Choose an upright freezer if you open the appliance frequently and want to find food in drawers; opt for a chest freezer if maximum capacity matters more and you have enough floor space in a suitable room. Replacing your fridge freezer makes more sense if you also lack space for fresh food, while a compact model is mainly suitable as a limited extra freezer.
If you want to see your stock quickly and separate food by category, an upright freezer with drawers is generally the first format to consider. However, check that its usable capacity and storage time in the event of a power cut match your habits; UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes uprights, which are easier to organise, from chest freezers designed for very large capacities.
A chest freezer can suit bulk purchases and bulky packaging if a pantry, suitable garage or another room offers enough floor space. The actual temperature in that room must remain within the range specified for the model.
When both fresh and frozen food need more space, a larger-capacity fridge freezer may avoid the need to add a second appliance. Compare the refrigeration and freezing capacities separately rather than looking only at the total volume.
Start by working out how much freezer space you really need, then check installation requirements and everyday use before comparing energy consumption and storage time during a power cut.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the litres allocated to freezing. For a combination appliance, distinguish this from the fridge capacity; also measure the height, width, depth and delivery access points. | I want more room for my usual shopping without installing an appliance that is too large for my home. |
| Access to your stock | Look at the drawers, bins and shelves in an upright freezer, or the baskets and compartment depth of a chest freezer. An alarm or light can also make it easier to use. | I want to find frequently used food without regularly moving the contents or leaving the door open for too long. |
| Installation room | Check the climate class or ambient temperature range, the installation type and the ventilation clearances. Compare these with the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures. | My appliance must work in a warm kitchen, cellar, garage or another room where the temperature changes throughout the year. |
| Energy use and power cuts | Compare kWh/year between appliances of similar capacity and format, along with the stated storage time during a power cut for the exact model. ADEME points out that freezers run continuously. | I want to limit the energy consumption of an appliance used all year round and take account of the risk of power cuts at home. |
A large-capacity combination appliance may allocate only a limited amount of space to freezing. For example, Whirlpool states a total capacity of 400 L for the SP408102FR, including 101 L of freezer space.
Record the freezer capacity in litres, kWh/year, dimensions and storage time during a power cut for each appliance, then compare solutions suited to the same use.
The climate class indicates the ambient temperatures for which the appliance is designed. Installation in a garage or outbuilding should therefore not be assumed to be suitable.
Note the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures throughout the year, then check the range stated on the product page or the model’s rating plate.
A chest freezer requires floor width and top access. UFC-Que Choisir indicates that these formats commonly take up around 110 to 140 cm in width and nearly 70 cm in depth.
Measure the location, lid opening, delivery route and your ability to reach the bottom of the compartment before choosing a large-capacity model.
Storage time depends on the model: Electrolux states 10 hours for the EUN7NE18S, while Whirlpool states 32 hours for the WHM4612.
If power cuts are a concern where you live, make the stated storage time a key comparison criterion and keep the manual with the relevant instructions.
Worth considering for freestanding upright freezers and fridge freezers when drawer organisation, No Frost and detailed technical information are priorities.
Worth considering for a large-capacity chest freezer or an integrated fridge freezer when the available space calls for a precise format choice.
Worth considering when installation in a cold room is an explicit requirement, particularly for certain chest freezers.
Worth considering for an integrated freezer when No Frost, noise levels and housing-unit dimensions are decisive criteria.
These Joybuy options include an upright freezer, extra chest freezers and fridge freezers for households that need more space for both fresh and frozen food.
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An option to consider for organising frequently accessed stock across drawers and shelves.
Stated capacity of 161 L, three drawers, two shelves, No Frost, Fast Freeze function, alarm and reversible door.
Designed for freestanding installation: check the dimensions, climate class, annual energy consumption, power-cut storage time and ventilation requirements before installation.
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This chest freezer can provide extra storage if you have a suitable area of floor space.
Stated capacity of 140 L, storage basket, lid that stays open, castors, front drain and dimensions of 637 × 556 × 846 mm.
Before installing it outside the kitchen, check the climate class, ambient temperature range, annual energy consumption and stated storage time during a power cut.
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An extra-storage option for a small kitchen or a space where a larger appliance will not fit.
99 L, stated freezing capacity of 4.5 kg/24 h, adjustable thermostat, removable basket, castors and dimensions of 54.5 × 47.6 × 83.5 cm.
The product description specifies manual defrosting when the ice exceeds 5 mm; also check the climate class and storage time before using it in a cold room.
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Consider this if both the fresh and frozen compartments in your main appliance are too small.
Stated capacity of 262 L, including 187 L of refrigeration and 75 L of freezer space, with three freezer drawers, Low Frost, 10 hours of storage during a power cut and 215 kWh/year.
The stated range is 16 to 38 °C, and the product description says it is not suitable for a garage or cold outbuilding; the freezer compartment requires periodic defrosting.
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This model is aimed at households replacing their main fridge freezer and looking for a high total capacity.
Stated total capacity of 444 L, Total No Frost, 289 kWh/year, 40 dB, SN-T climate class, a range of 10 to 43 °C and stated retention of temperature for up to 10 hours without power.
Check the external dimensions and the precise split between compartments before assuming it will provide more frozen-food storage.
Yes. The climate class indicates the ambient temperature range in which the appliance is designed to operate; compare it with the actual room temperature and the model’s product information. Bosch, for example, lists SN classes from +10 to +32 °C and N from +16 to +32 °C, while Liebherr states FrostProtect down to -15 °C for the CFe 2500: this feature does not automatically apply to other chest freezers.
Compare the storage time for the exact model, as it varies considerably between appliances. Bosch states 12 hours for the GSN58AWEV, Whirlpool 32 hours for the WHM4612 and 19 hours for the SP408102FR combination appliance. In the event of a power cut, Whirlpool recommends keeping the freezer closed.
Yes, but it should be considered alongside kWh/year and usable capacity. Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2016 sets out the energy labelling requirements for the refrigeration appliances covered, and ADEME points out that a freezer runs continuously. Therefore, compare appliances with similar formats and capacities rather than focusing only on the rating letter.
No. It is a relevant solution if you also lack space for fresh food, but you need to compare the freezer capacity alone. The Whirlpool SP408102FR has a total capacity of 400 L, including 101 L of freezer space, while Bosch states 366 L of freezer space for the GSN58AWEV and Whirlpool 437 L for the WHM4612 chest freezer.