What size fridge freezer do I need?

How much capacity do you need?

Capacity is measured in litres, and a simple rule gets you close. Allow around 150 litres for the first two people in the household, then add roughly 50 to 60 litres per additional person. That gives a practical starting point for most homes:

• One person or a couple: around 200 to 260 litres. A slim model like the Beko CFG3552W (262 litres) is plenty.
• A family of three to four: around 300 to 360 litres — the sweet spot for models like the Bosch Serie 4 (366 litres) or the Hotpoint H3T811IOX (335 litres).
• A larger or batch-cooking household: 360 litres or more, ideally with a generous freezer, such as the LG GBV3100DEP (344 litres) or larger.

Adjust for how you actually live. If you do a big weekly shop, entertain often, or batch-cook and freeze meals, size up. If you shop little and often and rarely freeze, you can size down and save both money and floor space. The figure on the box is a guide, not a guarantee — see our note below on usable space.

Choosing the fridge-to-freezer split

The "split" describes how the internal volume is divided. You'll see it written as a ratio like 50/50, 60/40 or 70/30, where the first number is the fridge share. Match it to how you shop and cook:

• 50/50 suits households that freeze about as much as they refrigerate — batch-cookers, families who stock up on frozen veg and meat.
• 60/40 is the most common all-rounder, leaning towards fresh food while keeping a useful freezer.
• 70/30 suits people who shop fresh, cook from scratch and only freeze the occasional item — it maximises salad-drawer and shelf space.

There's no single right answer. A keen home cook who freezes leftovers will be frustrated by a 70/30; someone who lives on fresh produce will find a 50/50 freezer mostly empty. Think honestly about your habits before you choose. Our buying guide covers how the split interacts with shelving and drawer layout.

Dimensions and clearances to measure

Litres tell you how much fits inside; centimetres tell you whether the appliance fits your kitchen. Before buying, measure three things carefully. First, the width of your space — standard models are 60cm wide, but slim ones (around 54 to 55cm) suit galley kitchens, and larger ones run wider. Second, the height, allowing clearance above for the appliance to vent heat and for the door to clear any wall units. Third, the depth, remembering that some models are deeper than others and that the door needs room to swing open fully so the drawers can be pulled out.

Crucially, leave a few centimetres of clearance at the back and sides, and ideally above. A fridge freezer removes heat from inside and dumps it out of the back and sides; box it in too tightly and it works harder, runs louder and uses more energy. Always check the manufacturer's recommended clearances against your alcove, and don't forget to measure your doorways and hallway so the appliance can actually be carried in.

Common sizing mistakes to avoid

The most frequent error is buying as big as the kitchen will physically hold. A fridge that's far bigger than you need cools a lot of empty space, which wastes electricity every hour for years. The second is ignoring the split and ending up with a freezer that's either always overflowing or always half-empty. The third is trusting the headline litre figure alone — manufacturers measure to the very edges, but shelves, drawers, the ice tray and door bins all eat into the space you can actually use, so a "300-litre" model gives you less than 300 litres of practical storage. Factor in a little headroom, match the split to your habits, and measure twice before you commit.