First, measure the space, the delivery route, the door swing and the ventilation clearances specified in the model’s instructions. Then choose a capacity to suit your shopping habits and how much freezer space you need: a tabletop fridge takes up less room, a fridge with a single door prioritises fresh food, and a fridge-freezer has a separate freezer compartment. If your kitchen is fitted, an integrated model will only be suitable if the cabinet space, ventilation and door-fixing system are compatible.
If the appliance needs to fit under a worktop or sit next to a wall, check its height, depth and door opening, not just its width. Que Choisir lists a tabletop fridge as an option for a studio; Beko offers some models that are 54 cm wide, and the door-opening direction can vary by model.
If you want to keep fresh and frozen food in one appliance, compare the capacity of each compartment separately. A small freezer compartment in a tabletop fridge may not suit the same needs as the separate compartment in a fridge-freezer.
An existing cabinet space or kitchen front means you’ll need to check the installation dimensions, ventilation and door-fixing system for the model you choose. Measuring the visible space alone is not enough to confirm that an integrated model will fit.
First choose the type of storage you need, then check that the appliance that provides it can be installed in your kitchen.
Worth considering: when limited clearance under the worktop or a lack of space restricts your options, and you don’t need to store much.
Bear in mind: storage space, particularly for frozen food, may be limited.
Worth considering: if most of your food storage is for fresh food and you buy few or no frozen items.
Bear in mind: depending on the model, there may be no freezer compartment or just a small freezer.
Worth considering: if you need one appliance for storing fresh and frozen food regularly.
Bear in mind: check the height, depth and delivery route carefully before choosing this format.
| Factor | What to check before you buy | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Size and installation | Measure the height, width and depth, and check the door swing; compare these with the ventilation clearances specified for the model. | If the appliance needs to fit into a tight space, I also want to be able to open the door without hitting a cupboard. Around 33% of consumers would put this physical fit at the top of their list. |
| Fresh and frozen storage | Compare the capacity in litres of each compartment with your usual shopping, rather than looking only at the total capacity. | If I regularly store frozen food, I need enough freezer space without sacrificing room for fresh food. This balance of storage space would be a priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Noise | Check the model’s noise emissions in dB(A) and its noise class, taking into account how close it is to your living or sleeping area. | In a studio or open-plan kitchen, I want to keep noise down near the space where I live or sleep. Quiet operation would come first for around 20% of consumers. |
| Energy use and maintenance | Compare the kWh/year figures for models with the capacity you need, and check the cooling system so you know what maintenance to expect. | If the appliance will be running all year in my small home, I want to understand its energy use and any defrosting requirements before choosing. Around 20% of consumers would prioritise these practical considerations. |
For a fitted kitchen, there’s an extra check for integrated models: the cabinet dimensions, airflow and door-front fixing must all match the instructions. The clearance needed for other formats also varies by model; Bosch’s ventilation recommendation for some of its appliances is not a rule that applies to every brand.
A fridge may be narrow enough but still stick out beyond the worktop, have too little space for ventilation or block your way when the door is open.
Measure the space and delivery route in full, then check the door swing and installation instructions for the exact model you’re considering.
Having space for frozen food doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether it will hold the amount you usually store.
Work out how much space your frozen food needs and compare the stated freezer capacity of the models you’re considering.
The energy rating letter doesn’t tell you the annual energy use or the appliance’s capacity. The European Commission says that the energy label for household fridges uses a scale from A to G.
For models with the storage space you need, also compare the kWh/year figures and the capacities shown on their energy labels.
Worth a look if you’re after a freestanding tabletop fridge for a kitchen where space is at a premium.
Worth a look when comparing freestanding fridge-freezers or planning an installation with specific ventilation requirements.
Worth a look if you’re considering an integrated model and the dimensions of your existing cabinet space are key to your choice.
Worth a look if you’re choosing between an integrated and a freestanding fridge-freezer.
These models combine refrigeration and freezing in one appliance. Compare freestanding and integrated versions to suit your kitchen: whichever you choose, check the dimensions and installation requirements.
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Worth considering if your kitchen has a compatible cabinet space and you want to keep fresh and frozen food in an integrated appliance.
Top-mounted freezer; energy rating E. Before choosing this model, check the door fixing and available door-opening direction.
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Worth comparing if you want to store fresh and frozen food together without fitting an appliance into a cabinet space.
Its description lists Low Frost and a reversible door. Check the depth with the door open, ventilation clearances, noise level and kWh/year for your chosen spot.
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Worth considering for a fitted kitchen if you need fresh and frozen food compartments in one appliance.
Its description lists No Frost and energy rating C. Before ordering, check the cabinet dimensions, ventilation and door fitting in the instructions.
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Worth comparing if you have limited width, while also checking that the height and depth will fit.
The description lists a width of 54 cm, 153 L of fridge space, 74 L of freezer space, a reversible door, Low Frost and energy rating E. Check the energy label for the kWh/year figure too.
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Worth considering if you’re replacing a fridge-freezer in a fitted kitchen and can confirm that the cabinet space and kitchen front are compatible.
Its description lists TwinTech No Frost and energy rating E. Check the installation instructions and the kWh/year figure on the model’s energy label.
Que Choisir suggests 100 to 150 L as a starting point for one person, not a hard-and-fast rule. Adjust this guide to how often you shop, how many meals you eat at home and how much frozen food you need to store.
Yes. Follow the ventilation clearances specified in the instructions for your model and its installation type. Bosch recommends at least 200 cm² of free space behind and below some of its appliances; don’t apply this figure to another model without checking its instructions.
Check the door-opening direction in the product details, whether it can be reversed and how much room it needs in front of neighbouring cupboards. Beko says the TSE1234FSN has a reversible door, but you should still check your kitchen layout and the instructions for the model you choose.
As well as the energy rating, compare annual consumption in kWh, compartment capacities and noise information. The European Commission says that household fridges use an energy rating scale from A to G; the letter alone doesn’t tell you whether the appliance has the capacity you need.