If the freezer compartment in a large fridge freezer meets your needs, you may not need a second appliance. If you buy in bulk, consider a chest freezer if you have a suitable room, or an upright model if easy everyday access and floor space are your priorities; a table-top or under-counter model is better suited to a limited amount of extra storage. In every case, check the room temperature, installation requirements and annual energy consumption shown on the energy label.
If you buy frozen food or prepare portions in bulk, a separate freezer can store what no longer fits in your fridge-freezer compartment. A chest freezer is worth considering for bulky items, provided you have a suitable room.
If you open your freezer regularly, the drawers in an upright model make it easy to sort food by type and find what you need without rummaging at the bottom of a large compartment.
A table-top or under-counter model can provide extra storage when limits on height, width or depth restrict your options. For an under-counter model, the recess dimensions, door clearance and ventilation matter just as much as the stated capacity.
Que Choisir distinguishes between chest freezers, which are suited to storing bulky items, and upright models, which take up less floor space. To decide whether you need an extra appliance, start with what matters most to you: more capacity, easy access, a restricted space or the energy use of an appliance that runs continuously.
Consider it: if you buy in bulk or need to store bulky items, and have a room suitable for the model.
Bear in mind: it takes up more floor space, and items at the bottom are less easy to reach.
Consider it: if you want to organise frozen food in drawers and access it regularly, and have space mainly available in height.
Bear in mind: the drawers may limit the space available for some bulky packaging.
Consider it: for extra storage in a restricted space or a purpose-built recess.
Bear in mind: capacity is limited, and under-counter installation depends on the model’s dimensions and instructions.
Consider it: if you want a modest increase in frozen storage without installing a second appliance.
Bear in mind: only the freezer compartment’s capacity is available for frozen food; the fridge freezer’s total capacity is not all dedicated to it.
| Factor | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the litres available for freezing and the space for your packaging or portions. | When I buy in bulk, I want to be able to store bulky items too, not just gain litres on paper. Around 37% of consumers put this need for capacity first. |
| Access to food | Check the layout of the drawers or baskets and how easy it is to reach items at the bottom. | If I open the freezer often, I want to find small portions quickly without moving the whole stock; for around 36% of consumers, easy access comes before other factors. |
| Location | Measure the available space, then check the manual for door clearance, ventilation and the recommended ambient temperature range. | In a narrow kitchen or an unheated room, I first need to find an appliance that can be installed and used there. The suitability of the location is the priority for around 18% of consumers. |
| Energy use and power-cut performance | Compare the kWh/year and noise level on the energy label, as well as the stated storage time during a power cut for the model you are considering. | For an appliance that stays switched on all the time, I pay attention to its energy use; if power cuts are a concern, I also check how long it can keep food frozen. Around 9% of consumers prioritise these operating factors. |
Food can be stacked in a chest freezer, making items at the bottom less convenient to reach every day.
If you store lots of small portions, compare it with an upright freezer with drawers. If you choose a chest freezer, check its baskets and plan how to separate different types of food.
The climate class indicates the ambient temperatures the model is designed for. A stated suitability for one particular model does not apply to an entire brand.
Check the temperatures the room may reach throughout the year, then compare them with the model’s specifications and installation instructions.
ADEME points out that freezers run continuously. Capacity alone is therefore not enough to compare their annual energy use.
For appliances with similar formats and capacities, check the kWh/year on the energy label and consider the noise level if the appliance will be near a living space.
An appliance may fit in the space available but still be awkward to use if its door or drawers cannot open fully. Freestanding and under-counter installations may also have different requirements.
Measure the route to the installation site and the door’s swing clearance too. For ventilation, the recess and the electrical connection, follow the instructions for the model you choose rather than assuming there is a standard clearance.
Upright freezers to consider if you’re looking for vertical storage, with features that vary by model.
Compare freestanding and under-counter models to suit the space available and the capacity you need.
A brand to consider when comparing a chest freezer for bulk storage with an upright model for vertical storage.
A brand to consider if you’re planning to install a freezer in an unheated room, after checking the exact model.
Yes, if the recommended ambient temperature range for the model covers the actual temperatures in your garage. For example, Beko states that its B5RFNE295W can operate at temperatures as low as −15 °C; this model-specific information is not enough to choose another freezer.
Compare annual energy consumption in kWh, compartment capacity and noise level, as well as the energy efficiency rating. According to the European Commission, household refrigeration appliance labels have used a scale from A to G since March 2021; it’s best to compare appliances of a similar type and capacity.
No: check the clearance and connection requirements in the manual for your chosen model before preparing the space. An electrical specification listed for one model is not a general rule for all upright, chest or under-counter freezers.
In France, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to a new product sold by a professional to a private individual, according to the Ministry of the Economy. A freezer that does not match its description may be covered: don’t confuse this protection with a retailer’s voluntary returns policy.