Households stocking up on groceries
If you buy in bulk or regularly freeze meals, start by estimating how much extra capacity you need. A chest freezer could suit you if you have enough floor space and can easily reach its contents in your home.
Who are these formats for?
Households that want to find food easily
If you open your freezer often, drawers and category-based storage may matter more than a large horizontal space. However, check that it can accommodate the packaging you usually use.
Households with limited space
Whether it’s going in a kitchen, utility room or garage, measure the appliance, how it opens and the space needed to get it into position. If the room isn’t heated, also check the permitted ambient temperature for the model you’re considering.
How do the options compare?
First, work out the maximum amount of frozen food you need to store: a fridge freezer’s total capacity doesn’t tell you how much its freezer compartment can hold. Then compare your preferred format with how you’ll access your food and where you plan to put it.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Storage capacity | Compare the freezer capacity in litres with your maximum stock, then measure the space the appliance will take up. | I do a big shop and want to keep a reserve of frozen food. Around 33% of consumers would put this capacity at the top of their list. |
| Access to food | Look at the drawers, baskets and removable fittings, taking into account the types of food you need to store. | When I take out small amounts regularly, I want to find everything without rummaging. Access and organisation would be priorities for around 27% of consumers. |
| Available space | For a fridge freezer, check the capacity of the freezer compartment alone, the dimensions and the clearance needed to open the doors. | I don’t have room for a second appliance, but my freezer compartment still needs to hold my shopping. The space it takes up would be a priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Operating conditions | Compare energy use in kWh/year and noise in dB(A); check the stated storage time during a power cut and the permitted ambient temperature. | If the appliance is near a living area or in a cold room, I want to know its operating conditions. These would be a priority for around 20% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid before you buy
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Choosing based only on the stated capacity
A large capacity doesn’t guarantee that the appliance will fit in your home or that its lid will open properly. For example, the Liebherr CFd 2505 Plus chest freezer has a capacity of 359 l and measures 82 × 167 × 71 cm, according to Liebherr.
Measure the space, delivery route and clearance needed to open the lid before choosing between a chest and an upright freezer.
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Comparing energy ratings alone
The energy rating on its own doesn’t tell you the declared energy use or freezer capacity. The product information available in the European Commission’s EPREL database includes these details for individual models.
Compare the kWh/year for appliances with a similar function and capacity, using the exact model reference.
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Assuming any freezer will work in any garage
The minimum permitted ambient temperature varies by model. For example, Beko says the B1RFNE314W can operate at ambient temperatures as low as −15 °C; this doesn’t apply to every freezer.
Before installing a freezer in an unheated garage or cellar, check the manual for the model’s operating temperatures and installation requirements.
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Forgetting about your old appliance
Old freezers should go through a suitable take-back or collection scheme, rather than being put out with ordinary waste. The Ministry for the Ecological Transition lists collection points and recycling centres as possible drop-off locations.
If you’re replacing your appliance, ask the retailer how to arrange for your old one to be taken back when you buy a similar appliance.
Brands to consider when comparing
Liebherr
Liebherr offers chest freezers, with frost-management features and suitability for use in cold rooms varying by model.
- The CFd 2505 Plus is an example of a chest freezer: Liebherr lists its capacity as 359 l and its dimensions as 82 × 167 × 71 cm.
- For each model, check the space needed to open it, the defrosting requirements and the permitted ambient temperatures. The advertised features don’t apply to the whole range.
Bosch
Bosch’s range of upright freezers includes models with drawers and storage areas designed to make organising food easier.
- Bosch highlights features such as transparent drawers and, on selected models, removable storage fittings.
- For the model you’re considering, compare freezer capacity, dimensions, kWh/year and door clearance. Interior organisation is only one part of the decision.
Beko
Beko offers upright freezers, with features and installation requirements varying between models.
- Beko says the B1RFNE314W can operate at ambient temperatures as low as −15 °C.
- If you’re planning to put it in a garage, check this suitability for the specific model, along with its capacity, noise level and stated storage time during a power cut.
Joybuy appliances by format
These appliances offer three options to consider: a chest freezer for a separate food reserve, an upright freezer with drawers for organised storage, and a fridge freezer if its freezer compartment meets your needs. Compare freezer capacity and the space each appliance takes up before choosing a format.
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AUCMA 291 L convertible chest freezer
Worth considering if you want a separate freezer for storing extra food and have enough space for a top-opening chest freezer.
Stated capacity of 291 L, energy rating E, removable basket, LED light and five-level digital control. The title describes it as convertible between refrigeration and freezing; check the permitted ambient temperature if you plan to install it in a garage.
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AUCMA 197 L convertible chest freezer
Worth considering if you want a dedicated chest freezer and 197 L is a better match for your planned storage than 291 L.
Stated capacity of 197 L, energy rating E, removable basket, defrost drain and five-level digital control. The model is described as convertible between refrigeration and freezing; check its operating conditions if you plan to keep it in a cold room.
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Candy CFQQ5T817EPS four-door fridge freezer, 467 L
Worth considering if you want to avoid buying a separate freezer, provided its freezer compartment can hold your maximum stock.
The stated capacity of 467 L is for the whole appliance, not just the freezer. The title specifies four doors, Total No Frost and energy rating E; check the freezer compartment’s capacity separately, as well as the space needed to open the doors.
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Heinrich´s 161 L upright freezer, stainless steel
Worth considering if you’d rather organise your food in drawers and access it through a front-opening door.
Stated capacity of 161 L, three freezer drawers listed in the title, No Frost protection, reversible door hinge and energy rating C. Check the dimensions, kWh/year and door clearance for your chosen location.
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AUCMA 141 L convertible chest freezer
Worth considering if you want a chest freezer for extra storage, but need less capacity than the 197 L and 291 L AUCMA models featured here.
Stated capacity of 141 L, energy rating E, seven-level thermostat, removable basket and defrost drain. The title describes it as convertible between refrigeration and freezing; check the permitted ambient temperature for your chosen location.
Frequently asked questions
Can a large fridge freezer replace a separate freezer?
Yes, if the freezer compartment alone can hold your maximum stock. Don’t rely on the fridge freezer’s total capacity: also check its dimensions and annual energy consumption in the product information.
What should I compare on a freezer’s energy label?
Check the energy rating alongside annual energy consumption in kWh/year, freezer capacity and the model’s noise information. The European Commission also makes product information available through EPREL, which you can access using the QR code on the label.
Can I put a freezer in an unheated garage?
Only if the expected ambient temperature is within the range permitted for that model. Check the manual rather than relying on the appliance’s format alone: for example, Beko says the B1RFNE314W can operate at ambient temperatures as low as −15 °C, but this doesn’t apply to other models.
What should I do with my old freezer in France?
Arrange for it to be taken back or take it to a suitable collection point. The Ministry for the Ecological Transition says that a ‘one-for-one’ take-back applies when you buy an appliance of the same type; you can also drop it off at a collection point or recycling centre.