First, measure the delivery route and the space where the appliance will go. Then work out separately how much room you need for fresh food and frozen food. Que Choisir suggests starting with 100 to 150 L of usable capacity for one person, then allowing around 50 L for each additional person. Use this as a guide and adjust it to suit your shopping habits. A compact appliance can work well in a small kitchen, while a fridge freezer or larger-capacity model offers more room for freezing or storage, provided you have space to install it.
In a studio flat or narrow kitchen, start by checking how much space the appliance will take up. Que Choisir recommends a table-top model for studio flats and suggests 100 to 150 L of usable capacity for one person. Adjust this according to your shopping habits and how much space you need for frozen food.
If your shopping includes fresh and frozen food, a fridge freezer gives you two separate compartments. Compare their capacities individually: the total capacity won’t tell you how much space is available in each one.
If you shop less often or need plenty of room for frozen food, check the capacity of each compartment and how easy it is to access the drawers. Que Choisir recommends multi-door models for larger families. Their size also means you’ll need to check the delivery route and make sure there’s room to open the doors.
Consider this if: you live alone and have limited kitchen space.
Bear in mind: storage space is limited, particularly for frozen food. If there’s a freezer compartment, check that it suits your needs.
Consider this if: you mainly need space for fresh food and either freeze very little or have a separate freezer.
Bear in mind: a small freezer compartment may not be big enough if you regularly buy frozen food.
Consider this if: you want to store fresh and frozen food regularly in the same appliance.
Bear in mind: two fridge freezers with the same total capacity can have very different amounts of space in each compartment.
Consider this if: you have a larger household or shop less often and need plenty of storage space.
Bear in mind: these appliances take up more space. Make sure they’ll fit through the route into your kitchen, that the doors can open fully and that the installation requirements can be met.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Space and access | Measure the space and the entire delivery route. Also check that the doors can open fully and allow for the clearances specified in the model’s manual. | In a small kitchen or a home with difficult access, I want to be able to install the appliance without losing the capacity I need. Around 25% of consumers would make fitting the appliance into their space their top priority. |
| How the capacity is divided | Use Que Choisir’s guide as a starting point — 100 to 150 L of usable capacity for one person, then around 50 L for each additional person — and compare the fridge and freezer capacities separately. | If I shop for both fresh and frozen food, I want enough space in each compartment rather than a large total capacity. Around 42% of consumers would put this balance first. |
| Storage for your shopping | Compare the capacity and drawer layout with the food you usually buy, especially if you store lots of frozen food or bulky containers. | When I do a big shop or leave more time between shops, I don’t want to run out of storage before my next trip to the supermarket. Around 25% of consumers would make storage capacity their top priority. |
| Noise and energy use | Compare the kWh/year, energy rating, noise level in dB and noise class shown on the label. The dB figure alone doesn’t tell you everything about how loud an appliance will seem. | If the fridge is near a living area, I pay particular attention to how much noise it makes and how much energy it uses day to day. Around 8% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
Two appliances with similar total capacities can offer different amounts of space for fresh and frozen food. If you freeze food often, how the capacity is divided matters just as much as the big number of litres on the label.
Compare the capacity of each compartment against a typical list of the food you buy.
A fridge might fit in the space you’ve planned for it but still be too wide to get through a corridor, or need more room to open its doors. The required airflow also depends on the instructions for that particular model.
Measure the route, check how far the doors open and follow the ventilation clearance instructions in the manual.
Que Choisir points out that how loud an appliance seems depends on the type of noise and any vibrations. The stated level alone doesn’t tell you how comfortable it will be to have in an open-plan kitchen.
Use the noise level and noise class as a starting point, then look for reviews that describe the sound if this is an important factor for you.
A small built-in compartment may not be suitable if you regularly buy a lot of frozen food.
Think about how much you want to store and check the capacity of a separate freezer compartment if you need to freeze food regularly.
These models let you compare three formats for household food storage: a larder fridge, a fridge freezer and large-capacity appliances. Compare their capacity with your shopping needs, then check the dimensions and installation requirements of the model you’re considering.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to store fresh and frozen food in the same appliance.
Class E; the model name includes Total No Frost, Wi-Fi and My Zone.
Measure the delivery route and check the ventilation clearances in the manual.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if your shopping needs require plenty of space for fresh and frozen food.
Class E multi-door model, listed with Total No Frost and Smart Inverter.
Check the delivery route, door clearance and installation requirements before choosing this format.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you need plenty of storage and have room for a multi-door appliance.
Black finish and Class E.
Check the delivery route, the space needed to open the doors and the installation requirements. If you plan to use the water and ice dispenser, confirm the model’s connection requirements.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you need plenty of storage and have enough room for this format.
Black finish and Class E.
Measure the delivery route and check the manual for installation clearances. If energy use is important to you, compare the kWh/year on the label too.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you prioritise fresh food storage and only need a small amount of freezer space.
Larder fridge freezer; compare how the 179 L is divided between the compartments with your shopping needs.
If you regularly store frozen food, check that the freezer compartment is large enough for you. Also consult the manual for installation instructions.
Measure the space and every part of the route to your kitchen, including doorways, corners, stairs and lifts. Allow room for the appliance doors to open, and follow the ventilation clearance instructions in the model’s manual. Recommendations for another appliance may not apply.
Que Choisir suggests starting with 100 to 150 L of usable capacity for one person, then adding around 50 L for each additional person. Adjust this guide to suit how often you shop, and compare the space for fresh and frozen food separately.
No. The noise level and noise class are useful for an initial comparison, but they don’t tell you everything about how loud an appliance will seem. Que Choisir notes that the type of noise and any vibrations also matter. If you have an open-plan kitchen, look for acoustic reviews as well as checking the label.
Check that the No Frost function applies to the compartment you’re interested in, particularly the freezer if you regularly store food in it. Que Choisir describes fan-assisted cooling, or No Frost, as a system that circulates cold air and prevents frost from forming. Check that the model you choose has this feature.
It lets you compare details including the energy rating, annual consumption in kWh, compartment capacities and noise information. The European Commission says the A to G scale has applied to household fridges and freezers since 1 March 2021. Above all, compare the capacities and kWh/year with your storage needs.