If you often take food out of the freezer and want to organise it by category, start by looking at upright freezers. If you mainly store bulky items and have floor space to spare, compare chest freezers. A larger fridge-freezer is worth considering if you also need to replace your fridge, but check the freezer compartment capacity separately. Whichever option you choose, check the space needed to open it and the permitted ambient temperature for the specific model.
If you want to see what you have, sort it and take things out without moving several other items, start by looking at upright freezers. Check that the door opens wide enough for you to use all the drawers, as recommended by UFC-Que Choisir.
If you store bags or bulky food in a room with floor space to spare, a chest freezer is worth considering. However, bear in mind that you access it from the top, and check that you’ll be able to reach food at the bottom.
Your priority is to compare the room’s actual temperature with the operating range of the model you choose. According to ADEME, this check matters whatever the freezer format.
First decide whether you need an additional appliance or also need to replace your fridge. If you’re buying a separate freezer, then weigh up ease of everyday access, capacity and where you’ll install it.
Worth considering: if you open the appliance frequently and want to sort your food into drawers.
Bear in mind: you’ll need enough space in front of the door to pull out the drawers. UFC-Que Choisir recommends checking that they’re easy to access.
Worth considering: if storing bulky items is your priority and you have floor space to dedicate to it.
Bear in mind: according to UFC-Que Choisir, a chest freezer generally takes up more floor space, and food at the bottom is less easy to reach.
Worth considering: if you also need to replace your fridge and want more storage space in both compartments without adding another appliance.
Bear in mind: a large total capacity doesn’t guarantee enough freezer space for your supplies. Compare the capacities of both compartments separately.
| Consideration | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Access and organisation | Which way the door opens and whether you can pull out each drawer once the appliance is installed. | If I take food out every day, I want to find what I need without moving the rest of my supplies. Around 42% of consumers prioritise easy everyday access. |
| Storage capacity | Net freezer capacity, floor space required and whether the lid can open fully. | For bulk buys or bulky food, I prioritise storage space, even if it’s harder to reach items at the bottom. Capacity is the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Installation location | The permitted ambient temperature shown on the product information or in the manual, compared with the room temperature throughout the year. | If my cellar or garage gets very cold or hot, I need to choose an appliance designed for those conditions before comparing formats. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
A large capacity doesn’t tell you whether the chest freezer will fit or whether you’ll be able to reach food at the bottom easily. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the floor space chest freezers take up; dimensions published by Whirlpool and Liebherr also show how much this varies by model.
Note down the overall dimensions, then check the manual for the lid’s opening clearance and access to the contents at your chosen location.
Whether it’s suitable depends on the permitted ambient temperature for the model, not its format. ADEME recommends checking this for the room where you plan to install it.
Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the range stated on the product information or in the manual for the specific freezer.
The energy label doesn’t replace checking the freezer capacity and how easy it is to access your supplies.
Compare labels for appliances with a similar capacity and format, then check net capacity and whether the appliance will fit your space.
According to ADEME, refrigeration appliances must be sent to a suitable facility that can handle their refrigerants.
When replacing your appliance, ask the retailer or delivery team about taking it away, or find a collection point that accepts it.
The features below apply to the named models, not to every freezer made by each brand.
The B1RFNE314W is an example of a freestanding upright freezer to consider if easy everyday access and the door layout matter to you.
The WHM2112 and WHM31112 2 chest freezers offer different capacities for households looking to stock up.
The CFe 2500 Pure chest freezer is designed for households with plenty of extra space for their food supplies.
This selection includes three chest freezers and two upright freezers for adding extra freezer space to your household. Compare their stated capacities with what you actually need. If you’re considering replacing your fridge-freezer instead, check the fridge and freezer capacities separately for the appliance you have in mind.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for family supplies if you have enough space to open a chest freezer from the top.
The product description lists fridge and freezer modes, a removable basket, LED lighting and an energy rating of E. If you plan to keep it in a cellar or garage, check the permitted ambient temperature for this model.
Image unavailable
Worth comparing if you need some extra storage but don’t need the capacity of a large chest freezer.
The product description mentions a basket, a counterbalanced lid, temperature control and an energy rating of E. Check how much space you’ll need to open the lid and, if the appliance is going in an extra room, its permitted ambient temperature range.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for a small amount of extra freezer space rather than large family supplies.
The product description lists fridge and freezer modes, a seven-level thermostat, a removable basket and an energy rating of E. Check the lid clearance and permitted ambient temperature before installing it in a cellar or garage.
Image unavailable
Worth comparing if you want to organise a few supplies into categories, although its stated capacity of 60 L limits how much you can store.
The product description mentions three drawers, a reversible door and an energy rating of E. Before choosing where to put it, check the door clearance and permitted ambient temperature.
Image unavailable
Worth comparing if you prefer upright storage and want more capacity than the smaller extra freezers featured here.
The product description lists drawers, No Frost protection, a reversible door and an energy rating of C. Check the installation dimensions and permitted ambient temperature for the room you have in mind.
Yes, if the temperature in your garage stays within the range specified for the particular model. ADEME recommends checking its climate class or recommended ambient temperature. A rating for use down to −15 °C on some models doesn’t apply to all freezers.
Allow for the space specified in the manual for your chosen model to open and ventilate it, rather than assuming the same clearance applies to every appliance. Then check that you can pull out the drawers of an upright freezer or reach the bottom of a chest freezer in its actual location.
No. You should also compare their net freezer capacity and how suitable they are for your chosen location. The European information on Your Europe covers energy labelling for refrigeration appliances. To choose between two models, compare their labels when their capacities and formats are similar.
In France, ask the retailer or delivery team to take it away when your replacement is delivered, or find out which collection points accept refrigeration appliances. ADEME says these appliances must be sent to a suitable facility that can handle their refrigerants, rather than being left out with bulky waste.