If you’re keeping the alcove and cabinet door, choose a genuine built-in model whose dimensions, door fixing and ventilation requirements match the installation instructions. A freestanding appliance is only an option if there’s enough clearance and the doors can open fully. A fridge without a freezer, paired with a separate freezer, needs two suitable spaces.
You want to keep the alcove and cabinet door, so the unit dimensions, door fixing and ventilation matter more than how closely the new appliance resembles the old one. Advice from Electrolux Assistance and Bosch Electroménager France highlights the specific requirements for built-in installations.
You could consider a freestanding appliance if there’s enough room for ventilation, the door to open and the drawers to slide out. Beko France and Liebherr France provide recommendations and dimensions for certain models, which you should check against the model you choose.
You want to choose how much space to allocate to fresh and frozen food separately, and have room for a second appliance. Check the specifications of each appliance and make sure there’s enough space for both.
For a kitchen alcove, external dimensions aren’t enough. Check the installation requirements, ventilation and door clearance for the exact model you’re considering. Electrolux Assistance points out that ventilation requirements vary by appliance type.
| Criteria | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Alcove dimensions | Measure the finished internal height, width and depth, then compare them with the installation dimensions for the model. Also check that the appliance will fit through the route into your kitchen. | If I’m keeping the existing unit, I want to know whether its dimensions will really suit the new appliance. Around 26% of consumers prioritise a good fit in the alcove. |
| Ventilation | Check the instructions for the air inlets and outlets, along with the required clearances. Beko France’s guidance on side and rear clearances applies to the appliances covered by that recommendation; it doesn’t automatically apply to other models. | If the appliance is next to a unit, I want to maintain the airflow specified for its design. Around 26% of consumers put ventilation first. |
| Usable capacity | Compare the stated fridge and freezer capacities separately. If you’re choosing two appliances, make sure there’s a suitable space for each one. | If I store different quantities of fresh and frozen food, I want to choose a layout that suits my needs. Around 21% of consumers prioritise storage capacity. |
| Doors and cabinet front | Check the fixing system, which way the door opens and the clearance it needs. Make sure the doors can open and the drawers can slide out in your planned layout. | If I want to keep my cabinet front, I want to confirm that it can be fitted to the new appliance. Around 16% of consumers prioritise door clearance and fixing. |
| Annual energy consumption | Compare the consumption figures in kWh/year for the models you’re considering. If you choose two appliances, add together the figures on their respective energy labels. | If I’m comparing a fridge-freezer with two separate appliances, I want to take their total annual consumption into account. Around 11% of consumers prioritise electricity consumption. |
A freestanding model may need ventilation gaps that aren’t available in a closed alcove, and there may not be enough clearance for its door to open.
Before choosing, compare the actual dimensions of the space with the installation plan for the model.
You may need to modify the unit, or the model you choose may not be suitable for the space.
Built-in models can use different fixing systems, including sliding hinges or fixed-door hinges.
Identify the existing fitting and check the new appliance’s instructions to see whether the cabinet front and its fixings are compatible.
You may need to adapt the cabinet front or its fixings.
Total capacity alone doesn’t show how much space is available for fresh and frozen food. If you choose two appliances, you’ll also need to consider their combined annual consumption.
Compare the usable capacities and kWh/year figures for the exact models separately, taking your available space into account.
Built-in models can help you compare fridge-freezers with fridges that have no freezer compartment when you need to keep the existing alcove.
The range shown includes both built-in and freestanding models, making it useful for comparing different configurations.
The available information lets you compare some built-in models, as well as ventilation advice for freestanding appliances.
Its support guidance distinguishes between ventilation requirements for refrigeration appliances and built-in installations.
Here are some fridge-freezers to consider when replacing an appliance in a kitchen with limited space. Check the installation requirements for each model.
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Listed as a built-in model, it may suit an alcove if the dimensions and installation requirements match its instructions.
The title lists 252 L, No Frost, energy class C and an Inverter compressor.
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Listed as a built-in model, it’s worth considering if the alcove dimensions and installation instructions for this model are suitable.
The title lists a capacity of 249 L, TwinTech No Frost technology and energy class E.
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This model is listed as built-in. Check the cabinet opening dimensions and installation instructions before choosing it for an alcove.
The title lists 188 L, a top freezer and energy class E. The cabinet door is listed as not included.
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Its stated width of 54 cm may be worth considering for a narrow kitchen. Check the clearances and door opening requirements in its instructions.
The title lists 227 L, a silver finish, Low Frost, a reversible door and energy class E.
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Listed as a freestanding model, it should only be placed where there’s enough room for the clearances and door opening specified for this model.
The title lists a capacity of 461 L and energy class E.
Measure the finished internal dimensions, identify the cabinet-door fixing and locate the air openings. Then compare these details with the instructions for the model you’re considering. The alcove dimensions published by Liebherr France for the ICNb 5123 apply to that model, not to all fridge-freezers.
Only after checking that the space is suitable for the freestanding model. Beko France gives clearance recommendations for the appliances covered by its guidance. Check the instructions for the model you choose, and make sure there’s room for the doors to open and access to the socket.
Follow the connection instructions in the appliance manual, and make sure the socket and plug are suitable and accessible after installation. The Beko manual consulted specifies, among other things, a protected socket and an easily accessible plug. Check the instructions for the model you ultimately choose.
Compare the annual consumption in kWh for the exact models. If you choose two appliances, add together the figures for the fridge and freezer. The category data published by ADEME describe national usage and don’t predict the consumption of an individual household.
For a purchase made by an individual from a professional retailer, the statutory guarantee of conformity is mandatory, as the Ministry of the Economy and Finance explains. For a new appliance, the DGCCRF also reminds retailers that they must offer free take-back of an equivalent old appliance on a “one-for-one” basis. Ask the retailer how this is arranged.