Choosing one of the best freezers to store your food in is an important task, but with so many options out there, how do you find the right one? Freezers might look very different, given the variety of upright, chest and integrated models there are, all available in many colors and sizes. However, it’s easier than you’d think to narrow down the best freezer for you.
When comparing the best freezers, consider the size you need, your budget, and where you’re going to store them, as some models can cope with colder outdoor temperatures than others. Chest freezers are usually the most affordable, and because they open at the top, they’re easy to get into. They're also more suited to being stored in a garage or shed than their upright or integrated siblings.
The very best freezers might come with clever digital displays and even touch controls, which allow you to precisely change the temperature to suit the room. Then there are desirable design features, such as sliding drawers and extra-wide shelves. More expensive freezers also stay “frost-free,” meaning that they won’t require defrosting regularly – which can be a hassle.
Since your freezer is always running, choosing a model with an Energy Star certificate will help to lower running costs. Likewise, a good warranty will make sure that your purchase is well-protected in the future.
If you’re looking for other food storage appliances, check out our guides to the best French door refrigerators and the best side-by-side refrigerators. Here though, we’ve rounded up all the best freezer models that perform well and have a range of helpful features, covering a range of capacities and prices.
The best freezers we recommend
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Top Ten Reviews is on a mission to review everything we feature in our buyer's guides. Still, while we work hard to make this a reality—or where this isn't possible—some of our guides still feature rankings based on our team's considerable expertise and research.
While we haven't been able to test any of the units in this guide in person, we've instead honed in on top-rated brands and used our knowledge of the best features to help you make the right decision for your home, all for the best price.
The best freezer overall
The Frigidaire FFFU13F2VW isn’t necessarily the most advanced or best-looking freezer on our list, but it offers the best balance of features for its price point and should have more than enough capacity for most families.
With an impressive rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars from more than 15,256 reviews, most happy customers on the Home Depot website said that they loved the smaller footprint of the freezer compared to a chest freezer, as well as the storage on the door and the exterior green light under the door to show that the freezer has power. 91% of users would recommend this freezer. High praise indeed!
Inside this model, you’ll find four adjustable full-width wire shelves, as well as five full-width bins in the door. There’s a wire mesh basket at the bottom of the unit to store loose or oddly-shaped items (like mini ice cream tubs). The door itself is reversible, making it versatile when it comes to your installation location.
A bright interior light allows you to see everything that’s stored inside, while a temperature alarm will let you know when the door has been left open for too long. The design is simple, white and unassuming, but don’t let that put you off.
This upright Frigidaire freezer uses smart sensing technology to circulate cold air throughout the appliance for a uniform temperature, while there’s also a mechanical control dial to adjust the temperature setting more ideally. Its tight seal can lock in cold air for up to two days should you have a power failure, and as it’s designed to perform in temperatures ranging from 0°F to 110°F, you can also store it in a garage without worry. Solid and sensible, this is one of the best freezers overall, which also comes in a 16 cu. ft. brushed stainless steel variation.
The best freezer for features and design
The Bosch Benchmark Series B18IF905SP is a well-featured model from one of the most renowned appliance manufacturers when it comes to quality. With a slimline profile, at just 17 3/4 inches wide, its 8.6 cubic foot capacity certainly isn’t the highest in our guide, but the storage is all easily accessed via moveable glass shelves.
Unlike some models in our guide, there aren't hundreds of reviews for the Bosch B18IF905SP. It received an average of 4.33 out of 5 stars from several online outlets, with users praising its slick operation in general. There were few complaints, apart from one user reporting it making a loud humming/buzzing noise at times.
The addition of an automatic ice maker, scent-free air filter water filter, LED lighting and WiFi controls all make this a modern and comprehensive offering that justifies its steep price. This is the ideal freezer if you like the idea of remotely monitoring and controlling the temperature with an app, but some users might prefer manual dials on the freezer itself. It’s all down to personal preference.
The B18IF905SP offers quiet operation at just 42 dBA, and it has been ENERGY STAR Qualified so you know it will be efficient when using power. When it comes to design, this is an integrated option, and Bosch’s “Optiflex” hinge gives flush-mount doors, without damaging the surrounding cabinetry in your kitchen. If its price or slightly less generous capacity doesn’t put you off, this is one of the most feature-rich freezers you can buy.
This is the best chest freezer around
The Frigidaire 19.8 cubic foot chest freezer offers you plenty of storage space for stocking up on frozen food and keeping batch meals fresh. It has a well-organized interior, thanks to plastic baskets that snap on and off easily, helping you to store and access smaller items.
The Frigidaire 19.8 cu. ft. chest freezer scored an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Home Depot. The most positive reviews mention how handy the internal light on this freezer is, especially if you keep the freezer in a garage or outbuilding. Lower-rated user reviews reported issues with the lid and the seal not closing properly to keep in cold air. These complaints aren't common, though.
On the neat, white exterior, you’ll find an LED digital display that can be used for setting the temperature in °C or °F, depending on your preference. Here, there’s also a Freeze Boost button which can be pressed to prep the freezer ready for when you get home with a big grocery shop.
Unlike other freezers in our guide, this Frigidaire required you to perform a manual defrost, but that does mean that it maintains a more constant freezing temperature overall. It will also let you know if the freezer temperature rises by sounding an alarm.
It’s not always easy to maneuver chest freezers, but this model has casters included so that you can move it around if you want to – great if it’s taking up room in a tight garage. Most users found the interior LED light to be a major advantage, while the locking feature was good for safety.
The best freezer for keeping in your garage
The Gladiator 17.8 Upright Rolling Garage freezer is, as the name suggests, a great option for your garage.
The Gladiator 17.8 Upright Rolling Garage freezer has an average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 on Home Depot. Users praise the handy foot pedal that opens the freezer door. Users also comment on how useful the casters are for moving around this freezer. Some criticisms come in the form of users saying that the foot pedal isn't fitted to the freezer initially and some additional storage baskets would have been helpful.
It gives you all the storage organization and space saving of an upright freezer while also giving chest freezer levels of capacity a good bit of competition.
The stand-out unique feature we love, aside from the dirt defying matte black finish, is the large metal pedal which opens the door. This is great for hands-free access, just what you want when carrying a lot in and out of the garage. All that's complemented with wheels for easy maneuverability to organize the garage as you need, plus a one year warranty.
The best integrated freezer
The Sub Zero ID30F freezer would have been higher up our list were it not for the prohibitively expensive price.
The Sub Zero ID30F freezer has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 on Appliances Connection. Gleaming user reviews call this the 'best freezer ever', and suggest its drawers are convenient and spacious. Criticisms come in the form of naming this freezer as 'pricey'.
However, for that you do get a rather unique 12-year limited warranty, so spread the cost and it's really a good investment.
You get 30-inch wide drawers which soft close and feature soft-on lighting, with lots of external finishing options to suit your kitchen. From touchscreen controls to Sabbath mode and an optional automatic ice maker, this has all the features you'd expect from a high-end brand. This is also Energy Star rated to save you money on running costs and is actually built to last 20 years.
The best frost-free freezer
The GE FUF14DLRWW has a medium-size design that makes it ideal for garages or larger kitchens.
The GE FUF14DLRWW is one of this brand’s highly-rated freezers, scoring 4.8 out of five stars from around 5,000 reviewers across Lowe’s, Home Depot, and GE websites. The big winning point seems to be the design, with people praising the spacious and well-thought-out interior. There isn’t much criticism to be found on this model, although a few users do report that the door seal is tight and can be difficult to open.
While its 14.1 cubic feet capacity is smaller than the other upright freezers on this list, it still provides ample storage space and an accessible layout.
We love the turbo freeze feature, which ensures the interior restores itself to the right temperature after the freezer has been opened and closed, and the exterior controls make it easy to set and check the temperature.
There’s plenty of room for all your frozen foods with four shelves, two bins, and additional storage space in the door. It also comes with a lock and key, ensuring your food stays secure at all times. What else is great about the GE FUF14DLRWW is that it’s garage-ready so you’ll have the flexibility to store it wherever you like.
The best compact freezer
The Whynter CUF-110B freezer is a perfect compact unit for an RV, boat, office, college dorm, truck or small apartment.
The Whynter CUF-110B freezer has an average user rating of 4.4 out of 5 on Amazon. Positive user reviews mention how low on power consumption this freezer is and how easy it is to switch over the door to open in a different direction. Some user reviews do say this this freezer is very basic and frosts over a little too often.
Essentially it's a great way to save space while keeping food frozen.
Its 1.1 cubic feet of space will store several frozen meals and some drinks easily. The rear is flat so it sits flush against a wall, taking up as little room as possible. There's a dial to adjust the cold and this works well keeping even ice cream solid while remaining energy efficient, thanks to its size. It's also lockable, quiet and has a reversible swing door to suit its space.
The best chest freezer that's also cheap to run
Frigidaire’s 20 cubic foot capacity is pretty good for an upright freezer, and it’s the best freezer in our guide when it comes to power efficiency.
The Frigidaire FFUE2022AW has an average customer rating of 4.7 stars out of five at Home Depot, with 65% recommending this product. Most users praised the large capacity and enjoyed that it took up much less floor room than an equivalent chest freezer. There are some criticisms in the form of users stating that the alarm would go off randomly, even with the freezer at the correct temperature.
With an Energy Star rating, you can be sure that it won’t cost you more than it needs to run.
The freezer has a tight seal that Frigidaire claims can keep food frozen for two days if there is a power outage. What’s even more reassuring is the auto-close doors, which have you covered if anyone in the family leaves the doors open by mistake. When it comes to organizing your frozen food internally, things are simple but versatile. There are four adjustable, metallic wire shelves, five bins in the door, and a bottom basket for deeper items. They’re not as design-friendly as glass shelves, perhaps, but they work well.
This spacious Frigidaire model has a frost-free design, which means you won’t have to spend your time manually defrosting it regularly to avoid ice build-up. Whether you want to keep it in the kitchen or the garage – it can perform in temperatures from 0°F to 110°F – the Frigidaire FFUE2022AW is an excellent, power-friendly choice to give you more freezer room while saving you money.
The best freezer for flexibility
The Samsung RZ11M7074SA is a well designed freezer that offers you the flexibility to choose between two functions.
While it hasn’t got bucket-loads of reviews, the ones it does have across the main retailers websites are all five stars with people praising the storage space, flexible organizational options, and quiet design. There are some drawbacks including the fact that this model can’t operate as both a fridge and a freezer at the same time like some others can, it also isn’t garage ready if you live in areas that have temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
At 11.4 cubic feet, the Samsung RZ11M7074SA isn’t the biggest freezer in this guide by a long shot, but it packs a whole lot of features into its compact frame. With the ability to convert to a fridge, with one of the most flexible designs we’ve ever seen, and a superior cooling system, this freezer has got it going on.
Open the door of this sleek and stylish model and you’ll find three shelves, four crisper drawers, and three door bins, which can be raised or lowered. The drawers can also be removed for extra shelving space and the door is reversible, meaning it will work in almost any space.
The best stylish freezer
If you want a stylish fridge freezer that makes a statement, this Galanz 11 cubic-foot upright model offers a fun, retro design with chrome accents such as the big opening handle.
The Galanz GLF11URDG16 receives an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on the Home Depot website, and the reviews suggest customers share a similar sentiment. While there are comments about the price being too high, most users loved the sleek and beautiful design.
It’s got the features of a modern appliance, though, and you should note that it’s a convertible fridge and freezer that can be switched around easily. An adjustable electronic thermostat control allows you to set the temperature between 33 to 45 F in refrigerator mode, and -8 to 5 C in freezer mode.
With electronic temperature controls, LED lighting inside and helpful door storage to contain smaller items, it’s a versatile appliance, too. There are four door bins in total, plus four glass shelves for all your major frozen foods, which can be moved about to accommodate larger foodstuffs.
Like many of our top-rated freezer options, the Galanz has an Automatic Defrost capability, meaning that frost won’t start to form inside the freezer over time – and you won’t have to defrost it yourself, which is never a fun or quick task. Overall, this fridge-freeze combo is a bold choice, but if the candy-red exterior isn’t for you, then it also comes in a more minimalist “Milkshake White” color.
What the experts say
We spoke to the experts and designers at GE Appliances for some helpful advice on what to look for in a new freezer.
"When you’re looking for a new freezer, look out for key things that such as Garage Ready performance - meaning your freezer can perform in ambient temperatures.
Audible alarms to let you know if the temperature rises in the freezer or if the door was left open are also really handy.
Slide-out freezer bins that are clear, rather than white, will help you to organize your freezer effectively. If you're choosing an upright freezer, you should be looking for a model that has a Turbo Freeze mode. This will give an extra boost of air that restores interior temperatures."
How to choose the best freezer for your home
When you make any big purchase, you want to make sure you get the one that’s right for your needs. One of the most important factors goes beyond the initial price of the appliance. You want to choose a freezer that costs only a small amount each year to operate and consumes very little energy.
In fact, the best chest and freestanding freezers are Energy Star certified, which means that the manufacturer participates in the energy efficiency program developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.
In addition to important considerations like cost and features, there are certain specifications you will want to consider before deciding which freezer to purchase. Some considerations, like where to store the freezer, will depend on environmental factors that vary based on where you live.
Because freezers are often located in rooms that are not as insulated as your home's interior, you should consider carefully where the best location is for your upright freezer. In some locations, you may be able to store it outside. Ideally, you want to put it in a cool, dry place in your home. If you live in a very cold climate, you may not be able to keep your chest freezer in your garage, because the system requires that coolant boil by a combination of pressure and heat, and if exterior temperatures are too cold, the freezer may stop working.
If you decide to place your freezer in your garage, consider the fluctuation in temperatures it will experience during summer and winter months. Placing the freezer against a west-facing wall in your garage is not a good choice as heat from the sun will collect in the garage, forcing the freezer to work harder. This uses more energy and increases your power bill. Conversely, if outside temperatures dip below freezing during the winters where you live, this can be hard on the freezer's internal parts and components.
Most of the freezers come with limited one-year warranties. Manufacturers that cover vital parts such as the compressor are more comprehensive in warranty coverage.
Freezer FAQs
What are the different standalone freezer types?
Chest freezers: Pros and pros
These types of freezers are super large and can hold up to 22 cubic feet of food. These freezers come with a couple of hanging baskets or dividers so you can stash smaller items of food where you can see it. Chest freezers have around 20% more usable storage than an upright design. Plus, the temperature in a chest freezer stays consistent, because they don’t come with a defrost system.
Due to their large design, it can be hard to find your frozen goods without rummaging around your freezer. Especially if they are stored at the bottom. Chest freezers can also only be manually defrosted, which is pretty time-consuming.
Upright freezers: Pros and cons
Less floor space is lost with upright freezers, in comparison to a chest-style. This style freezer can be easier to organize because they are built with a lot more compartments and drawers. This design also comes with a lot more choice in the style and design. You even have the option to integrate them so they blend in with your cabinetry.
Unlike chest freezers, the different compartments in upright freezers can’t be adjusted. Upright freezers are smaller in size and also cost more to operate. Plus they allow for air to circulate around food, meaning products are more likely to get freezer burn.
How much do freezers cost?
There’s some variation in how much a freezer will cost you, depending mostly on its capacity and size. On the whole, upright freezers will set you back more, while chest freezers are more economical to own. And it’ll come as no surprise that larger models cost more than smaller models. Upright freezers can cost between $300 to $800.
Chest freezers tend to be on the cheaper side, meaning they can cost as little as $150 and up to $700. There’s always an opportunity to save with sales if you’d prefer to save some cash too, with Labor Day, Memorial Day, or President’s Day sales all featuring freezer deals.
Retailers tend to drop prices when newer models are coming out and they need to clear inventory, so keep your eyes peeled if you have the luxury of waiting to purchase.
How to pick the best chest freezer
The best chest freezers are an excellent choice due to their energy efficiency and excess space. Some models boast over 20 cubic feet of storage space, making them larger than most upright alternatives, and perfect for storing in your garage or outside (depending on the climate). Aside from size, however, you might be wondering which other features make chest freezers ultra-helpful appliances, and what you should look out for when purchasing one.
Though they can be cavernous, it’s good to look out for chest freezers that have organization elements built-in, so that you don’t have to root around for ages each time you need that pesky bag of peas. Dividers and separate bins will prevent only being able to access the top layer of food within your chest freezer and give an opportunity to organize your foods according to how often you need them.
It’s also worth thinking about any added features you’d like your chest freezer to have. Many models have safety locks to prevent defrosting or accidental child and pet-related incidents, as well as interior lighting to assist you on any late-night ice-cream trips. You’ll be grateful for any features that make drainage easier when it comes to defrosting and cleaning too.
Chest freezers usually have a hinged top, so it’s worth thinking about the exact measurements of the model you choose and assessing how much space it’ll take up when the lid is fully open. Of course, you’ll want your freezer’s capacity to also reflect the size of your family and the number of frozen foods you like to have on hand.
