How to choose

See Types to decide between a chest or upright model. Then search within that category, using the following criteria.

Figure the capacity you need.

That will depend on the size of your family and their fondness for frozen foods. Freezers are available in four general sizes: compact (5 cubic feet), small (6 to 9 cubic feet), medium (12 to 18 cubic feet), and large (more than 18 cubic feet). Except for hanging baskets, chest freezers are wide open so that almost all of the claimed space is usable. Upright freezers have shelves and pullout bins. Those make it easier to organize and reach contents but reduce usable space by up to 20 percent.

Weigh manual vs. self-defrost.

Manual-defrost freezers, whether chest or upright, are generally quieter and more energy efficient than self-defrosting models of the same type. But manually defrosting a freezer is a lot of work and can take up to 24 hours.

Consider local power problems.

If the area where you live is prone to brownouts or power failures, a chest freezer will be the better choice.

Check the controls and lights.

Easy-to-reach controls make adjusting the temperature simple. An interior light makes it easier to find foods, especially if the freezer is in a dimly lighted area. A power-on light on the outside of the freezer lets you see at a glance that the freezer is on. That way you don't have to open the unit to check, letting cold air out. Most of the models we tested have that feature. We think all should have it.