If you want to build up a large stock of frozen food and have floor space to spare, consider a chest freezer. An upright freezer with drawers is often more practical if you want to find individual portions easily. A compact model can provide a little extra capacity, while a large fridge freezer makes most sense if you’re replacing your fridge too. Whichever type you choose, check the freezer capacity, dimensions, clearances and the ambient temperature range the model can operate in.
You buy frozen food in bulk and mainly need more freezer capacity. The space available and how easy it is to reach food at the bottom of a chest freezer may influence your choice. Que Choisir lists capacity, format and climate class among the factors to consider.
You freeze home-cooked meals to eat later and want to find each portion easily. The French National Consumer Institute describes freezing meals in portions; drawers may matter more to you than maximum capacity.
You’re looking for extra capacity in a small kitchen or considering a room without heating. Measure the available space and check the clearances and permitted temperature range for the specific model. Electrolux installation guidance also advises leaving space for air to circulate around the appliance.
Start by choosing what matters most to you: extra storage capacity, easy access to portions, available space, or running costs and maintenance.
Choose this if: you’re stocking up on a large amount of food and have enough floor space for the appliance.
Bear in mind: allow enough clearance for the lid to open, and think about how easily you’ll be able to reach food at the bottom.
Choose this if: you regularly take out different portions and prefer to organise them in drawers or baskets.
Bear in mind: measure the height and depth, and allow enough clearance to open the door.
Choose this if: you only need a little extra capacity and don’t have room for a taller appliance.
Bear in mind: a freestanding appliance isn’t necessarily designed to fit under a worktop. Check the ventilation and clearance requirements.
Choose this if: you’re also replacing your fridge and would prefer one appliance to cover both needs.
Bear in mind: compare the usable capacity of the freezer and fridge compartments separately. The total capacity isn’t the same as the freezer capacity alone.
| Priority | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Storage capacity | Usable freezer capacity; external dimensions and access to the bottom of a chest freezer. | If I buy food in bulk, I focus on the capacity actually available for frozen food and am happy to set aside more floor space. Shoppers who put capacity first account for around 31% of those concerned. |
| Access to portions | Layout of drawers, baskets or shelves; space for the containers you usually use. | When I freeze meals in portions, I want to find and take them out without moving everything else. Shoppers who prioritise easy access account for around 25% of those concerned. |
| Suitability for the space | Dimensions and clearances; permitted ambient temperatures for the model you’re considering. | If my kitchen is small or I’m planning to use an unheated room, installation requirements and room temperature come first. Shoppers guided primarily by these constraints account for around 25% of those concerned. |
| Energy use and maintenance | Annual consumption in kWh; the difference between technology that avoids manual defrosting and technology that reduces frost build-up. | If the appliance runs continuously, I compare its annual energy use and the maintenance involved with its technology. Shoppers who prioritise these factors account for around 19% of those concerned. |
Fridge and freezer capacities refer to two separate compartments. Bosch lists 479 l of fridge capacity and 152 l of freezer capacity for the Bosch KGN86AIDR.
Before replacing an appliance with a fridge freezer, compare the capacity of its freezer compartment with how much extra storage you need.
Clearance, ventilation and ambient temperature requirements depend on the installation and the model.
Check the manual for the model you’ve chosen, along with the dimensions, airflow requirements and expected room temperatures.
Liebherr describes SmartFrost as technology that reduces frost build-up; this doesn’t mean you’ll never need to defrost the appliance. Bosch says the GSN58VWEV model doesn’t require manual defrosting thanks to No Frost.
Check the exact name of the technology and the maintenance guidance for the model you’re considering.
The CFe 2080 and Fd 1404 models are examples of a chest freezer for storing larger quantities and a compact appliance for extra capacity, respectively.
The H4F272WCH1 is an example of an upright freezer with drawer storage.
The WHCF 204 4 is an example of a mid-capacity chest freezer with baskets.
The GSN58VWEV and KGN86AIDR models let you compare a separate freezer with a large fridge freezer.
This selection includes upright and chest freezers for extra storage, as well as a fridge freezer for replacing your main appliance.
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Worth considering if you want to store frozen portions separately in an upright freezer.
Listed capacity: 161 l. No-Frost technology and three freezer drawers are mentioned in the product name.
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Worth considering if you want extra storage in a chest freezer.
Listed capacity: 140 l. The product name mentions a basket, a counterbalanced lid and energy efficiency rating E.
Allow enough space to open the lid. A basket doesn’t provide the same drawer-style access as an upright freezer.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a convertible chest freezer to build up your household’s food storage.
Listed capacity: 291 l. The product name mentions fridge-freezer conversion, a removable basket, LED lighting, five-level digital temperature control and energy efficiency rating E.
The description recommends allowing at least 10 cm for ventilation, as well as enough clearance to open the lid.
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Worth considering if you want to add a convertible chest freezer with a listed capacity of 197 l to your household’s storage.
The product name mentions fridge-freezer conversion, a removable basket, five-level digital temperature control and energy efficiency rating E.
The description recommends allowing at least 10 cm for ventilation, as well as enough clearance to open the lid.
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Worth considering if you’re also replacing your fridge and want to combine fresh and frozen food storage in one appliance.
Listed capacities: 192 l for the freezer and 333 l for the fridge. The product name mentions No Frost, energy efficiency rating E and a noise level of 37 dB.
No. Compare the temperatures your garage actually reaches with the permitted range for the model you’ve chosen. Liebherr lists FrostProtect down to −15 °C for the CFe 2080; this feature doesn’t automatically apply to other freezers.
Its dimensions alone aren’t enough to tell you. Check the manual for the required clearances and ventilation before choosing this location. Electrolux installation guidance recommends leaving space for air to circulate around the appliance.
The specifications for the models mentioned distinguish between the two technologies: Bosch says the GSN58VWEV doesn’t require manual defrosting thanks to No Frost, while Liebherr describes SmartFrost as reducing frost build-up. Check the technology used by the specific model and its maintenance instructions.
In France, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to goods sold by a business to a private individual. For a new product, consumers have two years from delivery to make a claim; a commercial guarantee is separate. The French Ministry for the Economy and Finance explains these conditions.
The DGCCRF includes household refrigeration appliances among the categories covered by energy labelling requirements, and specifies that the label and product information sheet must be in French. When comparing models, also look at their annual energy consumption in kWh.