Households that shop once a week
Allow separate space for fresh food, leftovers and frozen food. Measure the available space before settling on a capacity, too.
Which size is right for you?
Smaller homes with little frozen food
A compact freestanding model could be a good fit if space is limited. If your shop includes frozen food, though, check the size of its freezer compartment.
Households that store lots of prepared meals
A larger fridge-freezer or a multi-door model may be worth considering if you need the extra space every week. Compare the usable storage space, dimensions and noise level of the model you’re considering.
What should you check before choosing?
Start with what actually fills your compartments, then check that the size you’re considering suits your available space and storage habits.
Table-top or single-door
Worth considering if: space is very limited and you rarely or never store frozen food.
Bear in mind: check the freezer compartment before relying on this type of fridge for your entire weekly shop.
Fridge-freezer
Worth considering if: you store fresh and frozen food in separate compartments each week.
Bear in mind: two fridge-freezers with the same total capacity may divide the space differently between the fridge and freezer.
Multi-door or large-capacity model
Worth considering if: bulk buys or prepared meals regularly take up a lot of space.
Bear in mind: extra capacity won’t, by itself, stop you forgetting about leftovers, and you’ll need enough room for the appliance.
Keep your current fridge and reorganise it
Worth considering if: food is difficult to find, but you don’t consistently run out of space once everything is organised.
Bear in mind: organising your food better won’t create extra capacity or provide a more suitable freezer compartment.
| What to consider | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Storing leftovers | Look at the layout of the shelves and drawers, and check there’s room for your food containers. Before you shop, take stock of what’s in the fridge: this is a practice recommended by ADEME. | I want to find opened food easily and see what leftovers I have before buying the same things again. |
| Fresh and frozen capacity | Compare the capacity in litres of each compartment, not just the total. Que Choisir suggests 100 to 150 L for one person, plus 50 L for each additional person, as a starting point to adjust to your household’s habits. | My shopping needs to last several days, so I need enough room for fresh food without underestimating how much freezer space I need. |
| Installation and noise | Check the overall dimensions, installation type, delivery access and door opening. According to the European Commission, the EU label also shows the airborne acoustical noise emissions of the appliances covered. | In a small kitchen or open-plan living space, I need to make sure the appliance will fit and take its noise level into account. |
| Temperature and features | Check the temperature settings and the conditions for using the features on offer. Anses advises setting your fridge below 4 °C and notes that the temperature is also affected by how often you open the door and how full the fridge is. | I’m looking for compartments that are easy to organise, without assuming that a freshness feature or fan-assisted cooling alone will guarantee the results I want. |
What mistakes should you avoid?
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Looking only at the total capacity
An appliance may offer plenty of room for fresh food but not enough for your frozen shopping. The two compartments serve different purposes.
Make a note of what you usually freeze after shopping, then compare the stated capacities of the compartments separately.
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Replacing your fridge because you forget about leftovers
A larger capacity won’t automatically make food easier to see. ADEME recommends checking what you have before shopping and tidying your fridge regularly.
Set aside a clearly defined spot for leftovers and take stock before considering a larger appliance.
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Overlooking installation and noise
An integrated model is installed differently from a freestanding one. In a small kitchen, height, depth and noise emissions can matter just as much as capacity.
Measure the space and access routes, check the door configuration, then compare the noise information for the models you’re considering.
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Assuming a feature guarantees food will stay fresh
No Frost, fan-assisted cooling and connected features don’t remove the need to set up and use your appliance correctly. Anses notes, in particular, that opening the door and how full the fridge is can affect the actual temperature.
First choose a suitable capacity and layout, then look at the features and how to use them.
A few examples of brands and models
These examples show some formats you can compare; their specifications don’t apply to every appliance from each brand.
Beko
The TSE1504FN is an example of a freestanding table-top fridge. Beko’s product information lists a capacity of 128 L and dimensions of 840 × 540 × 590 mm.
- A useful example for comparing the footprint of a small fridge.
- If your shop includes frozen food, check the freezer compartment on the model you choose.
Bosch
According to Bosch Home Appliances France, the integrated KIN96SFD0 fridge-freezer offers 215 L of fridge capacity and 75 L of freezer capacity.
- Its product information lists dimensions of 1935 × 558 × 548 mm and a noise level of 34 dB.
- For this integrated model, check the cabinet niche and fixing requirements before making your choice.
Samsung
According to Samsung Pro France, the RB34C652ESA/EF fridge-freezer has a total capacity of 341 L, split between 227 L for the fridge and 114 L for the freezer.
- The product information lists dimensions of 185,3 × 59,5 × 65,8 cm and a noise level of 35 dB for this model.
- Check how much space it will need in your kitchen rather than judging its footprint by capacity alone.
LG
LG France lists a capacity of 638 L and a retractable shelf for the GMG960MBJE multi-door fridge-freezer.
- This model gives you the chance to consider whether a large-capacity layout suits your regular storage needs.
- Before choosing this format, check the dimensions, the division between compartments and how much capacity you really need.
Fridges available on Joybuy
These models include large-capacity appliances and fridge-freezers that keep fresh and frozen shopping separate. Compare their size with your available space and the amount of leftovers you usually store.
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Candy CFQQ5T817EPS, 467 L multi-door fridge-freezer
Worth considering if you regularly store a large weekly shop and plenty of leftovers in a multi-door fridge-freezer. The product title lists a capacity of 467 L, Total No Frost and an E energy rating. Check that its dimensions and access to the compartments suit your kitchen.
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CHiQ JR525WSE, 525 L side-by-side fridge-freezer
If you buy in bulk and include frozen food, compare the space in each compartment: the product title lists 333 L for the fridge and 192 L for the freezer. It also lists No Frost and 37 dB. Check the overall dimensions and interior layout before choosing.
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Hisense RB3B250SAWC, 252 L integrated fridge-freezer
This fridge-freezer is designed for a fitted kitchen with space for integrated storage of fresh and frozen food. The product title lists a capacity of 252 L, No Frost and a C energy rating. Check the cabinet niche dimensions, door fixing and clearance requirements in the installation manual.
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CHiQ JR263LGE, 262 L Low Frost fridge-freezer
If you’re looking for a relatively narrow fridge-freezer for a shop that needs to last several days, the product title lists a width of 54 cm and a height of 176 cm. It also specifies a 70/30 split and Low Frost. Check the space needed to open the door and the defrosting requirements.
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Bosch KGN33NLEB, 282 L fridge-freezer
The freezer at the bottom gives you the option of storing fresh and frozen food separately for a shop that lasts several days. The product title lists a capacity of 282 L and an E energy rating. Check the installation clearances and noise level if the appliance will be near a living area.
Frequently asked questions
How many litres do I need for my weekly shop?
Que Choisir suggests 100 to 150 L for one person, plus 50 L for each additional person. Use this as a starting point: how often you shop, how many containers of leftovers you store and how much frozen food you buy can all affect the capacity your household needs.
Is total capacity enough to compare two fridges?
No. If you buy frozen food, compare the fridge and freezer capacities separately. The European Commission says that the label on the fridges and freezers covered shows their storage volumes, helping you check how the space is divided rather than looking at the total alone.
What should I check before ordering an integrated or freestanding model?
Measure the space and delivery access, then check the installation type, clearances and door opening for the exact model. For an integrated appliance, also check the cabinet niche and door fixing requirements against its installation manual.
How can the energy label help me choose?
For the appliances covered, it lets you compare the energy efficiency class, energy consumption, storage volumes and noise emissions. These are among the details set out by the European Commission. Use them alongside your checks of the dimensions and layout.