When choosing a freezer for family storage, start with how much you need to store and how you want to access your food. An upright freezer makes it easier to organise items in compartments, while a chest freezer can suit bulky packs if you have enough floor space and room above it. A compact model is better suited as an extra freezer. If you’re also replacing your fridge, compare the usable capacity of the freezer compartment rather than just the total capacity of the fridge freezer. Whatever you choose, check that the climate class suits the room temperature and allow for the clearances specified for the model.
If you regularly pick up frozen food and want to find what you need without rummaging through a deep freezer, the compartments in an upright model can make it easier to keep things organised. Just make sure you choose a suitable usable capacity. Electroguide describes upright freezers as having drawers or shelves for organised storage.
A chest freezer may be worth considering if you store bulk buys or bulky packs and have enough floor space, as well as clear access to the lid. Que Choisir Ensemble includes format and capacity among its selection criteria.
If there’s no room for a separate appliance, compare an under-counter model with a fridge freezer, particularly if you’re replacing your fridge too. Bosch Électroménager France lists the usable capacity of the freezer and fridge sections separately on its product pages.
Consider it if: you often take out individual portions and want to keep them in compartments you can access from the front.
Bear in mind: you’ll need room to open the door and pull out the drawers. Also check that the room temperature is within the model’s climate class range.
Consider it if: you store large packs and have enough room on the floor and above the appliance.
Bear in mind: food at the bottom needs to be organised carefully, and the lid must be able to open without obstruction.
Consider it if: you need extra storage and don’t have room for a larger appliance.
Bear in mind: check that the usable capacity will genuinely be enough for your storage needs before choosing this format.
Consider it if: you’re also replacing your fridge and only have space for one appliance.
Bear in mind: compare the usable capacity of the freezer compartment, as the total capacity also includes the fridge section.
Que Choisir Ensemble highlights format, capacity and climate class among the factors to consider. The priorities below help you relate these checks to the way you’ll use your freezer.
| Criteria | What to check before buying | Who is it particularly relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Finding and organising food | The number and layout of drawers or baskets, and how the door or lid opens. | I want to find the portions I use often quickly, without rummaging at the bottom of a chest. Easy organisation and frequent access are priorities for around 36% of consumers. |
| Making room for your supplies | The usable capacity in litres and the dimensions needed to store your bulky packs. | I store bulk buys or large packs and can dedicate floor space to the appliance. Capacity for larger quantities is a priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Choosing an appliance that suits the room | The dimensions of the route in and the space available, the model’s climate range, the room temperature and the clearances specified in the manual. | I need to install the appliance in a particular spot where the temperature may vary throughout the year. Suitability for the available space and room temperature is a priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Comparing energy use and holdover time | The annual energy consumption shown on the energy label and the stated holdover time in the event of a power cut for the exact model. | I want to compare the stated energy use and holdover time without choosing a capacity that doesn’t suit my storage needs. These criteria come first for around 14% of consumers. |
Misjudging the capacity can lead you to choose a freezer that doesn’t suit your storage needs or the space available.
Check the usable capacity listed for the exact model before comparing appliances.
An appliance may fit in the room, but that doesn’t necessarily mean its climate range is suitable for the temperatures the room reaches.
Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the range stated for the exact model. Ask for confirmation if the information conflicts.
A fridge freezer’s total capacity includes the fridge section, so it doesn’t tell you on its own how much room there is for frozen food.
Compare the usable capacity of the freezer compartment with that of a separate freezer. Que Choisir Ensemble recommends assessing capacity according to your storage needs.
The RFNE448E45W and HSM14540 are examples of an upright and a chest freezer respectively.
The GSN36VWEP and GTV15NWEB are examples of an upright and an under-counter model respectively.
The CFd 2085 Plus is an example of a chest freezer for storing supplies in a suitable space.
The H4F226WDH1 and HCE418E are examples of an upright freezer with drawers and a higher-capacity chest freezer.
The BFT525EW is an example of a compact top freezer for extra storage, rather than a large family freezer.
This selection includes upright and chest freezers for extra storage, as well as fridge freezers for households replacing their main appliance too.
Image unavailable
The upright design and compartments are a good fit if you want to organise your supplies.
The product name lists 161 L, No Frost, 3 freezer drawers and 2 additional drawers.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you’re replacing your fridge too and want an all-in-one solution.
The product name lists a total capacity of 444 L: 276 L for the fridge and 168 L for the freezer.
Image unavailable
A chest freezer may suit you if you have floor space available and want extra storage.
The product name lists 140 L, a storage basket and a counterbalanced lid.
Image unavailable
Compare this model if you store larger quantities and have room for a chest freezer.
The product name lists 291 L, a fridge-to-freezer conversion feature and a removable basket.
Image unavailable
This all-in-one option is worth comparing if you’re also replacing your fridge and can’t add a separate appliance.
The product name lists a total capacity of 525 L: 333 L for the fridge and 192 L for the freezer.
It depends on the temperatures the room actually reaches and the range specified for the model you choose. Beko says the RFNE448E45W can operate down to −15 °C, while the stated range for the ESSENTIELB ECC85-95hob2 E is 10 to 38 °C. Check the documentation for the exact model: a mention of “garage” alone isn’t enough.
Measure the space where it will go, the route it needs to take for delivery and the room needed to open the door or lid. The appliance dimensions may not include all the clearances required, so check the manual for the model you choose.
Compare the annual energy consumption shown on the energy label with the usable capacity you need, rather than relying on the class letter alone. Your Europe, the European Union’s portal, states that the appliances concerned must display their energy label at the point of sale, including online.
When you buy from a professional seller, the statutory legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods. The Ministry of the Economy and Finance states that you have two years to make a claim. Check the terms of any commercial warranty separately. The DGCCRF says that sellers must tell you how long spare parts will be available if the manufacturer has provided them with this information.
The DGCCRF reiterates the principle of free “one-for-one” take-back of an equivalent used appliance when you buy a new one. Ask the seller how the take-back service works before delivery.