For larger stores, choose a chest freezer if you have enough floor space. If you regularly need to find smaller portions, consider an upright freezer with drawers instead. A large fridge freezer means you won’t need a separate appliance, provided its freezer compartment has enough capacity. Whatever the format, check that the lid or door can open where you plan to put it, the permitted ambient temperature, the energy label and the stated power-cut storage time.
If you buy in bulk or store bulky food, compare usable freezer capacity and the space required before prioritising access to each bag or packet. UFC-Que Choisir points out that choosing a freezer is about more than its stated capacity.
If you regularly reach for portions or ready meals, drawers and clearly organised storage may matter more than a large open space. UFC-Que Choisir includes ease of use and access to food among the factors to consider.
A room outside the kitchen can accommodate an appliance, provided the temperatures there stay within the range specified for your chosen model. Check this range in the product details and manual, particularly if the room is unheated.
The right format depends first on what you store and how often you need to find it. Then consider how much capacity you need alongside the space you actually have.
Consider it: for larger stores or bulky food, if you have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: food stored at the bottom can take longer to find, so you may need to organise it in baskets.
Consider it: if you often check your frozen food and want to organise it in drawers or compartments.
Bear in mind: check that the drawers can hold your packaging. An upright freezer won’t necessarily offer the capacity of a large chest freezer.
Consider it: if you want refrigeration and freezing in one appliance, and its freezer compartment has enough capacity for your needs.
Bear in mind: the total capacity isn’t the same as the space available for frozen food.
| Factor | What to check | What matters to consumers |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and space | Compare net freezer capacity with your usual shopping; measure the space, access route and clearance needed to open the appliance. | If I store large shops, I want enough space for my food without blocking the room. Around 44% of consumers prioritise this combination of capacity and available space. |
| Access and storage | Check the size of the drawers or baskets and how easily they can be removed, as well as access to food at the back. | When I take out small portions every day, I want to find them without moving the rest of the food. Around 33% of consumers put this ease of access ahead of other factors. |
| Installation and power cuts | Check that the permitted ambient temperature range suits the room, and note the stated storage time in hours for the exact model. | If the room is unheated or I’m concerned about power cuts, I need an appliance that suits the location and a storage time I can check before buying. Around 23% of consumers prioritise these conditions. |
A large-capacity chest freezer also needs room for delivery and for the lid to open. UFC-Que Choisir says chest freezers are on average around 110 to 140 cm wide and 70 cm deep.
Measure the route to the room, the space for the appliance and the clearance needed for the door or lid to open. Also allow for the ventilation clearances specified in the manual.
The climate class describes the ambient temperature range the appliance is designed for. If the room falls outside this range, the freezer may not work properly; the format alone won’t tell you if it’s suitable.
Compare the room’s seasonal temperatures with the range specified for the exact model, even if the product details say it is suitable for an unheated room.
Its open space can hold bulky food, but items at the bottom may be harder to reach. UFC-Que Choisir recommends checking how easy it is to handle the compartments and access food.
Use baskets or clearly labelled categories. If you often take out small portions, compare the drawer layout of an upright freezer too.
Capacity doesn’t tell you how much energy the appliance uses, as shown on its energy label, or how long that specific model will keep food frozen during a power cut.
Check the energy label and compare the stated storage time in hours separately, taking into account the conditions each figure is based on.
Worth considering for a chest freezer for larger stores, particularly if the installation room may be unheated.
One to consider for family-sized chest freezers if capacity, baskets and stated storage time are high on your shortlist.
Worth considering for an installation outside the kitchen if the minimum permitted temperature is a key factor.
One to consider among upright freezer brands if drawers, flexible storage and defrosting are important to you.
These appliances show three ways to stock up at home: a fridge freezer to combine both functions, a chest freezer for open storage, or an upright freezer to organise food in compartments. Compare the capacity available for frozen food and the installation requirements of the model you’re interested in.
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Consider it if you want refrigeration and freezing in a four-door appliance. Check that the freezer capacity is enough for your needs.
Stated total capacity: 467 L; the model name includes Total No Frost, energy class E and a silver finish.
Before installing it outside the kitchen, check that the permitted ambient temperature range for this model suits the room.
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Consider it if you want a fridge freezer and easy access to your food. Check the capacity of its freezer compartment separately.
Stated total capacity: 360 L; the model name includes Total No Frost, energy class E, Wi-Fi and My Zone.
Check the manual for the permitted ambient temperature range for your chosen location.
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Worth considering for family food stores if you have enough floor space and can open the lid fully.
The product name states 291 L, fridge or freezer modes, a removable basket, LED lighting and energy class E.
Check the ambient temperature range and the model’s storage time before planning to install it in a cellar or garage. The product description requires at least 10 cm of ventilation clearance.
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Consider it if you’re looking for a chest freezer for your household food stores and can keep smaller items organised in a basket.
The product name states 197 L, fridge or freezer modes, a removable basket, five-level digital control and energy class E.
Measure the space needed to open the lid, and check the model’s ambient temperature range and storage time. The product description requires at least 10 cm of ventilation clearance.
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Worth considering if you’d rather organise your food in an upright freezer than in the open space of a chest freezer.
The product name states 161 L, No Frost, an alarm and energy class C.
Check the dimensions, permitted ambient temperature range and storage time for this model before choosing where to put it.
Yes, provided the temperatures in the room stay within the ambient range specified for the exact model. Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the product details and manual. A climate class or a claim that it’s suitable for garages doesn’t remove the need to check.
No. Storage time depends on the model and the conditions under which it is measured or stated. UFC-Que Choisir describes a test based on the time taken for the temperature to rise from −17 °C to −9 °C. Bear this definition in mind when comparing a test result with a figure in the manufacturer’s product details.
Keep it closed to limit warm air getting in, as Whirlpool recommends. The stated storage time alone isn’t enough to determine whether food is safe after a prolonged power cut. Check the food before eating it.
The statutory legal guarantee of conformity applies when a private individual in France buys a new product from a professional seller, as the Ministry of the Economy explains. Keep your proof of purchase and the description of the model delivered in case you need to report a problem with the product. This legal protection is separate from a retailer’s returns policy.