If the freezer compartment in your fridge-freezer has enough room for your portions and frozen food, you won’t need an extra appliance. For more storage, choose an upright freezer if you access your food regularly, or a chest freezer if you store large batches and have enough floor space. If it’s going in an unheated room, make sure you check the model’s recommended ambient temperature range.
If you prepare several portions in advance or regularly buy frozen food in bulk, estimate how much space it takes up when your freezer is at its fullest. Freezing capacity is also worth considering if you add large quantities of fresh food in one go.
If you want to find meals, bags and portions quickly, look at how the drawers or baskets keep food separate. How easy it is to reach your containers matters just as much as the available capacity.
A space under the worktop, a narrow doorway or a spot in a cellar all call for different checks: measure the appliance and allow for clearance in every case, then check the ambient temperature range if the room could get cold.
First, compare how much freezer space you need and how you like to access your food. Then make sure the format you choose will work in the space you have in mind.
Choose this if: you open the freezer often and want to organise meals in drawers.
Bear in mind: the drawers need room to open and come out; larger chest freezers may offer more capacity, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
Choose this if: you buy in bulk or store large batches of food, and have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: food at the bottom can be harder to reach; also check that there’s enough room to open the lid.
Choose this if: an under-counter space is the only place available and you need extra storage.
Bear in mind: compact models have less capacity, as Electrolux points out; check the space dimensions and required ventilation.
Choose this if: you only need a modest amount of extra space and are already replacing your main fridge.
Bear in mind: the net capacity of the freezer compartment tells you how much room there is for meals and frozen food—not the total capacity of the fridge-freezer.
| Criterion | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Storage capacity | Estimate the net capacity you need when your freezer is fullest; check the freezing capacity in kg/24 h if you often add large batches of fresh food. | I prepare several meals in advance or take advantage of bulk buys, so all my containers need to fit during the busiest weeks. Around 31% of consumers would prioritise capacity. |
| Access to food | Check the layout of the drawers or baskets and whether there’s room for large containers. | I use my freezer stash almost every day, so I want to find a portion without moving everything else. Around 25% of consumers would put access and organisation first. |
| Space available | Measure the space and allow for the door, drawers or lid to open; check the dimensions of the cabinet space for an under-counter model. | In my narrow kitchen, the appliance needs to fit without getting in the way of cupboards or the walkway. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise this installation constraint. |
| Unheated rooms and power cuts | Compare the room temperature with the ambient temperature range recommended for the model; check its stated storage time in the event of a power cut. | If I’m planning to put the appliance in a cellar or garage, I need to know whether it’s designed for the temperatures in that room; how long it keeps food frozen during a power cut may also matter. Around 19% of consumers would prioritise these conditions. |
A chest freezer can hold large batches, but food at the bottom won’t be as easy to find as portions stored in drawers.
Make a list of the containers you usually use and how often you need them, then check the model’s net capacity and interior layout.
The climate class indicates the ambient temperature range a freezer is designed for. Bosch says that operating outside this range can affect performance and energy consumption.
Check the room’s temperatures throughout the year and compare them with the specifications for the exact model, even if the range is described as suitable for garages.
A freezer runs continuously, according to ADEME. The rating letter alone doesn’t tell you the model’s annual energy consumption.
Once you’ve settled on the format and capacity, compare the stated kWh/year figures, as well as the noise level and features that matter to you.
No Frost, storage time during a power cut and suitability for cold rooms vary between models. A feature listed for one appliance won’t necessarily be available on another.
Keep the full model number to hand and check its product information and manual before you decide.
Worth considering for upright freezers with features such as No Frost or suitability for cold rooms, depending on the model.
Worth considering if you value an upright freezer with drawers and flexible compartments.
Worth considering when comparing an upright freezer, a compact built-in appliance or a fridge-freezer, especially if fitting it into your kitchen is important.
Worth considering for chest freezers whose specifications let you compare capacity, freezing capacity and storage time during a power cut.
Worth considering if you’re thinking of putting a chest freezer in an unheated room.
These models give you the chance to compare chest freezers with different capacities, an upright freezer and a fridge-freezer if you’re replacing your fridge too. Match the format to the amount of food you actually store and check the installation requirements for each model.
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Worth considering if you need a chest freezer for storing large batches, with the option to switch between freezer and fridge modes.
The product name lists a removable basket, LED lighting, a defrost drain and an E energy efficiency rating. Check the ambient temperature range before installing it in an unheated room.
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Worth considering if you’re replacing your main fridge rather than adding a separate freezer.
The stated 495 L capacity is for the whole fridge-freezer, which has an E energy efficiency rating. Check the net capacity of the freezer compartment separately to see how much room it offers for meals and frozen food.
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Worth considering if you’d rather organise portions in drawers than stack them in a chest freezer.
The product name lists three freezer drawers, No Frost, a reversible door and a C energy efficiency rating. Check the dimensions and ambient temperature range before choosing where to put it.
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Worth considering for extra storage rather than very large batches, if there’s room for a chest freezer in your home.
The product name lists fridge or freezer modes, a removable basket, a defrost drain and an E energy efficiency rating. Don’t assume that a ‘garage’ mention means the operating range is suitable for your room: check the specifications for this model.
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Worth considering if you want a small chest freezer for extra supplies, with a basket to keep the food you need close to hand.
The product name lists four-star freezing and an E energy efficiency rating. The product description says it needs manual defrosting, so factor in this maintenance and check there’s enough room to open the lid.
A fridge-freezer may be enough if you only keep a modest amount of prepared meals and frozen food, and you’re already replacing your main fridge. Compare the net capacity of the freezer compartment with your largest stock, rather than relying on the appliance’s total capacity.
Yes, if the ambient temperature range recommended for the model covers the temperatures in that room. Check the seasonal lows and highs: Bosch, for example, gives a range of 10 to 32 °C for climate class SN, which won’t be enough if the room drops below 10 °C. Some models are designed to work at lower temperatures; always check the exact model number.
Once you’ve chosen capacities and formats that suit your needs, compare their stated annual energy consumption in kWh/year. ADEME points out that freezers run continuously, so the figure for the specific model is more useful for this decision than its energy efficiency rating letter alone.
No. On models with this feature, No Frost is designed to remove the need for manual defrosting, but it doesn’t replace the cleaning and checks set out in the manual. Check the technology and instructions for the model you choose.
Note down the full model number and check the manufacturer’s documentation, available spare parts and warranty terms for that model. Whirlpool, for example, lets you search for parts by model number, although availability depends on the part and appliance in question.