Best Freezer Buying Guide

Maybe you’ve always been one of those people who plans ahead—making an extra pan of lasagna and sticking it in the freezer or stocking up on groceries at the warehouse club. If so, you were more prepared than most for the lifestyle adjustments many of us made during the pandemic: shopping less often and buying more food per trip.

But even though you may be shopping more often these days, with food prices ticking up you may still need extra freezer space to take advantage of the bargains you find.

Before you stock up, you’ll want to decide whether a chest freezer or an upright model would best meet your needs—and your available floor space. Next, consider size, capacity, and energy use. To help you, we’ve subdivided our freezer ratings by size (small, medium, large) and type (chest, upright). So now you can compare freezers of the same or similar capacity by features and price.

One thing to keep in mind as you shop is that freezers are basically big empty boxes and can be hard to organize. Fortunately, some manufacturers are adding smart storage features—tiered bins and adjustable drawers and shelves—that make it easier to find what you’re looking for.

Here are the types of freezers you’ll find on the market and the pros and cons of each. For detailed test results, see our full freezer ratings and recommendations.

To test freezers, our engineers fill each model with boxes of frozen spinach and run them in our test chambers for approximately six weeks to evaluate how well they keep the packages frozen.

The results allow us to judge their thermostat control and temperature uniformity (the ability to maintain the same temperature throughout the freezer cavity). Our engineers also measure usable storage capacity, which doesn't always match what manufacturers claim.

In addition, we calculate energy efficiency, evaluate noise output, and judge how long a freezer can keep food frozen during a power outage. All this data is folded into an Overall Score for each model and appears in our freezer ratings charts.

When it comes to the two most popular categories of freezers—upright and chest models—we find that there's no clear winner. Below, we consider the pros and cons of each type. Other options include freezer drawers and portable freezers, but they’re a much smaller part of the market (and we don't test them).

Pros: Chest freezers’ interiors are wide open, except for removable hanging baskets or, sometimes, dividers, so they offer more usable space than uprights. These models also tend to be slightly more energy efficient and are less likely to cause freezer burn on food. Because they don't self-defrost like uprights, the temperature stays consistently lower. They’re also the better choice if the area where you live is prone to brownouts or power failures—they tend to keep food frozen longer than uprights when the power is off. We also find that they’re typically quieter than self-defrosting uprights.

Cons: Despite their hanging baskets, they can be harder to organize than upright models, and retrieving items buried near the bottom of the chest can be a reach. Their footprint is also larger than equivalent upright models—a 22-cubic foot chest freezer takes up a 2 x 6-foot area vs. the 2 ½ x 2 ½-foot area of a same-sized upright. Manual defrost (which can be time-consuming) is the only option.

Price: From about $200 to $1,200.

Pros: Uprights take up less floor space than chest freezers—2 ½ square feet for 22 cubic feet of storage compared with a chest's typical 2 x 6 feet. They’re also easier to organize. As with a fridge, shelves and bins inside and on the door make it easy to find things. You have the option of manual or self-defrost models. Note that manual defrosting takes hours and you have to empty the freezer. But self-defrost freezers allow temperatures to rise temporarily, which might compromise performance. And, unlike chest freezers, uprights are available in a variety of finishes, such as slate and stainless steel.

Cons: In our tests, manual-defrost uprights had a hard time keeping their door shelves as cool as the rest of the interior. The shelves in these models also can't be adjusted to improve storage. Self-defrost uprights tend to be noisy and may cost more to run. They also allow more air to circulate around food, making food more likely to get freezer burn. In our power failure simulation, all uprights allowed a relatively large temperature uptick after only 9 hours. And the shelves and bins in uprights take up more space (up to 20 percent) than in chest types.

Price: Usually higher than chest models, from $350 to $2,000.

For more, watch our freezer buying guide video below.

Stand-alone freezers used to be all about utility, with no-frills designs and an open-box interior that made it a challenge to keep foods organized. Those bare-bones freezers are still available—and many of them do well in our freezer ratings—but we’re also seeing a lot of improvements to the look and functionality of freezers. Consider these factors before you hit the store:

Location, LocationIf you plan to keep the freezer in a living area, consider how noisy it is (and also how it looks). Most manufacturers say that their freezers can operate in a room where the temperature can reach up 110° F, but check product specifications if you plan to put the freezer in an unheated area, such as a garage. Make sure that the unit is not exposed to temperatures above 110° F or below 0° F, because that may damage the freezer.

Freezers Come in Three Sizes Freezers, whether chest or upright, come in three basic sizes: compact or small (5 to 9 cubic feet), medium (12 to 18 cubic feet), and large (more than 18 cubic feet). Upright freezers have a smaller footprint for the equivalent storage space.

What if the Power Goes Off?Most manufacturers claim that their freezers can keep food adequately frozen for 24 hours with the power off, as long as the freezer remains unopened. But our tests simulating a prolonged power failure showed that some uprights allowed a relatively large increase in temperature after only 9 hours.

Temperature ControlMost of the freezers in our tests maintained a consistent temperature. Manual-defrost uprights were the exception. Without fans to circulate cold air, temperatures of on-door shelves were between 9 and 19 degrees higher than in the rest of the freezer.

Energy UseDon't expect your new freezer to be quite as energy efficient as its yellow EnergyGuide label implies. That's because our tests are tougher and, we believe, more like real-world conditions than those specified by the U.S. Department of Energy. But Energy Star products must meet certain governmental energy-efficiency standards.

Once you’ve gotten your freezer, you may want to give it a little help keeping its cool—and making food last longer. Check out these simple tips from our experts:

Save EnergyKeep your freezer in a cool spot, such as the basement, where it tends to stay well below normal room temperatures. Even though most manufacturers say models will operate in temperatures up to 110° F, check the product info for specifications.

Minimize FrostKeep the lid or door closed as much as possible. Take an inventory of what's inside so that you don't have to hunt around. Label food well for the same reason.

Store Food CorrectlyRepackaging food in several layers of plastic wrap helps reduce moisture loss and freezer burn. Some common freezing rules of thumb: You can freeze ground beef for up to 4 months, and a whole chicken for as much as a year. A pack of hot dogs should stay frozen only for 1 to 2 months.

It's an appliance with a pretty straightforward purpose, but some freezer options can make the freezer more convenient to use (although options may bump up the price).

Some self-defrosting upright freezers we tested beep if their interior gets too warm.

In chest freezers, upright plastic dividers and sliding bins on racks help organize stored food.

We found some freezers equipped with this feature (useful if there are kids in the house), which blocks access or keeps the door from being left open.

Manual-defrost freezers (the only option for chest models) are generally more energy efficient and less likely to cause freezer burn than self-defrosting models (uprights can be manual- or self-defrosting). It's wise not to let ice build up on freezer walls, which can decrease efficiency and increase your energy bill. It's worth noting that defrosting can take hours. On the con side, manual-defrost uprights had trouble keeping their door shelves as cool as the rest of the interior, with temperature differences ranging from 9 to 19 degrees. Self-defrosting uprights did a better job of keeping their door shelves as cool as the rest of the freezer, and they save you the hassle of actively defrosting.

Without opening the door and letting cold air escape, you can see at a glance whether the freezer is on. Most models have this feature, and we think it should be universal.

Some uprights can cool large quantities of food more quickly. Other freezers have a soft-freeze option—handy if you can't bear to wait for rock-hard ice cream to melt.

Pull-out freezer drawers are popping up in high-end kitchens, usually to supplement the freezer in a standard fridge. They can match the cabinetry or have a stainless pro-chef look. They are pricey, running $2,000 to $6,000, and are typically available in 24-inch and 30-inch widths.

Portable freezers for boating or camping require a standard 110-volt household outlet or a 12-volt power source (like a car battery). Some hold up to 85 quarts and are equipped with wire baskets to organize food. They can be adjusted to refrigerate as well. There isn't a wide range of brands making these, and we’ve found the smaller ones to be less efficient.

PHOTO: IGLOO

Some self-defrosting upright freezers we tested beep if their interior gets too warm.

In chest freezers, upright plastic dividers and sliding bins on racks help organize stored food.

We found some freezers equipped with this feature (useful if there are kids in the house), which blocks access or keeps the door from being left open.

Manual-defrost freezers (the only option for chest models) are generally more energy efficient and less likely to cause freezer burn than self-defrosting models (uprights can be manual- or self-defrosting). It's wise not to let ice build up on freezer walls, which can decrease efficiency and increase your energy bill. It's worth noting that defrosting can take hours. On the con side, manual-defrost uprights had trouble keeping their door shelves as cool as the rest of the interior, with temperature differences ranging from 9 to 19 degrees. Self-defrosting uprights did a better job of keeping their door shelves as cool as the rest of the freezer, and they save you the hassle of actively defrosting.

Without opening the door and letting cold air escape, you can see at a glance whether the freezer is on. Most models have this feature, and we think it should be universal.

Some uprights can cool large quantities of food more quickly. Other freezers have a soft-freeze option—handy if you can't bear to wait for rock-hard ice cream to melt.

Pull-out freezer drawers are popping up in high-end kitchens, usually to supplement the freezer in a standard fridge. They can match the cabinetry or have a stainless pro-chef look. They are pricey, running $2,000 to $6,000, and are typically available in 24-inch and 30-inch widths.

Portable freezers for boating or camping require a standard 110-volt household outlet or a 12-volt power source (like a car battery). Some hold up to 85 quarts and are equipped with wire baskets to organize food. They can be adjusted to refrigerate as well. There isn't a wide range of brands making these, and we’ve found the smaller ones to be less efficient.

PHOTO: IGLOO

Amana is a small brand that manufactures upright and chest freezers, with capacity ranging from 5 to 16 cubic feet. Amana freezers can be found at Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe's, Sears, and independent dealers. Prices range from $250 to $750.

Frigidaire is one of the largest freezer manufacturers; it also produces models for a number of other brands. Frigidaire offers a wide selection of upright and chest configurations ranging from 5 to 25 cubic feet. Its upright line includes a number of self-defrosting models and a pro-style model. Prices range from $300 to $1,300. The freezers can be found at Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe's, and independent appliance dealers.

GE offers a wide range of products in both chest and upright configurations, with a concentration in manual-defrost models. Sizes range from 5 to 25 cubic feet; prices range from $200 to $850. GE freezers are sold at Best Buy, Home Depot, Walmart, warehouse clubs, and independent appliance dealers.

Haier is another large manufacturer that produces models for other brands. It offers a wide selection of chest and upright freezers ranging from 5 to 20 cubic feet. Prices range from $250 to $900. Haier is sold at Best Buy, Target, Walmart, warehouse clubs, and independent appliance dealers.

Igloo offers products ranging from 3.5 to 7 cubic feet in upright and chest configurations. Prices range from $250 to $500. Products are widely available at retailers, including Home Depot, Kmart, and Walmart.

Kenmore offers a wide assortment of products in both chest and upright configurations. It also offers a number of self-defrosting upright models in various sizes, as well as a pro-style product. Prices range from $350 to $1,500. Kenmore is sold through Sears and other retailers.

Maytag manufactures upright freezers, which are sold at Home Depot and independent appliance dealers. Prices range from approximately $500 to $700.

Whirlpool offers freezers in both chest and upright configurations. Self-defrosting upright models are available in two-door and professional styles. Sizes range from 7 to 25 cubic feet. Prices range from $350 to $1,500. Whirlpool is sold through independent appliance dealers, home centers, and regional appliance centers.

Additional freezer brands include Danby, Idylis, Magic Chef, and Midea.

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