For a studio flat, your choice will depend first on the space available and how much frozen food you need to store. A table-top fridge is a good fit if height is limited, while a fridge-freezer needs more headroom but gives you a separate freezer. In a living space, compare the energy consumption and noise levels shown on the energy label too. According to UFC-Que Choisir, the noise level displayed alone isn’t enough to predict how disruptive the appliance will feel.
A table-top fridge lets you keep the worktop above the appliance, provided its dimensions and installation instructions allow for this. UFC-Que Choisir lists this format among those suited to studio flats. Check that its fridge capacity matches your shopping habits.
A single-door fridge with a freezer compartment is suitable for occasional use, without the need for a large appliance. Check the capacity of the compartment itself: the total capacity won’t tell you how much frozen food you can fit inside.
A slimline fridge-freezer is worth considering if you have enough headroom for a separate freezer compartment. Its narrow width doesn’t mean you can overlook its depth, door clearance or the installation gaps specified in the instructions.
First, work out how much usable space you really have, then consider the capacity you need for fresh and frozen food. Next, compare the noise and energy consumption figures for the formats that will fit.
Consider this if: headroom under the worktop is limited and you don’t store frozen food.
The trade-off: all the storage space is for fresh food, but there’s no freezer compartment.
Consider this if: you need a compact appliance but want to keep some frozen food from time to time.
The trade-off: the compartment is small. For example, the Beko TSE1284N has 13 L of freezer capacity, according to Darty’s product details.
Consider this if: you store frozen food regularly and have enough headroom for a separate freezer compartment.
The trade-off: a narrow width doesn’t mean it will fit under a worktop: the CTPe231-26 is 140.1 cm tall, according to Liebherr.
| Criterion | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Measure the height, width and depth. Check the instructions for ventilation requirements and door clearance. Make sure the appliance can be installed under the worktop. | I need to be able to open the door without hitting a cupboard and still have enough room to move around the kitchen. |
| Capacity and freezing | Compare the fridge and freezer capacities separately. Consider how often you shop and how much space your frozen food takes up. | If I regularly store frozen food, a small freezer compartment might not give me the space I need. If I don’t, I can prioritise room for fresh food. |
| Noise | Compare the declared noise emissions in dB(A) and the noise class on the energy label. UFC-Que Choisir points out that vibrations and the type of noise also affect how disruptive an appliance feels. | The fridge will be close to my bed or desk. The stated figure helps me shortlist models, but it doesn’t guarantee that one will be quiet. |
| Energy consumption | The European Commission says the energy label shows the energy class and annual consumption. Compare the kWh/year figures, taking capacity and the presence of a freezer into account. | I want to understand how much a model that suits my shopping habits will use, rather than choosing based only on its energy class letter. |
| Temperature and storage | Check how to control the temperature and whether the interior layout lets you store food without overfilling the appliance. Anses recommends keeping the coldest part between 0 and +4 °C. | With limited capacity, I want enough room for my shopping and a way to check the temperature in the fridge compartment. |
A slimline fridge-freezer could still be too tall or too deep for the space. For example, Liebherr lists the CTPe231-26 as 55 cm wide and 140.1 cm tall.
Measure all three dimensions of the available space, then check the instructions for ventilation gaps and the clearance needed to open the door.
An integrated compartment may suit a few items, but compare its capacity with the amount of frozen food you keep between shops.
Check the freezer capacity separately from the total capacity before choosing between a table-top fridge with a freezer compartment and a fridge-freezer.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, the noise level on the energy label alone can’t predict whether a fridge will be disruptive in a living space.
Use the declared noise level to compare models, then take vibrations and perceived noise into account if you have information about them. Install the appliance according to its instructions.
If you’re replacing a fridge, arrange for the old one to be taken away at the same time as the new one arrives.
In France, the government departments responsible for ecology distinguish between a “one-for-one” take-back when you buy an appliance of the same type. The eco-organisation ecosystem says this take-back service is free for an equivalent electrical appliance, including for online purchases. Check the arrangements offered when you place your order.
These examples show different dimensions and configurations. Their stated specifications don’t predict how noisy they’ll feel in your home or whether they’re available on Joybuy.
Liebherr’s French range includes both a table-top fridge and a slimline fridge-freezer, with published dimensions, capacities and noise levels.
Beko offers both a table-top fridge with a top freezer compartment and slimline fridge-freezers for small kitchens.
Bosch publishes specifications for table-top fridges with and without freezer compartments on its French website.
These Joybuy options suit two different needs: a fridge-freezer for storing frozen food in a separate compartment, and a single-door fridge with a small freezer compartment. Compare their full dimensions with your available space before choosing.
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This fridge-freezer is suited to a small kitchen where you want separate storage for fresh and frozen food. The product title lists a 153 L fridge, a 74 L freezer, a width of 54 cm, a reversible door, Low Frost, a 4-star freezer rating and an E energy class. Check the height, depth, installation clearances and annual energy consumption to see whether it suits your space and needs.
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This single-door model is designed for homes where storage needs are limited, with a freezer compartment for you to assess based on your shopping habits. The product title lists a capacity of 92 L and an E energy class. Before choosing it for your studio flat, check the freezer compartment’s capacity, the full dimensions, annual energy consumption and declared noise level.
Start with the amount of food you keep between shops, then compare the fridge and freezer capacities separately. Two appliances with similar total capacity aren’t equivalent if one has more room for frozen food.
No. According to UFC-Que Choisir, the figure on the energy label doesn’t predict how disruptive the appliance will be on its own: the type of noise and vibrations also matter. Compare the declared figures, but don’t treat them as a guarantee that a model will be quiet.
According to the European Commission, a fridge energy label shows details including its energy class, consumption, storage capacities and noise emissions. To compare two options that suit your studio flat, look at the kWh per year and the capacity of each compartment, not just the energy class letter.
Anses recommends keeping the coldest part of the fridge between 0 and +4 °C. If the appliance doesn’t provide a usable temperature reading, check this spot with a thermometer.