If your fridge’s freezer compartment can hold your shopping and frozen food without regularly filling up, start by comparing its capacity with the amount you usually keep in stock. If there’s often not enough room for multipacks, ready meals or larger packs, a dedicated freezer could be a better fit. An upright freezer makes it easier to organise and access food regularly, while a chest freezer prioritises capacity, at the cost of taking up more floor space and requiring you to keep track of what’s inside.
If multipacks of frozen food or ready meals quickly fill your current compartment, keep a note of what you store over a typical shopping cycle. This will help you compare the capacity you need with the freezer compartment’s capacity, rather than the fridge’s total volume.
When organisation matters as much as capacity, the drawers in an upright freezer and the open compartment of a chest freezer suit different needs. An upright makes it easier to organise food by category; with a chest freezer, think about how you’ll reach items at the bottom.
If you plan to install your freezer outside the kitchen, check the permitted ambient temperature range for the exact model. Some appliances are stated to work in rooms where temperatures can fall to −15 °C, but this does not apply to all freezers.
Start with the amount of frozen food you actually keep, then consider how each type will fit in your chosen space and how often you’ll need to access the food.
| Priority | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Freezer capacity | Check the capacity of the freezer compartment in litres, not just the appliance’s total volume. Compare it with the multipacks and meals you keep between shopping trips. | Does my current compartment regularly fill up, or is it big enough for a shopping cycle? |
| Storage format | Consider the drawers in an upright freezer and how easy it is to reach items at the bottom of a chest freezer. UFC-Que Choisir describes chest freezers as appliances that can offer plenty of capacity, while upright models generally take up less floor space. | Do I want to find smaller portions easily, or mainly store bulky packs? |
| Location | Measure the appliance and the route to its intended location, check that the door or lid can open fully, and allow for the ventilation space specified in the instructions. If you’re considering a cellar or garage, also check the model’s permitted ambient temperature range. | The available space and room temperature need to be suitable for the appliance I choose. |
| Energy use and noise | Compare appliances with similar formats and capacities. According to the European Commission, the energy label includes information such as annual energy consumption, storage volume and airborne noise emissions. The energy rating letter alone doesn’t tell you about all these trade-offs. | Will the appliance be near a living area, and what level of annual energy consumption am I prepared to accept? |
| Power cuts | Compare the stated storage time for each model, bearing in mind that measurement methods may differ. In its freezer testing protocol, UFC-Que Choisir measures how long food stays below −9 °C after a power cut. | I want to factor in the possibility of power cuts where the appliance will be installed. |
Some of that capacity is for chilled food, so it doesn’t tell you how much room is available for frozen food.
Keep an inventory of what you store over a shopping cycle, then compare it with the freezer capacity shown on the appliance’s label or product page.
The permitted ambient temperature varies from one appliance to another. The cold-weather suitability advertised for some Beko or Haier models does not apply to their entire ranges.
Estimate the seasonal temperatures in the room and check the limits in the instructions for the model you’re considering.
Its compartment can hold bulky packs, but items at the bottom can be harder to find if you haven’t organised the contents.
If you open your freezer often, compare it with an upright model with drawers. If you choose a chest freezer, plan how to organise different categories and check which baskets are included.
Annual energy consumption and whether an appliance has a system to limit ice build-up vary by model; you can’t infer them from the freezer format alone.
Compare kWh/year for models with similar capacities, and check the product details to see whether the model requires manual defrosting or has a No Frost function.
These models illustrate different formats and installation requirements; their features don’t represent every appliance from each brand.
The GSN29EWEV is an example of a 200 L freestanding upright freezer for anyone who prefers vertical storage.
The B3RFNE294W is an example of an upright freezer to consider if you plan to install it in a room that could get cold.
Haier France’s range offers two distinct formats to compare: the H4F272WCH1 upright freezer and the HCE520D chest freezer.
These Joybuy options include fridge-freezers if you want to keep a combined appliance, as well as upright and chest freezers for creating a separate food store. Compare the capacity available for frozen food and the space you have for installation before choosing a format.
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For keeping chilled and frozen food in one appliance. The product title lists a total capacity of 360 L, a Total No Frost function and an energy rating of E. Check the capacity of the freezer compartment against the amount you store, as well as the permitted temperature range for the room.
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Another combined format to consider if you’d rather not add a second appliance. The stated 467 L is the total capacity, so check the freezer capacity separately. The product name lists Total No Frost and an energy rating of E. Also measure the space and check that the doors can open fully.
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A dedicated appliance for storing frozen food vertically. The product name lists a capacity of 161 L, a No Frost function, an alarm and an energy rating of C. Before deciding where to put it, check its dimensions, annual energy consumption and permitted ambient temperatures.
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This chest freezer provides separate storage space for bulky packs. The product name lists a capacity of 291 L, a removable basket and an energy rating of E. Before installing it in a cellar or garage, check the space needed to open the lid, the requirements for using it as a freezer and the permitted ambient temperature.
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Worth considering as extra storage rather than for very large quantities. The model name lists a capacity of 99 L, an adjustable thermostat, a removable basket and an energy rating of E. Check the space it needs and the defrosting instructions before choosing it.
Compare the freezer capacity in litres, annual energy consumption and noise level, as well as the energy rating. According to the European Commission, the energy label for fridges and freezers uses a scale from A to G. Compare these details across appliances with similar formats and capacities rather than relying on the rating letter alone.
No. Check the instructions for the minimum and maximum ambient temperatures permitted for the model. Beko France and Haier France state that certain specific appliances can operate at temperatures as low as −15 °C, but you shouldn’t assume this applies to another freezer.
It helps you compare appliances if the possibility of power cuts affects your choice. Check the stated time and how it was measured: in its freezer testing protocol, UFC-Que Choisir measures how long food stays below −9 °C after the power supply is cut.