller portions.
Bear in mind: the lid opens upwards, so you’ll need enough clearance, and you’ll need to organise the contents to keep everything accessible.
Consider it: if both the fridge and freezer compartments are short on space and you’d prefer to keep just one appliance.
Bear in mind: a large total capacity doesn’t guarantee plenty of freezer space: check the capacity in litres for each compartment.
| Priority | What to check | What matters to you |
|---|---|---|
| Access to portions | Drawer or compartment layout, and the space available for food you use often. | If I prepare several portions, I want to find the one I need without moving everything else. Around 40% of consumers would prioritise organised access in this way. |
| Storage capacity | Net capacity, internal dimensions and the space needed to open the lid; freezing capacity in kg/24 h if you often add large quantities. | For storing large bags or bulky food, I’d prefer a suitable capacity, even if it takes more organisation. Storage capacity would be the priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Space for fresh and frozen food | Capacity in litres for each compartment, installation dimensions and annual energy consumption in kWh. | If my fridge is also too small, I’d like to solve both problems with one appliance. Around 20% of consumers would make this combined capacity their priority. |
Whether an appliance can operate at a low ambient temperature depends on the model, not just its format. Beko specifies operation down to -15 °C for the B1RFNE314W, as does Liebherr for the CFe 2500 Pure; these specifications don’t apply to their other models.
Check the minimum ambient temperature, climate class and ventilation instructions in the manual for the appliance you’re considering.
Appliances in the same energy class can differ in capacity, annual energy consumption and noise level. The energy label shows figures including kWh/year, litres and dB(A), as explained by Electrolux and Gifam.
Compare these figures with the dimensions and power-cut storage time, making sure the appliances meet the same storage needs.
A large capacity doesn’t automatically make small portions at the bottom easy to find. The baskets in a chest freezer don’t organise its contents in the same way as the drawers in an upright freezer.
Check which baskets are included and plan to organise food by category or date. If you often take out small portions, compare upright freezers too.
This figure includes the fridge: Electrolux lists 287 L of fridge space and 89 L of freezer space for the KNR7TE75S.
Check the freezer capacity separately. If you already have enough room for fresh food, compare the fridge freezer with adding a dedicated freezer.
A brand to consider for a freestanding upright freezer if you need to install it in an unheated room.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a high-capacity upright freezer that keeps supplies separate while accommodating some bulky items.
A brand to consider for a high-capacity chest freezer, particularly if it will be kept somewhere cold.
A brand to consider if fitting your appliance into your kitchen or balancing fridge and freezer space will determine your choice.
These upright and chest freezers are designed to give you extra frozen storage space. First, choose between divided compartments and an open chest, then check the capacity and installation requirements of the model you’re considering.
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Worth considering for extra storage if a top-opening design suits you. The product title lists a capacity of 291 L, fridge or freezer mode, a removable basket, LED lighting and an E energy rating.
Plan how to organise food underneath the basket, and check the minimum permitted ambient temperature if you’ll be putting the appliance in a cold room.
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Worth considering if you’d like to organise portions in drawers rather than in a chest. The title lists a capacity of 161 L, No Frost, an LED display, a reversible door and a C energy rating.
Measure the available space and check the ventilation clearances, as well as the permitted ambient temperature for your chosen location.
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Worth considering if you want chest-style storage with the option to switch between fridge and freezer modes. The title lists a capacity of 197 L, a removable basket, five settings and an E energy rating.
Make sure there’s enough room to open the lid where you plan to put it, and check the minimum permitted ambient temperature for a cold room.
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Worth considering if you need a modest amount of extra freezer space with organised compartments. The title lists a capacity of 60 L, three drawers, a reversible door and an E energy rating.
If you store large bags or bulky items, check that the capacity and drawers will suit them. Also check the installation requirements for your chosen location.
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Worth comparing if you want a chest freezer without needing a particularly large capacity. The title lists a capacity of 140 L, a storage basket, a counterbalanced lid, adjustable feet and an E energy rating.
Allow enough room to open the lid. If you often freeze large quantities or plan to keep the appliance in a cold room, check its freezing capacity and minimum permitted ambient temperature respectively.
Check the minimum operating ambient temperature specified for the exact model, along with its climate class and installation instructions. Beko specifies operation down to -15 °C for the B1RFNE314W, as does Liebherr for the CFe 2500 Pure; choosing a chest or upright freezer alone doesn’t guarantee it will be suitable.
Compare annual energy consumption in kWh, freezer capacity in litres and noise level in dB(A), as well as the energy rating. Gifam and Electrolux present these figures as useful points of reference; compare them with the capacity you actually need.
No. Depending on the model, No Frost reduces or removes the need for regular manual defrosting, but you’ll still need to clean the appliance, check the seals and follow the maintenance instructions in the manual.
No: a chest freezer is best suited to the need for capacity and space for bulky items, while an upright freezer with drawers makes it easier to separate portions you access often. Gifam describes chest freezers with capacities of over 750 L, but the best format also depends on the space available and how you like to access your food.