If your fridge’s freezer compartment is overflowing, choose an upright freezer for easy, regular access to your supplies, or a chest freezer if you prefer bulk storage and have the space for it. A large fridge-freezer is mainly worth considering if you also need to replace your fridge: its total capacity is not the same as the space available for frozen food. In every case, compare the usable capacity, dimensions and ambient temperature range of the model with the conditions where you plan to install it.
If you want to see, organise and reach your food without rummaging through a chest, start by comparing upright freezers and their drawers. Que Choisir points out that how easy it is to handle and remove food matters just as much as capacity.
A chest freezer is worth considering if you have room for it and can organise your supplies in baskets or containers. According to Que Choisir’s guide, this format can offer more capacity than the upright freezers featured in its format comparison.
In a garage or cold utility room, the format alone is not enough to make a decision. Compare the room’s minimum and maximum temperatures with the ambient range allowed for the exact model. Some versions are designed for cold conditions, but this is not a feature of every chest freezer.
Consider it: if you want frequent access to food organised in a vertical appliance.
Bear in mind: you’ll need enough height and clearance to open the door and remove the drawers. The largest chest freezers can offer more capacity, according to Que Choisir.
Consider it: if you need to store large quantities and a deep compartment with top access suits the way you organise your food.
Bear in mind: food at the bottom is less easy to reach, and you’ll need enough space to open the lid fully.
Consider it: if you’re also replacing your fridge and a freezer compartment would provide the extra capacity you need.
Bear in mind: some of the total capacity is taken up by fresh food, so it doesn’t increase the space available for frozen food.
| Criteria | What to check before buying | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and space | Compare the litres available for frozen food, then check the external dimensions, delivery access and clearance needed to open the appliance. | When I can no longer fit my supplies in the fridge, I want more capacity without blocking a walkway or preventing the appliance from opening; around 36% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Storage and access | Check the size of the drawers or baskets and how easily they can be removed, as well as access to the bottom of a chest freezer. | If I take frozen food out almost every day, I want to find it without moving the rest of my supplies. Around 29% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Location and everyday use | Compare the room temperature with the range allowed for the model. Also check its annual energy consumption and noise level on the label. | If I’m installing an appliance in a garage or near a living area, I want one that suits the location and whose usage specifications I can compare; around 21% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Replacing your fridge | For a fridge-freezer, compare the capacity of the freezer compartment alone with the extra space you need. | If my fridge also needs replacing, I’d prefer to check whether one new appliance can meet both needs. Around 14% of consumers would prioritise this decision. |
The total figure combines the fridge and freezer. The Beko B5RCNE416HXB has a stated total capacity of 415 L, including 118 L for the freezer.
Compare only the litres in the freezer compartment with the amount of extra food you want to store.
The climate class specifies an ambient temperature range, which varies from one appliance to another. A feature advertised for a model designed for cold spaces does not apply to every freezer of the same format.
Check the location’s lowest and highest temperatures, then confirm the permitted range in the specification sheet or manual for the model you choose.
A deep compartment can mean having to move food to reach items at the bottom. On an upright freezer, drawers that are difficult to remove can also make everyday use less convenient.
If you can see the appliance before buying, try opening it and removing the drawers or baskets, bearing in mind the packaging you usually store.
The European Commission says the label also shows energy consumption, storage volumes and noise emissions. The rating letter alone doesn’t tell you about these features.
Compare appliances of a similar type and capacity, then check the full label and the model’s specification sheet.
Upright freezers and fridge-freezers to consider if drawer storage and maintenance features are among your priorities.
Chest freezers to consider when capacity or installation in an unheated room is a key factor.
Large-capacity upright freezers to compare if you want to keep your food organised vertically.
Chest freezers and fridge-freezers to consider separately, depending on whether you’re adding storage or replacing your fridge too.
These Joybuy models illustrate three different options: adding an upright freezer, installing a chest freezer or replacing your fridge with a fridge-freezer. Compare their freezer capacity and installation requirements before choosing a format.
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Worth considering if you want to add an upright freezer and store your supplies in compartments rather than a chest.
The product name lists a capacity of 161 L, No Frost, a reversible door and energy class C. Check the external dimensions and the ambient temperature range for your chosen location.
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This chest freezer is worth comparing if a 140 L compartment and basket storage suit your supplies better than an upright freezer with drawers.
The product name mentions a basket, a counterbalanced lid and temperature control. Allow clearance above the lid and check the permitted ambient temperature range for the installation location.
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With a stated capacity of 99 L, this chest freezer is worth comparing if you need extra storage rather than a large reserve.
The product name mentions a removable metal basket and an adjustable thermostat. Check the space needed to open the lid, as well as the model’s installation requirements.
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Consider this 60 L model if you need a modest amount of extra storage. Compare its capacity with the amount of food you want to store before choosing it.
The product name lists a reversible door and temperature control. Check the available door-opening direction, the dimensions and the permitted ambient temperature range.
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This fridge-freezer is worth comparing if you need to replace your fridge at the same time; it is not a separate freezer to add to your existing appliances.
The 495 L in the product name refers to the stated capacity of the whole appliance, not the space available for frozen food. Check the freezer compartment capacity separately, along with the installation dimensions.
Yes, provided the room temperature stays within the ambient range specified for the exact model. For example, Liebherr lists +10 °C to +32 °C for climate class SN and +16 °C to +32 °C for class N, while its CFe 1870 Pure chest freezer with FrostProtect is rated for ambient temperatures as low as −15 °C. Always check the specification sheet or manual for the appliance you’re considering.
Compare energy consumption, storage volumes and noise emissions, as well as the efficiency class, across appliances of a similar type and capacity. The European Commission includes this information on fridge and freezer labels. The model’s specification sheet can help you compare further.
Not necessarily: only the freezer compartment can be used for frozen food. The Beko B5RCNE416HXB is listed at 415 L in total, including 118 L for this compartment. Compare the latter figure with the extra space you need, especially if you weren’t planning to replace your fridge.
Measure the space where the appliance will go and the entire delivery route, then allow room for the door or lid to open. Also check the manual for the clearances needed for installation and ventilation. An appliance that fits on the floor still needs to be usable once it’s in place.