For a shared house, first choose a fridge compartment that suits the number of people and their shopping habits. Then check that everyone will have a usable storage area. UFC-Que Choisir suggests starting with 100 to 150 L for one person, plus 50 L for each additional person. This is only a guide: you should also look at the separate fridge and freezer capacities. A standalone freezer is only worth considering if frozen food regularly takes up too much room and there’s space for a second appliance.
If everyone stores their own fresh food, usable shelves, drawers and door balconies can help you allocate areas without constantly moving other people’s food. The stated capacity alone won’t tell you how well the fridge is organised.
If several people buy frozen food, check the freezer capacity and drawers separately from the fridge compartment. A standalone appliance won’t solve a shortage of space for fresh food.
Measure the space and delivery route, then compare the stated noise level and annual energy consumption of appliances with similar capacities. The space you can access once the appliance is installed matters just as much as its external dimensions.
First work out how much space you need for fresh food. Then consider how the storage areas are arranged and how much freezer space you really need, before choosing between appliances that suit your kitchen.
| Feature | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Space for fresh food | Check the fridge capacity separately from the total capacity. Use the guide of 100 to 150 L for one person, then 50 L for each additional person, and adjust it to suit how often you shop. | When everyone’s fresh food ends up on the same shelves, I want to avoid having to make room every time someone gets back from shopping. Around 33% of consumers may make capacity their priority. |
| Storage areas | Check the shelves, drawers and door balconies on the specific model. Look for adjustable or removable shelves, and don’t plan to fill every space to the brim. | If my food is often moved to get to someone else’s, I mainly need areas that are easy to assign and rearrange; around 27% of consumers may prioritise this separation. |
| Space for frozen food | Compare the freezer capacity and drawers. Before considering a standalone appliance, check that you have enough space and a suitable power supply. | If everyone regularly keeps frozen food, I want to be able to find it without cramming the other compartments. This capacity may be the priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Kitchen constraints | Measure the space and access route; compare the stated noise level and kWh/year for appliances with similar capacities, using their energy labels. | In an open-plan or narrow kitchen, I need to be able to install the appliance without overlooking its noise or day-to-day energy use; around 20% of consumers may put these constraints first. |
Two fridge-freezers with similar total capacities may divide the space differently between fresh and frozen food. So the overall figure won’t tell you how much room will be left for everyday shopping.
Note the capacity of each compartment and compare it with the number of people and their shopping habits.
A higher capacity doesn’t guarantee storage areas that are easy to assign. You may still have to move food to reach a shelf or drawer.
Check which shelves on the model you’re considering can be adjusted or removed, and whether the drawers and door balconies will still be easy to access when full.
ANSES recommends not overfilling the fridge, to allow cold air to circulate. So when dividing up space between housemates, leave some room around the food.
Allocate areas without blocking the air vents, and remove outer packaging where appropriate for the food in question.
An appliance placed near a living area runs continuously, so its noise and energy figures are worth comparing alongside its capacity.
For models with similar capacities, check the stated noise level, kWh/year and energy label. The noise figure alone won’t tell you how loud it will seem in your kitchen.
The range includes freestanding fridge-freezers, with features that vary by model.
Samsung offers SpaceMax fridge-freezers with a bottom freezer, among other models.
The range includes built-in fridge-freezers, with interiors that vary between models.
Haier offers French Door models, some of which have dedicated drawers.
These fridge-freezers come in different total capacities and styles for shared use. Before choosing, compare the space actually allocated to fresh food, the interior layout and whether the appliance can be installed in your kitchen. This selection doesn’t include a standalone freezer.
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Worth considering if several housemates want to store fresh and frozen food in a four-door appliance; check how the capacity is divided and how the storage areas are arranged.
Stated total capacity: 467 L. Total No Frost, energy class E, Smart Inverter; silver finish.
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Consider this if your shared house needs a fridge-freezer with a large total capacity; check how many litres are set aside for fresh food and how the shelves are arranged.
Stated total capacity: 440 L. Energy class D; grey finish. Also check the space needed to install it.
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Worth comparing if you’re looking to organise food in a fridge-freezer with a more modest total capacity; check the storage layout and how much space is available for each person.
Stated total capacity: 368 L. Energy class E; stainless steel finish. If your kitchen is open-plan, also check the stated noise level.
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Worth considering if several people want a large multi-door appliance for their shopping; check how its compartments and storage areas are divided.
Stated total capacity: 495 L. Energy class E; black finish. Check the dimensions and clearance needed for installation.
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Worth comparing if several housemates regularly use both compartments; the side-by-side design needs to suit the space and allow you to organise food conveniently.
Stated capacities: 333 L for the fridge and 192 L for the freezer. Stated noise level: 37 dB; energy class E. Check the dimensions, annual energy consumption and shelf layout.
For the fridge compartment alone, UFC-Que Choisir’s guide suggests around 200 to 250 L for three people and 250 to 300 L for four. This is based on 100 to 150 L for one person, then 50 L for each additional person. Adjust this starting point to suit your fresh food shopping, and check the freezer capacity separately.
Adjustable or removable shelves, drawers and accessible door balconies make it easier to assign areas, provided the layout suits your usual shopping. Don’t plan to fill every area completely: ANSES recommends leaving room for cold air to circulate in the fridge.
Consider a standalone freezer if there’s already enough room for fresh food, but the frozen food housemates regularly buy exceeds the useful capacity of the fridge-freezer. Check that a second appliance can be installed, powered and maintained without getting in the way in the kitchen.
Compare the annual energy consumption in kWh and the energy class of appliances with similar capacities, then consider these figures alongside the compartment capacities and stated noise level. ADEME recommends using the energy label to help guide your choice; the energy class alone doesn’t tell you everything about how the appliance will work in a shared house.