If you regularly reach for individual portions, choose an upright freezer for easy access and organised storage. For larger stocks, consider a chest freezer if you have enough floor space. A compact model is better suited to occasional extra storage, while a fridge freezer could save you from buying a second appliance if its freezer compartment is big enough. Then check the installation dimensions, how long it keeps food frozen during a power cut, the energy label and the ambient temperature range for the model you’re considering.
If you regularly store meals and bags of food to freeze, easy-to-reach drawers can help you find a portion without moving the rest of your food. Also check how much room you’ll need to open the door and pull out the drawers.
For bulk buys, large packs or family meals, compare the usable capacity with the floor space available. Baskets in a chest freezer can make it easier to reach smaller items stored on top of your stock.
If a large standalone appliance would take up too much room, compare a compact freezer with the freezer compartment of a fridge freezer. Measure the space and check the capacity reserved for frozen food, rather than the fridge freezer’s total capacity.
Start with the food you want to store and how often you’ll need to take it out. Then compare the capacity you need with the space you actually have available.
| Criterion | What to check | What matters to shoppers |
|---|---|---|
| Access to portions | Drawer layout and size ; whether shelves can be removed. | When I often take out a meal or a bag, I want to find it without rummaging through everything ; around 36 % of shoppers would make easy everyday access a priority. |
| Storage capacity | Usable capacity, floor space and the layout of the cabinet or compartments. | For bulk buys or large meals, I first need enough room to store everything ; this would be the priority for around 29 % of shoppers. |
| Space required | Installation dimensions, clearance needed to open the door and net freezer capacity. | In a small kitchen, I need extra storage that won’t get in the way ; around 14 % of shoppers would prioritise this space constraint. |
| Replacing a fridge | Net capacity of the freezer compartment and the dimensions of the appliance or housing. | If I’m already replacing my fridge, I’d rather check whether one appliance can also store my frozen food ; this would be the first choice for around 21 % of shoppers. |
A large capacity doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be able to find the portions you use every day easily. A chest freezer’s compartment and an upright freezer’s drawers are organised differently.
Make a list of the types of food you actually store, then check the baskets, drawers or adjustable sections against the dimensions of the space available.
The temperature in an unheated room can fall outside the appliance’s specified operating range. A feature advertised for one model won’t necessarily apply to every freezer from the same brand.
Check the possible temperatures in the room and compare them with the range in the manual for the exact model before choosing where to put it.
Capacity alone doesn’t tell you how long the freezer will keep food cold without power. As part of its testing process, UFC-Que Choisir measures how long the temperature takes to rise from −17 °C to −9 °C.
Check the stated power-cut storage time and the conditions it applies to in the documentation for each model you’re comparing.
An old A+, A++ or A+++ rating can’t be directly converted to a rating on the A to G scale. The energy label, which ADEME recommends using to help guide your purchase, should be considered alongside the appliance’s other features.
Compare models using the same scale, and also take account of the usable capacity and noise level stated for each one.
These examples show different configurations. Check the specifications of the exact model rather than assuming they apply to an entire range.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a large-capacity upright freezer with easy access to separate compartments.
Worth considering if you need a high-capacity chest freezer, particularly for a cold room.
A brand to look at if you need a chest freezer for an unheated garage or cellar.
Worth considering if you’re already replacing your fridge and want to keep chilled and frozen food in one appliance.
This Joybuy selection includes an upright freezer for organising portions, a compact upright model for extra storage and chest freezers in different sizes. First choose a format that suits your food stock and the space available, then compare the features of each model.
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Worth considering if you’d rather separate portions into drawers than stack them in a chest.
The product name lists No Frost protection, a reversible door, an alarm and a C energy rating.
Check the dimensions, ambient temperature range and power-cut storage time for the space you have in mind.
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Its 60 L capacity is better suited to extra storage than to large family stocks.
The product name lists three drawers, a reversible door and an E energy rating.
Before putting it in a small kitchen, check its dimensions, ambient temperature range and power-cut storage time.
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Consider this chest freezer if you’re planning to store larger amounts of food and have an accessible space where it can be opened from the top.
The product name lists fridge or freezer modes, a removable basket, LED lighting and an E energy rating.
Check which mode you need, the space required to open the lid, the ambient temperature range and the power-cut storage time.
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At 95 L, this chest freezer is worth comparing with compact models if you prefer a chest to drawers.
The product name lists fridge or freezer modes, a removable basket and an E energy rating.
Before choosing where to put it, check the clearance needed to open the lid, the ambient temperature range and the power-cut storage time.
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This 99 L chest freezer is another option for adding a limited amount of extra storage, provided you can access it from above.
The product name lists a removable metal basket, an adjustable thermostat and an E energy rating.
Check the model’s dimensions and ambient temperature range for your chosen location, as well as its power-cut storage time.
An upright freezer makes it easy to organise portions in drawers if you take them out often. A chest freezer is worth considering if capacity for large meals or bulk buys matters more and you have enough floor space ; just make sure you have a way to find smaller items.
Yes, if the net capacity of its freezer compartment is enough for your usual stock. As an example for one specific model, Electrolux lists 62 L of freezer capacity out of 248 L total for the KNT6ME18S4 : so don’t rely on the total capacity to work out how much room you’ll have for frozen food.
Only if the model’s specified ambient temperature range covers the actual temperatures in your garage. Liebherr and Beko state that some of their chest freezers can be used at temperatures as low as −15 °C, but this doesn’t automatically apply to their other appliances.
It helps you compare how long each appliance keeps food cold without power under the stated conditions. As part of its testing process, UFC-Que Choisir measures how long the temperature takes to rise from −17 °C to −9 °C ; check the figure and conditions for the specific model rather than estimating them from its capacity.