An upright freezer is a good choice if you access your frozen food often and want to organise it in drawers. A chest freezer offers plenty of storage if you have enough floor space. For a little extra capacity, consider a compact model. If you’re also replacing your fridge, compare the freezer compartment’s capacity in a fridge freezer rather than its total capacity.
If you freeze bulk shopping, prepared meals or home-grown produce, start by working out how much capacity you need and how much space you have. In a larder or another dedicated room, also check how easy it is to reach the contents and how long the freezer can keep food frozen during a power cut.
An upright freezer with drawers lets you organise food by type, without having to rummage at the bottom of a chest freezer. Make sure you have enough room to open the door, and check that the drawers fit the containers you use.
If your fridge’s freezer compartment is no longer big enough, a small upright or table-top freezer can give you extra storage without the need for a large appliance. Compare its capacity with the amount of food you usually freeze, and check the permitted ambient temperature for its intended location.
First, decide between a dedicated freezer and a fridge freezer based on how much you need to freeze and the space available. Then compare the features of models that you can actually install in your home.
| What to compare | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Freezer capacity | Compare the litres available for frozen food, not the total capacity of a fridge freezer. Check the internal layout, including drawers or baskets. | I want to store the amount of food I usually freeze without choosing an appliance simply because it looks spacious. |
| Space and access | Measure the width, depth and height, then check the clearance needed for the door or lid. A chest and an upright freezer take up space in different ways. | A chest freezer appeals if I have floor space to spare. If I often need to find a particular item, I’d rather look at the drawers in an upright model. |
| Energy use and noise | Compare kWh/year for appliances of a similar size and type, as well as their noise emissions in dB. According to the European Commission, these figures and the appliance’s capacity are shown on the energy label of relevant appliances. | Noise matters to me too if the appliance is near a living area. ADEME points out that a freezer runs continuously. |
| Room temperature | Check the permitted ambient temperature range or climate class for the exact model. Don’t assume that a model is suitable for a cold room just because it’s described as a ‘chest’ or ‘compact’ freezer. | If I’m putting it in an unheated cellar or garage, I need to compare the actual room temperature with the operating conditions for the model I choose. |
| Power cuts | Compare the stated power-cut storage time in hours for each model. Check separately whether it has an alarm if you want to be alerted to a problem. | If power cuts are a concern where I live, I’ll check this figure before choosing, rather than assuming it depends on the appliance’s capacity. |
Que Choisir Ensemble says chest freezers can hold up to 600 L. But that figure alone won’t tell you how much space you’ll need at home or how easy it is to reach food stored at the bottom.
Measure the space and the clearance needed to open the lid, then think about how you’ll organise the baskets and food.
The permitted ambient temperature depends on the model. For example, Beko France specifies a minimum operating temperature of 5 °C for its FSE1174N table-top model.
Check the room temperature and compare it with the range given for the model you’re considering. Don’t assume it will be the same as another appliance from the same brand.
Two freezers of different sizes won’t necessarily meet the same storage needs. The letter on the energy label doesn’t replace comparing annual energy consumption, capacity and noise.
Use the kWh/year figure to compare models of a similar type and capacity, then check whether the storage space suits the amount of food you freeze. The European Commission shows these figures on the energy label.
The Whirlpool WHK25404XBR5E fridge freezer has a total capacity of 355 L, but Whirlpool France lists 106 L for its freezer compartment.
If you’re thinking of replacing your current appliance, compare those 106 L — or the freezer capacity of the model you choose — with the amount you want to store, rather than relying on the total capacity.
These model examples give you an idea of different types and features. They don’t cover every model from each brand.
The B3RMFNE314W upright freezer is worth a look if you want a large freezer capacity without choosing a chest model.
The H4F306WDH1 upright freezer is worth measuring up if you’re looking for a capacity of 301 L and have a space around 60 cm wide.
Whirlpool France’s models show why it’s important to compare freezer capacity and power-cut storage time model by model, including when you’re considering a fridge freezer.
This selection includes a fridge freezer to consider if you’re also replacing your fridge, three small chest freezers and a compact upright freezer. For each one, compare the freezer capacity with the amount of food you need to store, and check that it’s suitable for the room where you plan to install it.
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Worth considering if you also need to replace your fridge. The 467 L refers to the total capacity of the fridge freezer, not just its freezer compartment.
The model description specifies four doors, Total No Frost and an energy rating of E. Before comparing it with a dedicated freezer, check the capacity of its freezer compartment and its dimensions.
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This 95 L chest freezer is worth considering for extra storage if you have enough room to open the lid from above.
The product description lists switchable fridge and freezer modes, a 7-level thermostat, a removable basket, a defrost drain and an energy rating of E. Check which mode you need and the permitted ambient temperature for your chosen location.
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With a stated capacity of 141 L, this chest freezer offers more space than the AUCMA 95 L model featured here. Even so, measure the floor space it needs and check there’s room to open the lid.
It’s described as having switchable fridge and freezer modes, a 7-level thermostat, a removable basket, a defrost drain and an energy rating of E. Check the permitted ambient temperature range for the room where you plan to install it.
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This 99 L chest freezer is worth comparing with other compact options, depending on how much room you have to open the lid and access your frozen food.
The product description lists four-star freezing, an adjustable thermostat, a removable basket, a sliding lid and an energy rating of E. Check its dimensions and the operating conditions for the room.
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This 60 L upright model is worth considering for a small amount of extra storage, especially if drawer access matters more to you than a large capacity.
The product description specifies three drawers, a reversible door, adjustable temperature and an energy rating of E. Check the dimensions, door clearance and permitted ambient temperature before choosing where to put it.
Focus on annual energy consumption in kWh, storage capacity and noise, taking into account the type and capacity you need. The European Commission says these figures appear on the label for relevant appliances. You can also use the model reference to look up its information in EPREL.
No. Check the permitted ambient temperature range for the exact model and compare it with the temperatures in the room. Whirlpool France specifies operation down to −15 °C for the W3RHS37EW1 chest freezer, while Beko France gives a minimum of 5 °C for the FSE1174N table-top model. These figures don’t apply to other models from those brands.
Compare the stated time in hours for each model, rather than assuming it depends only on the type of freezer. Whirlpool France lists 36 h for the W3RHS37EW1 chest freezer and 11 h for the WHFF6403W4E upright freezer. Beko France lists 10 h for the B3RMFNE314W upright freezer.
Make a note of the full model reference and, if available, check its EPREL product information. According to the European Commission, the database provides access to product features as well as repair and spare parts information. Check the delivery and service options offered by the seller separately.