Upright freezers store frozen food, such as meat, vegetables, and ice cream. However, they can vary in terms of size, temperature, and more.
To help you select the freezer to accompany your refrigerator and meet your food storage needs, the This Old House Team researched the best upright freezers on Amazon.
Here are our top recommendations.
Compare Top Upright Freezers
| Product | Storage Space | Temperature Range | Finish | Weight | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Frigidaire Upright FreezerCheck Price | 15.5 cu feet | Not listed | Silver | 159 pounds | 27.8 x 29.1 x 67.8 inches |
Kismile Compact Upright FreezerCheck Price | 3 cu feet | -7.6°F to 6.8°F | Black | 47 pounds | 20.3 x 22.2 x 32 inches |
Northair Adaptable Mini Upright FreezerCheck Price | 1.1 cu feet | -7.6°F to 14°F | Black | 33 pounds | 19.6 x 18.6 x 17.5 inches |
R.W.FLAME Upright Compact FreezerCheck Price | 2.3 cu feet | -11°F to 10.4°F | Red | 60 pounds | 19.7 x 20.9 x 33.3 inches |
RCA Stainless Steel Upright FreezerCheck Price | 6.5 cu feet | Not listed | Silver | 92 pounds | 22.2 x 21.3 x 55.9 inches |
Top 5 Upright Freezers
- Frigidaire Upright Freezer: Best Capacity
- Kismile Compact Upright Freezer: Most Customizable
- Northair Adaptable Mini Upright Freezer: Quietest Freezer
- R.W.FLAME Upright Compact Freezer: Best Retro Styling
- RCA Stainless Steel Upright Freezer: Best Interior Lighting
Best Capacity
Frigidaire Upright Freezer
This freezer has a capacity of 15.5 cubic feet and can maintain a consistent temperature throughout its multiple shelves and compartments. Four of the shelves can be removed and reorganized, allowing you to fit large food items into the freezer.
Pros and Cons of Frigidaire Upright Freezer
- Features a temperature alarm that goes off if the door is left open
- Has an EvenTemp cooling system
- Can adjust the height of the shelves
- The door seal sometimes allows cold air to escape
- Arrived dented for some customers
What People Are Saying About The Frigidaire Upright Freezer
Customers said that this upright freezer ran quietly, held a lot of food, and cooled quickly upon arrival. Those who weren’t satisfied with the freezer stated that the product took a long time to ship to their homes.
Most Customizable
Kismile Compact Upright Freezer
This upright freezer comes with a concealed handle and a reversible door. It’s available in three small sizes, making it perfect for storing items in offices, kitchens, dorm rooms, and garages. You can also choose from three colors to further customize it.
Pros and Cons of Kismile Compact Upright Freezer
- Features a seven-grade adjustable temperature knob
- Has a reversible door
- Designed with energy-efficient technology
- Can be difficult to contact the seller
- Can accumulate frost
What People Are Saying About The Kismile Compact Upright Freezer
Customers said that the freezer fit well in small spaces, had a reasonable storage capacity, and was energy efficient. Dissatisfied customers said that frost accumulated in the freezer quickly. They had to defrost the entire freezer to get rid of it.
Quietest Freezer
Northair Adaptable Mini Upright Freezer
This freezer is perfect for storing small food items and drink cans. It uses advanced technology with cooling tubes to maintain and regulate one of seven temperature settings in the freezer. All of this cooling happens at a low noise level under 40 decibels.
Pros and Cons of Northair Adaptable Mini Upright Freezer
- Features a wider temperature range than the other small freezers in this review at -7.6 to 14 degrees Fahrenheit
- Has adjustable feet to level the freezer on uneven ground
- Includes one adjustable shelf to separate the freezer into storage areas
- Can’t hold a lot of frozen food
- Can be louder than advertised
What People Are Saying About The Northair Adaptable Mini Upright Freezer
Satisfied customers liked this upright freezer because it was energy-efficient and great for small spaces. They also enjoyed the temperature options. However, a handful of customers complained that the freezer arrived broken or dented.
Best Retro Styling
R.W.FLAME Upright Compact Freezer
With its bright red color and sleek retro handle to open the door, this upright freezer stands out among other black and silver-colored models. It has thick, rubber feet to keep the freezer stable on the floor without scratching it, and extra layers of insulation to keep items frozen.
Pros and Cons of R.W.FLAME Upright Compact Freezer
- Has a reinforced door gasket to keep items extra cool
- Reaches temperatures as low as -11 degrees Fahrenheit
- Has two shelves that separate the freezer into three storage areas
- Doesn’t have an interior light to illuminate what’s inside
- The bottom coils of the freezer are exposed
What People Are Saying About The R.W.FLAME Upright Compact Freezer
The majority of customers gave this upright compact freezer a four or five-star rating, saying that it was lightweight and easy to carry, reliably kept their food frozen, and looked great in their living space. On the other hand, some users complained that the freezer scratched easily and given its thick insulation, didn’t store as many items on the inside as they hoped it would.
Best Interior Lighting
RCA Stainless Steel Upright Freezer
The RCA Upright Freezer has 6.5 cubic feet of storage space for food between three adjustable shelves. The appliance is also easy to clean with a manual defrost feature and easy to sort through using its LED lighting, which evenly illuminates the interior.
Pros and Cons of RCA Stainless Steel Upright Freezer
- Can hold a medium amount of frozen food with its 6.5 cubic feet of storage space
- Features three wire shelves to organize your items and allow for airflow
- Has a manual defrost setting to keep your freezer clean
- Can be noisy The manufacturer doesn’t provide many pictures or details in the Amazon listing
- The manufacturer doesn’t provide many pictures or details in the Amazon listing
What People Are Saying About The RCA Stainless Steel Upright Freezer
Happy customers liked the temperature control and lightweight nature of this appliance, and some had success using the appliance as a deep freezer. However, some dissatisfied customers said that the freezer stopped working after a few months of use.
Buyer’s Guide
Here are three factors to consider when making your upright freezer purchase.
Temperature Control
Temperature control is important for any device that stores food. Having a freezer that’s too cold can result in frost accumulation, while having a freezer that’s too warm can result in food waste.
For the most control over your appliance, choose a freezer that has several temperature settings and a built-in thermostat. Additional insulation and temperature control are also recommended if you want an upright freezer that’s garage-ready, which means that it can handle warm outside temperatures.
Size
The size of an upright freezer determines how much floor space it’ll occupy and how much it can store. Compact freezers that have 3 cubic feet of storage space or less are great for dorms, apartments, and RVs. Larger freezers that are over 55 inches tall are perfect for garages, kitchens, sheds, and other areas that can accommodate a lot of freezer space.
Storage Organization
Most freezers come with several shelves to organize your storage space. If you plan to store pieces of meat, cakes, or other large items, look for freezers that have removable shelves to allow for space customization. Some freezers also have door shelves, built-in ice cube trays, or in-door compartments, to give you more storage options.
Energy Efficiency
An upright freezer with a high Energy Star rating is usually a good indicator that the appliance uses a low-to-moderate amount of electricity. Additionally, thick gaskets and airtight insulation will keep your items cooler without having to draw more power from your home.
Reversible Doors
Some upright freezers have reversible doors to help them fit into tight spaces, allowing users to swing open the door whichever direction they prefer. Note that some freezer doors with this feature may allow cool air to escape if the door gaskets aren’t airtight.
Locks
To prevent pets or children from accessing the contents inside your upright freezer, some models including a locking mechanism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best-sized freezer for a small house?
The best-sized freezer for a small house usually ranges between three to 10 cubic feet of storage space. This size range offers plenty of storage for frozen items while maximizing an otherwise compact living area. Upright freezers are also available in mini models, which are as small as one cubic foot.
How do I clean my upright freezer?
You can clean your freezer by defrosting it and wiping it with a cleaning solution. Some customers also rinse their defrosted freezer with a garden hose if it has sticky spills on its shelves.
How often should I defrost my freezer?
According to most manufacturers, you should defrost your freezer at least once a year to eliminate any accumulated frost build up.
How can I avoid freezer burn?
You can avoid freezer burn by storing food items in airtight containers or bags. Additionally, to avoid overstressing your appliance, make sure it has plenty of space around it for the compressor and/or coils to draw fresh air.
What’s the difference between an upright freezer and a chest freezer?
The primary difference between an upright freezer and a chest freezer is in their door design. While upright freezers traditionally open from the sides, a chest freezer lays flat and opens from the top.
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We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.