First, choose a fridge that will fit through to your kitchen and meet the installation requirements. Then compare the capacity for fresh food and frozen food separately. A tabletop or single-door model suits more limited needs; a fridge freezer is a good option if frozen food is a regular part of your shop. A large multi-door model, meanwhile, calls for a genuine need for storage and enough space. The number of people in your household alone isn’t enough to determine the capacity you need.
The appliance needs to fit into a compact space without leaving a large amount of unused capacity. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 100 to 150 L of usable capacity as a starting point for one person; the space needed for frozen food and how often you shop can affect your choice.
A full weekly shop needs room for fresh food, while frozen food requires a suitably sized freezer compartment. Compare the usable capacity of both compartments rather than looking at the total capacity alone.
A larger capacity can suit households that shop less often, as long as the width, depth, delivery access and door clearance work for your home. Check the annual energy consumption of the model you’re considering, too.
For your main household appliance, choose a format based on the space available and the amount of fresh and frozen food you usually store.
Consider it: if you live alone, have limited space and store small quantities of food.
Limitation: its compact size leaves less room for a large shop or frozen food.
Consider it: if fresh food is your priority and you freeze very little, or have another way to store frozen food.
Limitation: depending on the model, the freezer compartment may be small or not included.
Consider it: if fresh and frozen food are regular parts of your household shop.
Limitation: the amount of space in each compartment varies from model to model.
Consider it: if the amount of food you store justifies a large capacity and your home can accommodate the appliance.
Limitation: check the dimensions and energy consumption of the specific model; UFC-Que Choisir highlights these considerations for American-style fridges.
| Criteria | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Space and access | Measure the space, the delivery route and the clearance specified in the manual. | If the access route or kitchen is narrow, I need to be able to get the appliance in and open its doors once it’s installed. Around 27% of consumers put this first. |
| Fresh and frozen food | Compare the usable capacity of each compartment separately and check the type of freezer space. | If I regularly buy frozen food, a small freezer compartment may not meet my storage needs. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this balance. |
| Size of your shop | Match the usable capacity to the number of people in your household and the amount you buy between shops. | When I do a full weekly shop, I want to put away my fresh food without choosing a capacity I won’t use. Around 27% of consumers put shopping capacity first. |
| Operating conditions | Check the model’s climate class, annual energy consumption and noise level. | If the room temperature varies, or the appliance is in an open-plan living space, I pay particular attention to operating conditions and noise. Around 13% of consumers prioritise these factors. |
Two fridges with similar total capacities may have different amounts of space for fresh and frozen food. A small freezer compartment may not suit you if you regularly buy frozen food.
Check the usable capacity in litres for each compartment in the product details and compare it with your usual shopping needs.
An appliance may fit in its allocated space but be difficult to get through a doorway or corridor. You’ll also need to be able to open the doors and leave the required ventilation clearances.
Measure the route to your kitchen, then check the model’s dimensions and installation instructions before ordering.
The climate class indicates the ambient temperature range the appliance is designed for. Bosch explains that a room that’s too warm can make the appliance work harder.
Compare the actual temperatures in the room with the range specified for the model you’ve chosen.
A multi-door fridge takes up more space; UFC-Que Choisir also notes that American-style fridges can use more energy than standard models. These observations don’t replace comparing two specific appliances.
Make sure you’ll use the extra capacity and compare the stated annual energy consumption of the models you’re considering.
The KUL22VFD0 is an integrated option worth considering when your kitchen niche has precise dimensions. Bosch lists this model as measuring 820 × 598 × 548 mm, with 93 L of fridge capacity.
Liebherr’s range includes the 110 L KTe500 tabletop fridge, with stated external dimensions of 85 × 50 × 60,7 cm, as well as integrated models designed for other niche dimensions.
The multi-door RF65DG960ESL is designed for those looking for a large capacity: Samsung lists 646 L and dimensions of 912 × 1 830 × 723 mm.
These Joybuy models include fridge freezers with different capacities, as well as a multi-door model. Compare the space for fresh and frozen food before checking whether the dimensions suit your home.
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Worth considering if your household regularly stores fresh and frozen food, provided you have enough space.
Stated total capacity: 360 L. The product name lists Total No Frost, an E energy rating and Wi-Fi.
Check the delivery route and the clearances specified in the manual before installation.
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Worth considering if your household genuinely needs a large storage capacity and has suitable access for the appliance.
Stated total capacity: 467 L. The product name lists four doors, Total No Frost and an E energy rating.
Check the delivery route, door clearance and required ventilation space.
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Worth comparing if you want separate space for fresh and frozen food.
The product name lists 252 L of fridge capacity and 103 L of freezer capacity, giving 355 L in total, as well as a 60 cm width and a reversible door.
Also check the full dimensions, climate class, annual energy consumption and installation clearances.
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Worth considering for a narrow kitchen if you still need a separate freezer compartment.
The product name lists 153 L of fridge capacity, 74 L of freezer capacity, a width of 54 cm and a reversible door.
Low Frost doesn’t mean you’ll never need to defrost it manually. Check the full height and installation clearances.
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Worth comparing for moderate storage needs, once you’ve checked how much room you need for each type of food.
The product name lists a total capacity of 174 L, Low Frost, an adjustable thermostat and a reversible door.
Low Frost doesn’t guarantee that you’ll never need to defrost it manually. Check the capacity of each compartment, the climate class and the model’s annual energy consumption.
UFC-Que Choisir recommends 100 to 150 L of usable capacity as a starting point for one person, then 50 L for each additional person. Adjust this guide to how often you shop and how much space you need for frozen food.
It depends on the ambient temperature range the model is designed for and the temperatures the room actually reaches. Bosch lists a range of 10 to 32 °C for climate class SN and 16 to 32 °C for class N; check the appliance’s climate class before choosing this location.
Always follow the clearances specified in the model’s manual. As general guidance, UFC-Que Choisir recommends leaving at least 10 cm above and behind the appliance to help air circulate.
For fridges covered by EU energy-labelling rules, compare the energy class and annual consumption shown for each specific model. These details complement, but don’t replace, comparing usable capacity and dimensions.
In France, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies, among other things, to goods sold by a business to a consumer, as the Ministry of the Economy explains. If the appliance doesn’t match the seller’s description, keep a copy of that description and your delivery documents to support your claim with the seller.