Top 5 compared
The best chest freezers
Extra freezer space for bulk buys and batch cooking, so the kitchen freezer isn’t packed to the door.
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The top 5 at a glance
A chest freezer is a box-shaped freezer with a lid that lifts up, usually kept as the overflow in a garage, a basement, the laundry room or a corner of the kitchen. Compact ones fit an apartment kitchen, a dorm or an office; bigger ones hold far more, and a convertible model switches to a fridge when an extra one would help.
Start with where it will go. A garage that gets cold in winter or hot in summer needs a freezer its maker calls garage ready, and the maker’s temperature range is the guide. On a manual-defrost model, frost builds up over time, so expect to empty it, unplug it and let the ice melt out now and then.
What matters
- Outside width and height, plus clear space above for the lid.
- A lid that stays open by itself while you load.
- A thermostat dial on the outside, adjusted without lifting the lid.
- A drain plug, which makes defrosting by hand far easier.
#1Igloo 3.5 cu ft Compact Chest Freezer (ICFXX35WH6AD1)
$200–$300
A compact white freezer that needs under 19 in of wall yet holds 3.5 cu ft, with a lid on a balanced hinge that stays open between 45° and 90° so both hands are free for loading. Igloo calls it garage ready, and front rollers make it easy to move into place.
What owners say: Owners say it gets cold fast, holds a steady temperature and runs quietly, and that it’s a tidy size, one fitting six stackable bins inside. Several had units arrive dented.
A closer look: The thermostat dial runs it between about −10°F and 10°F, so start in the middle and adjust once it’s full. The basket keeps small packs at the top, and when frost builds up, empty it, switch off and let the melt water out through the drain plug.
- Lid holds open at 45–90°
- Front rollers
- Thermostat −10°F to 10°F
- LED light inside
- Defrost drain plug
Best for: Small spaces and garages
- Capacity
- 3.5 cu ft
- Size (W x D x H)
- 18.9 x 21.9 x 32.5 in
- Garage use (maker)
- Garage ready
- Fridge mode
- No
- Baskets
- 1
#2BLACK+DECKER 2.7 cu ft Compact Chest Freezer (BCFK276)
$200–$300
A small white chest that holds about 94.5 lb of frozen food, with the temperature dial and the power light on the outside, so it can be checked and adjusted without opening the lid. A removable basket keeps small things to hand.
What owners say: Owners in apartments like how neatly it fits a small kitchen while still holding plenty, breast milk included, and most find it freezes quickly; a few had one arrive dented.
A closer look: At just over 33 in tall, it stands a little below a kitchen counter. Turn the outside dial rather than opening the lid to check on it, and when the frost gets thick, switch off, empty it and let the water out through the easy-access drain.
- Dial and power light outside
- Easy-access defrost drain
- 1-year limited warranty
Best for: Apartments and small kitchens
- Capacity
- 2.7 cu ft
- Size (W x D x H)
- 20.9 x 17.3 x 33.3 in
- Garage use (maker)
- Home or garage
- Fridge mode
- No
- Baskets
- 1
#3Kismile 3.2 cu ft Chest Freezer (BD-80, black)
$200–$300
A black chest freezer for a kitchen, dorm or office, with two hanging baskets that slide aside, seven settings from 6.8°F down to −7.6°F and a lid that stays open between 45° and 90°. Kismile rates it at 0.68 kWh a day and under 40 dB.
What owners say: Quiet, quick to cool and easy to set, owners report, with space that’s just right for a small home and for cooking ahead. Some had one stop working within weeks.
Heads up: Kismile says to leave it standing upright for at least 24 hours before switching it on.
A closer look: Setting 7 is the coldest and 0 switches it off, so start around the middle and adjust a day after loading. Check which side the power cord comes out before pushing it against a wall, and slide the hanging baskets along to reach what’s underneath.
- Quiet, under 40 dB
- Uses 0.68 kWh a day
- 7 settings, 6.8°F to −7.6°F
- Hanging baskets slide aside
- Lid holds open at 45–90°
Best for: Kitchens, dorms and offices
- Capacity
- 3.2 cu ft
- Size (W x D x H)
- 20.7 x 17.1 x 31.9 in
- Garage use (maker)
- No
- Fridge mode
- No
- Baskets
- 2
#4Frigidaire 7.0 cu ft Chest Freezer (EFRF7003, black)
Over $300
The roomiest here at 7 cu ft, for bulk buys and batch cooking, with an aluminum liner, a removable vinyl-coated wire basket and seven settings on a thermostat dial at the front. It’s rated for garages from 0°F to 110°F.
What owners say: The space suits spare frozen food, owners say, and the top basket is handy for everyday things; it keeps everything frozen and runs quietly. Several had theirs arrive dented.
Heads up: At 33.5 in wide, it also needs clear space above so the lid can open fully.
A closer look: Keep the basket for what gets used every week and stack bulk packs underneath, with a list of what’s at the bottom taped inside the lid. When frost starts to build up, empty it, switch off and let the water out through the drain on the outside.
- Aluminum liner
- 7-setting thermostat at the front
- Vinyl-coated wire basket
- Defrost drain on the outside
Best for: Stocking up on bulk packs
- Capacity
- 7.0 cu ft
- Size (W x D x H)
- 33.5 x 23 x 34 in
- Garage use (maker)
- 0 to 110°F
- Fridge mode
- No
- Baskets
- 1
#5Midea 3.5 cu ft Convertible Chest Freezer (MERC04C4BAWW)
$200–$300
It converts between freezer and fridge, handy for party drinks or a glut of summer produce, and Midea rates it for a garage or basement from 0°F to 110°F as a freezer (38°F to 110°F as a fridge). It keeps food frozen for up to 48 hours in a power outage.
What owners say: Owners run it indoors and in the garage and say it freezes quickly, holds the cold and is surprisingly quiet, a good fit for apartments and small households. Some had dents or damaged hinges on arrival.
A closer look: Switch modes with the seasons: freezer for bulk meat and batch cooking, fridge for drinks and produce when the kitchen fridge is full. Adjust the legs so it sits level on an uneven garage floor, and keep small items in the basket so they don’t sink to the bottom.
- Up to 48-hr outage protection
- Adjustable legs for uneven floors
- LED light inside
Best for: A freezer or an extra fridge
- Capacity
- 3.5 cu ft
- Size (W x D x H)
- 21.5 x 17.6 x 33.5 in
- Garage use (maker)
- 0 to 110°F
- Fridge mode
- Yes
- Baskets
- 1
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Igloo 3.5 cu ft | #2BLACK+DECKER 2.7 cu ft | #3Kismile 3.2 cu ft | #4Frigidaire 7.0 cu ft | #5Midea 3.5 cu ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Biggest freezer | Best convertible | |||
| Picked Rating | 8.9 | 8.7 | 8.7 | 8.6 | 8.4 |
| Price | $200–$300 | $200–$300 | $200–$300 | Over $300 | $200–$300 |
| Capacity | 3.5 cu ft | 2.7 cu ft | 3.2 cu ft | 7.0 cu ft | 3.5 cu ft |
| Size (W x D x H) | 18.9 x 21.9 x 32.5 in | 20.9 x 17.3 x 33.3 in | 20.7 x 17.1 x 31.9 in | 33.5 x 23 x 34 in | 21.5 x 17.6 x 33.5 in |
| Garage use (maker) | Garage ready | Home or garage | No | 0 to 110°F | 0 to 110°F |
| Fridge mode | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Baskets | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Best for | Small spaces and garages | Apartments and small kitchens | Kitchens, dorms and offices | Stocking up on bulk packs | A freezer or an extra fridge |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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