First, choose a fridge that can make the delivery journey, fit in your kitchen and open properly, with the clearances specified in its instructions. If you regularly store frozen food, compare fridge freezers; for an integrated model, check the housing space and fixings too. In an open-plan kitchen, compare the models that suit your space by usable capacity, stated noise level and kWh/year.
If doorways or the gap between units are tight, measure the delivery route and the final space. Check that the fridge door can open far enough to reach the drawers, and allow for the clearances specified in the instructions.
Your fridge will be running close to your living space. Compare the stated noise levels of models that fit your kitchen, without overlooking their internal storage and installation requirements.
If you’re choosing between different capacities, start with your usual shopping and how much room you need for frozen food. ADEME points out that a fridge runs continuously, so compare the usable capacities and kWh/year of the models you’re considering.
After moving into a new home, check the delivery route and installation requirements before choosing a capacity. A larder fridge may suit you if you freeze little or already have a separate freezer; a fridge freezer combines both spaces. Freestanding and integrated are another choice: an integrated model must fit the housing space, fixings and ventilation provided.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery route and installation | Measure the delivery route and the final space; check the door swing and clearances against the model’s instructions. | I need to get the appliance into my home and open its door without hitting the furniture. Around 31% of consumers would put delivery access and positioning at the top of their list. |
| Noise in the living space | Compare the dB(A) ratings and airborne acoustical noise emission class of the models you’re considering; check the levelling instructions too. | When the living room is next to the kitchen, I want to consider operating noise before making a choice. Low noise levels would be a priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Capacity and freezing | Compare usable capacity and how it’s divided between fresh and frozen food, based on household size and how often you shop. | I need my shopping to fit in the compartments I’ll actually use, without choosing an appliance that’s too bulky for my home. Around 25% of consumers would put this storage layout first. |
| Annual energy use | Check the kWh/year on each model’s energy label and compare appliances of a similar size and capacity. | As this appliance runs continuously, I want to consider its electricity use without giving up the capacity I need. Around 19% of consumers would put this concern first. |
An appliance may look as though it fits between two units, yet still be unable to pass through your doorways, meet the ventilation requirements in its instructions or open far enough to remove its drawers.
Measure the delivery route, the final space and any nearby obstacles, then compare them with the installation details for the exact model. For an integrated appliance, check the housing space and fixings too.
Extra storage is only useful if it suits your household’s shopping habits. ADEME points out that the size and additional features of an appliance can increase the energy use of one that runs continuously.
Work out how much space you need for fresh and frozen food, then compare the kWh/year of models with similar capacities.
In an open-plan kitchen, the stated noise level can help you compare appliances, but it doesn’t tell you everything you’ll hear during their different operating cycles.
Check the dB(A) ratings and noise classes of the models on your shortlist, then follow the installation instructions, particularly for levelling and ventilation.
In France, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to goods sold by a professional to a private individual, as the Ministry of the Economy explains. A commercial extended warranty is separate from this guarantee.
Before taking out an extended warranty, read its terms and check what services or protection it adds to your legal rights.
Whirlpool offers a range of configurations to consider for your kitchen, including integrated larder fridges, integrated fridge freezers and freestanding fridge freezers.
Samsung France’s guide covers several formats, including larder fridges and fridge freezers, as well as freestanding and integrated models.
Bosch is worth considering if you’re comparing a fridge freezer with an integrated appliance and want to pay close attention to installation requirements.
These Joybuy models include freestanding fridge freezers in a range of capacities, as well as an integrated model. First, choose an installation type that suits your kitchen, then check each appliance against your storage needs and its installation instructions.
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Worth considering if you want fresh and frozen food storage in one appliance. It has a stated capacity of 344 L and an energy rating of E. Check the dimensions for delivery and the clearances in the instructions before deciding where to put it.
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This fridge freezer has an energy rating of C and is worth comparing with other models for fresh and frozen food storage. If you plan to position it near a wall, check the instructions for the door swing and the side clearances required.
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Worth considering if your kitchen has a housing space for an integrated fridge freezer. The model has an energy rating of C and is advertised with No Frost. Before choosing it, confirm the housing dimensions, fixings and ventilation requirements in its instructions.
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This four-door model is designed for households looking for plenty of space for fresh and frozen food. It has an energy rating of E and is advertised with Total No Frost. Its doors are listed as non-reversible, so check their swing as well as the delivery route and installation clearances.
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At 150 cm tall, this fridge freezer could suit a smaller space while still providing a freezer compartment. Its name indicates a reversible door, 39 dB and an energy rating of E. Low Frost is designed to reduce ice build-up, but may not eliminate the need for manual defrosting. Check the energy label to compare kWh/year.
Measure the delivery route and the space where the appliance will go, then check the available depth and height, as well as the room needed to open the doors. Compare your measurements with the technical specifications and instructions for the exact model, taking nearby furniture and ventilation requirements into account.
No. The clearances depend on the fridge and how it’s installed. Samsung France says its general guidance can vary by model, and Bosch instructions say not to block the ventilation openings. For an integrated appliance, follow the requirements for its housing space too.
Compare the kWh/year shown on each model’s energy label, taking their size and usable capacity into account. ADEME points out that a fridge runs continuously and that extra capacity or unnecessary features can affect energy use. An average won’t predict the energy use of a specific model.
Check the stated dB(A) rating and noise emission class of models that suit your kitchen, rather than trying to judge noise from the brand or format. What you hear also depends on the operating cycles and installation. Once the appliance is in place, follow the levelling instructions.
No. In France, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to goods sold by a professional to a private individual, according to the Ministry of the Economy. An extended warranty is separate: check its terms to find out what it adds to your legal rights.