If space is very limited and you mainly store fresh food, start by looking at table-top fridges. If you regularly buy frozen food, compare compact fridge-freezers and the capacity of their freezer compartments instead. Either way, measure the space, the route into the kitchen and the door clearance, then check the ventilation requirements in the manual. A model described as compact won’t necessarily suit your kitchen.
If your appliance needs to fit in a kitchenette or under a worktop, a table-top fridge is worth considering. UFC-Que Choisir describes it as a suitable format for studio flats and gives 100 to 150 litres of usable capacity as a rough guide for one person, depending on how often you shop.
Before adding or replacing a fridge, check the property inventory, how much space is actually available and what you have agreed with your landlord about the existing appliance. Measure the delivery route too: having space in the kitchen won’t help if the fridge can’t be brought in.
In a small kitchen, the space set aside for the freezer matters just as much as the appliance’s external dimensions. UFC-Que Choisir notes that a small freezer compartment may not be enough if frozen food makes up a significant part of your shopping. In that case, compare freezer capacity separately from fridge capacity.
First decide how much space you need for fresh and frozen food. Then check that your preferred format fits your kitchen and meets the specifications for the exact model.
Worth considering: if space calls for a low appliance and you only buy frozen food occasionally.
The trade-off: the small ice compartment often found in this format, as described by Gifam, may not provide enough room for regular frozen food shopping.
Worth considering: if fresh food is your priority but you’d like to keep a few frozen items.
The trade-off: freezer capacity varies by model. UFC-Que Choisir advises against relying on a small freezer compartment if you store a lot of frozen food.
Worth considering: if frozen food is a regular part of your shopping and your kitchen can accommodate a taller appliance.
The trade-off: the total capacity doesn’t tell you how much room will be left for fresh food once you account for the freezer.
| Criteria | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Space and installation | Measure the width, height and depth, the delivery route and the clearance needed to open the door. Check the manual for ventilation clearances and the permitted ambient temperature. Electrolux France reminds users that air must be able to circulate around the appliance. | I need to be able to install the fridge and open its door in my kitchen, not just fit it into the space. |
| Fresh-food capacity | Compare the usable capacity of the fridge compartment in litres, separately from the total capacity. UFC-Que Choisir gives 100 to 150 litres as a rough guide for one person, depending on their shopping habits. | If I don’t shop often, I need enough room to store fresh food between shopping trips. |
| Freezing | Check whether there’s a freezer compartment, how much it holds and how it’s organised. UFC-Que Choisir points out that a small freezer compartment may not be enough if you eat a lot of frozen food. | I often buy frozen food, so I need to know how much space is actually available for it. |
| Noise and energy use | On the EU energy label, compare noise emissions in dB(A) and energy consumption in kWh/year for appliances with similar configurations and capacities. ADEME notes that a fridge runs continuously. | My fridge will be near my living or sleeping area, so its stated noise level and annual energy use matter when I’m choosing. |
| Installation type | For a built-in model, check that your existing unit meets the requirements in the manual. For a freestanding model, also check ventilation, door clearance and ambient temperature. Requirements vary by model. | I want an appliance that suits my kitchen as it is, without assuming that any built-in model will fit any cabinet. |
A narrow appliance can still be too deep, get in the way when you open the door or leave too little room for air to circulate.
Measure the space and the delivery route. For the model you’re considering, check the manual for installation, ventilation and ambient temperature requirements. Electrolux France stresses the importance of airflow around the appliance.
A limited-capacity compartment may be fine for occasional use, but it might not hold the frozen food you want to keep for your regular shopping. UFC-Que Choisir makes a distinction between these two needs.
Think about what you regularly freeze, then compare the capacity of the relevant compartment. If frozen food takes up a significant part of your shopping, consider compact fridge-freezers too.
Appliances with different capacities or configurations won’t necessarily meet the same needs. The European Commission says the label also shows annual energy consumption, storage capacities and noise emissions.
Compare kWh/year, the capacity of each compartment in litres and noise levels across models that suit your shopping habits. The European Commission’s EPREL register lets you check the declared specifications for a model.
Adding another appliance without considering the one already in the property can make it harder to arrange your kitchen and look after the existing equipment.
Check the inventory, measure the available space and agree with your landlord what will happen to the supplied appliance before planning to replace it.
This selection includes fridge-freezers and single-door fridges, so you can compare the trade-offs between kitchen space, fresh food and frozen food. Before choosing, check the dimensions and installation requirements of the model you’re interested in.
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If width is a key consideration in your kitchen and you regularly buy frozen food, this fridge-freezer is listed as 54 cm wide and 176 cm tall, with a 70/30 split. Check its depth, door clearance and the space required for ventilation in the manual before deciding if this format is right for you.
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If you want to keep some of your shopping in the freezer, the model listing gives a capacity of 153 L for the fridge and 74 L for the freezer, with a width of 54 cm. Check the height, depth, door clearance and ventilation requirements in the manual. The stated energy rating is E, so also check the model’s kWh/year figure.
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The listing gives a capacity of 182 L for the fridge and 71 L for the freezer, as well as a noise level of 39 dB, making it an option for keeping fresh and frozen food separately. Check the dimensions and clearances for the exact model. Its descriptions give conflicting energy ratings, so be sure to check its energy label.
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This model is described as a table-top fridge with a reversible door and an E energy rating. However, the description and listed dimensions don’t match. Get the measurements for the exact model, including the space needed with the door open, before considering it for a worktop or small kitchen.
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If floor space is your main concern, the listing gives a footprint of 0,22 m² and mentions a small freezer compartment. Check the capacity in litres for the fridge and freezer separately to see if it suits your shopping needs. Before installation, also check the height, depth, door clearance and ventilation requirements.
Measure the space in all three dimensions, the delivery route and the clearance needed to open the door. Then check the model’s manual for ventilation clearances and the permitted ambient temperature. Electrolux France reminds users that air must be able to circulate around the appliance.
Yes, if its usable capacity suits your shopping habits and you don’t store much frozen food. UFC-Que Choisir gives 100 to 150 litres of usable capacity as a rough guide for one person, but recommends taking into account how often you shop and how you use the freezer. Check the capacity of each compartment separately.
If you regularly store a lot of frozen food, a small freezer compartment may not be enough, as UFC-Que Choisir points out. Check the freezer capacity of a compact fridge-freezer, then make sure its dimensions and ventilation requirements suit your kitchen.
Look at the kWh/year figure, the capacity of each compartment and noise emissions, as well as the A to G rating. The European Commission says this information is shown on the EU energy label. Its EPREL register lets you check the declared specifications for the models listed.
First, check the property inventory and discuss what will happen to the existing appliance with your landlord before ordering another one. Measure the space that will actually be available and agree whether the supplied appliance will be kept or removed.