For portions you reach for often, consider an upright freezer with drawers. For larger food shops that you access less frequently, a chest freezer may be a better fit, though items at the bottom are less easy to reach. If you’re also short of space for fresh food, a large fridge-freezer could replace your main appliance, provided its freezer compartment has enough capacity on its own. Whichever you choose, check the dimensions, room temperature, energy consumption and stated power-cut storage time for the model you’re considering.
If you store containers, ready meals and small bags, you’ll want to find each portion without having to move everything else. Look at the internal layout, especially the drawers and spaces suited to the containers you use.
A chest freezer is worth considering for large packs or supplies you access less often. Its baskets can help keep smaller items separate, but you’ll need to be able to reach anything stored at the bottom.
If you’re short of space for both fresh and frozen food, replacing your main appliance may make more sense than adding a freezer. Compare the fridge and freezer capacities separately: the total volume doesn’t tell you how much room is available for frozen food.
First decide whether you need an additional appliance or a new fridge-freezer. Then compare the freezer capacity with the way you store food and the space you have available.
Consider if: you often reach for portions and small containers.
Bear in mind: it’s a dedicated appliance, so its height and depth need to suit the space available.
Consider if: you buy in bulk or need to store large items for later.
Bear in mind: items stored at the bottom are less easy to reach.
Consider if: you’re also short of space for fresh food and want to replace your main appliance.
Bear in mind: the total capacity includes the fridge, so check the freezer capacity separately.
| Consideration | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Access to portions | Check the number and layout of the drawers, shelves or baskets. Make sure there’s room for your containers and dishes. | I want to find a portion quickly without emptying part of the freezer. |
| Freezer capacity | Compare the usable capacity for frozen food, not just the total capacity of a fridge-freezer. Take the shape of larger packs into account. | My shopping and meals need to fit in the freezer space, not just in an appliance described as large. |
| Installation | Measure the appliance, the route to its location and the clearances specified in its manual. Compare the temperature range for its climate class with the room temperature; Beko explains that this class defines the ambient temperatures the appliance is designed for. | If I’m installing it in a cellar, garage or unheated utility room, I need to check the room’s temperatures throughout the year. |
| Energy consumption | Check the model’s energy rating and kWh/year on its label, then compare them with its freezer capacity and how you plan to use it. | I want to compare appliances with enough storage for my shopping, rather than choosing based on a single letter or figure. |
| Power cuts and frost | Check the stated storage time in the event of a power cut and the frost-management technology on the specific model. See the manual for its maintenance requirements. | A power cut or defrosting would make it harder to use my freezer, so I want to know about these features before choosing. |
An appliance that’s right for your shopping also needs to fit into your home and be installed with the specified clearances. For example, Bosch lists the GSN54EWCV upright freezer at 176 × 70 × 78 cm and the KGN492IAF fridge-freezer at 203 cm tall.
Measure the space, as well as the doors, corridors and stairs along the route, then check the installation instructions for your chosen model.
A climate class indicates a range of ambient temperatures. Beko says that temperatures outside the specified range may lead to higher energy consumption, a fault or a shorter lifespan.
Check the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures against the model’s specifications. Beko’s stated suitability down to −15 °C for some Freezer Guard appliances doesn’t apply to all its freezers.
A fridge-freezer may use a large proportion of its total capacity for fresh food. For example, Bosch lists the KGN492IAF with 311 l of fridge space and 129 l of freezer space.
First work out how much frozen food you need to store, then compare the usable freezer capacity and its layout.
These ranges offer a starting point for comparing formats; the features mentioned apply only to the specific models or appliances described.
Bosch offers upright freezers and fridge-freezers to consider if you’re looking for separate storage or planning to replace your current fridge-freezer.
The range includes chest and upright freezers. If you’re choosing one for an unheated room, look only at models with an operating range suited to the temperatures the room actually reaches.
Liebherr chest freezers are worth considering if you want a home freezer with top access.
This selection includes fridge-freezers for replacing your main appliance, an upright freezer for adding drawer storage, and chest freezers for creating a separate food reserve. For each one, first compare the space actually allocated to freezing and check whether it can be installed in your home.
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Worth considering if you want to replace your main appliance and store both fresh and frozen food. The title lists a total capacity of 467 l, four doors, Total No Frost and an E energy rating. Check the freezer compartment capacity and installation dimensions separately.
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Another replacement option if you need space for both fresh and frozen food. The title lists a total capacity of 360 l, three doors, Total No Frost and an E energy rating. Check how much space is set aside for freezing rather than relying on the total capacity.
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A dedicated appliance for storing portions separately in drawers. The title lists a capacity of 161 l, three freezer drawers, No Frost, an alarm and a reversible door. Check the dimensions and climate class for the space you have in mind.
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Consider this as an extra freezer if 99 l is enough for your shopping. The title mentions a removable basket, adjustable thermostat, sliding lid and an E energy rating. In a chest freezer, think about how you’ll find food stored underneath the basket.
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A larger chest freezer for storing supplies, provided you choose the mode that suits your needs: the title describes an appliance that can switch between refrigeration and freezing. It lists a capacity of 291 l, a removable basket, LED lighting and an E energy rating. Check the climate class before installing it in an unheated room.
Yes, as long as the temperatures the room actually reaches stay within the range specified for the model. For example, Beko gives a range of 10 to 43 °C for climate class SN-T and says that only some Freezer Guard models are suitable for temperatures down to −15 °C. Check the specifications for the exact appliance before deciding where to put it.
Check the energy rating and annual consumption in kWh on each appliance’s label, then compare their usable freezer capacities too: appliances of different sizes won’t necessarily offer the same amount of storage. EUR-Lex sets out the European rules on energy labelling for household refrigeration appliances; check the label for the model you’re considering.
No: its total capacity combines separate fridge and freezer compartments. For example, Bosch lists the KGN492IAF with 311 l of fridge space and 129 l of freezer space. If you only need more room for frozen food, compare the latter figure with the capacity of a dedicated freezer.
For a new product bought from a professional seller in France, the Ministry of the Economy states in its September 2026 guidance that you have two years to claim under the legal guarantee of conformity; the fault is presumed to have existed during those two years. Check the terms of any commercial warranty separately.