If your fridge freezer no longer has enough space, choose a chest freezer when extra capacity is your priority and you have room on the floor. An upright freezer is a better fit if you often reach for food and want to organise it in drawers. An under-counter model is best when installation space is limited, while a new fridge freezer makes sense only if you also need to replace your fridge. Whatever you choose, compare the usable freezer capacity and check that the appliance is suitable for the room where you plan to install it.
If large packs, ready meals and long-term supplies are overflowing from your current compartment, compare the usable capacity of a separate chest or upright freezer. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the benefits of a separate freezer for larger families.
If you regularly take out portions or look for a particular item, easy access to different areas matters just as much as capacity. The drawers in an upright freezer make it easier to organise food; also check how easy they are to use and how the appliance is defrosted.
If you plan to install your freezer in a garage, cellar or pantry, check the possible ambient temperatures before choosing an appliance. Confirm the climate class or suitability for cold rooms for the exact model you are considering.
To increase your family’s freezer storage, first choose between the open space of a chest freezer, the drawers of an upright freezer or possibly replacing your fridge freezer. Then check the requirements of your chosen location and how you use your supplies.
Consider it if: you store large quantities or bulky items and have enough floor space.
Bear in mind: food at the bottom needs to be organised carefully to keep it accessible.
Consider it if: you open the appliance often and want to organise portions and food types in drawers.
Bear in mind: drawer dimensions may limit how easily you can store bulky items.
Consider it if: the space under your worktop calls for this format and you need extra storage.
Bear in mind: check that its usable capacity is enough for your family’s supplies.
Consider it if: you also need to replace your main fridge.
Bear in mind: a large total capacity does not necessarily mean a large freezer compartment.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and dimensions | Compare the usable freezer capacity with the overall dimensions and the clearance needed to open the appliance. | I want to store my supplies without blocking the way or choosing an appliance that is too small; around 33 % of consumers might put this need first. |
| Access and maintenance | Look at the drawers or baskets and check whether the model has a No Frost system. | When I take out portions often, I want to find them easily and cut down on defrosting; nearly 27 % of consumers might prioritise this. |
| Room temperature | Check the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures against the range permitted for the exact model. | My garage or pantry can get cold, so I need an appliance designed for these temperatures. Around 20 % of consumers might make this their main criterion. |
| Power cuts and energy use | Compare the stated power-cut storage time in hours and annual energy consumption in kWh/year for the models you are considering. | I keep a lot of frozen food and want to check how long it stays cold during a power cut as well as how much electricity it uses; around 20 % of consumers might prioritise this balance. |
The fridge may account for most of the stated capacity. For example, Whirlpool gives a total capacity of 394 l for the WHSP70T121, but its freezer compartment holds 99 l.
Compare the freezer’s usable capacity separately with the amount of food you want to store.
The climate class specifies a range of ambient temperatures; a room outside that range may affect the appliance’s operation as intended by the manufacturer.
Check the possible temperatures in the room, then consult the product details and manual for the exact model. Suitability for cold rooms stated for some chest freezers does not automatically apply to other models from the same brand.
A large chest freezer takes up floor space, and food at the bottom can be hard to find. UFC-Que Choisir notes that chest freezers commonly measure 110 to 140 cm wide and around 70 cm deep.
Measure the installation space, delivery route and clearance needed to open the lid. Also plan to organise food using baskets or categories.
In France, the Ministry of the Economy distinguishes between optional commercial cover and the statutory legal guarantee of conformity that applies to goods sold by a professional.
Before taking out extended cover, compare its written terms, including exclusions and claims procedures, with the legal guarantees you already have.
Worth considering for a chest freezer intended for an unheated room.
Worth considering if you want a freestanding upright freezer with easy access to your supplies.
Worth considering when comparing a chest freezer, a large upright model and, if you need to replace your fridge, a fridge freezer.
Worth considering if your installation calls for a built-in freezer with separate compartments.
These models let you compare two ways to add separate freezer storage—a chest freezer and an upright freezer—with fridge freezers to consider if you are also replacing your main fridge. For fridge freezers, do not confuse the stated total capacity with the space available for frozen food.
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Worth considering if you are also replacing your main fridge; check that the freezer compartment is large enough for your supplies.
Stated total capacity: 467 l. Total No Frost and energy rating E are given in the model name.
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Worth comparing if you also need to replace your existing fridge; check the freezer capacity separately.
Stated total capacity: 360 l. Total No Frost, energy rating E, Wi-Fi and My Zone are listed in the model name.
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Worth considering if you want to add separate storage, provided you use the appliance in freezer mode and have enough space for it.
Stated capacity: 291 l for this appliance, which switches between fridge and freezer modes; this capacity does not apply to both modes at the same time. The model name also lists a removable basket and a defrost drain.
If you plan to install it in a cold room, check the ambient temperature range permitted for this model.
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Worth considering if you want extra storage with food organised separately in drawers.
Stated capacity: 161 l. The model name lists three freezer drawers, No Frost and energy rating C.
Check the dimensions and climate class before choosing where to install it.
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Worth considering for extra frozen storage if its capacity meets your needs and a top-opening lid suits the space.
Stated capacity: 140 l. The model name lists a storage basket, counterbalanced lid and energy rating E.
If you plan to use it in an unheated room, check the ambient temperature range permitted for this model.
Choose a model with an ambient temperature range that covers the temperatures the room actually reaches. For example, Bosch gives a range of 10 to 32 °C for climate class SN and 10 to 43 °C for SN-T. If your garage drops below 10 °C, these figures alone are not enough. Check for an explicit statement that the exact model is suitable for lower temperatures.
No. According to manufacturers, No Frost is designed to reduce frost build-up and the need for manual defrosting, but you should still follow the manual, clean the inside and door seals, and check that the door closes properly.
Compare the stated storage time during a power cut, in hours, for each model rather than trying to estimate it from the format. Whirlpool gives 36 h for the W3RHS37EW1 chest freezer, while Electrolux gives 10 h for the built-in EUN7NE18S; these figures apply to these specific models.
No, commercial cover is optional. The French Ministry of the Economy explains that it is in addition to statutory guarantees. If you buy from a professional retailer, check what the extended cover contract actually offers compared with the statutory legal guarantee of conformity.