Start by choosing according to the space available and how you prefer to access your food: a chest freezer is ideal for large stocks if you have enough floor space, while an upright freezer makes frequent access easier with its drawers. A compact model is mainly suited to situations where space is very limited, so check the usable capacity, permitted ambient temperature, kWh/year, noise level and power-cut autonomy.
If bulk purchases, harvests, prepared portions or large packs are proving difficult to store, a chest freezer is worth considering first when you have a suitable space. According to Que Choisir, chest freezers can offer much greater capacities than compact models.
An upright freezer is a better choice if you open the freezer frequently and want to separate meat, vegetables, prepared meals and frozen food in drawers. Que Choisir also recommends checking that the drawers remain easy to use once the appliance is installed.
A compact model can work well in an under-counter recess, a small kitchen or as an additional freezer. Measure the space, check the usable capacity and estimate the packaging you need to store before sacrificing too much storage capacity.
Start by measuring the available space, then choose the format according to how much you need to store and how often you access your food.
Choose this if: you store large quantities, bulky packs or long-term supplies and have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: food placed at the bottom requires more careful organisation using baskets or categories.
Choose this if: you want to organise your food and access it regularly using drawers or compartments.
Bear in mind: large packs are less straightforward to fit, and the maximum capacity may be lower than that of a large chest freezer.
Choose this if: the available recess or the limited space in your home is your main constraint.
Bear in mind: this format provides a small amount of extra storage, not the equivalent of a large storage space.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and dimensions | Compare the usable capacity with the packs you intend to store. Measure the height, width, depth and the clearance needed for the door or lid. | I want enough storage without obstructing a walkway, door or access to the room. |
| Suitability for the room | Record the minimum and maximum temperatures in the room. Compare them with the climate class or the range explicitly stated for the model. | My appliance must be able to operate in a utility room, cellar or garage without assuming that every freezer is suitable for these conditions. |
| Access and maintenance | Check the drawers, baskets, opening mechanism, cleaning requirements and defrosting system. No Frost must be confirmed for the model you choose. | I open the freezer frequently and want to find food by category without having to move lots of items around. |
| Energy consumption and power cuts | Compare kWh/year, usable capacity, noise level and storage time during a power cut between appliances with a similar capacity and format. The European Union energy label displays these indicators for each model. | I want to plan for ongoing running costs and know how long my food stocks can remain protected during a power cut. |
A chest freezer can offer plenty of capacity, but its floor space requirements and the difficulty of reaching food at the bottom can make everyday use less convenient.
Measure the width, depth, height and lid clearance. Also plan to use baskets or organise food by category.
The room’s ambient temperature may fall outside the range specified by the manufacturer. Features advertised for temperatures as low as -15 °C only apply to certain ranges or models.
Record the possible temperatures in the room and compare them with the climate class or the stated feature for the exact reference.
Two appliances in the same class can differ in capacity, noise level, annual consumption and storage time during a power cut.
Compare kWh/year, usable capacity, noise level and storage time on the label and product information, between appliances of a comparable format.
According to Que Choisir, a 3 mm layer of frost in a manual-defrost appliance increases electricity consumption.
If you do not want to schedule defrosting, check for a No Frost system. Otherwise, plan to defrost the appliance regularly in accordance with the instructions.
Manual defrosting takes time and requires you to arrange temporary storage for your food.
Worth considering for an upright or chest freezer intended for a cellar or unheated garage when the model genuinely features Freezer Guard.
Worth considering if the freezer needs to operate in a very cold room and the range or model confirms FrostProtect.
Worth considering for a large-capacity chest freezer when extended storage time during a power cut and installation in a garage or cellar are priorities.
Worth considering when an under-counter or compact format is needed and dimensions matter more than large-scale storage.
Joybuy options for building up frozen food stocks at home, including upright, chest and compact formats for different spaces and storage habits.
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An option for organising food stocks in easily accessible drawers within a freestanding upright format.
161 L, No Frost, three drawers, two shelves, LED display, alarm and reversible door; stated temperature range from -14 °C to -22 °C.
Before installation, check the dimensions, clearances, kWh/year, noise level, storage time during a power cut and compatibility with the room temperature.
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This small chest freezer is suitable for additional storage when space is limited and top access works for you.
99 L, stated freezing capacity of 4,5 kg/24 h, removable basket, castors, adjustable thermostat and lid that stays open.
Defrosting is manual; also check the climate range, kWh/year and storage time during a power cut before choosing a cellar or garage.
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A chest freezer solution for moderate food stocks, with a basket to keep smaller items more accessible.
98 L, basket included, lid that stays open, castors, adjustable feet, adjustable thermostat and stated Switch Zone function.
Check the dimensions, freezing capacity, kWh/year, noise level, storage time during a power cut and ambient temperature range before installation.
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This compact format is suitable for a small, well-organised food stock when saving space is more important than capacity.
60 L, three compartments, reversible door, adjustable thermostat, stated dimensions of 44,5 × 47,5 × 84,5 cm and freezing capacity of 6 kg/24 h.
With 60 L of capacity, it is less suited to large batches and bulky packs; also check kWh/year, noise level, storage time during a power cut and suitability for the room.
No. Check the climate class or the minimum and maximum ambient temperatures specified for the exact model. Que Choisir recommends matching this range to the room; Beko and Liebherr state that operation down to -15 °C applies only to certain appliances or the relevant Freezer Guard and FrostProtect ranges.
Compare annual consumption in kWh, the capacity of the freezer compartments and airborne noise emissions, as well as the A to G scale. The European Commission states that the label on domestic freezers sold in the European Union brings together this information; EPREL provides more detailed model data.
It helps you assess how long food can remain at an acceptable temperature without a power supply. In its testing protocol, Que Choisir measures the time taken to rise from -17 °C to -9 °C; this duration varies by model and cannot be inferred from the format alone.
In France, the “1 for 1” take-back scheme applies to household appliances when you buy a product of the same type. The Ministry for Ecological Transition states that there is no size threshold for household appliances under this scheme.