Choose an upright freezer if you need to find and rotate portions every day, thanks to its drawers. A chest freezer is better suited to storing large quantities, provided you have enough floor space and are happy with less direct access to items at the bottom. A compact model is mainly useful as an extra freezer, while a fridge freezer with a large freezer compartment only makes sense if you are already replacing your fridge and its freezer capacity covers your actual stock.
If you regularly need to find portions, boxes and bags, an upright freezer with drawers can make it easier to organise food by category and access it every day. UFC-Que Choisir recommends checking how easy the drawers are to handle and how accessible the stored food is.
A large chest freezer can suit bigger shopping trips if you have enough floor space and plan to use baskets, containers or labels to organise your stock.
Measure the available space and delivery route, then check that the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures match the climate class of the model you choose.
First compare the genuinely usable space and access to the contents, then look at installation conditions and temperature retention. Different formats can only be meaningfully compared when their capacity and intended use are similar.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and access | Compare the usable capacity, external dimensions, opening direction and drawers, baskets or storage areas. Also check that the lid or door can open fully in the intended room. | I want to increase my storage capacity without spending too much time looking for a portion. Drawers are better suited to frequent access; a chest freezer requires more rigorous organisation. |
| Room temperature | Compare the climate class with the minimum and maximum temperatures actually recorded in the room. Bosch specifies SN classes from 10 to 32 °C, N from 16 to 32 °C, ST from 18 to 38 °C, T from 18 to 43 °C and SN-T from 10 to 43 °C. | My garage, cellar or kitchen may be cold or hot depending on the season. The exact model should state whether it is suitable for use in an unheated room. |
| Storage time during a power cut | Compare the stated number of hours on the exact model’s product page. A door or temperature alarm can help identify a problem, but it does not replace suitable temperature retention. | I keep a substantial stock and want its temperature retention to be appropriate for the risk of power cuts in my home. |
| Ongoing energy consumption | Read the kWh/year figure alongside the usable capacity, appliance type and features. According to ADEME, fridges and freezers run continuously, so the energy rating letter alone is not enough to compare appliances of different sizes. | I want a suitable capacity without choosing based solely on the energy label. In a warm room, measurements taken at a high ambient temperature are particularly useful. |
A chest freezer can offer plenty of space, but food placed at the bottom becomes less accessible when the storage is not well organised. UFC-Que Choisir therefore distinguishes between available capacity and everyday ease of access.
Before buying, simulate how you will store your usual boxes and bags. Plan to use baskets, bins or labels, and place the oldest meals towards the top.
The climate class corresponds to the ambient temperature range in which the appliance is designed to operate. Outside this range, temperature retention and energy consumption may be affected.
Record the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures before buying, then check the climate class on the official product page or the rating plate of the exact model.
A freezer runs continuously, and a compact model, upright freezer and chest freezer do not offer the same usable capacity. The label letter alone cannot be used to compare appliances with different capacities.
Compare kWh/year, usable capacity, noise level, storage time during a power cut and climate class on a like-for-like basis.
A fridge freezer can be convenient when replacing your fridge, but its freezer compartment may be considerably smaller than that of a dedicated freezer. For example, Bosch states that the KGN36NWCK has 115 L of freezer capacity, compared with 200 L for the GSN29EWEV and 371 L for the Whirlpool W3RHS37EW1 chest freezer.
Calculate the amount of frozen food you genuinely want to add. For a large stock of prepared meals and bulk purchases, a dedicated freezer is generally more suitable.
A brand worth considering when comparing an upright freezer with drawers and a freestanding fridge freezer with NoFrost and alerts, depending on the model.
A brand worth comparing for large-capacity chest freezers, particularly when installation in a poorly heated room is being considered.
A useful brand for comparing a tall NoFrost upright freezer with a compact table-top format when organisation and defrosting are important.
These Joybuy options include upright, chest and compact freezers designed to increase your storage capacity for prepared meals or bulk purchases. Check the installation requirements and storage time during a power cut for your room.
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An upright option for separating portions and making everyday food easier to find.
Stated capacity of 161 L, three drawers, two shelves, LED display, alarm, reversible door and Fast Freeze function down to -22 °C.
Before installation, check the dimensions, kWh/year, storage time during a power cut and the model’s climate class.
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This chest freezer is designed to provide dedicated storage for bulk purchases, with a removable basket for smaller items.
Stated capacity of 291 L, dimensions of 1 100 × 597 × 872 mm, stated consumption of 226 kWh/year, LED light, five-level digital control and defrost drain.
Check the storage time during a power cut and climate class before installing it in a garage or cellar; plan to use bins to organise items at the bottom of the freezer.
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A compact format designed to add extra capacity when saving space is the priority.
Stated capacity of 60 L, dimensions of 44,5 × 47,5 × 84,5 cm, three compartments, reversible door, adjustable thermostat and stated freezing capacity of 6 kg/24 h.
This capacity is suitable for a small stock of frozen food. Check the kWh/year, storage time during a power cut and climate class for your room.
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An extra chest freezer for limited spaces, with a removable wire basket to keep certain items within easy reach.
Stated capacity of 99 L, dimensions of 54,5 × 47,6 × 83,5 cm, 4-star freezer rating, stated freezing capacity of 4,5 kg/24 h and stated noise level of 39 dB.
Deep storage is less direct than drawers. Check the storage time during a power cut, kWh/year and climate class before buying.
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This chest freezer provides medium capacity for storing extra meals and purchases without moving up to a very large appliance.
Stated capacity of 140 L, dimensions of 637 × 556 × 846 mm, storage basket, lid that stays open between 40 and 75 degrees, castors, adjustable feet and front drainage.
Plan how you will organise the contents and check the kWh/year, storage time during a power cut and climate class for the chosen location.
First compare the annual consumption in kWh/year, then the usable freezer capacity, climate class and features you need. ADEME points out that these appliances run continuously, so do not assume that a chest or upright freezer always uses less energy based solely on its format or energy rating letter.
Yes, but only if the room’s temperature range is covered by the exact model’s climate class or the manufacturer explicitly states that it is suitable. Bosch specifies SN from 10 to 32 °C, N from 16 to 32 °C, ST from 18 to 38 °C, T from 18 to 43 °C and SN-T from 10 to 43 °C. Some Whirlpool chest freezers state that they can withstand temperatures down to -15 °C, but this does not apply to every model.
It is the stated length of time for which food remains frozen during a breakdown or power cut. This figure varies by model: Bosch states 9 hours for its 200 L GSN29EWEV upright freezer, while Whirlpool states 32 hours for the 255 L WHM251122 chest freezer and 36 hours for the 371 L W3RHS37EW1.
Do not put it out with your household rubbish. The French ministry responsible for ecological transition states that electrical appliances can be taken to a collection point or recycling centre, returned to a retailer or given to a social and solidarity economy organisation. When buying an appliance of the same type, the “one-for-one” take-back scheme applies to electronic and electrical household equipment, with no minimum sales-floor area.