For larger stocks and bulky food, compare chest freezers if you have enough space. If you often need to find portions sorted by category, an upright freezer with drawers makes access easier. A compact model is better suited to occasional extra storage. Before choosing, compare the usable capacity and dimensions with the space available, then check the permitted ambient temperature range, power-cut storage time and energy consumption of the specific model.
If you store bulk purchases or bulky food, a chest freezer is worth comparing with other types. Measure the floor space it will take up and the clearance needed to open the lid. If you’re putting it in a cellar or garage, also check the ambient temperature range permitted in the manual.
An upright freezer with drawers lets you separate portions and find them without rummaging through a large chest. Check that the door has enough room to open and that each drawer can be removed where you plan to put the freezer.
A small freezer can provide extra storage if its usable capacity is sufficient. For an under-counter or integrated installation, check the dimensions, ventilation requirements and, where applicable, the door fixing system required for the model you’re considering.
Start with how much you need to store and the space available, then look at the installation and usage requirements for each appliance.
| Consideration | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and space | Compare the usable capacity with what you plan to store. Measure the appliance, the route to its position and the clearance needed for the door or lid. | I want to store bulk purchases or bulky food without taking up more space than my room allows. |
| Access to food | Look at the drawers or baskets, access to the bottom and the direction the door opens. UFC-Que Choisir notes that ease of use also matters when choosing between a chest and an upright freezer. | For portions I use often, I’d prefer to find each category quickly. For larger packs, a chest may suit the way I organise my food better. |
| Room temperature | Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the range specified in the manual. A model’s stated ability to operate down to −15 °C does not apply to every appliance from the same brand. | If my freezer is going in a garage, cellar or unheated utility room, it needs to be designed for the temperatures that room can reach. |
| Power cuts | Compare the stated storage time in hours for each model and check what type of alarm it has. UFC-Que Choisir’s test protocol assesses how long food stays below −9 °C during a simulated power cut. | If I’m storing a lot of food or the appliance is away from the main living areas, I want to be able to prepare for a loss of power. |
| Energy use and maintenance | Compare the kWh/year for appliances with similar capacities, and check the noise level if it will be placed somewhere noise matters. Find out whether defrosting is manual or whether the model has a frost-reduction feature. | My freezer will stay plugged in all year round. I also need to consider noise near living areas and how much time defrosting will take. |
If you’re considering a large fridge freezer instead, compare the capacity of its freezer compartment alone with the extra storage you need. This option makes most sense if you also need to replace your fridge.
The climate class indicates the ambient temperature range the appliance is designed for. A room outside this range does not meet its stated operating conditions.
Check the temperatures the room can reach and consult the manual for the exact model, especially if you’re using an unheated cellar or garage.
With a chest freezer, you need to plan how you’ll reach food stored at the bottom. A large capacity does not, by itself, make portions easy to find.
Keep frequently used items in the baskets and organise the rest of your food. If you need to find small portions every day, compare upright freezers with drawers too.
Two freezers with different capacities may not meet the same needs. The letter on the energy label does not replace the annual energy consumption figure.
For similar capacities and uses, compare the kWh/year, usable capacity and installation requirements. The European Commission says the EU energy label’s QR code provides access to further product information.
The stated time varies by model. It matters particularly if the appliance holds a large stock of food or is away from the main living areas.
Compare the storage time for each model and check whether its alarm alerts you to a rise in temperature. After a power cut, check the condition of the food before considering refreezing it.
The features and installation requirements mentioned here apply to specific ranges or models, not every freezer from a particular brand.
In France, Beko offers chest and upright freezers, with features that vary by model.
Liebherr offers chest, upright and integrated freezers; features depend on the model.
In France, Whirlpool offers chest and upright freezers with different configurations.
This Joybuy selection includes a small upright model for extra storage, an upright freezer with compartments and two chest freezers under 100 L. Compare their capacities and how you access the contents, then check the installation requirements for the model you’re interested in.
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This freestanding model is designed to provide extra storage with food kept separate, and features three drawers and a reversible door. Check that its 60 L capacity is enough for your needs, and that its dimensions, required clearances and ambient temperature range suit the space you have in mind.
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This type of freezer suits compartmentalised storage. The product title lists three drawers, a reversible door hinge and No Frost. An alarm is also mentioned, although its type is not specified. Check this detail, along with the dimensions and installation requirements, before choosing.
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This 99 L chest freezer has a removable basket, described as keeping some food within easy reach. Plan how to organise the bottom of the freezer too, and allow enough space to open the lid. The product description states that defrosting is manual.
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This 98 L chest freezer has a storage basket and a counterbalanced lid. The basket alone won’t organise all your supplies, so plan how you’ll arrange them and check the floor space it will take up, as well as the clearance needed to open the lid.
Yes, provided the ambient temperature range specified for the model covers the temperatures the room can reach. Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the manual. Beko or Liebherr models described as able to operate down to −15 °C are not necessarily representative of other models.
For home freezing, Anses recommends −18 °C. This temperature stops bacteria from multiplying, but most micro-organisms survive freezing. So follow good freezing and defrosting practices, and don’t automatically refreeze food once it has thawed.
The stated storage time helps you compare models if you plan to keep a lot of food in the freezer, particularly if the appliance is away from the main living areas. Check the figure for the model you’re considering and, if it has an alarm, find out exactly what it alerts you to.
No. Beko and Liebherr describe No Frost as a feature that prevents frost from forming on some models, while other systems are designed to reduce it. Compare the usable capacity, kWh/year, noise level, storage time during a power cut and storage layout for each model too.