For a studio flat, first choose a fridge that can be delivered and fitted in the space you have, allowing for the clearances specified in its instructions. A table-top fridge without a freezer may suit you if you mainly buy fresh food. If you need to store more frozen food, consider a model with a freezer compartment or a fridge freezer, but check the usable capacity and overall dimensions separately. In an open-plan living space, also compare the stated noise level and annual energy consumption of models with similar functions and capacity.
You’re looking for a freestanding appliance that can be brought through your home and fitted into your kitchen. Measure the delivery route and the space itself, then check the ventilation requirements in the model’s instructions.
You need space for fresh groceries, as well as a freezer compartment that suits what you buy. Compare their usable capacities separately: the total capacity doesn’t show how the space is divided.
If your kitchen is close to your living or sleeping area, the stated noise level matters just as much as the space available. The EU energy label shows details including noise level, annual energy consumption and storage capacity.
Decide how much space you need for fresh and frozen food before comparing formats. Then check that your chosen appliance will fit through the access route and in its intended spot. A built-in model also needs a compatible housing unit and installation; choosing this fitting type doesn’t determine how much freezer capacity you need.
Worth considering: if fresh food is your priority, you shop often and headroom is limited.
Bear in mind: you won’t have any space for frozen food.
Worth considering: if you’d like to keep a few frozen items without making room for a tall fridge freezer.
Bear in mind: the freezer compartment may be small, so check its capacity and maintenance requirements.
Worth considering: if frozen food is a regular part of your shop and your kitchen can accommodate the size you choose.
Bear in mind: a larger freezer section may mean you need more height or have less room for fresh food.
| What to consider | What to check before you buy | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Access and installation | Measure the route and the space, then check the ventilation clearances specified in the instructions. For a built-in model, also check the housing unit and door-fixing system. | I don’t want to find out on delivery day that the appliance blocks a doorway or won’t fit in my kitchen. Around 31% of consumers put this installation constraint first. |
| Frozen food storage | Compare freezer capacity separately from fridge capacity. For a freezer compartment, also check its star rating and defrosting requirements. | If I regularly buy frozen food, I want enough room for it without relying on the total capacity alone. This would be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Fresh food space | Choose a fridge capacity that suits how often you shop, and check the internal layout and which way the door opens. | To space out my shopping trips, I need room for fresh food without taking up more of my small kitchen than necessary. Around 25% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Noise and energy consumption | On the EU energy label, check the dB, noise class and kWh/year. Compare appliances with similar functions and capacities. | When my kitchen opens onto the room where I live or sleep, I pay attention to the noise and energy use of an appliance that runs continuously. Around 19% of consumers would put these aspects first. |
Two appliances with a similar total capacity may offer very different amounts of space for fresh and frozen food. For example, Candy lists 16 L of freezer capacity for the CM4SE68W, while Bosch gives the KIN86SFE0 fridge freezer 76 L. They won’t suit the same frozen-food shopping habits.
Make a note of both capacities separately before deciding whether a small freezer compartment will be enough.
A narrow fridge isn’t necessarily easy to get into your kitchen, or compatible with a built-in housing unit. The model’s instructions give its dimensions and ventilation requirements.
Measure the full delivery route and the space where it will go. If you’re choosing a built-in model, also check the hinges and door-fixing system.
The energy class doesn’t tell you the annual energy consumption or how much usable capacity you’ll have. The European Commission lists this information separately on the energy label, and ADEME points out that fridges run continuously.
Compare the kWh/year figures alongside the usable capacities of models with similar functions.
In a studio flat, your fridge may run close to your living or sleeping area. The European Commission says the energy label displays its airborne noise emissions.
Compare the dB and noise class of the models you’re considering, then think about where the appliance will actually go.
These examples show different formats. Check the fitting type and dimensions of each model rather than assuming that the same features apply across an entire brand.
The Candy CMLS59EW and CM4SE68W product details let you compare two compact formats, depending on how much space you need for fresh and frozen food.
The ARG7342FR is an example of a built-in, single-door fridge with a small freezer compartment, for a kitchen designed to accommodate one.
The KIN86SFE0 is an example of an integrated fridge freezer for a kitchen with a tall housing unit and regular frozen-food storage.
These models are fridge freezers with separate fresh and frozen food compartments, available as freestanding or built-in appliances. If you’re mainly looking for a table-top fridge without a freezer, or a small freezer compartment for occasional use, first compare the format and capacity you actually need.
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Worth considering if your kitchen has a compatible housing unit and you’d like to store fresh and frozen food in one appliance.
The model name indicates No Frost and energy class C. Before buying, check the housing-unit dimensions, door-fixing system and ventilation requirements against the instructions.
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Worth considering if you want separate spaces for fresh groceries and frozen food in a small kitchen.
The model name lists 153 L of fridge capacity, 74 L of freezer capacity, a width of 54 cm, a reversible door, Low Frost and energy class E. Check the height, depth, clearances and kWh/year for the exact model.
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Worth a look if you buy fresh and frozen food to store in the same appliance and have enough height available.
The product name lists 182 L of fridge capacity, 71 L of freezer capacity, 39 dB and No Frost. The stated height for this model is 181 cm: measure the width, depth and access route too before choosing.
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Worth considering for fresh and frozen food storage if your kitchen is designed for a built-in fridge freezer.
The model name mentions TwinTech No Frost and energy class E. Before choosing this model, check the housing-unit dimensions, ventilation and door-fixing system in the instructions.
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Worth considering if you’d prefer a freestanding fridge freezer with a reversible door to suit your layout.
The product name indicates Low Frost and a reversible door. Check the full dimensions, stated noise level and kWh/year to see whether it’s suitable for your space and how you use it.
Measure the space where the fridge will go and the whole route to the kitchen, including doors, corridors, turns and any stairs or lift. Compare your measurements with the appliance dimensions and the clearances in its instructions. For a built-in model, also check the housing unit, hinges and door-fixing system.
No. The energy class alone won’t help you choose between appliances with very different functions or capacities. The European Commission says the label also shows annual energy consumption, storage capacity and noise, so look at these figures together, ideally for comparable models.
Compare the stated dB and noise class on the energy labels of the fridges you’re considering. Then think about how close the appliance will be to your living or sleeping area: the stated figure alone won’t tell you how noticeable the noise will be in your room.
Not necessarily. Check what the seller’s installation service includes before you order. Electrolux’s pre-installation guidance distinguishes installation from work such as joinery or fitting a door panel. Also confirm that the housing unit and ventilation meet the requirements in the instructions for your chosen model.