If you want to freeze more groceries or prepared meals, choose an upright freezer if you access your food often and want to organise it in drawers. A chest freezer is better for bulky containers if you have room for it and can keep its contents organised. If you’re already replacing your fridge, a fridge freezer may provide enough extra storage for more moderate needs. Compare the capacity of its freezer compartment alone, then check the space it takes up, its annual energy consumption and the installation requirements.
If you regularly take out individual portions, easy access matters as much as capacity. An upright freezer with drawers lets you separate different foods, while baskets in a chest freezer can keep smaller items within easy reach. Que Choisir recommends checking that the compartments are easy to handle.
A chest freezer can hold a large stock of food or bulky containers, provided you allow for its floor space and the lid’s clearance. If you’re putting it in a cellar, pantry or garage, check that the room temperature falls within the range specified for the model.
A fridge freezer can increase your frozen food storage without adding a second appliance. Before deciding whether it will hold your usual quantities, check the capacity of the freezer compartment rather than the total capacity of the appliance.
Consider one if: you open the appliance often and want to find food in drawers.
Bear in mind: check the door’s clearance and whether each drawer can be removed where you plan to put the freezer.
Consider one if: you store large containers or keep a substantial stock of food in a suitable room.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to organise the contents so that the food you use often is easy to reach.
Consider one if: you’re already replacing your fridge and want extra storage built in rather than a separate appliance.
Bear in mind: a large total capacity doesn’t guarantee a large freezer compartment.
Once you’ve chosen a format, match its capacity to the foods you usually store and check the specifications of the exact model.
| What to consider | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Access to food | How easy the drawers or baskets are to handle; access to food at the back; whether the appliance can be opened where you plan to put it. Que Choisir highlights the importance of being able to remove food easily. | I often take out a prepared portion, so I want to find it without moving all the other food. |
| Capacity and space | Net freezer capacity in litres, rather than the total capacity of a fridge freezer; width, depth and height; and the clearance needed to open it. | I need room for my bulk buys, but the appliance mustn’t obstruct movement around the room. |
| Installation location | The room’s minimum and maximum temperatures; the climate class or ambient temperature range specified for the model. Bosch explains that a climate class indicates the ambient temperatures an appliance is designed to operate in. | If I put the freezer in a garage or cellar, I want to know whether it’s suitable for the temperatures in that room. |
| Energy use and noise | Energy efficiency class, stated annual consumption in kWh and noise level. Ideally, compare appliances of a similar type and capacity. The European Commission says this information is shown on the energy label. | As the appliance will be running all the time, I want to compare its energy use. Noise matters too if it’s near a living space. |
| Power cuts | The stated power-cut storage time in hours for the exact model and whether it has a temperature alarm. Don’t assume these features based on whether it’s a chest or upright freezer. | If power cuts are common where I live, or the appliance is far from the kitchen, I want to compare how long it’s stated to keep food cold. |
A spacious chest freezer can be inconvenient if the food you use often ends up at the bottom. Que Choisir points out that access to food and ease of handling the compartments are important factors when choosing.
Make a note of the sizes of your containers and how often you take them out. Then check the drawers or baskets on the model you’re considering, and make sure there’s enough room to open them.
The temperature in a cellar or garage may fall outside the ambient temperature range an appliance is designed for. Check the climate class for the exact model rather than assuming it’s suitable based on its format.
Compare the possible temperatures in the room with the limits in the appliance specifications, including during the coldest and warmest periods.
Two appliances with different capacities may not meet the same needs. The European Commission says the energy label also shows energy consumption, capacity and noise level.
Compare annual consumption in kWh between models of a type and capacity that suit you. If needed, look up the model’s detailed information in EPREL.
In France, a commercial warranty is separate from the legal guarantee of conformity. The DGCCRF warns that some offers advertised as lasting three years add only one year to the two-year legal protection.
Before taking out an extended warranty, check how much extra cover it actually provides, along with its exclusions and terms. It doesn’t replace your legal rights.
These models illustrate a range of capacities and formats; their specifications don’t apply to every model in their brand’s range.
The freestanding GSN54EWCV upright freezer is a useful comparison if you want organised storage with front access.
The W3RHS31DW2 chest freezer is a useful comparison when weighing up horizontal storage against an upright model.
The ENC8MC18S integrated fridge freezer is an example of a main appliance with a built-in freezer compartment.
This selection on Joybuy includes fridge freezers for replacing your main appliance, an upright freezer for separate drawer storage, and chest freezers in different capacities. Compare the space actually dedicated to freezing before you choose.
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A good option if you’re replacing your main appliance without adding a separate freezer: its 125 L freezer compartment has three drawers. The specifications list an E rating, 271 kWh/year, Total No Frost, a freezing capacity of 10 kg/24 h and a stated power-cut storage time of 11 h. Check that 125 L is enough for your needs.
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This separate upright freezer is ideal if you want to organise your food across several compartments: the specifications list three drawers and two shelves. They also state a C rating, No Frost, a reversible door and a temperature setting range of -14 °C to -22 °C. Before installation, check its dimensions and climate class, as well as its annual energy consumption and power-cut storage time.
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This fridge freezer has 75 L of integrated freezer space across three drawers. Compare this with the amount of frozen food you usually store, rather than its total capacity of 262 L. The specifications list an E rating, 215 kWh/year, Low Frost and a freezing capacity of 3,5 kg/24 h. The freezer compartment is listed as requiring manual defrosting.
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This chest freezer provides 140 L of separate freezer storage. Its basket keeps smaller items separate from the rest of the contents, and the specifications also mention a counterbalanced lid and an E rating. If you’re planning to install it in a cellar or garage, check the model’s climate class, annual energy consumption and power-cut storage time.
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With a capacity of 99 L, this chest freezer is better suited to extra storage than very large quantities. The specifications list a removable basket, an E rating, a freezing capacity of 4,5 kg/24 h and manual defrosting. Before choosing a location, check its annual energy consumption, climate class and power-cut storage time.
Yes, provided the ambient temperature range specified for the model covers the temperatures the room may reach. Check its climate class and any model-specific guidance. For example, Whirlpool says that the W3RHS31DW2 can withstand temperatures as low as -15 °C; this doesn’t apply to all chest freezers.
Compare its energy efficiency class, annual consumption in kWh, freezer capacity and noise level. The European Commission says the label provides this information, and you can view the model’s full details in EPREL. When choosing between appliances, also consider how much capacity you actually need.
No. Only the freezer compartment’s capacity tells you how much room there is for frozen food. For example, Electrolux lists a total capacity of 249 L for its ENC8MC18S, of which 62 L is the freezer compartment. Compare this figure with the amount you usually store before ruling out a separate appliance.
According to the French Ministry of the Economy, the legal guarantee of conformity allows you to request a remedy for two years for new or second-hand goods. Any additional commercial warranty is separate: check what it covers and adds, and don’t confuse it with your legal protection.
Not necessarily. The DGCCRF says some offers described as providing three years of cover add only one year to the two-year legal guarantee of conformity. Before taking one out, check the start and end dates, exclusions and what the warranty actually covers.