Households that do a big shop
If fresh food, ready meals and frozen food all arrive at once, check the available capacity in each compartment. A high total capacity alone doesn’t tell you how much room you’ll have for frozen food.
Who is this guide for?
Families with a small kitchen or narrow access
Your fridge needs to fit in the kitchen, but it also has to get through doors, hallways and, where applicable, the lift. The dimensions of the packaged appliance and the clearance needed to open its doors matter just as much as the space where it will go.
Households that like to keep food more organised
Compartments that are easy to organise can help you put away your shopping by type. For foods that need careful storage, check the temperature too: Anses recommends keeping the coldest part of the fridge between 0 and +4 °C.
What should you check first?
Start by considering how much space you need for fresh and frozen food. Then rule out any styles that won’t fit your home before comparing their features.
| What to consider | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the fridge and freezer capacities separately. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 100 to 150 L for one person, then around 50 L for each additional person as a general guide. Adjust this to suit your shopping habits. | If I buy lots of frozen food, I don’t want a large total capacity to hide the fact that the freezer is too small. |
| Style | Check the width of each fridge-freezer model. Compare how easy it is to access the compartments in a multi-door model, the side-by-side layout of an American-style fridge-freezer and, if your freezer needs call for it, the space required for two separate appliances in the kitchen. | I’m looking for enough room to put away a shop for several people, without choosing a style that gets in the way or stops the doors opening fully. |
| Temperature | Check the settings and whether you can monitor the temperature. Anses recommends keeping the coldest part between 0 and +4 °C. Leave enough space for air to circulate after putting your shopping away. | Food that needs careful storage should be kept in a sufficiently cold area, even when the fridge is full. |
| Energy and noise | According to ADEME, large domestic appliances sold in shops and online come with an energy label. Compare the stated annual energy consumption, capacity and noise levels of similar types and sizes. | In an open-plan kitchen and living area, I’ll check the noise level too, rather than looking at the energy rating alone. |
| Installation | Measure the appliance’s width, depth and height, as well as its packaging, the delivery route and the clearance needed to open the doors. If it has a dispenser, check whether the model needs a water supply and a filter. | I want to be able to get the appliance into my kitchen and use it there, not just fit it into the space I’ve set aside. |
What should you watch out for?
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Looking only at total capacity
Two appliances with a similar total capacity may not offer the same amount of space for fresh and frozen food. This matters especially if your freezer fills up after every shop.
Make a note of what you usually store, then compare the stated capacity of each compartment.
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Measuring the space, but not the delivery route
An appliance may fit in your kitchen but get stuck at a doorway or not have enough room for its doors to open.
Before ordering, check the packaged appliance’s dimensions and measure doorways, hallways, landings, the lift and the clearance needed to open the doors.
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Comparing energy ratings alone
The rating letter doesn’t tell you the stated annual energy consumption, capacity or noise level of a fridge that runs continuously.
Compare these details on the energy labels of appliances with similar capacities and in the same style.
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Assuming a dispenser will work anywhere
Depending on the model, using a water or ice dispenser may require a water supply and regular filter maintenance.
Check the installation and maintenance requirements for the exact model before choosing this feature.
For the LG GSLC40EPSE, LG recommends replacing the filter every six months or every 760 L: this is a maintenance task to factor in for this model.
A few brands to know
Samsung
Samsung’s multi-door range includes the RF48A401EB4/EF, listed at 488 L and measuring 833 × 1 793 × 740 mm on its French product page.
- Check its stated width if an appliance around 90 cm wide may not fit in your kitchen.
- Samsung advises checking that the packaged appliance will fit through the delivery route. Also compare the fresh-food and freezer capacities of the exact model.
Haier
Haier’s multi-door range includes the four-door HCR59F18DNMM. The manufacturer lists its dimensions as 905 × 738 × 1 825 mm and its energy rating as D.
- The four doors may appeal to households that want to organise their shopping by compartment.
- Check that the 905 mm width, delivery route and door clearance all work in your kitchen.
LG
LG offers American-style fridge-freezers, including models with a water dispenser.
- If you’re interested in this feature, check how the model you’re considering is supplied with water.
- For the GSLC40EPSE, LG recommends replacing the filter regularly. This guidance doesn’t automatically apply to other models.
Hisense
Hisense’s freestanding multi-door FMN560SWSE1 is listed at 606 L, 912 mm wide and 1 785 mm high, with an E energy rating.
- Its stated total capacity is worth considering if you do a big shop.
- Before choosing this model, check the space available and how the capacity is split between the fridge and freezer.
Fridges to compare on Joybuy
These options include American-style, multi-door and fridge-freezer formats for the everyday storage needs of a large household. Compare their capacities and overall dimensions against the space you have and your household’s habits.
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LG GSXE90BSAD, 628 L American-style fridge-freezer, stainless steel
This American-style model is suited to households with a large kitchen that want to keep fresh and frozen shopping separate. The model name indicates a 628 L capacity and a D energy rating; compare the capacity of each compartment with what you buy. Check that the packaged appliance will fit through the delivery route, and check the connection requirements if you plan to use the dispenser.
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Candy CFQQ5T817EPS, 467 L multi-door fridge-freezer, silver
Its four doors can help you organise fresh and frozen food by compartment. This model is listed at 467 L, has an E energy rating and features Total No Frost. Compare the capacities of the two zones, and measure the delivery route and the clearance needed to open the doors.
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Samsung RF50C530EB1, 495 L multi-door fridge-freezer, black
This model offers another layout to consider for storing fresh and frozen shopping. Its name indicates a 495 L capacity and an E energy rating. Check the capacity of each compartment, the delivery dimensions and, if you’re interested in the dispenser, how it is supplied with water.
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Haier HTW5618ENMG, 360 L three-door fridge-freezer
This fridge-freezer is worth comparing if the available width makes a narrower style a better fit. It is listed at 360 L, has an E energy rating and features Total No Frost and My Zone. For very large shops, compare the fridge and freezer capacities with what you store, then check the delivery route.
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COMFEE' RCF470LS2EU(E), 474 L four-door fridge-freezer, silver
This four-door model offers a stated total capacity of 474 L and an E energy rating, with space to organise your household shop. If you often freeze food, check how the capacity is split between fresh and frozen storage. Also check the annual energy consumption, noise level and packaged dimensions before choosing.
Frequently asked questions
What capacity should I look for when shopping for a large household?
UFC-Que Choisir suggests 100 to 150 L for one person, then around 50 L for each additional person as a general guide. Use this to get a rough idea, then check separately how much room you need for fresh and frozen food based on your shopping habits.
What temperature should I aim for when storing food that needs careful handling?
Anses recommends keeping the coldest part of the fridge between 0 and +4 °C. Find this area, check its temperature and avoid packing in so much shopping that cold air can’t circulate.
How can I use the energy label to compare two models?
Look at the stated energy consumption, capacity and noise level, rather than the rating alone. ADEME explains that the energy label provides information to shoppers both in store and online. It’s most useful to compare fridges of a similar type and capacity.
Does a water dispenser need a water supply?
Not necessarily: check how the exact model works before ordering. Some dispensers need a water connection and a filter that requires maintenance. The presence of a dispenser in the product name or photo doesn’t tell you what’s needed to install it.
What should I measure before a large fridge is delivered?
Measure the packaged appliance and the entire route to your kitchen, including doorways, hallways, landings and any lift. Also allow enough room for installation and to open the doors. Samsung specifically recommends checking that the packaging will fit through the delivery route for its RF48A401EB4/EF multi-door model.