First, choose a fridge that will fit in your home, can be installed according to its instructions and has enough room for the door to open freely. A table-top or single-door model could suit you if you mainly buy fresh food and shop frequently. If you need freezer space, compare compact fridge-freezers first, and only consider a larger model if its size and capacity suit your space and shopping habits. Check the noise and energy consumption figures for the specific model rather than assuming them from its format.
If your appliance needs to fit under a worktop or into a narrow space, compare its dimensions with the room available, and check how much space the door needs to open. A table-top fridge can work well if you shop frequently and don’t need the height of a fridge-freezer.
If you mainly shop for a few days at a time but want to keep some frozen food, compare the fridge and freezer capacities separately. A compact fridge-freezer is worth considering if a taller appliance would be a problem.
A fridge-freezer can offer the two compartments you need for shared storage or less frequent shopping. Before choosing a tall appliance, though, check that it can be brought into your home, where it will go and how close it will be to your living space.
Start with the space you can actually use, then consider how much fresh and frozen food you need to store. These formats suit different needs, but the name alone won’t tell you a model’s dimensions or performance.
Consider it: if you have limited height and shop frequently; Que Choisir lists this format among those suited to studio flats.
Bear in mind: storage space will be more limited. Check whether the model has a freezer compartment and, if so, how large it is.
Consider it: if you mainly want to store fresh food and have enough height for your chosen model.
Bear in mind: freezer capacity varies by model. Don’t assume a freezer compartment is or isn’t included based on the number of doors.
Consider it: if you want a modest amount of freezer space without immediately opting for a taller fridge-freezer.
Bear in mind: check the capacity of each compartment separately, rather than looking only at the total capacity.
Consider it: if you share storage with other people or shop less often and need more fridge and freezer space.
Bear in mind: check the exact model’s height, depth and whether it will fit through the access route on delivery.
| What to consider | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Installation and door clearance | Measure the height, width and depth, the delivery route and the space needed for the door to open. Check the instructions for ventilation and installation requirements. | In a small kitchen, I need to be sure the appliance will fit and that I can open the door once it’s in place. Around 36% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Fridge capacity | Compare the usable fridge capacity in litres and the shelf layout with how often you shop. | If I cook for several days at a time or share storage, I need enough room between shopping trips. Fridge capacity would be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Freezer capacity | Check whether there’s a freezer compartment and its capacity, separately from the fridge capacity. | I want to keep frozen food without choosing an appliance that’s too large for my kitchen. This would be the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Noise and energy use | Check the model’s noise level in dB(A) and annual energy consumption in kWh on its label. Compare models with similar features and capacities. | If the fridge is near where I sleep, noise matters just as much as its energy use. Around 14% of consumers would prioritise these factors. |
Que Choisir points out that the noise level on the label alone can’t tell you whether a fridge will disturb your sleep. ADEME describes the energy label as a way to compare factors including energy consumption and noise. You should also consider where the appliance will go in your home.
A fridge may fit in its intended spot but still get stuck in the stairwell, hit a piece of furniture when the door opens or lack the clearance needed for air to circulate. Beko’s instructions highlight the need for ventilation, with requirements that vary by appliance.
Measure the space and the access route, then check the door clearance and ventilation gaps against the product details and instructions for your chosen model.
An integrated freezer can be useful, but dimensions vary considerably between models. For example, Bosch lists its KTR15NWEB table-top fridge at 85 cm high and its KGN33NLEB fridge-freezer at 176 cm. This difference applies to these two models.
Work out how much frozen food you expect to store, then compare the capacity of each compartment and the external dimensions separately.
In a studio flat, having the fridge close to where you sleep can make noise a more important factor. According to Que Choisir, the level shown on the label isn’t enough to predict whether the appliance might disturb your sleep.
Compare the noise figures for different models and think about where the appliance will be running.
If you’re replacing an old fridge, plan for its removal and any access requirements before delivery. In France, the Ministry for Ecological Transition says that when you buy a new appliance, the retailer must offer to take back the old one, whether you buy in store or remotely.
Check the collection and delivery arrangements when you place your order, then prepare your old appliance according to the instructions provided.
These brands offer documented models in different formats. The features mentioned apply to the ranges or specific models named, not to every fridge they make.
A brand to consider for freestanding table-top fridges and other compact formats.
Two Bosch models illustrate the difference in size and storage capacity between a table-top fridge and a fridge-freezer.
Explore the range if you want to compare an under-counter single-door fridge with freestanding two-door models.
These Joybuy models include a small table-top fridge, a single-door fridge and two fridge-freezers. Compare their storage space with how often you shop, then check the full dimensions and installation requirements before choosing.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to store fresh and frozen food in a fridge-freezer with a listed width of 54 cm.
153 l of fridge space and 74 l of freezer space; reversible door, Low Frost technology and energy rating E.
Check the height, depth, door clearance and ventilation gaps for your intended space.
Image unavailable
Consider it if your home can accommodate a fridge-freezer that’s 181 cm tall and you need two separate storage compartments.
182 l of fridge space and 71 l of freezer space; No Frost, reversible door hinge and a listed noise level of 39 dB.
Also measure the width, depth and delivery access route. Check the instructions for the clearances required for this version.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you have limited height and store small amounts of food for everyday use.
Listed capacity of 45 l, glass shelf, adjustable feet and energy rating E.
The freezer section described has a limited capacity. Check that it suits the frozen food you want to store, and check the door clearance and required ventilation gaps.
Image unavailable
Worth comparing if you want to store fresh food in a small home without immediately choosing a two-door fridge-freezer.
Listed total capacity of 92 l, freezer section, reversible door and energy rating E.
If you plan to use the freezer section, check its capacity separately. Also check the full dimensions, the stated noise level and the installation requirements.
Don’t assume so: the product details and instructions must say that this type of installation is suitable. Beko’s instructions point out that air must be able to circulate around the appliance, and the required clearances vary by model.
Measure the space where the fridge will go, the route through doors and corridors, and the lift or stairwell. Then check that there’s enough room to open the fridge. BUT’s delivery service specifically asks customers to check access via the stairs or lift before ordering.
Compare the annual energy consumption and noise figures for models that meet your capacity and freezer needs. ADEME explains that the energy label can be used to compare these features. However, as Que Choisir points out, the noise figure alone doesn’t predict how disruptive a fridge may feel in a studio flat.
Yes. According to the Ministry for Ecological Transition, when you buy a new appliance, the retailer must offer to take back your old one, whether you buy in store or remotely. Check the practical arrangements when organising delivery.
For the statutory legal guarantee of conformity that applies in France when a professional sells goods to a consumer, contact the professional seller. The Ministry of the Economy explains that this guarantee may cover the goods themselves, their assembly instructions and, in some cases, installation included in the contract.