Households that cook or shop in bulk
If your freezer regularly fills up with shopping, batch-cooked meals or seasonal produce, work out how much extra capacity you’ll need in the long term.
Who is this choice for?
Households that access their supplies often
If you’re often looking for a particular food, the layout matters just as much as the capacity. Compare the drawers, compartments or baskets in the model you’re considering.
Households with limited space
Whether it’s going in the kitchen or near a living area, check the route for getting the appliance into place, how it opens, the ventilation clearances, annual energy consumption and noise emissions.
What sets the different formats apart?
If your household is running short of freezer space, your choice will mainly depend on how much you need to store and how often you access your food. Then check that the format you choose will fit and open properly in the space available.
Upright freezer
Consider this if: you open the freezer often and want to organise food in drawers.
Bear in mind: drawer depth and the door swing can limit storage for bulky items or make installation more difficult.
Chest freezer
Consider this if: you mainly store bulky supplies or food you don’t need to access often, and have room to open a lid from above.
Bear in mind: reaching food at the bottom of the freezer takes more organisation.
Large fridge-freezer
Consider this if: you only need a little extra freezer space and a single appliance would suit your kitchen better.
Bear in mind: this option may mean replacing your current fridge; the stated total capacity isn’t the capacity of the freezer compartment alone.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Storage capacity | Compare the freezer compartment capacity in litres, then check the dimensions and the space needed to open it. | When bulk shopping regularly overflows my current compartment, I want extra storage that will meet my needs in the long term. Around 36% of consumers would put this extra capacity first. |
| Access and organisation | Look at the model’s drawers or baskets and the space available for bulky food. | If I take out different foods often, I want to find them without rummaging through a large chest. Easy access and organisation would come first for around 29% of consumers. |
| Energy use and noise | Check the kWh/year and stated noise emissions, comparing models with a suitable capacity for the same needs. | Near a living area, I want to be able to choose with the appliance’s continuous operation and noise in mind. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise these everyday considerations. |
| Installation and power cuts | Check the required clearances and climate class in the manual, as well as the model’s stated storage period during a power cut. | If the appliance needs to go in a room where temperatures vary, I want to make sure it can operate there and find out how long it can keep food frozen during a power cut. This would be the main concern for around 14% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid before buying
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Choosing based only on the stated capacity
A large appliance can be difficult to manoeuvre into place, open or ventilate. With a fridge-freezer, the total capacity also includes the fridge compartment.
Measure the delivery route and the space where it will go, then compare the model’s dimensions and the capacity available for frozen food.
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Assuming a chest freezer suits every large household
A chest freezer can provide the extra storage you need, but it may make it harder to find food stored at the bottom during everyday use.
Choose based on how often you’ll access your food: look at the baskets in a chest freezer or the drawers in an upright model, and remember to allow room for the lid or door to open.
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Comparing energy ratings alone
The energy rating letter alone doesn’t tell you the exact annual energy consumption or freezer capacity.
The European Commission says the label for refrigeration appliances includes information such as energy consumption, capacity and noise emissions. Consider all these details together when comparing appliances that meet similar needs.
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Forgetting about the room and storage during a power cut
Whether an appliance can be installed in a particular space depends on the conditions set out in its manual. Its storage period during a power cut is separate from its usual energy consumption.
Check the model’s ventilation requirements and climate class for the room where it will go, then look up its stated storage period and how it was measured.
Brands to consider for these formats
Manufacturers’ ranges can help you see which formats are available. Be sure to check the dimensions, features and installation requirements for each model.
Haier
Haier France offers upright and chest freezers in a range of capacities.
- For example, Haier states that its H4F306WDH1 upright freezer has a capacity of 301 L, four drawers and dimensions of 600 × 742 × 1 900 mm.
- This example doesn’t tell you about the noise, energy consumption or power-cut storage period of another Haier model, so compare their individual specifications.
Beko
Beko France offers a range of upright freezers, with features that vary by model.
- Depending on the appliance, Beko’s documentation mentions features such as No Frost fan-assisted cooling, fast freezing or a reversible door.
- Check that these features are available on the model you choose, along with its capacity, dimensions, kWh/year, noise emissions and power-cut storage period.
Liebherr
Liebherr offers upright and chest formats to consider for the space you have in mind.
- Its installation guidance highlights the need for good air circulation and ventilation where the appliance is installed.
- Follow the manual for the exact clearances required by your chosen model. General guidance doesn’t replace checking its capacity, noise level or power-cut storage period.
Appliances to consider on Joybuy
These appliances illustrate the three options explored: adding a chest freezer, adding an upright freezer or considering a large fridge-freezer. Compare their freezer capacity with the constraints of your available space before you choose.
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AUCMA, 291 L convertible chest freezer
Worth considering for storing larger quantities if you have enough space to open the lid from above.
The product name specifies fridge or freezer modes, a removable basket, LED lighting and an E energy rating. Select freezer mode for this use and check the model’s installation requirements, kWh/year, noise level and power-cut storage period.
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Heinrich´s, 161 L upright freezer, stainless steel
An upright freezer is worth considering if you want to organise your food and access it regularly. Check that 161 L is enough for your supplies.
The product name mentions drawers, No Frost technology, a reversible door hinge and a C energy rating. Check the dimensions, clearances and possible door-opening direction in the model’s manual.
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TCL CF182EWE0FR, 140 L chest freezer
This 140 L chest freezer could be an option for extra storage, provided you have room to access it from above.
The product name specifies a storage basket, a counterbalanced lid and an E energy rating. Check how much space you’ll need to open the lid, along with the clearances specified in the manual.
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Samsung RF50C530EB1, 495 L multi-door fridge, black
Compare this with adding a freezer if you’re thinking of replacing your fridge with one large appliance.
The 495 L in the product name refers to the total capacity, not just the freezer compartment, so check the latter separately before deciding. The product has an E energy rating. Also measure the space needed for installation and to open the doors.
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CHiQ JR99DWE, 99 L chest freezer
At 99 L, this model is better suited to providing extra storage than to meeting a need for very high capacity. Compare it with the space you’re currently short of in your freezer.
The product name mentions a removable basket, a sliding lid and an E energy rating. Check access to the lid, annual energy consumption and the model’s power-cut storage period.
Frequently asked questions
What should I compare on a freezer’s energy label?
Compare annual energy consumption, storage capacity and noise emissions, as well as the energy rating. The European Commission says this information appears on the labels of the relevant fridges and freezers. Start by comparing appliances with enough capacity for your needs.
Can I install a freezer in a garage or cellar?
Check the model’s manual before choosing this location. Its climate class, the temperatures it is designed to operate in and its ventilation clearances must all suit the room. Liebherr’s installation guidance highlights the importance of good air circulation; the specific requirements depend on the appliance you choose.
How do I compare storage times during a power cut?
Check the storage time stated for each model and the conditions under which it was measured. Don’t infer it from the capacity or energy rating. UFC-Que Choisir assesses this by simulating a power cut and measuring how long the food remains below −9 °C.
What should I do with my old appliance if I replace my fridge?
Arrange suitable collection for waste electrical and electronic equipment. The French Ministry for Ecological Transition points out that these appliances can contain substances that require special handling. Ask the seller about the take-back options available for your order, or find out where to take the appliance for appropriate recycling.