For a shared household that does its food shopping once a week, a fridge freezer is a good place to start, provided it offers enough fridge and freezer space. It gives you two separate compartments without the width of a multi-door or American-style model. A multi-door fridge freezer is worth considering if you need more room for shared groceries; an American-style model also means checking your kitchen, delivery route and, depending on the model, whether it needs a water connection. An under-counter fridge is better suited to one person or as an extra appliance.
Several adults need to share the space between fresh food, leftovers, drinks and frozen food. Count the people in your household, then look at the capacity of each compartment separately and measure the space available in your kitchen.
A bigger capacity is no use if the appliance won’t fit through the doors or gets in the way. Check the space where it will go and the delivery route before considering a multi-door or American-style model.
If frozen food or batch-cooked meals regularly take up space, total capacity alone won’t help you choose between models. Check the freezer capacity separately from the fridge capacity.
Start by working out how much space you need in each compartment, then rule out any styles that won’t suit your kitchen or the access to your home.
| What to consider | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fridge capacity | Compare the usable litres of fridge space, not just the total capacity. UFC-Que Choisir suggests an average of 100 to 150 L for one person, plus 50 L for each additional person; adjust this to suit your shopping habits. | We shop for several days at a time, so we need room for everyone’s food without relying on space taken up by the freezer. |
| Space for frozen food | Check the freezer capacity in litres separately and look at the type of compartment. UFC-Que Choisir says that a small ice box isn’t suitable if you eat a lot of frozen food. | If we freeze meals or regularly buy frozen food, I want to know how much space is actually available for it. |
| Dimensions and access | Measure the width, height and depth, check how far the doors open, and measure the delivery route with the packaging. Check the manual for the exact model for clearance and ventilation requirements; Samsung recommends checking doors, corridors and lifts in particular. | In a narrow kitchen, extra capacity is no use if the appliance blocks a walkway or can’t be installed properly. |
| Interior storage | Check the shelves, drawers and access to compartments, based on the foods you need to keep separate. Also make sure the layout allows the doors to open where you plan to put the appliance. | When we’re sharing, we need to find fresh food, leftovers and everyone’s groceries without reorganising the whole fridge. |
| Noise and energy use | Compare the stated noise level in dB(A), the noise class and the annual energy consumption shown on the energy label, looking at models with a capacity and style suited to your needs. UFC-Que Choisir classes models rated below 40 dBA among the quietest. | Our kitchen opens onto a living space, so noise matters to us, as does the energy use of an appliance that runs all the time. |
Even a spacious appliance may not have enough room in the compartment your household uses most.
Make a note of how much fresh and frozen food you go through in a week, then compare the usable capacity of each compartment. If frozen food takes up a lot of space, don’t treat a small ice box as a proper freezer.
The width and door opening can make installation tricky, even if the space looks big enough. Samsung also recommends checking the access route for the packaged appliance.
Measure the route to your kitchen and the space where the appliance will go, then check the manual for the exact model for the clearance it needs.
These examples show the differences between styles to consider; their features don’t represent every appliance made by each brand.
Two Bosch models let you compare an under-counter fridge with a freestanding fridge freezer.
The RF50A5202B1/EF is an example of a multi-door fridge freezer for households looking at higher-capacity options.
The GSJV50DSXE is an example to consider if you’re looking at an American-style fridge for a large kitchen.
These models include fridge freezers, multi-door models and an American-style fridge, so you can compare options for several days’ shopping based on the space available and how much frozen food you buy.
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If your household needs plenty of shared storage, this four-door model has a stated total capacity of 467 L, Total No Frost technology and an E energy rating. Measure the space, check the doors can open fully and make sure the delivery route is clear. Then check the clearance requirements in the manual.
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This 344 L fridge freezer has a D energy rating and gives you a fridge and freezer in one appliance for your weekly shop. Before choosing, check the capacity of each compartment, all the dimensions and the required clearances. If your kitchen is open-plan, compare the noise level and annual energy use too.
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This 495 L multi-door model has an E energy rating and is worth considering if your household needs more space for its groceries. Check the dimensions and delivery access, then compare the fridge and freezer capacities. Also check the water supply requirements for any features you’re interested in.
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At 54 cm wide, this fridge freezer could suit a narrow kitchen, provided its 153 L of fridge space and 74 L of freezer space are enough for everyone in your household. It has a reversible door, a four-star freezer and Low Frost technology. The freezer will need manual defrosting, so check the installation instructions too.
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This 583 L American-style fridge freezer has an E energy rating and is worth considering if your household needs plenty of storage space and has room for this style of appliance. Before comparing it with a fridge freezer, check the usable compartment capacities rather than relying on the headline total. Also measure your kitchen and delivery route, and check the clearances required in the manual.
UFC-Que Choisir’s average guide — 100 to 150 L of usable space for one person, then around 50 L for each additional person — works out at 200 to 250 L for three people. Use this as a starting point and adjust it to the amount of food you store. Check the freezer space you need separately.
An under-counter fridge may not offer enough shared storage for several people. For comparison, Bosch states that the KTL15NWEB has 106 L of fridge space. Check this against everyone’s groceries, and consider a larger style if it won’t be enough.
Measure the space where the appliance will go, check how far the doors open and measure the entire delivery route, including doors, corridors and the lift, allowing for the packaged appliance. Also check the manual for the exact model for its ventilation and clearance requirements.
It depends on the model: LG says the GSJV50DSXE needs to be connected to the plumbing. Check the requirements for the exact model and where you plan to install it before choosing an appliance for this feature.
Electrolux recommends 4 °C or below for the fridge and −18 °C for the freezer. Follow your appliance’s manual too, and check its climate class if the room it’s in is particularly cold or warm.