Households moving into a small kitchen
If the space is tight, measure the delivery route too, and allow enough clearance to open the door without it hitting furniture or blocking the way through.
Who is this choice for?
People without a housing unit for an integrated model
A freestanding fridge freezer combines fridge and freezer compartments in one appliance without needing a suitable housing unit. You’ll still need to make room for it and follow the ventilation guidance for the model.
Households keeping their fitted kitchen
An integrated model can blend in with your kitchen units if the housing unit, ventilation and door fixing are compatible with the installation instructions. The appliance width alone isn’t enough to confirm that it will fit.
What should you check before choosing?
Freestanding fridge freezer
Consider this if: you don’t have a compatible housing unit and want to keep fresh and frozen food in one appliance.
The trade-off: the appliance will be on show, and its position must allow for ventilation and the door to open.
Integrated fridge freezer
Consider this if: you’re keeping a kitchen unit with a housing space and door panel that can accommodate your chosen model.
The trade-off: housing-unit dimensions and door-fixing systems limit the models that will fit.
Once you’ve decided how to install your fridge freezer, check each appliance against the space available and your household’s usual shopping needs.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Size and door clearance | Check the overall height, width and depth, then measure the delivery route. Check the door’s opening arc and the ventilation clearances in the model’s instructions. | I want to open the compartments without hitting furniture or blocking the way through. |
| Compartment capacity | Compare the fridge and freezer capacities in litres separately. Check the drawer layout if you store large frozen items. | My usual groceries need to fit in the fridge, with enough room for the frozen food I actually keep. |
| Energy use and noise | Check the energy rating and kWh/year, ideally comparing appliances with similar capacities and features. Also check the noise level in dB(A), especially if the kitchen is close to a living area. | If my kitchen is open-plan, noise matters as much as the space the appliance takes up. On energy use, ADEME points out that fridges and freezers run continuously, and their size can affect how much energy they use. |
| Delivery and installation | Check which services are available at your address and whether the appliance can be brought into the room. For an integrated model, compare the housing unit, ventilation and door-panel fixings with the exact installation plan. | I want to know how the appliance will get to its final position and what else needs to be done before I can use it. |
What should you avoid?
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Choosing an integrated model based on its external dimensions alone
An appliance may fit the available width but still be incompatible with the housing unit, door panel, hinges or ventilation requirements.
Measure the housing unit’s height, width and depth, check the existing door fixing, and consult the installation plan for the exact model.
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Comparing only the energy rating letter
The rating alone doesn’t tell you the stated annual energy use or how much storage space you’ll get. ADEME also highlights the importance of an appliance’s size when it runs continuously.
Compare the rating, kWh/year and capacity of each compartment across models with similar sizes and uses. Check the noise level too if your kitchen opens onto a living area.
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Assuming delivery and installation services are included
Getting the appliance through to your kitchen, putting it in place and possibly reversing the door may be separate services.
Before ordering, check which services are available with the offer at your address, and whether there are any access restrictions at your home.
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Plugging in the appliance without reading the instructions
Set-up and ventilation requirements vary by appliance. In its installation guide, Electrolux recommends waiting at least four hours before plugging the appliance in, among other steps.
Follow the instructions for your model, including how long to wait before plugging it in, where to position it and how to maintain airflow around it.
Which brands should you compare?
Bosch
Bosch Home Appliances France product pages let you compare a freestanding fridge freezer with an integrated model, each with different dimensions and capacities.
- The freestanding KGN36VXCT measures 1860 × 600 × 665 mm and offers 218 L of fridge space and 103 L of freezer space.
- The integrated KIV87NSE0 measures 1772 × 541 × 548 mm and has sliding hinges. These external dimensions alone don’t confirm whether it will fit your housing unit.
Beko
The Beko France product page for the BCNA306E5SN provides details to help you assess an integrated fridge freezer.
- This model is listed as 1935 × 540 × 545 mm overall, with a 284 L capacity, a D energy rating and energy use of 186 kWh/year.
- Before choosing it, check its installation documentation against your housing unit, ventilation and existing cabinet door.
Electrolux
The Electrolux France product page for the LNS3LE18S gives the housing-unit dimensions specified for an integrated model.
- The specified housing-unit dimensions are 1780 × 560 × 550 mm. The model offers 271 L of capacity, has an E energy rating and uses 219 kWh/year.
- Installation specifications and services listed for this model won’t necessarily apply to another appliance or offer.
Freestanding fridge freezers on Joybuy
These freestanding fridge freezers combine fridge and freezer compartments. For a small kitchen, compare the listed dimensions with your measurements, then check each model’s documentation for ventilation requirements and the clearance needed to open the door.
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CHiQ JR263LGE 262 L Low Frost, black
If width is a key consideration, this freestanding fridge freezer is listed as 54 cm wide and 176 cm high. It has a stated 70/30 split. Check its depth, ventilation requirements and door clearance before choosing it.
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Comfee' RCB169WH2(E) 174 L, white
At 150 cm tall, this freestanding fridge freezer may be worth considering if headroom is limited. The product title lists Low Frost, a reversible door, an E energy rating and 39 dB. Also check the width, depth and ventilation requirements for your space.
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Comfee' by Midea RCB230BL2EU(E) 174 L, black
This freestanding fridge freezer features Low Frost and a reversible door, which may suit your layout depending on the position of nearby units. Before ordering, compare its full dimensions and annual energy use with your available space, and check the required clearances.
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CHiQ JR227LSE 227 L Low Frost, silver
Its listed width of 54 cm may suit a narrow space, provided the other dimensions and clearances are right too. This model has a 153 L fridge compartment and a 74 L freezer compartment, as well as a reversible door and an E energy rating.
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Heinrich´s 253 L No Frost fridge freezer, stainless steel
If you need more room for fresh food, the product title lists 182 L for the fridge and 71 L for the freezer. It also lists reversible hinges and a noise level of 39 dB. Check the width, depth and ventilation requirements before deciding whether it will fit in your kitchen.
Frequently asked questions
How can I check whether an integrated fridge freezer will fit my kitchen?
Measure the housing unit’s height, width and depth, then check the door fixing, how it opens and the ventilation requirements in the model’s instructions. Bosch lists the KIV87NSE0 appliance dimensions as 1772 × 541 × 548 mm and specifies sliding hinges. These details don’t replace the housing-unit measurements needed for installation.
What should I compare on the energy label?
Compare the energy rating and annual energy use in kWh/year, then consider these figures alongside the fridge and freezer capacities you need. If you’re comparing models with similar capacities and features, check the stated noise level too, especially if your kitchen opens onto a living area.
Is a larger fridge freezer always a better choice after moving house?
No. Choose fridge and freezer capacities to suit your usual shopping habits, while keeping the appliance’s overall size in mind. ADEME points out that these appliances run continuously and that their size can increase energy use, so compare the kWh/year figures for the models you’re considering too.
What should I expect between delivery and first use?
Before ordering, check how the appliance will be delivered to its final position, and whether placing it in position or reversing the door is included in the services offered. Once it arrives, follow the instructions for your model: the Electrolux installation guide recommends waiting at least four hours before plugging it in, and leaving space for air to circulate around the appliance.