Start by measuring the available space, the door opening and the clearances required by the instruction manual. Then choose a fridge based on how much room you need for fresh and frozen food. A tabletop model can work if height is limited; a model with a freezer compartment may be enough for the occasional frozen item, while a fridge freezer keeps the two areas separate but needs vertical space. Que Choisir’s guide of 100 to 150 litres for one person is a useful starting point, but you’ll need to adjust it to your shopping habits and the actual usable fridge capacity.
If your fridge needs to fit under a worktop or between two units, check its depth, door opening and the space needed for air to circulate around it. Que Choisir recommends tabletop fridges as an option for studio flats. For example, Beko lists the TS190340N as 47.5 cm wide and 82 cm high.
If you mainly buy fresh food but want to keep a few frozen items, compare single-door models with a freezer compartment. Check the space available for fresh food and the compartment specifications separately.
If your shopping calls for two separate storage areas, consider a fridge freezer, provided you have enough height. For example, Candy lists the CCG1S 518EWX as 179.4 cm high, so it won’t fit under a worktop.
The space you have available determines which formats will work. Then compare them based on how often you shop and how much room you need for frozen food.
Consider it: when limited height means you need a low appliance and frozen food isn’t a regular part of your shop.
The trade-off: compare its storage space with your usual shopping, particularly for frozen food if it has a freezer compartment.
Consider it: if you want a compact appliance for keeping a few frozen items from time to time.
The trade-off: the compartment takes up some of the space that could otherwise be used for fresh food.
Consider it: if frozen food is a regular part of your shop and you have room for a tall appliance.
The trade-off: its two separate storage areas mean you’ll need to check the available height and door clearance.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fitting the space | Measure the width, height and depth, as well as the door clearance. Follow the ventilation instructions in the model’s manual. | In a narrow kitchenette, I need to be able to open the door and position the appliance without restricting airflow. Around 42% of consumers rank this as their most important requirement. |
| Fresh food storage | Compare the usable fridge capacity and internal storage with your usual shopping, rather than looking at the total capacity alone. | If I prepare meals and don’t shop as often, I need enough room for my everyday fresh food. This is the main requirement for around 25% of consumers. |
| Freezing | Decide whether you keep a few frozen items from time to time or store frozen food regularly. Compare the compartment capacities separately. | If frozen food is a regular part of my shop, I want a suitable storage area without sacrificing the space I need for fresh food. Freezer capacity comes first for around 33% of consumers. |
In a model with a freezer compartment, not all the listed capacity is available for fresh food. How often you shop and the internal layout also affect how much room you need.
Compare the usable capacity of each compartment. Que Choisir gives 100 to 150 litres as a general guide for one person, not a capacity that every home must have.
An appliance might fit in its space, but its door may not open properly or there may not be enough airflow as specified by the manufacturer.
Also measure the depth, door clearance and delivery route. Follow the manual for ventilation and climate class requirements. Electrolux, for example, highlights the need for air to circulate around the appliance.
An integrated compartment takes up less room than a separate freezer section, but it reduces the fridge space in the model it’s built into.
If you often buy frozen food, check the compartment’s capacity and specifications, then see whether you have room for a fridge freezer.
The rating alone doesn’t tell you the annual energy consumption, how the capacity is divided or how noisy the appliance is. These details are particularly important if your kitchen shares your living space.
Check all the details on the energy label, including kWh per year, compartment capacities and noise level. The European Commission lists these as useful points for comparing refrigeration appliances.
The TS190340N is a good example of a slim tabletop fridge with a freezer compartment. Beko lists this model as 47.5 cm wide and 82 cm high.
The KTR15NWEB and KTL15NWEB tabletop fridges let you compare two configurations. Bosch lists the first as offering 134 litres of fridge capacity with no freezer compartment, and the second as offering 106 litres of fridge capacity with an integrated compartment.
The CCG1S 518EWX is an example of a fridge freezer with two separate storage areas, for a home with room for a tall appliance. Candy lists it as 54.5 cm wide and deep.
These models suit different needs in a small home: two fridge freezers with separate fresh and frozen food storage, a compact single-door model and a mini fridge for more limited storage. Compare their full dimensions and usable capacity with your available space and shopping needs.
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Worth considering if you have room for a tall appliance and want separate storage for fresh and frozen food.
Listed total capacity of 174 L, Low Frost technology and a reversible door. Check the full dimensions, door clearance and the spacing required by the manual before choosing where to put it.
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Worth comparing if you need separate spaces for fresh and frozen food but have limited width available.
Listed capacities of 153 L for refrigeration and 74 L for freezing; stated width of 54 cm, reversible door and E energy rating. Check the total height and ventilation requirements for your space.
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Worth considering when space is limited and you only need to freeze food occasionally.
Listed total capacity of 92 L, with a freezer compartment, and an E energy rating. This is below Que Choisir’s general guide of 100 to 150 L for one person. Compare it with your shopping needs and check the full dimensions and freezer compartment capacity.
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Worth considering for extra storage when both the available space and the amount of food you need to keep are very limited.
Listed total capacity of 45 L, a toughened glass shelf and an E energy rating. Before choosing it as your only fridge, check that its internal storage can accommodate your usual shopping and that you can install it in line with the manual.
Que Choisir gives a general guide of 100 to 150 litres of usable capacity for one person. Adjust this to how often you shop and how much you cook at home. If the model has a freezer compartment, compare the space actually available for fresh food separately.
Yes, but only if the space meets the installation requirements for the model you choose. Electrolux points out that air needs to circulate around the appliance and that you should consider heat sources and the climate class. Check the manual for the required clearances.
Compare the stated noise level and the noise emission class on the energy label, but don’t assume that the same figure will sound the same in every studio flat. Bosch lists 39 dB(A) for the KTR15NWEB and KTL15NWEB. Compare this with the figures for the other models you’re considering.
No. Check the stated annual consumption in kWh, the compartment capacities and the noise level too. The European Commission lists this information on the energy label for refrigeration appliances. Comparisons are most useful between models with similar capacities and configurations that suit similar needs.
In France, the legal guarantee of conformity covers, among other things, a new fridge sold by a business to an individual. As the Ministry of the Economy explains, you should make your claim to the retailer. Keep your proof of purchase, the model number and any information describing the fault you’ve found.