In a studio flat, where storage and freezer space are limited, a tabletop fridge or small single-door model may be enough. If you regularly freeze food, compare fridge-freezers instead. A larger model, particularly a multi-door fridge, can meet greater storage needs if its dimensions allow for delivery and installation. Check the fridge and freezer capacities separately, then compare the noise level, annual energy consumption and ventilation clearances.
The size of your household is a useful starting point, but how often you shop and how much frozen food you keep also affect the capacity you need.
If your kitchen is small and you don’t keep much frozen food, consider a tabletop fridge or a small single-door model. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 100 to 150 L for one person. Use this as a guide, then compare it with what you actually store and the space available.
A fridge-freezer lets you compare fridge and freezer capacities separately without immediately opting for a large model. Also measure the width and depth, and check which way the door needs to open in your kitchen.
If you buy a lot of groceries and frozen food, compare the capacities of fridge-freezers and larger models with your usual needs. Before choosing a multi-door fridge, measure the space and the entire delivery route, including doors and lifts, as Samsung recommends for its large appliances.
Start by working out how much space you need for fresh and frozen food. Then rule out any models that won’t fit through your home or can’t be installed according to their instructions.
| Criteria | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Size and capacity | Compare the total usable capacity with the fridge and freezer capacities. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 100 to 150 L for one person, then around 50 L for each additional person. Adjust this guide to suit your shopping habits. | In a studio flat, I want to store my food without taking up too much space. For several people, I need to consider how much I shop for and the meals I store between shops. |
| Freezer space | Check whether the model has a freezer compartment and how much space it offers, or whether it has a separate freezer. Compare tabletop, single-door, fridge-freezer and larger models based on how much frozen food you need to keep. | If I regularly freeze food, I want to know how much space is set aside for frozen items, not just the total capacity shown. |
| Access and installation | Measure the appliance and its packaging, as well as doors, turns and lifts. Check which way the door opens and the clearances specified in the instructions; Bosch, for example, requires ventilation space behind and beneath its fridge-freezers. | The appliance needs to make it to my kitchen, and I need to be able to open its doors and meet its installation requirements. |
| Noise | Compare the stated noise level in dB(A) and the airborne acoustical noise emission class of the models you’re considering for the same location. Don’t assume noise levels based on size alone. | In a studio flat or near the living area, I pay closer attention to the stated noise level. |
| Energy consumption | Check the energy rating and annual consumption in kWh/year, comparing models with similar capacities and features. ADEME points out that fridges and freezers run continuously, and that choosing a larger model or one with more features than you need can increase energy consumption. | I want enough space for my food without choosing a capacity or features I won’t use. |
| Replacing an old appliance | If you’re replacing an appliance in France, distinguish between taking away your old fridge and services such as disconnection, handling and installation. Confirm with the seller where and how collection will take place. | If I’m replacing my fridge, I need to know how the old one will be taken away and what I need to prepare before delivery. |
Shopping less often, preparing meals in advance or keeping lots of frozen food can all change how much space you need, even in households of the same size.
Use UFC-Que Choisir’s capacity guide as a starting point, then work out separately how much room you need for fresh and frozen food.
A large fridge might fit in your kitchen but still not make it through a doorway, around a turn or into a lift along the way. Samsung advises checking these access points, taking the packaged appliance into account.
Measure every access point and ask for the packaged dimensions and delivery details before placing your order.
The space a fridge needs is not limited to its external dimensions. Bosch, for example, specifies clearances behind and beneath its fridge-freezers for ventilation.
Check the instructions for your chosen model and leave the required clearances before deciding where to put it.
According to France’s Ministry for Ecological Transition, when you buy a new household appliance, the ‘one-for-one’ take-back scheme applies to an old appliance of the same type, with no minimum shop floor area. This rule does not, by itself, cover services needed to disconnect or move the appliance within your home.
Check separately with the seller whether they’ll take the old appliance, where it will be collected from, and what conditions apply to disconnection, handling or installation services.
These examples highlight formats and features to check on specific models; their figures don’t apply across an entire brand.
A useful brand to consider for freestanding fridge-freezers with a separate freezer compartment.
A useful model to look at when comparing the capacity and running specifications of a single-door fridge.
A model to consider if your household is looking for a large-capacity multi-door fridge.
A useful brand to explore if you’re looking for a tabletop fridge for a small space.
These appliances include fridge-freezers, a multi-door model and a side-by-side fridge-freezer to suit different storage needs. Compare their size and dimensions with the space in your home before settling on a capacity.
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Consider this four-door model if you need plenty of space for fresh and frozen food. The model name indicates Total No Frost and an E energy rating. Measure the delivery route and check the instructions for ventilation clearances.
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A fridge-freezer worth comparing if you want to keep fresh and frozen food in one appliance without opting for a large multi-door model. It has a stated D energy rating. Check its annual consumption, packaged dimensions and the space needed to open the door.
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Its stated width of 54 cm is worth considering if space is tight and you still need a separate freezer compartment. The model is 176 cm tall. Check its annual consumption, ventilation clearances and the defrosting instructions in the manual.
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Consider this fridge-freezer for everyday use with a separate freezer compartment. Its name indicates a 35 dB noise level. Compare this with other models you’re considering, and check the energy rating and dimensions needed for delivery.
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Consider this large model if your storage needs justify the space it takes up. Measure access points using the packaged dimensions and allow for the clearances specified in the instructions. If you want to use the water and ice dispenser, check whether a mains water connection is available.
UFC-Que Choisir suggests 100 to 150 L for one person, then around 50 L for each additional person. Adjust this starting point to suit how often you shop and how much space you need for frozen food.
Yes, if you don’t need much storage or freezer space: UFC-Que Choisir considers this size suitable for studio flats. Check the usable capacity, whether there’s a freezer compartment and the stated noise level, especially if the appliance will be near your living area.
Ventilation is part of the installation requirements. Bosch specifies adequate space behind and beneath its fridge-freezers. Follow the exact clearances given in the instructions for the model you buy.
Measure the final space and the entire route, including doors, corridors, turns and lifts, using the packaged dimensions of the appliance. Samsung recommends doing this for its large fridges: the unpackaged dimensions alone won’t tell you whether they’ll fit through.
According to France’s Ministry for Ecological Transition, the ‘one-for-one’ take-back scheme for a household appliance applies when you buy a new appliance of the same type, regardless of the shop’s floor area. Ask the seller where the old appliance will be collected from and what conditions apply to any disconnection or handling services.