If you live alone, shop frequently and rarely freeze food, a table-top fridge or a small single-door model is a good place to start. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 100 to 150 L of usable capacity as a guide. In a living space, its 40 dB(A) threshold can help you narrow down your options, although it cannot predict how noticeable the noise will be on its own. If you regularly store frozen food, consider a fridge freezer instead, then check the dimensions, door opening and ventilation requirements for your chosen model.
A table-top or small single-door fridge is worth considering if you shop often and rarely buy frozen food. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 100 to 150 L of usable capacity as a guide for one person. Compare this with the space available under your worktop or elsewhere in the room.
In an open-plan kitchen or a studio flat, check the stated noise level before you choose. Also look for tests that assess noise during operating cycles, where available. UFC-Que Choisir uses less than 40 dB(A) as a guide to a quiet fridge and assesses noise during operating cycles in its tests.
A fridge freezer gives you a separate freezer compartment to consider, but it takes up more space. Compare the fridge and freezer capacities separately against your shopping habits, and check the model’s annual energy consumption.
Start with how much food you need to store and the space available. Then compare the models that will fit your home by their stated noise levels and annual energy consumption.
| Criteria | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and freezing | Compare the total usable capacity and how it is divided between the fridge and freezer. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 100 to 150 L of usable capacity as a guide for one person. Check the freezer compartment if you store frozen food. | If I shop little and often and rarely freeze food, a compact model may be enough. If I do a weekly shop and buy frozen food, I’ll also consider fridge freezers. |
| Noise | Check the dB(A) rating and noise class for the exact model. UFC-Que Choisir’s guide for a quiet fridge is below 40 dB(A); a test assessing noise during operating cycles can provide further insight. | My fridge will be near my bed or living room, so how noisy it is while running matters just as much as the figure on its product page. |
| Installation | Measure the height, width, depth and door clearance. For a built-in model, also check the housing dimensions and ventilation clearances specified in the manual. A freestanding model also needs the recommended ventilation gaps. | I want the door to open without blocking the way, and the appliance to fit the space I have planned for it. |
| Energy consumption | Compare the annual kWh figures on the labels of models with similar formats and capacities. According to the European Commission, the label also shows storage volumes and airborne noise emissions. | The appliance will run continuously, so I want to compare its energy consumption without choosing a larger capacity than I need. |
The stated figure can help you shortlist appliances, but on its own it doesn’t tell you how noisy the fridge will be during its operating cycles in a living space.
Check the noise class and, if you can find one for the model you’re considering, an independent test that assesses its noise. UFC-Que Choisir records and assesses noise during the operating cycles of fridge freezers in its tests.
A kitchen alcove or corner may have enough room for the fridge itself, but not enough space for the door to open or for the ventilation clearances required for installation.
Measure the space and follow the instructions for the exact model. For example, in guidance specific to its appliances, Whirlpool recommends 5 cm above and 10 cm behind its freestanding fridges, while Bosch requires at least 200 cm² of airflow space behind and beneath the appliance.
A larger freezer compartment takes up a share of the appliance’s capacity that you may not need for your usual shopping.
Think about how much frozen food you actually store, then compare the capacities of both compartments and the annual kWh figures for models that meet your needs.
These examples can help you compare formats and installation requirements. The details given apply to the models or guidance mentioned, not to every product from each brand.
The TSE1504FN table-top fridge is an example of a compact freestanding model. Beko France lists it as 54 cm wide, with a noise level of 37 dB(A).
Bosch offers compact fridges, including under-counter and built-in models, so you can compare freestanding and built-in options to suit your layout.
Two product pages from Liebherr France showcase different configurations: the Rdi 1620 Plus table-top fridge is listed at 141 L and 34 dB, while the URPd 365i Prime under-counter built-in model is listed at 124 L and 32 dB.
Whirlpool France gives ventilation guidance for its freestanding fridges: 5 cm above and 10 cm behind the appliance.
These models combine fridge and freezer storage, with both freestanding and built-in options. They’re worth considering if you’ll make regular use of the freezer compartment. In a studio flat, pay particular attention to the space they take up, installation requirements and stated noise level.
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A fridge freezer for storing frozen food in a kitchen with limited width. It’s listed as 54 cm wide and 176 cm high, with a 70/30 split.
Before deciding where to put it, check the depth, door clearance and ventilation gaps specified in the manual.
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This single-door model has a freezer compartment at the top and is designed for a kitchen set up for a built-in appliance. Its stated energy rating is E.
Before deciding whether it’s right for your kitchen, check the housing dimensions, door system and ventilation requirements in the manual.
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For regular shops that include frozen food, this fridge freezer is listed as 54 cm wide and divides its 227 L capacity into 153 L of fridge space and 74 L of freezer space.
The product title states that it has a 4-star freezer compartment, a reversible door and an E energy rating. Also measure the depth and check the required clearances before installation.
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This fridge freezer is designed for a fitted kitchen and includes a freezer compartment. The product title mentions No Frost technology, an Inverter compressor and a C energy rating.
Check the housing dimensions, door system and airflow requirements in the manual. The external dimensions alone aren’t enough to confirm that it will fit.
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If you regularly store frozen food, this fridge freezer divides its stated 253 L capacity into 182 L of fridge space and 71 L of freezer space.
The product title states that it has a reversible door and a noise level of 39 dB. This figure alone can’t predict how noticeable the noise will be. Check the full dimensions, ventilation requirements and annual kWh figure for your chosen location.
UFC-Que Choisir suggests 100 to 150 L of usable capacity as a guide for one person. Adjust this to how often you shop, and check the freezer space separately if you often buy frozen food.
UFC-Que Choisir’s guide for a quiet fridge is a stated noise level below 40 dB(A). If the appliance will be near your bed or living room, also check its noise class and, if available, a test assessing noise during operating cycles.
Follow the clearances specified in the manual for your chosen model. Requirements vary: Whirlpool recommends 5 cm above and 10 cm behind its freestanding fridges, while Bosch specifies at least 200 cm² of airflow space behind and beneath the appliance.
A freestanding fridge may be suitable if the space allows you to install it in line with the instructions in its manual. Measure its external dimensions, door clearance and ventilation gaps. Don’t assume it can be fitted into a housing unit designed for a built-in model.
Compare the energy consumption, storage volumes and airborne noise emissions shown on the EU energy label, as set out by the European Commission. For a useful comparison, look at appliances with a format and capacity suited to the same needs.