For a studio flat, first choose an appliance that will fit through to its intended space and can be installed with the clearances specified in its manual. A table-top fridge is suited to a household that mainly needs space for fresh food. If you sometimes keep frozen food, consider a single-door model with a freezer compartment; if you store it regularly, compare compact fridge freezers. Que Choisir gives 100 to 150 litres of usable capacity as a guide for one person. In a studio, you should also check the stated noise level.
If your kitchenette has a height restriction, first check the dimensions of the table-top fridge and the space it needs around it. You can then use Que Choisir’s capacity guide to see whether it suits your shopping habits.
If you stock up on frozen food, look for a separate freezer compartment. Que Choisir distinguishes this need from occasional use of a small freezer compartment. Compare the freezer capacity while keeping the available space in mind.
If the appliance will be near your bed or desk, check its stated noise emissions and noise class. The EU energy label shows this information, which you should also weigh against the appliance’s dimensions and capacity.
Start with the space you can actually use, then decide how much room you need for fresh and frozen food. Noise and energy consumption can help you choose between appliances that are suitable for your home.
Consider this if: you have space under a worktop and mainly store fresh food.
Keep in mind: make sure there’s enough capacity for your shopping and, if needed, check whether it has a freezer compartment.
Consider this if: you want to keep a small amount of frozen food in a compact appliance.
Keep in mind: the format name alone doesn’t tell you the capacity or how well the compartment can freeze food.
Consider this if: you regularly store frozen food and have enough height for a separate freezer compartment.
Keep in mind: its height may rule it out if you only have space under a worktop.
| What matters | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Installation and door opening | Measure the appliance, the space and the delivery route; check how far the door opens and the clearances specified in the manual. | In a narrow kitchenette, I want to be sure the appliance will fit through and that I can open its door without obstructing the way. Around 42% of consumers would prioritise this installation constraint. |
| Capacity and frozen food | Compare the litres available for fresh and frozen food separately, along with the freezer compartment’s specifications. | If I shop for several days at a time or often keep frozen food, the available space in each compartment guides my choice. Around 33% of consumers would put this storage need first. |
| Noise and energy consumption | Check the dB(A), noise class and kWh/year on the energy label; compare appliances of similar formats and capacities. | When my fridge is near my bed or desk, I want to take its noise and energy consumption into account. Around 25% of consumers would put these day-to-day considerations first. |
A fridge may fit in an alcove but still be too large to get through the delivery route, open fully or meet the required ventilation clearances. For its freestanding appliances, Beko recommends leaving at least 5 cm on each side and at the back. This guidance doesn’t replace the manual for the model you choose.
Also check doorways, lifts, skirting boards and the direction the door opens, then follow the clearances specified for your chosen model.
Que Choisir points out that a small icebox isn’t enough if you eat a lot of frozen food. The presence of a low-temperature compartment alone doesn’t tell you its capacity or how you can use it.
Before choosing between a single-door model and a compact fridge freezer, compare the capacity of each compartment and the model’s freezing specifications.
In a studio flat, the energy label doesn’t replace checking the available space, capacity and noise level. The European Commission says the fridge energy label includes information such as annual energy consumption, capacity and noise emissions.
Look at these figures together, comparing appliances of similar formats and capacities.
How long you need to wait before using the fridge may depend on how it was transported. Liebherr recommends waiting at least 12 hours if an appliance has been transported on its side. This isn’t a rule that applies to every brand.
Before switching it on, follow the transport and settling instructions for your model.
Beko’s freestanding table-top range includes models that are 54 cm wide, making them worth considering for a narrow kitchenette.
Liebherr’s range includes the Rdi 1621 Plus table-top fridge and the CTPe 211-26 compact fridge freezer. Compare the two formats based on how much space you need for frozen food.
Bosch’s small-fridge range includes under-counter, built-in and table-top models, as well as single-door fridges with a freezer compartment.
This selection of Joybuy appliances includes fridge freezers for storing frozen food and a single-door model for more compact use. Compare their full dimensions with your available space before choosing.
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Consider this fridge freezer if you also store frozen food and have space for its 150 cm height. It won’t fit in a space that’s strictly under a worktop.
Features include a 4-star freezer, a stated noise level of 39 dB, a reversible door and an E energy rating. Check the model’s other dimensions, required clearances and annual energy consumption on the product details page.
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This fridge freezer is suited to a household that wants a separate space for frozen food, provided its capacity and overall size work for your home.
The product name lists 153 L of fridge capacity, 74 L of freezer capacity, a width of 54 cm, a 4-star freezer, a reversible door and an E energy rating. Check its height, depth and annual energy consumption before ordering.
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This single-door model could suit smaller shops if its 92 L capacity is enough for your needs. That’s below Que Choisir’s guide of 100 to 150 L for one person.
The product name mentions a small freezer compartment and an E energy rating. Before choosing, check the full dimensions, capacity and compartment specifications, as well as the stated noise level.
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This fridge freezer lets you compare the space available for fresh and frozen food separately, but you’ll need to check its dimensions against the space you have.
The product name lists 120 L of fridge capacity, 50 L of freezer capacity, a noise level of 40 dB and an E energy rating. Check the model’s dimensions, clearances and annual energy consumption before ordering.
Que Choisir gives 100 to 150 litres of usable capacity as a guide for one person. Choose a capacity that suits how often you shop and, if you buy frozen food, check separately how much space is available for it.
Compare the stated dB(A) levels and noise classes of the models you’re considering. Que Choisir describes fridges below 40 dBA as quieter, but this doesn’t guarantee they’ll sound the same in every home.
Follow the clearances specified in the manual for your chosen model. For its freestanding appliances, Beko recommends leaving at least 5 cm on each side and at the back. A built-in model must meet the ventilation requirements for its cabinet.
First check your model’s manual and transport instructions. Liebherr recommends waiting at least 12 hours after one of its fridges has been transported on its side. This advice shouldn’t be applied indiscriminately to every brand.
According to the European Commission, a fridge’s energy label shows information including its energy class, annual consumption, capacity and noise level. Compare these figures for appliances of similar formats and capacities, while also considering any installation constraints.