Before furnishing an unfurnished home, first check that the fridge can be brought through to the kitchen and opened in its intended position. Then choose a capacity that suits your household and shopping habits. A compact model may be enough if space and freezer needs are limited; a fridge-freezer is better suited to regular storage of fresh and frozen food, as long as its dimensions and delivery requirements work for you.
If your kitchen is narrow or your stay is temporary, a table-top model may be worth considering when you don’t need much storage space. Measure the route to the kitchen too: having room for the appliance doesn’t guarantee you’ll be able to get it there.
A fridge-freezer lets you assess the space available for fresh and frozen food separately. Choose one based on the capacity of each compartment and how often you shop, rather than its total capacity alone.
A second-hand appliance may be an option if you can check its model number, how it works and its condition. Before deciding, find out whether the seller is a trader or a private individual, and keep the sale documents: the protections available differ depending on who you buy from.
Start with anything that could prevent installation, then compare usable capacity and the features that will matter while you’re living in the home.
| Consideration | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Access and dimensions | Measure the narrowest part of the route, the final space and the clearance needed to open the door. Confirm the delivery arrangements. | If I have a narrow kitchen or live in a building with difficult access, I want to be sure I can get the appliance installed; this would be the main concern for around 36% of consumers. |
| Capacity and freezing | Compare the fridge capacity in litres and, if needed, the capacity of the freezer compartment. | If I shop less often or freeze food regularly, I need enough room in each compartment. This would be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Everyday use | Check the energy label for annual consumption in kWh and the model’s noise emissions. | If I’ll be living there for a long time, I want to consider energy consumption; noise matters too in a studio flat. Around 21% of consumers would make these day-to-day factors their priority. |
| Temporary appliance | For a second-hand appliance, check that it works and find out whether it is being sold by a trader or a private individual. | If I’m only staying for a short time, I might consider buying second-hand, while still checking the appliance’s condition and the seller’s status. This would be the main need for around 14% of consumers. |
As a guide to capacity, UFC-Que Choisir recommends 100 to 150 litres of usable space for one person, plus 50 litres for each additional person. Adjust this to suit your habits, and compare fridge and freezer capacities separately. According to the European Commission, the EU energy label for relevant models includes details such as capacity, annual energy consumption and noise levels.
Two appliances of a similar size can offer different amounts of space for fresh and frozen food. A small freezer compartment may not be suitable if you regularly buy frozen food.
Compare the capacity of each compartment shown on the energy label with the number of people in your household and how often you shop.
An appliance may fit in its intended space but not through the staircase, lift or doorway. An open door could also obstruct the room or make the drawers difficult to access.
Measure the route and check the door’s opening clearance, as well as the seller’s delivery arrangements.
Extra handling or a delivery that stops before the appliance reaches its intended room could delay installation.
In France, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to second-hand goods sold by a trader, but not to private sales. You may be able to make a claim for a hidden defect in certain circumstances, but you will need to establish that the defect exists, among other things.
Check who the seller is, ask for the exact model number, try the appliance if possible, and keep the listing and proof of purchase.
Set-up instructions depend on the model and the conditions in which it was transported. Whirlpool recommends waiting 24 hours before plugging in a new appliance for the first time.
Follow the instructions for your fridge’s transport, connection and set-up rather than applying one brand’s recommended waiting time to every model.
Bosch offers freestanding fridge-freezers, single-door fridges and multi-door models, giving you several formats to consider depending on your space and freezer needs.
The range includes fridge-freezers, including models described as No Frost, which may be worth comparing if frost management is important to you.
Electrolux offers both freestanding and built-in fridge-freezers. This distinction matters if your home already has a space designed for an integrated appliance.
These Joybuy models are fridge-freezers for anyone looking for separate spaces for fresh and frozen food. Compare their capacities with your shopping needs, then check the dimensions, access route and energy label for the model you choose.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a fridge-freezer that stores fresh and frozen food in one appliance.
Advertised total capacity: 282 L; energy rating E. Check the capacity of each compartment, the dimensions and the transport arrangements before making your choice.
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Its side-by-side design and stated capacity are worth comparing against the needs of a household that regularly stores fresh and frozen food.
333 L fridge capacity and 192 L freezer capacity; No Frost, energy rating E and stated noise level of 37 dB. Measure the delivery route and the space available, including clearance to open the doors.
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Its stated width of 54 cm may suit a household with a narrow kitchen, provided the height and door clearance work too.
153 L for the fridge and 74 L for the freezer; energy rating E and Low Frost technology. Low Frost doesn’t mean you can skip checking the manual for defrosting instructions.
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This fridge-freezer is worth considering if you’re looking for a total capacity of 174 L with a freezer compartment, provided the layout suits your shopping needs.
Freestanding design, Low Frost and a reversible door are listed. Check the dimensions, the clearance needed for the door and the model’s energy label; Low Frost doesn’t mean you’ll never need to defrost it.
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The separate capacities make it easier to judge whether there’s enough room for fresh and frozen food for your household.
182 L for the fridge and 71 L for the freezer; No Frost and stated noise level of 39 dB. Check the dimensions to make sure it can get into your home, and compare annual energy consumption on the energy label.
UFC-Que Choisir recommends 100 to 150 litres of usable space for one person, plus 50 litres for each additional person. Adjust this to suit how often you shop, and check the space for fresh and frozen food separately.
Measure the space where the appliance will go and the whole route to the kitchen, including doors, landings, staircases and lifts. Also check the fridge door’s opening clearance and any limitations of the delivery service you choose.
Follow the instructions for your model and take into account how it was transported. Whirlpool recommends waiting 24 hours before plugging in a new appliance for the first time; don’t assume this applies to every model.
For second-hand goods sold by a trader, the legal guarantee of conformity applies, and the claim period is two years from delivery, according to the DGCCRF. It doesn’t apply to private sales; however, you may be able to make a claim for hidden defects if the relevant conditions are met.
For the domestic fridges covered, the EU energy label includes details such as the efficiency class, annual energy consumption in kWh, storage capacity and noise level, according to the European Commission. Compare this information for specific models that already fit your space and capacity needs.