For a weekly shop, start by considering how much fresh food you need to store, then work out how much room you need for frozen food. A small freezer compartment may be enough if you only keep a few items, while a fridge freezer gives you separate spaces for each. Que Choisir suggests allowing 100 to 150 litres of usable capacity for one person, then around 50 litres for each additional person. Before choosing a style, check the available space, how the door opens and the ventilation requirements for the model.
You want to put your shopping away without giving too much space to your fridge. The 100 to 150 litres of usable capacity suggested by Que Choisir is a good starting point, which you can adjust depending on how many prepared meals and frozen foods you keep.
You need room for fresh food and want to compare the capacity of a small freezer compartment with that of a separate freezer in a fridge freezer.
Your available space, any existing housing unit and the door clearance may limit your options. Check the model’s instructions for installation dimensions and ventilation requirements.
Consider this if: you live alone, do little cooking and have very limited space.
Keep in mind: compare its capacity with what you actually buy in a week, especially if you shop for frozen food.
Consider this if: most of your shopping is fresh food and you only keep a few frozen items.
Keep in mind: a small compartment may not have enough room for a regular stock of frozen food.
Consider this if: frozen food is part of your weekly shop and you need a separate freezer compartment.
Keep in mind: check how much space the appliance takes up and the capacity of each compartment, rather than looking only at its total capacity.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh-food capacity | Compare the fridge’s net capacity separately from the freezer capacity. Que Choisir suggests 100 to 150 L for one person, then around 50 L for each additional person. | If I prepare meals for several days, I want enough room to store fresh food without choosing an appliance that is too large for my kitchen. Around 31% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Space for frozen food | Check the net freezer capacity and distinguish between a small compartment and a separate freezer; check the model’s freezing specifications. | If frozen food is a regular part of my shop, a small amount of occasional storage may not be enough. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise freezer space. |
| Installation | Measure the available space and door clearance. For a built-in model, check the housing dimensions, fitting requirements and ventilation against the model’s instructions. | In a kitchen where the space is already fixed, I need to be able to install and open the appliance without compromising airflow. This would be the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
| Noise and energy use | For appliances of a similar size and capacity, check the dB(A), energy class and kWh/year shown on the label. | If my fridge is near my living space, its noise level matters just as much as its ongoing energy use. Nearly 19% of consumers would prioritise these two criteria. |
Two appliances with similar total capacities may have different amounts of space for fresh and frozen food. The total capacity therefore won’t tell you whether there’s enough room for your frozen food.
Estimate separately how much you want to keep chilled and frozen, then compare the net capacities of the compartments.
A built-in model needs to fit its housing unit and mounting system; freestanding appliances also have ventilation requirements. The external dimensions alone won’t confirm that it can be installed.
Measure the space, the delivery route and the door clearance, then check the installation instructions for the specific model.
The energy-class letter doesn’t replace the stated annual consumption or checks on capacity and noise levels that matter for your needs.
Compare kWh/year, compartment capacities and dB(A) levels across appliances of a similar size and capacity.
A range worth exploring if you’re deciding between a fridge, a model with a freezer compartment, a freestanding appliance or a built-in one.
Its built-in fridges and fridge freezers with separate freezer compartments make it easy to compare these two configurations.
A brand worth considering for a built-in model when you need to compare the appliance and housing dimensions carefully.
This selection includes built-in fridges and fridge freezers suited to small households. Compare the balance of fridge and freezer space, as well as the installation type, before choosing a style.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a built-in fridge with a freezer compartment. The title gives a total capacity of 188 L and an energy class of E.
Before choosing this model for your shopping, check the capacity of each compartment, the housing dimensions and the ventilation requirements in its documentation.
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Worth comparing if you include frozen food in your weekly shop. The title breaks down the 227 L capacity into 153 L of fridge space and 74 L of freezer space. It also lists a width of 54 cm, a reversible door and an energy class of E.
Check the height, installation clearances and kWh/year before confirming that it suits your kitchen and energy-use requirements.
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A freestanding fridge freezer to consider if you want to keep fresh and frozen food in one appliance. The title lists a capacity of 174 L, a reversible door and Low Frost technology.
Compare the capacity of each compartment and check the installation dimensions, kWh/year and stated noise level for your chosen location.
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Worth considering if your household needs a separate freezer compartment. The title lists 182 L of fridge space, 71 L of freezer space, a noise level of 39 dB and No Frost technology.
If you live alone, compare the 182 L of fridge space with what you actually buy. Also check the installation dimensions and kWh/year before comparing this model with a smaller fridge freezer.
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Worth considering for a fitted kitchen with a housing unit, especially if you mainly shop for fresh food. The title lists an energy class of E.
Before choosing it, check the exact net capacity, whether it has a freezer compartment and the housing dimensions in the model’s documentation.
Que Choisir recommends starting with 100 to 150 litres of usable capacity for one person, then adding around 50 litres for each additional person. Adjust this guide to how often you shop, and consider separately how much space you need for frozen food.
It may be enough for a few frozen items, but if you regularly stock up on frozen food, it’s worth comparing fridge freezers with a separate freezer compartment. Check the model’s net freezer capacity rather than assuming it will be sufficient just because it has a compartment.
Don’t assume they do: the appliance dimensions may differ from those of its housing unit, and ventilation requirements depend on the installation. Measure the door clearance too, and check the model’s instructions before ordering.
According to the European Commission, the label includes details such as the energy class, annual energy consumption, compartment capacities and noise emissions. To compare appliances suited to your shopping habits, look at these figures across similar sizes and capacities rather than relying on the energy-class letter alone.