To store your weekly shop, start by choosing a usable capacity that suits the size of your household. Que Choisir suggests 100 to 150 L for one person, with a further 50 L for each additional person. If you regularly buy frozen food, compare freezer capacity separately. In a kitchen with limited space, check the available space, delivery access and ventilation before settling on a style.
Compare the space for fresh food and frozen food, rather than looking only at the appliance’s width. As a starting point for estimating fridge capacity, Que Choisir recommends an average of 100 to 150 L for one person, plus 50 L for each additional person. Adjust this guide to suit your habits.
Don’t choose an under-counter, built-in or wider model based on its external dimensions alone. Measure the space and the delivery route, then check the clearances specified in the instructions. Electrolux, for example, asks you to tell the delivery team about any difficult access.
Check the type of compartment and the actual space available for frozen food. A small freezer compartment and a separate freezer may not meet the same needs between shops.
Start with the space you need for fresh and frozen food, then see which styles will work with your kitchen.
| Feature | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh food capacity | Compare the fridge’s usable capacity, not just its total capacity. Que Choisir suggests 100 to 150 L for one person, plus 50 L for each additional person, as a starting point. | I store several days’ worth of fresh food between shops, so I need enough space without choosing capacity based only on the size of my household. |
| Freezing capacity | Check whether there’s a freezer compartment and how much space it offers. A small freezer compartment may not be enough for your regular frozen food shop. | If I often buy frozen food, I want to compare its storage capacity separately from the fridge’s. |
| Style and installation | Measure the appliance, the space where it will go and the delivery route, including packaging. For a built-in model, check the cabinet niche and the ventilation requirements for that model. For a freestanding model, also check the space needed to open the door. | In a narrow kitchen or a home with awkward stairs, the fridge needs to be delivered and installed without blocking access. |
| Storage and temperature | Check the layout of the shelves and drawers, and avoid overfilling the compartment. Anses recommends monitoring a temperature of 4 °C in the coldest part of the fridge. | After shopping, I need to be able to put sensitive foods in the right area and leave enough room to move items around. |
| Noise and energy use | Check the stated noise level if the appliance will be near a living area. For models with a similar style and capacity, compare the energy rating and annual consumption on the energy label. | My kitchen opens onto the living room, so the stated noise level matters just as much as the energy-use information when I choose. |
Two appliances with a similar total capacity may have different amounts of space for fresh and frozen food. This matters if you need frozen food to last until your next shop.
Compare the capacity of each compartment in litres, then choose a size that suits what you usually buy.
An appliance may fit in your kitchen but not through a doorway, up the stairs or into a lift once it’s packaged. A built-in model must also fit its niche and meet its ventilation requirements.
Note the dimensions of the appliance and its packaging, measure the delivery route and check the installation instructions for your chosen model before ordering.
No Frost means you still need to monitor the temperature and leave enough room for your shopping.
Check the instructions to find the coldest part of the fridge and monitor its temperature: Anses recommends keeping an eye on 4 °C there. Don’t fill the compartment so full that you can’t store sensitive foods properly.
An energy rating doesn’t tell you how much capacity your household needs or how much space the appliance takes up. A multi-door model and an under-counter fridge won’t serve the same purpose.
Decide on the style and capacity you need first, then compare annual energy consumption and noise levels across models that meet those requirements.
These brands are useful to consider when comparing styles and installation requirements. This doesn’t guarantee that a particular model will be available.
Worth considering for a fridge-freezer, built-in or freestanding model if you want to check the dimensions and layout.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a built-in fridge-freezer and need to check a specific model against your cabinet niche.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a multi-door model and your kitchen and delivery route can accommodate a wide, deep appliance.
These models include a built-in fridge-freezer, a multi-door model and freestanding fridge-freezers. Compare their stated total capacities, then check the capacity of each compartment and the dimensions that matter for your household.
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Worth considering if you want to store fresh and frozen food in a built-in appliance. The model name indicates No Frost, a total capacity of 252 L and an energy rating of C. Check the capacity of each compartment, the niche dimensions and the ventilation requirements separately.
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This style is worth comparing if you need plenty of storage and have room for it. The model has a stated total capacity of 467 L, Total No Frost and an energy rating of E. Check how the capacity is split between fresh and frozen food, how the doors open and whether it will fit along the delivery route.
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This fridge-freezer offers a way to store fresh and frozen food in one appliance. Its name indicates a total capacity of 360 L, Total No Frost, an energy rating of E and Wi-Fi. Compare the separate fridge and freezer capacities with what you buy.
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Worth comparing if you’re looking for a stated total capacity of 467 L for fresh and frozen food. The model features Total No Frost and an energy rating of E. Check how much space each compartment offers, as well as the dimensions needed for your kitchen and delivery route.
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Worth considering if a fridge-freezer with a total capacity of 368 L will fit in your kitchen. The model has a stated energy rating of E. Check the fresh and frozen food capacities separately, and look at the noise level if it will be near a living area.
Que Choisir recommends an average fridge capacity of 100 to 150 L for one person, plus 50 L for each additional person. Use this as a starting point and adjust it to suit your habits. If you buy frozen food, check the freezer capacity separately.
Look for styles with a freezer compartment that’s big enough for your shopping, including fridge-freezers. Don’t judge the available space by the total capacity or the presence of a small freezer compartment alone. Compare the capacity set aside for frozen food.
Measure the final space, the appliance and its packaging, then check the route through doorways, corridors, staircases and lifts. Electrolux asks you to tell the delivery team about any access difficulties. Also check the installation instructions for the space needed.
Not without checking that it’s compatible with your kitchen. A built-in appliance must fit the niche and meet the ventilation requirements and, where applicable, the door-fitting system specified for that exact model. Bosch lists different niche heights for different models, so measure up before choosing.
Compare the energy rating and stated annual consumption of fridges with similar capacities and styles. France’s Ministry of the Economy states that new fridges sold in France must display an energy label. The label doesn’t replace checking capacity and dimensions.