Best fridge freezers 2025: top brands and models from independent tests

The best fridge freezers maximise the freshness and lifespan of your food without using more energy than they need to. 

Our independent lab tests rate freestanding, integrated and American-style fridge freezers – and give you their real running costs. We don't just rely on what the manufacturers tell us. 

We undertake dozens of individual tests and checks on each appliance, factoring in chilling and freezing speeds, energy efficiency, quietness and ease of use to bring you one easy-to-follow Which? test score.

Just want to shop? See our round-up of the best fridge freezer deals.

Best fridge freezers for 2025

We've selected the fridge freezers that impressed us the most in our independent tests. These models excelled in our testing criteria – from chilling and freezing to accuracy of thermostat – meaning you can be confident in your new purchase. 

We rigorously test our fridge freezers, from freezing power to ease of cleaning, to help you find the best model. Which? members can log in to see our recommendations. If you're not a member, join Which? to unlock the table and gain instant access to all our product reviews.

Fridge freezer reviews by type

• American-style fridge freezer reviews
• Freestanding fridge freezer reviews
• Integrated fridge freezer reviews

Fridge freezers by price

• Fridge freezers under £300
• Fridge freezers under £500
• Fridge freezers under £800 
• Fridge freezers under £1,000
  

Why you can trust our fridge freezer reviews

Which? is an independent, not-for-profit consumer organisation – we work for our members, not brands or advertisers.

We test more than 100 fridge freezers every year, buying all the products ourselves – we don't accept freebies from product manufacturers or retailers.

Our overall test scores are based purely on measurements and ratings from our lab.

We go the extra mile to ensure our fridge freezer reviews are completely impartial and rooted in scientific data.

Our unbiased advice will help you make the right product choice the first time and avoid costly mistakes.

Read more about how we test fridge freezers.

What size fridge freezer is best?

Before buying, check the external dimensions and internal storage volume.

External dimensions

Carefully measure the space in your kitchen before buying a new fridge freezer. 

As neat as a snug fit looks, remember that you often need to allow for additional space at the back of the appliance and sometimes the sides as well. This space is important as it can help prevent the fridge freezer from overheating.

Check the manual for your model's particular requirements. 

Internal storage volume

The specifications in our product reviews indicate how many full bags of shopping each model can fit.

As a rough guide:

• For 1-2 people: 100-200 litres, room for 5-10 bags of shopping
• For 3-4 people: 200-300 litres, room for 10-15 bags of shopping
• For 5-6 people: Over 300 litres or over 15 bags of shopping

Manufacturers' storage measurements vs Which? test results

Before you start comparing fridge freezer storage volumes, bear in mind that manufacturers typically calculate this with all the shelves, drawers and door racks taken out. 

When we test fridge freezers, we leave everything inside and measure the space you can actually use to store food.

The table below shows the differences in measurement (%) between manufacturers' claims and our own test results.

It demonstrates why you might find that your fridge freezer is less spacious than you think. 

The differences between our measurements and those listed by manufacturers can be huge – the worst differ by as much as 38%. Even the best can differ by 9%. 

Keep your groceries as fresh as possible. Our food storage tips will help your food last longer.

Fridge freezer splits

You might see fridge freezers advertised as 60/40,  70/30, 80/20 or another split.

These numbers are percentages that indicate how the available space is divided between the fridge and freezer compartments. The first number refers to the fridge space and the second, the freezer.

The split you need will depend on the ratio of fresh to frozen food you tend to store. If you have a large household that uses a lot of fresh produce, then a model with more fridge space would be best. But if you live on your own or in a shared household and need to freeze individual portions to stop them from spoiling before you have a chance to eat them, a fridge freezer with more freezer space could be a better bet.

If you want flexibility, some fridge freezers now come with a multizone or variable temperature compartment that can be configured as either fridge or freezer space, depending on what you need.

Want the option to switch up your cold storage? Check out our multizone fridge freezer reviews

Freestanding fridge freezers: pros and cons

Freestanding fridge freezers can be placed anywhere, so they are suitable for most homes and situations. They're usually 60cm wide, but slimmer and wider models are available.

Pros:

• Usually the lowest-priced type
• Lots of choice of models, colours and finishes
• Easier to install and move if you redesign your kitchen or move house
• Typically more energy efficient than integrated models
• Less hassle when it comes to servicing and maintenance

Cons:

• Some prefer an integrated model, which will blend seamlessly into their living space

Look for budget freestanding models in our guide to the best cheap fridge freezers

American fridge freezers: pros and cons

American-style fridge freezers (also known as side-by-side or just American models) are wider and deeper than freestanding or integrated fridge freezers and always have at least one set of double doors.

Pros

• Offer more storage space for fresh and frozen food than regular fridge freezers
• Useful features, such as a frost-free freezer, door alarms and a fast-freeze function, often come as standard
• Lots of fridge shelves and racks for storing items of all shapes and sizes
• Many come with water dispensers and ice makers
• Some, such as the Samsung Family Hub, have tech that's unavailable on freestanding or integrated models

Cons

• Pricey to buy and expensive to run compared with regular freestanding models
• Take up a lot of space and may be too big for your kitchen
• Water dispensers that offer unlimited chilled water have to be plumbed into the mains water supply. Alternative water dispensers have refillable jugs, but you’ll have to keep topping them up.
• Tend to have fewer freezer drawers than conventional freezers
• Often deeper than freestanding fridge freezers, so they tend to stick out and not sit flush with kitchen units

Find out more in our guide to the best American-style fridge freezers.

Integrated fridge freezers: pros and cons

Integrated fridge freezers are hidden behind cupboard doors, so can more easily be matched to the design of your kitchen.

Pros:

• Ideal if you like a sleek, uncluttered look with no appliances on view
• Slimmer than freestanding models and won't protrude into your kitchen

Cons:

• Tend to be smaller than freestanding models, so you won't get as much storage space
• Fewer models to choose from compared with freestanding fridge freezers
• More expensive to buy than freestanding fridge freezers and tend to use more energy, so running costs are higher
• Trickier to install and not as easy to move if you fancy a change or are moving home
• More awkward to repair and maintain due to inaccessibility

Read more in our guide to the best integrated fridge freezers.

What features do I need?

Fridge freezer features make your life easier and preserve your food better, but they can increase the model price.

There’s no point in paying for bells and whistles you aren’t going to use, so we’ve classified fridge freezer features into Essential, Useful and Premium, to help you decide what’s important to you.

Essential features

Useful features

Premium features

Are frost-free fridge freezers better?

Fran Roberts-Thornton, Which? Fridge freezers expert says:

‘If there’s one feature that really makes a difference to how much you love your appliance, we think it’s a frost-free freezer. These are designed to prevent ice from building up in the freezer compartment, meaning you’ll never face the messy or time-consuming task of having to defrost it. What a joy.

‘In a survey of more than 1,000 Which? members, a telling 97% rated this feature as useful. Prices are much lower than they used to be, too, with frost-free fridge freezers starting at around £270.’

Our guide to fridge freezer brands will tell you which brands are the most reliable.

How much do fridge freezers cost to buy and run? 

The average price of all the fridge freezers we've reviewed is a fairly hefty £800, but you don't have to spend anything like that to get a great one.

Fridge freezer prices: Best Buys vs Don't Buys

As you can see, cheaper fridge freezers are less likely to perform impressively, so you need to pick carefully in the lower price brackets. Although, you might pay more than £400 and still end up with a Don't Buy. 

The integrated or American-style models we've seen tend to cost more than freestanding models, so you'll need to spend more if you have your eye on one of those.

Paying more usually unlocks premium features, such as a super-sleek black steel finish and multi-temperature zones.

Fridge freezer running costs

A lot of a fridge freezer's environmental impact comes from it being on all day, every day so an energy-efficient model will save both energy and money.

The cost of keeping a fridge freezer running varies from about £40 per year to over £145 per year, depending on the type and size of model.

• Freestanding fridge freezers cost around £83 per year to run
• Integrated fridge freezers cost around £77 per year to run
• American fridge freezers cost around £120 per year to run

* Based on models on test up until May 2025. Prices based on a unit price of 25.73p per kWh, as of 1 July 2025. 

When we test fridge freezers, we measure how much energy they use to keep cool, as well as how much energy it takes to chill and freeze fresh items, so you can work out how much an appliance is likely to add to your energy bill. 

We've pulled this information together into a handy fridge freezer running costs tool, so you can check the model you're interested in before you buy.

Eco Buy fridge freezers balance good chilling and freezing performance with energy efficiency and brand reliability. To find the most sustainable models, go to our fridge freezer reviews and use the filter for Eco Buys. For more energy-saving advice, see our guide to the best energy efficient fridge freezers.

Not sure what to do with your old appliance? Find out how to dispose of or recycle a fridge freezer.