Households that batch-cook
If cooked portions, leftovers and frozen food regularly fill your fridge’s freezer compartment, consider how much usable space you need and how easy it is to organise. Drawers can make smaller portions easier to find.
Who could benefit from a separate freezer?
An extra appliance is most useful when you regularly run out of space; an occasional overflow alone isn’t enough to determine which type to buy.
Households that buy in bulk
For bulky items or larger stocks of food, it’s worth comparing a chest freezer, provided you have enough room to open the lid and organise the contents using baskets or storage bins.
Smaller homes that need extra capacity
A table-top or under-counter model can give you extra freezer space without taking up room for a large appliance. Make sure it offers enough capacity, then check its dimensions and installation requirements against the space you have available.
How do you choose between the different types?
Start by working out what your household needs most — space for frozen food, easy access to portions or more fridge capacity — then check the installation requirements for the model you’re considering.
Upright freezer
Consider one if: you often take out individual portions and want to organise them in drawers or compartments.
Bear in mind: you’ll need space for a tall appliance, and capacity and layout vary by model.
Chest freezer
Consider one if: you store bulky items and have enough clearance above the lid.
Bear in mind: smaller portions can be harder to find quickly unless you organise the food inside.
Table-top or under-counter model
Consider one if: space is limited and you only need a little extra capacity.
Bear in mind: it may not have enough capacity for bulk shopping or lots of prepared portions.
Larger fridge-freezer
Compare one if: your fridge is too small as well, or you’d rather have just one appliance.
Bear in mind: replacing a fridge that still works won’t necessarily give you the freezer capacity you need. Check the freezer compartment’s capacity, not just the total capacity.
| Criteria | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the net freezer capacity in litres, rather than the total capacity of a fridge-freezer. Check the size of the compartments and, if you often add a lot of fresh food at once, the freezing capacity shown in kg/24 h. | I regularly run out of room for portions, bulk buys or bulky items; a little extra space may not solve the problem. |
| Access to food | Look at the drawers and compartments in an upright freezer, or the baskets and bins in a chest freezer. Also check how much room you’ll need to open the door or lid. | If I often take out small portions, I want to find them quickly. For a large stock of food, I can organise it inside a chest freezer. |
| Room temperature | Check the model’s climate class and minimum and maximum ambient temperatures. Compare these with the room temperature throughout the year, especially if you’re considering a garage, cellar or conservatory. | The space I have in mind isn’t always temperature-controlled, so I need an appliance with a stated operating range that covers the conditions in that room. |
| Energy use and noise | Check the kWh/year, capacity and dB(A) on the energy label or product specification. To compare energy use, look at models with similar formats and capacities, rather than focusing only on their energy rating letter. | If the freezer will be near a living area, noise will affect my choice. I also want to compare annual energy use between models with similar capacities. |
| Power cuts | Check the stated storage time in hours for the specific model. Separately, check whether it has a door or temperature alarm: an alarm doesn’t replace this storage time. | I store food that I couldn’t use quickly if the power went out, so the stated storage time matters to me. |
What should you avoid before installation?
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Choosing based on capacity alone
A spacious chest freezer can make smaller portions harder to find, while a compact model may not be large enough for regular storage.
Make a list of the food you want to store and how often you’ll need to get it out. Then compare capacity, drawers or baskets, and the space available for bulky items.
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Assuming a garage or cellar will be suitable
The permitted ambient temperature range depends on the model. For example, Bosch specifies 10 to 32 °C for climate class SN and 10 to 43 °C for class SN-T. These figures are no substitute for checking the specifications of the appliance you choose.
Check how hot or cold the room could get in summer and winter, then make sure it stays within the range stated for your model.
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Comparing energy ratings alone
An energy rating letter doesn’t tell you how much space the appliance offers or how noisy it is. ADEME recommends checking the energy label to help guide your choice.
Compare kWh/year, freezer capacity in litres and dB(A), ideally across models with similar formats and capacities.
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Forgetting access and collection of your old appliance
You need to be able to get the freezer into position and open it properly. If you’re replacing an old appliance, it comes under the electrical and electronic equipment recycling scheme described by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition.
Measure the access route, the space for the appliance and the clearance needed for the door or lid. Ask the retailer about delivery and, if you’re replacing an appliance, collection of your old freezer.
Which brands and ranges should you compare?
These ranges give you useful points of comparison for different formats and features. Check the specifications for each individual model before you buy.
Bosch
Bosch Home Appliances offers freestanding and built-in upright freezers, as well as under-counter models.
- The range includes features such as BigBox drawers and NoFrost on selected models. The under-counter GTV15NWEB is listed as 85 cm tall.
- These features aren’t available on every model. Check the capacity, dimensions and installation requirements of the model you choose.
Beko
Beko France divides its range into upright freezers, chest freezers and table-top models, including some No Frost upright models.
- The choice of formats makes it easy to compare an extra-capacity appliance with larger storage options.
- Specifications vary by model. For example, Beko lists the RFNM200T40WN as having a 177 L capacity, a width of 54 cm, climate class SN-T and 9 h of storage time. These figures don’t apply to the rest of the range.
Whirlpool
Whirlpool France offers upright freezers, including models with No Frost.
- The brand lists the UW8F2YWBIF2 as having a 260 L capacity and NoFrost, and the UW8F2DWHBIN2 as featuring No Frost and Freeze Control.
- These specifications apply to the models listed. On their own, they don’t tell you whether the appliance is suitable for the temperature in your room.
Liebherr
Liebherr offers a range of chest freezers designed to store bulky food items.
- According to Liebherr, StopFrost reduces frost build-up on models that include the feature.
- Check whether the model you’re considering has this feature, as well as its dimensions, energy use and storage time.
Separate freezers available on Joybuy
These models show three ways to add freezer capacity: a chest freezer for organising a stock of food, an upright with drawers for easy access to portions, and a compact upright for a little extra space. If your fridge is short on room too, compare the option of a larger fridge-freezer separately.
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CHiQ JR99DWE, 99 L chest freezer
Worth considering if you need extra chest freezer capacity and can access the food from above. The product title specifies a 99 L capacity, four-star rating, adjustable thermostat, removable basket, sliding lid and energy rating E. Before choosing a spot for it, check the model specifications for its dimensions, ambient temperature range and storage time in the event of a power cut.
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COMFEE' RCU60WH2(E), 60 L upright freezer
This format may suit occasional extra storage better than large-scale, regular use. The product title specifies a 60 L capacity, three drawers, a reversible door, adjustable temperature and energy rating E. If you plan to install it under a worktop, check its dimensions and required clearances, as well as the model’s ambient temperature range.
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Heinrich´s, 161 L No Frost upright freezer
An upright model is worth considering if you want to organise your food and often take out individual portions. The product title lists a 161 L capacity, drawers, No Frost, an alarm and energy rating C. Check this model’s dimensions, ambient temperature range, annual energy use and storage time before making your choice.
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TCL CF182EWE0FR, 140 L chest freezer
Worth considering for a stock of food that you can organise and reach from above. The product title specifies a 140 L capacity, a basket, a counterbalanced lid, an adjustable thermostat and energy rating E. Check the clearance needed to open the lid, along with the model’s ambient temperature range and storage time.
Frequently asked questions
Is climate class SN suitable for a garage or cellar?
Not necessarily. Bosch gives a temperature range of 10 to 32 °C for climate class SN. If your room could fall outside this range, check the minimum and maximum ambient temperatures specified for the model you’re considering. You can check these details in the product specifications and, where available, its EPREL product information sheet.
What should I look for on a freezer’s energy label?
As well as the energy rating, check the annual energy use in kWh, capacity and noise level. ADEME recommends using the energy label to help choose an appliance. Comparing these figures across freezers of a similar capacity and format makes it easier to assess them.
Do all No Frost freezers need the same care?
No. Check the features and care instructions for the specific model. Bosch, Beko and Whirlpool list No Frost on some of their models, but the feature isn’t available on every appliance from a brand or in every format.
How can I arrange for my old freezer to be collected?
If you’re replacing a freezer, ask the retailer how to arrange collection when you place your order. The Ministry for the Ecological Transition describes a ‘one-for-one’ take-back scheme when buying a product of the same type. Check the practical arrangements for delivery and collection with your order.