First, measure the available space, the door clearance and the ventilation gaps specified for the model. Then choose a capacity to suit your shopping habits and how much freezer space you need. A tabletop fridge may be enough if you live alone and don’t cook much; a compact fridge-freezer keeps fresh and frozen food separate. If you’re considering an integrated model, the housing unit and door system must match its installation plan. If you don’t have a suitable housing unit, look at freestanding models instead.
If you shop little and often and don’t cook much, a tabletop fridge can help save space. Que Choisir suggests a usable capacity of 100 to 150 L for one person. Compare this with what you actually store, especially in the freezer.
A fridge-freezer gives you separate spaces for fresh and frozen food. Compare the capacity of each compartment, then check that the dimensions and door clearance work in your kitchen.
If you’re replacing an integrated appliance, measure the housing unit and check the ventilation and cabinet door fixing system. Don’t choose an integrated model based on its external dimensions alone: its installation plan must suit your existing kitchen layout.
Start with the space you can actually use, then compare formats based on how much room you need for fresh and frozen food.
| Priority | What to check | To suit your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Compare the space taken up by a tabletop fridge, a compact fridge-freezer and a freestanding fridge-freezer. For an integrated model, start with the installation dimensions of the housing unit. | I live alone and don’t cook much: a tabletop fridge may suit me. If I regularly freeze food, I’ll look at a fridge-freezer with two compartments that meet my shopping needs. |
| Usable capacity | As a guide, Que Choisir recommends a usable capacity of 100 to 150 L for one person, then around 50 L for each additional person. Adjust this to how often you shop. | My shopping needs to fit without taking up unnecessary space in the kitchen. If several people use the appliance, I’ll also allow room for their food. |
| Freezer space | Check the capacity in litres of the fridge and freezer separately. Make sure the model has a separate freezer compartment, rather than a small compartment inside the fridge. | I often buy frozen food: the total capacity doesn’t tell me how much space is set aside for it. |
| Positioning | Measure the width, height and depth, as well as the door clearance. For an integrated model, check the housing unit, door fixing system and ventilation requirements in the model’s installation plan. For a freestanding model, check the specified clearances. | I want to be able to open the door and move around without bumping into a cabinet. If my kitchen has a housing unit, I’ll check it’s compatible before choosing an appliance. |
| Energy | According to the European Commission, the label shows details including the energy class, energy consumption and storage volumes. Compare annual consumption in kWh between appliances with a similar format and capacity. | I want to take energy use into account without comparing only the letter shown on two appliances that are very different in size. |
| Noise | Check the noise level and noise class shown on the EU energy label. First compare appliances that meet your capacity needs. | In a studio flat or open-plan kitchen, the fridge is close to my living space, so noise matters when I’m choosing. |
An integrated model must also suit the housing unit, its ventilation and the cabinet door system. The clearance requirements for a freestanding appliance don’t automatically apply to an integrated model.
Compare your measurements with the installation plan for the exact model and check how much space you need to open the door.
If the appliance isn’t compatible, you may need to rethink your choice or change the cabinet layout.
A format that works for your everyday fresh food may leave little room for the frozen food you buy regularly.
Think about what you usually freeze and compare the capacity listed for each compartment, rather than looking at the total capacity alone.
The energy class doesn’t replace the annual consumption figure shown on the label, and the appliances you’re comparing may have different capacities.
Compare annual kWh consumption, usable capacity and noise levels between similar-sized models. Then follow the ventilation requirements in the manual.
In a studio flat or open-plan kitchen, the fridge’s proximity makes its noise level particularly important when choosing.
Check the noise level and noise class on the energy label before choosing between appliances with a similar capacity.
These models include freestanding fridge-freezers for kitchens without a suitable housing unit, as well as integrated appliances to compare with your cabinet dimensions. First, check where they’ll fit and how much space they provide for fresh and frozen food.
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If you have a narrow space for a freestanding appliance and need room for both fresh and frozen food, check the door clearance and the gaps required in the manual too.
Listed width of 54 cm; 153 L for the fridge and 74 L for the freezer. Reversible door, Low Frost technology and energy class E. The freezer needs to be defrosted manually.
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Worth considering for a fitted kitchen, but only after checking the housing unit and door fixing system against the model’s installation plan.
A single-door model with a freezer compartment at the top, in energy class E. Check whether this compartment offers enough room for your frozen food. You’ll also need a compatible cabinet door.
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This integrated fridge-freezer offers separate storage for fresh and frozen food in a fitted kitchen, provided you have a compatible housing unit and door system.
No Frost technology, an Inverter compressor and energy class C are listed in the model name. The appliance dimensions alone aren’t enough to confirm compatibility: check the installation plan for the housing unit and ventilation requirements.
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If your kitchen is short on width, measure the available height, door clearance and specified gaps for this freestanding model too.
Listed width of 54 cm and height of 176 cm; 70/30 split and Low Frost technology. The freezer needs to be defrosted manually.
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This freestanding fridge-freezer is worth considering if you need separate spaces for fresh and frozen food in a small home. Before choosing, check its dimensions and the clearance requirements in the manual against the space available.
Low Frost technology, an adjustable thermostat, LED lighting and a reversible door are listed in the product name. To compare it with other models, check its annual energy consumption and noise level too.
As a guide, Que Choisir recommends a usable capacity of 100 to 150 L for one person, then around 50 L for each additional person. Adjust this to how often you shop, and check separately how much room you need for frozen food.
Not without checking the ventilation and door clearance: a freestanding appliance isn’t installed in the same way as an integrated model. Whirlpool France recommends leaving 5 cm above and 10 cm behind freestanding fridges. Also check the manual for the model you’re considering and measure the housing unit.
Measure the usable width, height and depth of the housing unit, then check the ventilation and door fixing system. Bosch lists several possible heights for some ranges designed for a 56 cm-wide housing unit. Check the installation plan for the exact model to confirm it’ll fit.
According to the European Commission, the fridge label shows details including the energy class, energy consumption, storage volumes and noise level. Compare these figures between appliances with a similar format and capacity, taking the space you have available into account.
Anses recommends keeping food between 0 and +4 °C at the coldest point in the fridge. Check this area when you set the appliance temperature, and leave space for air to circulate around the food.