To fit the shopping for a larger household, compare the space you need for fresh and frozen food separately, then check the delivery route and the room you’ll need to use the appliance in your kitchen. A fridge freezer can be a good fit if width is limited. If you need more storage and have the space, consider a multi-door model or two separate appliances. An integrated model, meanwhile, needs a compatible housing unit and door-fitting system.
The right capacity depends as much on the size of your household as it does on how often you shop and how much space you need for frozen food.
If your weekly shop no longer fits, work out which compartment is actually short on space. Que Choisir gives an indicative guide of 100 to 150 L for one person, then around 50 L for each additional person. How often you shop and how much frozen food you buy can change what you need.
If the number of people at home varies, size and organise the compartments for the times when you have the most shopping and meals to cater for, rather than for a less busy everyday routine.
Extra capacity is only useful if the appliance can get into your kitchen and you can still use its doors and drawers. Check the clearance requirements in the instruction manual too. For an integrated model, make sure the housing unit and ventilation are suitable.
Start by working out how much storage you need for each type of food. Then rule out formats that won’t fit your kitchen before comparing energy labels.
Consider this if: you have a space about 60 cm wide and want to keep fresh and frozen food in one appliance.
Check: make sure the freezer has enough capacity, even if the total capacity looks generous.
Consider this if: you need plenty of space for both fresh and frozen food, and a wider appliance can be delivered and installed.
Check: the width, depth and annual energy consumption should all be proportionate to how you’ll use it.
Consider this if: you have space for two appliances and want to choose the fridge and freezer capacities independently.
Check: you’ll need to allow for the space, ventilation and power supply required by two appliances.
Consider this if: you need to keep a fitted kitchen front and have a housing unit that suits your chosen model.
Check: the housing unit dimensions, ventilation and door-fitting system will limit which models are compatible.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity split | Compare the usable litres of the fridge and freezer separately. Check that the shelves and drawers suit the food you usually buy. | My weekly shop needs to fit without the freezer filling up before the fridge. |
| Installation | Measure the appliance’s height, width and depth, the entire delivery route and the clearance needed to remove the drawers. Follow the clearance and ventilation instructions in the manual. | I want to be able to get the appliance into my kitchen and open its doors without moving the furniture. |
| Energy use and noise | For appliances covered by EU rules, the European Commission says the energy label shows information including the energy class, consumption, capacity and noise. Compare kWh/year across formats and capacities that meet similar needs. | If I move to a larger appliance, I want to check its annual energy consumption, not just its energy rating letter. |
| Storage and maintenance | Check the layout of the drawers and shelves, as well as the cooling technology used in each compartment on the specific model. Make sure you can access the drawers with the doors open. | Easy-to-organise storage would help me put away a larger shop. I also want to know what maintenance the freezer needs. |
| Fitted kitchen | For an integrated model, check the housing unit’s internal dimensions and ventilation, as well as the door-fixing system, against the model’s instructions. | I need to keep my kitchen’s fitted front, without assuming a new appliance will fit the old housing unit. |
A large total capacity won’t solve a lack of space if those extra litres are in the wrong compartment.
Make a note of what’s overflowing now, then compare the stated fridge and freezer capacities separately.
An appliance might fit in its space but not through a doorway, or it could prevent you from opening the drawers fully once installed.
Measure the delivery route, the space for the appliance and the clearance in front of the doors. Check the ventilation clearances specified for the model.
If access or ventilation means you need to adapt your kitchen, plan this before delivery.
ADEME points out that an appliance’s size and extra features can affect its energy consumption. The rating letter alone won’t tell you how many litres you’ll actually use.
Compare the kWh/year figure with the capacity and format, and look at appliances suited to the same needs.
Housing unit dimensions, ventilation and door fixings can differ between models, even when the appliances look a similar size.
Check the installation diagram and door-fitting system before ordering.
Depending on your kitchen and chosen installation service, you may need to adapt the housing unit or kitchen front.
The models mentioned here illustrate specific configurations; their features don’t represent every model from a brand.
Bosch illustrates the choice between a freestanding fridge freezer and a single-door fridge paired with a separate freezer.
The GML844PZ6F multi-door model lets you consider an appliance with separate stated capacities for fresh and frozen food.
The KNA7CE18S is an example of an integrated option for a kitchen that already has a suitable housing unit.
Liebherr offers separate appliances to consider if your kitchen has space for two units.
This selection includes fridge freezers, three-door models and multi-door models, so you can compare different ways to store the shopping for a larger household. Check that the capacity suits your shopping, then confirm the dimensions and installation requirements of your chosen model.
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Worth considering if you want to organise a larger shop in a four-door appliance. The title lists a total capacity of 467 L, Total No Frost technology and an energy rating of E. Also check how much room you’ll need to open the doors.
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Compare this model if you’d prefer one freestanding appliance for fresh and frozen food. The title lists a total capacity of 390 L and an energy rating of D. Check the capacity of each compartment and the measurements along the delivery route.
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Its stated total capacity may suit a household whose shopping needs are growing. The title describes it as an E-rated multi-door model, but the description also uses “Side-by-Side”. Check the door and compartment layout before choosing.
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This three-door format is worth comparing with a conventional fridge freezer if storage organisation matters to you. The title lists a total capacity of 360 L, Total No Frost and an energy rating of E. Compare the fridge and freezer capacities before deciding if this is the right model for you.
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Its four doors may appeal if you want to organise your shopping separately. The title lists a total capacity of 474 L and an energy rating of E. Check how much space is allocated to fresh and frozen food, as well as the clearance needed to open the doors.
Que Choisir gives an indicative guide of 100 to 150 L for one person, then around 50 L for each additional person. Use this as a starting point and adjust it to how often you shop. Compare the fridge and freezer capacities separately.
Measure the space for the appliance and every access point between your front door and kitchen. Then check the clearance needed to open the doors and remove the drawers. Refer to the model’s manual for its ventilation clearance requirements.
Not without checking your kitchen first. An integrated model needs a housing unit with the right dimensions, suitable ventilation and a compatible door-fitting system. Also compare its usable capacity with that of the appliance you’re replacing.
For fridges and freezers covered by EU rules and sold in the European Union, the European Commission says the label shows the energy class, consumption, storage capacities and noise level. Above all, compare the kWh/year figures for appliances with formats and capacities suited to similar needs.
Follow the instructions for your model before plugging it in for the first time. Electrolux recommends waiting at least four hours for appliances covered by its installation guidance; don’t automatically apply this waiting time to other models.