Households stocking up in bulk
If you buy in bulk or store larger items, compare the net capacity with the floor space you have available. Also think about how you’ll find what you need once the freezer is full.
Who is this choice for?
People who regularly take food out of the freezer
If you often take out individual portions or different products, drawers and clear organisation may matter more than maximum capacity. Check that the compartments will still be easy to open and use once the freezer is in place.
Households with a tricky spot for their freezer
In a compact kitchen, garage, cellar or utility room, dimensions are only part of the decision. ADEME also recommends checking the ambient temperature range recommended for the freezer you’re considering.
How do the different types compare?
First, decide whether your fridge’s freezer compartment can hold the amount you plan to store. If you need a separate appliance, choose its type according to capacity, how often you’ll need to access it and the room where it will be used.
Chest freezer
Consider one: for larger stocks, if you have enough floor space and room above the lid to open it.
The trade-off: food stored at the bottom takes more organising to keep within easy reach.
Upright freezer
Consider one: if you check your stock often and want to organise food in drawers.
The trade-off: check the usable capacity and make sure there’s enough space in front of the appliance to open and remove the drawers.
Table-top or under-counter freezer
Consider one: when space is limited and you mainly need some extra freezer capacity.
The trade-off: make sure its usable capacity is enough for the amount of food you want to keep in reserve.
Large fridge-freezer
Consider one: if you’re replacing your fridge too and would rather have both functions in one appliance.
The trade-off: check the freezer compartment’s capacity carefully: UFC-Que Choisir points out that a small freezer compartment may not be enough if you eat a lot of frozen food.
| What matters | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and available space | Compare the net capacity in litres, the appliance dimensions and the clearance needed to open it. Also measure the route to its intended spot. | If I buy in bulk or store larger items, I want more freezer space without blocking the way around my home. Around 36% of consumers put capacity and space at the top of their list. |
| Access and storage | Look at the layout of the drawers or baskets and how easy it is to reach food at the bottom of a chest freezer. | If I often take out small portions, I want to organise them and find them without moving everything else. Easy access is the main priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Separate appliance or combination model | Assess how much freezer capacity you already have and decide whether you need to replace the fridge as well. | When I’m updating my kitchen, I need to decide whether one appliance will hold all my frozen food or whether I need separate storage. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this decision. |
| Operating conditions | Check the climate class for the room where you plan to put the freezer, then compare its stated annual energy consumption and advertised power-cut storage time. | In a garage or a room where the temperature varies, I first want to know whether the appliance can operate there. I also check its energy consumption and power-cut storage time. These conditions are a priority for around 14% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing a chest freezer based on capacity alone
A large capacity is less useful if it’s difficult to reach food stored at the bottom. You’ll also need enough space to open the lid.
If you often take out small portions, compare access in an upright freezer with drawers against the layout of a chest freezer. Check its baskets and how the lid opens too.
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Installing a freezer without checking the room temperature
A cellar or garage may fall outside the ambient temperature range a particular model is designed for. ADEME recommends taking this range into account when choosing an appliance.
Check the minimum and maximum temperatures in the intended spot against the climate class of the exact model. Don’t assume a model is suitable for your room just because its title mentions a ‘garage’.
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Comparing old and new energy classes directly
The European energy label for refrigeration appliances uses a scale from A to G. An old A++ or A+++ rating isn’t equivalent to a class on this scale. The letter alone also doesn’t tell you how much energy appliances of different capacities use.
When comparing similar models with a similar capacity, check their stated annual energy consumption as well as their energy class.
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Looking only at capacity if power cuts are a concern
How long food stays frozen during a power cut is a separate consideration from capacity. UFC-Que Choisir assesses this separately in its testing of refrigeration appliances.
If power cuts are a factor in your decision, compare the stated storage time of the models you’re considering and check the conditions it applies to.
Brands to know
Beko
Beko’s range includes chest freezers and models designed for certain unheated rooms.
- Beko states that climate class SN-T corresponds to an ambient temperature of 10 to 43 °C.
- Whether a freezer can operate in a colder room depends on the model. Check the stated temperature range for the one you’re considering.
Bosch
Bosch offers freestanding, integrated and under-counter freezers to suit different spaces.
- The brand lists No Frost and a BigBox drawer on some models in its range.
- These features aren’t available on every model. Check the layout and usable capacity of the one you choose.
Liebherr
Liebherr’s range includes integrated upright freezers for kitchens where a built-in fit and compartment-by-compartment storage are important.
- Liebherr’s specification for the SIFNdi 5188 lists a capacity of 213 l, a noise level of 33 dB and NoFrost for this model.
- These specifications don’t apply to other models. Check their dimensions and climate class too.
Whirlpool
Whirlpool’s French range includes chest freezers, some of which have convertible settings.
- A chest freezer is worth considering if you have space for a separate food stock.
- Compare the dimensions, net capacity and energy consumption of each model, and check that it can be delivered to your chosen spot.
Freezers for different storage needs
These Joybuy models show three ways to add separate freezer space: chest freezers in different sizes, an upright model with compartments and a compact upright freezer for extra capacity. If you’re also thinking of replacing your fridge, compare the freezer capacity of a fridge-freezer separately with the amount you plan to store.
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AUCMA, 291 L convertible chest freezer
Worth considering if you’re looking for a chest freezer for separate food storage and want to switch between fridge and freezer modes. The title lists an E energy class, LED lighting, five-level digital controls and a removable basket. Allow enough room to open the lid. If you plan to put it in a cellar or garage, check the climate class for this model and its storage time during a power cut.
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Heinrich´s, 161 L upright freezer, stainless steel
An upright model is a good fit if you want compartment-by-compartment access rather than storage in a chest freezer. The title lists No Frost, a reversible door, an alarm and a C energy class. It also gives a temperature setting range of −14 to −22 °C. Before choosing a spot for it, check its dimensions, climate class and the space needed in front of the door.
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TCL CF182EWE0FR, 140 L chest freezer
This chest freezer is an option if you want separate freezer space without choosing the 291 L model featured above. Its title mentions a storage basket, counterbalanced lid, temperature control and an E energy class. Measure the available floor space and clearance for the lid. Also check the climate class if the room gets very cold or hot.
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COMFEE' RCU60WH2(E), 60 L upright freezer
With a stated capacity of 60 L, this model is better suited to providing extra space than storing large amounts of food for a family. The title lists a reversible door and an E energy class. Check the interior layout of this model before buying, along with the clearance needed around the appliance and the permitted temperature range for the room.
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CHiQ JR99DWE, 99 L chest freezer
With a stated capacity of 99 L, this chest freezer is better suited to extra storage than to keeping large reserves. Its title mentions a removable basket, sliding lid, adjustable thermostat, four-star freezer rating and an E energy class. Check that the basket is easy to reach and that the model is suitable for your chosen spot, particularly if you plan to put it in a cellar or garage.
Frequently asked questions
Can you put a freezer in a garage or cellar?
Yes, as long as the permitted ambient temperature range for the model covers the temperatures the room actually reaches. Check the minimum and maximum temperatures in the room, then look up the freezer’s climate class. For example, Beko gives a range of 10 to 43 °C for climate class SN-T, but this doesn’t mean every freezer is suitable for a garage.
Do you have to choose a No Frost model?
No. No Frost is a handy feature to look for if you want to reduce the need for manual defrosting, but check whether it’s included on the model you’re considering. Compare usable capacity, layout and stated energy consumption too, rather than choosing on this feature alone.
How do you compare the energy consumption of two freezers?
Compare the stated annual energy consumption of models with a similar type and capacity, and check their energy classes too. European Regulation 2019/2016 sets out the A to G energy label for the refrigeration appliances it covers. The old A+, A++ and A+++ labels aren’t direct equivalents of the current classes.
What should you check before having a chest freezer delivered?
Measure the route to the room, the space on the floor and the clearance needed to open the lid. Then check the seller’s delivery terms, including delivery to the room and, if you need it, collection of your old appliance. These services depend on the offer you choose.