Top 5 compared
The best chest freezers
Extra freezer space for bulk buys, batch cooking and the bags that won’t fit in the kitchen freezer.
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The top 5 at a glance
A chest freezer is a deep box with a lift-up lid, usually with a basket or two to keep small packs near the top while bulky bags go underneath. Most end up as the overflow, in the garage, the utility room or a corner of the kitchen.
A freezer’s climate class says what room temperatures it’s built for: SN covers 10 to 32°C and N 16 to 32°C, so a garage that gets colder needs a model its maker rates for it. Most here defrost by hand, so plan on clearing the ice now and then.
What matters
- Width, plus clear space above for the lid to open fully.
- The yearly kWh on the energy label, for running costs.
- Fast freeze, for a big shop going in at once.
- A lid that stays up on its own, or locks.
#1Cookology 99L Chest Freezer (CCFZ99BK)
£129.99 RRP
A 99-litre chest freezer that switches to fridge mode when you need extra room for drinks, with a lid that stays open on its own while you dig for something at the bottom.
What owners say: Owners mention that it hums away quietly and adds little to the electricity bill, and many keep it out in the garage.
A closer look: Defrosting is done by hand: once the ice builds up, empty it, switch off, then clear it with the scraper supplied and let the water out through the drain. The basket keeps small packs near the top, and fridge mode suits a load of drinks for a party.
- Lid stays open by itself
- Ice scraper included
- Drain for defrosting
- Removable basket
- Adjustable feet
Best for: Extra frozen food, or party drinks
- Capacity
- 99L
- Width
- 54.7cm
- Energy
- E, 169kWh a year
- Garage use (maker)
- Outbuilding safe
- Fridge mode
- Yes
- Fast freeze
- No
#2Willow 99L Chest Freezer (W99CFW)
£100–£150
A small 99-litre freezer to keep as a spare in the garage or utility room, with a mark-proof white finish that wipes clean and a lift-out basket for the things you reach for most.
What owners say: Owners find it takes a surprising amount for its size and tucks snugly into a small space, and plenty use it as a spare in the garage, though a few found panels dented on arrival.
A closer look: The thermostat dial sits on the outside, so it can be turned to suit the spot it’s kept in, as Willow suggests, without lifting the lid or emptying anything out. A wipe with a microfibre cloth is all the mark-proof finish needs.
- Thermostat dial on the outside
- Mark-proof white finish
- Lift-out basket
- 2-year parts and labour
Best for: A spare freezer
- Capacity
- 99L
- Width
- 54.5cm
- Energy
- F, 192kWh a year
- Garage use (maker)
- Garage safe
- Fridge mode
- No
- Fast freeze
- No
#3Hisense 297L Chest Freezer (FC386D4AWLE)
£200–£300
Room for a family’s bulk buying at 297 litres, and Hisense’s Winter Guard keeps it running in a garage as cold as -15°C, so it can live outside the kitchen all year.
What owners say: Owners are pleased with the space for extra food and with how soon it was up and running, and note how quiet it is.
A closer look: At 111.4cm wide it needs a good stretch of wall, plus clear space above so the lid can open fully. A list on the lid of what’s at the bottom saves rummaging, since a chest this deep makes it easy to lose track of things.
- Counterbalanced lid
- Lockable lid
- 2-year guarantee
Best for: Cold garages
- Capacity
- 297L
- Width
- 111.4cm
- Energy
- E, 231kWh a year
- Garage use (maker)
- Down to -15°C
- Fridge mode
- No
- Fast freeze
- No
#4SIA 80L Slimline Chest Freezer (CHF100BL)
£100–£150
At 47.5cm wide it’s the narrowest here, so it slips into a gap that won’t take a standard chest freezer, and inside there’s an aluminium lining and seven temperature settings.
What owners say: Owners say it fits neatly into a tight spot, one sliding it into a small cupboard, and are happy with how little noise it makes; the grumbles are frost building up quickly and some units arriving dented.
Heads up: SIA advises a room of at least 10°C, so it belongs in a kitchen, utility room or heated garage rather than a cold outbuilding.
A closer look: Start the dial in the middle of its seven settings and give it a day with food inside before fine-tuning. The wire basket lifts out when the full depth is needed for bulky bags of frozen vegetables, and there’s a drain at the bottom for defrosting.
- Aluminium inner lining
- 7 temperature settings
- Lift-out wire basket
- Drain for defrosting
Best for: Narrow spaces
- Capacity
- 78L
- Width
- 47.5cm
- Energy
- E, 202kWh a year
- Garage use (maker)
- No
- Fridge mode
- No
- Fast freeze
- No
#5Haier 300L Chest Freezer (HCE301E)
£349 RRP
The best-equipped freezer here: 300 litres with Super Freeze to bring a big shop down to temperature quickly, an LED light for the corners and a door seal Haier treats against mould. Haier also guarantees the parts for ten years.
What owners say: Owners comment on the sturdy build and on how hard it is to hear it running, and like the room inside.
A closer look: Switch on Super Freeze before a big shop or a batch of cooking goes in, so fresh food freezes quickly without warming what’s already there. Two wire baskets keep everyday things to hand, and the lid locks, which helps in a shared garage or a house with small children.
- LED light inside
- Mould-resistant door seal
- 10-year parts guarantee
- Two wire baskets
- Lockable lid
Best for: Big shops and batch cooking
- Capacity
- 300L
- Width
- 111cm
- Energy
- E, 209kWh a year
- Garage use (maker)
- Outbuilding safe
- Fridge mode
- No
- Fast freeze
- Yes
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Cookology CCFZ99BK | #2Willow W99CFW | #3Hisense FC386D4AWLE | #4SIA CHF100BL | #5Haier HCE301E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best for garages | Slimmest | Best premium | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.0 | 8.7 | 8.6 | 8.5 | 8.5 |
| Price | £129.99 RRP | £100–£150 | £200–£300 | £100–£150 | £349 RRP |
| Capacity | 99L | 99L | 297L | 78L | 300L |
| Width | 54.7cm | 54.5cm | 111.4cm | 47.5cm | 111cm |
| Energy | E, 169kWh a year | F, 192kWh a year | E, 231kWh a year | E, 202kWh a year | E, 209kWh a year |
| Garage use (maker) | Outbuilding safe | Garage safe | Down to -15°C | No | Outbuilding safe |
| Fridge mode | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Fast freeze | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Best for | Extra frozen food, or party drinks | A spare freezer | Cold garages | Narrow spaces | Big shops and batch cooking |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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