If you live alone in a studio flat, UFC-Que Choisir’s guide of 100 to 150 litres of usable capacity can help you work out how much fridge space you need, but the right format depends mainly on your shopping habits. A table-top fridge without a freezer is suitable if you don’t store frozen food. Consider a model with a freezer compartment for a small stash, or a compact fridge-freezer if frozen food is a regular part of your shop. In every case, measure the space available, the door-opening clearance and the gaps specified in the instruction manual.
If your kitchen is small, start by checking the space you actually have and how often you shop. UFC-Que Choisir describes a table-top fridge as a suitable size for studio flats and gives 100 to 150 litres of usable capacity as an average guide for one person.
If most of your shopping is fresh food but you’d also like to keep some frozen items, consider a model with a freezer compartment. Check its type and capacity: a small inner door alone doesn’t tell you what the compartment is suitable for.
In a studio flat where your bed or desk is close to the appliance, compare the stated noise levels. UFC-Que Choisir classes fridges rated below 40 dB(A) among the quietest, although this figure alone can’t predict how noticeable the noise will be in your room.
First decide how much room you need for fresh and frozen food, then check that the appliance can be installed and used in your kitchen.
Consider this if: you mainly buy fresh food and don’t store frozen items.
Downside: there’s no space for frozen food.
Consider this if: you’d like to keep a small stash of frozen food in the same appliance.
Downside: what you can store depends on the rating and capacity of the specific compartment.
Consider this if: frozen food is a regular part of your shop and you’d like a separate freezer section.
Downside: check the height and depth before deciding where to put it in your studio flat.
| Criterion | What to check | Depending on your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Compare the fridge and freezer capacities separately. UFC-Que Choisir gives 100 to 150 litres of usable capacity as an average guide for one person; adjust this to how often you shop. | If I shop less frequently or cook several portions at once, I need enough room to store them, rather than choosing based on the total capacity alone. |
| Size and door | Measure the height, width and depth, then check how much space you’ll need to open the door. If the direction it opens matters in your kitchen, check whether the door can be reversed. | My fridge needs to fit in its space and still be easy to access once it’s installed next to cupboards or a wall. |
| Noise | Compare the stated noise levels in the same unit, dB(A), as well as the noise class on the label. UFC-Que Choisir classes models below 40 dB(A) among the quietest. | With my bed or desk nearby, I want to take the stated noise level into account before choosing a model. |
| Ventilation and energy use | Check the clearances in the instruction manual and where heat sources are located. As general guidance, UFC-Que Choisir recommends leaving at least 10 cm above and behind the appliance. Also compare annual energy consumption between models of a similar size and capacity. | In a narrow kitchen, I need to leave room for air to circulate around the appliance, not just find a gap that fits its dimensions. |
A table-top fridge might fit under the worktop but still be too deep, difficult to open or poorly ventilated.
Measure all three dimensions and the door-opening clearance. Then compare the available gaps with the requirements in the model’s instruction manual. UFC-Que Choisir’s general guidance is to leave at least 10 cm above and behind the appliance.
A small compartment inside the fridge may not be suitable for storing frozen food regularly or freezing fresh food.
Check the star rating and the compartment capacity on the product information for the exact model. If frozen food is often on your shopping list, compare compact fridge-freezers too.
If the appliance is close to your bed or desk, its noise may matter more than it would in a separate kitchen.
Compare the stated level in dB(A) and the noise class. UFC-Que Choisir classes fridges rated below 40 dB(A) among the quietest.
The energy rating doesn’t replace the stated annual energy consumption or the appliance’s installation requirements.
Compare labels for appliances with similar capacities and dimensions. Make sure you also allow for the ventilation specified in the instruction manual and avoid placing the appliance near a heat source.
These models give you examples of different formats and considerations to compare; their features aren’t representative of every appliance made by each brand.
According to Bosch, the freestanding KTL15NWEB table-top fridge measures 85 × 56 × 58 cm, with 106 litres of fridge capacity and a stated noise level of 39 dB(A).
Beko lists the TSE1504FN table-top fridge as 54 cm wide, a useful measurement to compare with the space available in a small kitchen.
Liebherr lists the KTe551 table-top fridge as 85 × 55 × 60,7 cm and the CUe231-26 fridge-freezer as 137,2 × 55 × 63 cm. Although they’re the same width, their height and depth affect how much space you’ll need.
This selection mainly features fridge-freezers for keeping fresh and frozen food, along with a small single-door model. Compare their capacities with your shopping needs and their full dimensions with the space available in your studio flat.
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Worth considering if you’d like a separate freezer section and have room for the appliance. The model name indicates 153 l of fridge capacity, 74 l of freezer capacity, a width of 54 cm, a reversible door, Low Frost, a 4-star freezer rating and an E energy rating. Check the height and installation clearances too before choosing.
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This fridge-freezer is worth considering if you regularly store frozen food, rather than just keeping a small amount from time to time. Its name indicates a width of 54 cm, a height of 176 cm, a 70/30 split and Low Frost. Check that its height, depth and required clearances will suit your kitchen.
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Compare this capacity with your shopping needs if you mainly want to keep a few frozen items. The model name indicates 333 l of total capacity, a C energy rating, and the NatureFRESH™, DoorCooling+™ and LinearCooling™ features. Check its dimensions and the clearances in the instruction manual before deciding where to put it in your studio flat.
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Its 92 l capacity could suit you if you shop frequently, but it’s below UFC-Que Choisir’s average guide of 100 to 150 litres of usable capacity for one person. The model name mentions a freezer section and an E energy rating. Check the type and capacity of the freezer section before planning to store frozen food in it, as well as the appliance’s full dimensions.
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Compare it with smaller formats if you need to store fresh and frozen food regularly. The product name indicates 182 l of fridge capacity, 71 l of freezer capacity, a stated noise level of 39 dB and No Frost. Check its width, depth and installation requirements for your kitchen.
UFC-Que Choisir gives 100 to 150 litres of usable capacity as an average guide for one person. Adjust your choice to how often you shop, and compare the space for fresh and frozen food separately.
It depends on the compartment and what you want to store in it. Check its star rating and capacity in the product information for the exact model. For example, Liebherr describes the KTe551’s 4-star compartment as suitable for freezing fresh food and keeping it for the long term.
As general guidance, UFC-Que Choisir recommends leaving at least 10 cm above and behind a refrigeration appliance to allow air to circulate. Follow the clearances in the instruction manual for your chosen model if they differ, and check how much room you’ll need to open the door.
Compare the stated noise level in dB(A) and the noise class on the energy label. UFC-Que Choisir classes fridges rated below 40 dB(A) among the quietest; the layout of your studio flat also matters when choosing.
Measure the space in front of the appliance and check which way the door opens, whether it can be reversed and how close the cupboards are. Bosch claims its Perfect Fit range can open to 90° without a gap from the wall; don’t assume another model has this feature.