For one person, Que Choisir gives a general guide of 100 to 150 l of usable capacity. Start with your shopping habits to work out how much room you need for fresh food. A compact fridge without a freezer is a good fit if you mainly buy fresh food; a table-top model with a freezer compartment may be enough for a few frozen items, while a small fridge-freezer offers more freezer space but needs extra height. In every case, check the installation space and door clearance before you choose.
If you shop often and keep few frozen foods, prioritise the fridge’s usable space. Que Choisir’s guide of 100 to 150 l of usable capacity for one person can help you decide whether a compact model will suit your habits.
A table-top fridge with a freezer compartment lets you store fresh food and a small amount of frozen food in a low-profile appliance. For example, Electro Dépôt lists 88 l for the fridge and 14 l for the freezer compartment in the VALBERG TT 4* 102 D W742C. Compare the two capacities separately.
If batch-cooked portions and frozen food are a regular part of your shopping, consider a small two-door fridge-freezer. The CHiQ JR227LSE featured by Joybuy France has a stated capacity of 227 l, split between 153 l of fridge space and 74 l of freezer space. You’ll still need to check that its height and installation requirements suit your home.
First decide how much space your shopping needs for fresh and frozen food, then check the model’s dimensions against the space you actually have available.
Consider it if: you mainly buy fresh food and don’t need to store frozen food.
The trade-off: it won’t meet your freezing needs, even if its fridge capacity suits your shopping.
Consider it if: you want to keep a few frozen foods without choosing a taller fridge-freezer.
The trade-off: a small freezer compartment limits how much you can store, so check its capacity.
Consider it if: you regularly store frozen food and have enough height available.
The trade-off: in a studio flat, check carefully that there’s enough height and room for the doors to open.
| Criterion | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fridge capacity | Compare the fridge’s usable capacity, separately from the total capacity, then check the shelf layout and space for your containers. Que Choisir gives 100 to 150 l as a general guide for one person. | I shop often and want enough room to store fresh food between trips to the shops, without giving too much space to the appliance. |
| Freezer capacity | Check the capacity of the freezer compartment or freezer separately, and look at the model’s freezing specifications. Electro Dépôt lists 14 l of freezer capacity for the VALBERG TT 4* 102 D W742C table-top model, compared with 74 l for the CHiQ JR227LSE fridge-freezer, as stated by Joybuy France. | Will a few frozen foods be enough, or do I regularly prepare and store several portions? The appliance’s total capacity won’t answer that question. |
| Installation | Measure the space’s height, width and depth, then check the manual for ventilation clearances. Check which way the door opens, how much room it needs, and whether the appliance will fit through the delivery route. | In my small kitchen, I need to be able to open the door and reach the storage areas without blocking the walkway or ventilation. |
| Noise and energy use | Compare the noise emissions and annual energy consumption shown on the energy label, ideally between appliances with capacities suited to the same needs. The European Commission says the label also shows storage volumes. | If I sleep or work near the fridge, its stated noise level matters as much as the space it takes up. I also want to check its energy use rather than judge it by size alone. |
| Cooling system | Check the model’s cooling system and read the manual for food storage advice and any defrosting requirements. Don’t assume you can tell how much maintenance it needs just from its format. | I’d prefer maintenance requirements that fit in with my daily routine, especially if I open the fridge frequently. |
This figure can hide a split that doesn’t suit your shopping habits. For example, Electro Dépôt says the VALBERG TT 4* 102 D W742C’s 102 l capacity comprises 88 l of fridge space and 14 l of freezer space.
Work out separately how much room you need for fresh and frozen food, then compare those figures with the capacity of each compartment.
A fridge might fit in the space you’ve set aside but still not leave enough room for the door to open or the required ventilation. Gifam advises against blocking the ventilation grille of an appliance installed in a fitted kitchen.
Measure the space and delivery route, then check the model’s manual for the required clearances and door opening space.
An 82 or 92 l model may suit some shopping habits, but these capacities are below Que Choisir’s general guide of 100 to 150 l for one person.
Before choosing a small model, make sure your usual food, containers and bottles will fit in the fridge compartment and on its shelves.
In a single living space, the stated noise level can influence your choice. The appliance’s size also tells you nothing about its individual energy consumption.
Check the noise emissions and annual kWh on the energy label. The European Commission says it also shows storage volumes.
These models illustrate different formats; the features listed apply to the named models, not every product from each brand.
The Rsdci 1620 Plus offers a point of comparison for a table-top fridge designed for fresh food.
The TT 4* 102 D W742C is an example of a table-top model with a small freezer compartment.
The JR92DSE and JR227LSE let you compare a single-door appliance with a freezer compartment against a two-door fridge-freezer.
The B1RCNE364XB fridge-freezer is an example of a door-opening feature worth checking when an appliance is placed close to a wall.
These three models suit different needs in a small home: a fridge-freezer for regular frozen food, a compact fridge with a freezer compartment, and an appliance designed mainly for fresh food.
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Worth considering if you regularly store frozen food: the product details list 153 l of fridge space and 74 l of freezer space, with a width of 54 cm. They also specify a reversible door, Low Frost, a 4-star freezer rating and an E energy rating.
Before installing it in a studio flat, check its height and depth, ventilation clearances and door opening space in the manual.
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This single-door model may suit someone with limited depth who wants to keep a few frozen foods: Joybuy France lists a total capacity of 92 l and a depth of 47 cm. Its product details give it an E energy rating.
Check the freezer compartment’s own capacity and the full dimensions before deciding whether it can serve as your main fridge in a studio flat.
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Consider this model if you mainly buy fresh food: it has a capacity of 82 l and no freezer compartment. Its product details give it an E energy rating.
Its 82 l capacity is below Que Choisir’s general guide of 100 to 150 l for one person. Check that the capacity, dimensions and installation requirements suit your needs.
Measure the height, width and depth of the space, as well as the route needed for delivery. Compare these measurements with the model’s dimensions, then check the manual for ventilation clearances and the space required when the door is open. Installation requirements vary from one appliance to another.
Check which side the hinges are on, see whether the model’s door can be reversed, and measure how far it will swing in the space you have. Even if zero-clearance opening is advertised, as it is for the Beko B1RCNE364XB, make sure you can still reach the shelves and drawers.
For one person, Que Choisir gives 100 to 150 l of usable capacity as a general guide. If you mainly buy fresh food, look at the fridge capacity. If you regularly store frozen food, compare the freezer capacity separately too, rather than focusing on the total capacity.
Compare annual energy consumption, storage volumes and noise emissions for models that suit your needs. The European Commission says the label also gives information about the freezer compartment. The A to G rating, as set out by the French government departments responsible for ecological transition, shouldn’t be your only consideration.