If your weekly shop regularly includes frozen food, consider a compact fridge-freezer, provided both compartments and its dimensions suit your home. If height is very limited and you freeze little, compare a tabletop fridge with a single-door model instead. In every case, measure the route into your home and the space where the appliance will go, then check the door opening and clearance required in the manual. Que Choisir suggests 100 to 150 litres of usable capacity as a starting point for one person.
You need to fit a week’s shopping into the space available. Que Choisir recommends an average usable capacity of 100 to 150 litres for one person. How much room you need for frozen food will depend on what you buy.
You need to balance the capacity required by several people with the space available in your kitchen. Que Choisir suggests adding 50 litres of usable capacity for each additional person to its guideline for one person.
Before choosing a built-in or freestanding appliance, check the housing, door opening and ventilation requirements for the model you’re considering. Beko manuals and Whirlpool product specifications show that requirements vary by model; they are not universal measurements.
Start with the space you actually have, then work out how much room you need for fresh and frozen food before comparing other features.
| Priority | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare usable capacity with the number of people in your household and how often you shop. Que Choisir suggests an average of 100 to 150 L for one person, plus 50 L for each additional person. Also look at the layout of the shelves and drawers. | I shop once a week, so I need to be able to store my usual groceries and containers without cramming everything in. |
| Installation | Measure the height, width and depth, as well as the route into your home. Check the door swing and ventilation clearances specified in the manual for your chosen model. In a fitted kitchen, you’ll also need to check the housing and fixings. | My kitchen is narrow, or the route in involves a lift, so I need an appliance that can be brought in, positioned and opened in this space. |
| Freezing | Compare the fridge and freezer capacities separately. With a tabletop fridge or single-door model, check whether it has a freezer compartment and how much space it offers. | If I buy frozen food every week, I need enough room for it without sacrificing too much space for fresh food. |
| Temperature | Check the available temperature settings and monitor the temperature after installation. Anses recommends keeping food between 0 and +4 °C at the coldest point and highlights the importance of maintaining an even temperature. | I want to be able to check the temperature reached, particularly after filling the fridge with my shopping. |
| Noise and energy use | Compare the stated noise level in dBA, then the energy rating and annual consumption in kWh for appliances of a similar type and capacity. Que Choisir counts models rated below 40 dBA among the quietest. | My bed is close to the kitchen, so the stated noise level matters. I also want to compare energy use rather than judging it by the size of the appliance alone. |
A fridge may fit in its allotted space but still block the door from opening or fail to meet the ventilation requirements. Requirements vary by model, as the guidance published by Beko and Bosch illustrates.
Also measure doorways, corridors and lifts along the delivery route. Check which way the door opens and allow for the clearances specified for your chosen model.
Total capacity doesn’t show how much space is set aside for fresh and frozen food. The split matters particularly when you shop a week at a time.
Compare the capacity of both compartments with the food you usually buy. Que Choisir’s guideline of 100 to 150 L of usable capacity for one person is a starting point, which you should adapt to your needs.
If your kitchen is next to your sleeping area, the operating noise may be more noticeable. Que Choisir classes fridges rated below 40 dBA among the quietest.
Compare the stated noise levels in dBA for models that suit your space, bearing in mind that this may differ from the noise level in your home.
According to Anses, food storage depends on the refrigeration temperature and keeping it even. The name of a technology is no substitute for checking the temperature in the installed appliance.
Set the fridge according to its manual and, if needed, check the coldest point with a suitable thermometer. Anses recommends a temperature of between 0 and +4 °C at this point.
The documentation from these brands gives examples of features and instructions to check for the specific model you’re considering.
Bosch documentation can help you plan a fridge installation, but be sure to consult the manual for your chosen model.
Beko manuals are useful for checking the space needed around an appliance in a compact kitchen.
Whirlpool’s French product specifications help you distinguish between features of some freestanding and built-in fridge-freezers.
These three fridge-freezers combine refrigeration and freezing, making them suitable for shops that include frozen food. Compare their capacities and check the installation requirements for each model before deciding whether this style is right for your small home.
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A fridge-freezer to consider if you need freezer space as well as room for fresh food. The product title lists a width of 54 cm and a height of 176 cm, along with a 70/30 split. Check the depth, the route into your kitchen and the ventilation clearances specified in the manual.
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Its stated capacities of 153 L for refrigeration and 74 L for freezing make it easy to compare the space available for each type of food. The product title lists a width of 54 cm, a reversible door and an E energy rating. Before choosing this model, check its height, door opening and the clearances specified in the manual.
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The stated capacities of 182 L for the fridge and 71 L for the freezer should be compared with what you usually buy. The product title also lists a stated noise level of 39 dB and reversible hinges. Measure the space and delivery route, then check the full dimensions and ventilation requirements for this model.
Que Choisir recommends an average usable capacity of 100 to 150 litres for one person, plus 50 litres for each additional person. Use this as a guide when comparing models, and consider separately how much room you need for fresh and frozen food.
Anses recommends keeping food between 0 and +4 °C at the coldest point. After installation, follow the manual to set the temperature and, if needed, use a suitable thermometer to check the temperature actually reached.
Yes. Leave the ventilation clearances required in the manual for your chosen model. As an example applying only to the appliance concerned, one Beko manual requires at least 5 cm between the appliance and the ceiling and wall when it is installed in an alcove.
Compare their energy ratings and stated annual consumption in kWh, ideally for appliances of a similar type and capacity. The energy label governed by European regulations provides information for appliances within its scope. The European Commission’s EPREL database also lets you view the information registered for a model.
If you bought the appliance from a professional seller in France, you may be able to claim under the statutory guarantee of conformity for two years for a new product, according to the Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control. Contact the seller and describe the fault. Any commercial guarantee is in addition to, and does not replace, this statutory guarantee.