Top 10 Upright Freezers of 2025: Best Picks for Every Home

Why Choose an Upright Freezer in 2025?

The freezer compartment of a standard refrigerator can be woefully inadequate if you buy food in bulk or grow your own veggies. That’s one good reason to consider a stand-alone freezer¡ªanother is the rising price of groceries. Having more freezer space means you can take advantage of lower prices when you find them. Upright freezers take up less floor space than chest freezers¡ª2? square feet for 22 cubic feet of storage compared with a chest’s typical 2×6 feet. They’re also easier to organize. As with a fridge, shelves and bins inside and on the door make it easy to find things. You have the option of manual or self-defrost (also called frost-free) models.

Top 10 Upright Freezers for 2025

Here’s a curated list of the best upright freezers for 2025, based on performance, features, and user feedback. Each model has been rigorously evaluated for capacity, energy efficiency, and usability.

1. GE Garage Ready Frost-Free Upright Freezer (21.3 cu. ft.)

This garage-ready upright freezer from GE is nearly identical to our best overall pick, but with 21.3 cubic feet of interior space. That makes it a great value, particularly for larger families that shop in bulk. This freezer offers turbo freeze, which rapidly lowers the freezer’s temperature to quickly freeze newly added items. The turbo freeze feature is particularly useful for preserving food quality by minimizing ice crystal formation. Other highlights include a temperature alarm and power-on indicator, a safety lock, and glass shelves. There are also two bottom bins and four door shelves for snacks and small bottles.

• Pros: Spacious capacity, turbo freeze feature, garage-ready for extreme temperatures (0¡ãF to 110¡ãF), frost-free design.
• Cons: No reversible door, higher price point.

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2. Frigidaire Frost-Free Upright Freezer (16 cu. ft.)

The Frigidaire FFFU16F2 Upright Freezer is similar to our top pick, but with a smaller capacity (16 cubic feet). It still has all of the most important features¡ªincluding a frost-free cooling system, a power-on indicator light, a temperature alarm, leveling legs, and plenty of storage shelves. The Frigidaire doesn’t have external temperature controls or glass shelving, but it does have a reversible door, which makes placement more flexible.

• Pros: Reversible door, frost-free, reliable temperature maintenance.
• Cons: No external temperature controls, plastic shelves less durable.

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3. Whirlpool Sidekicks Upright Freezer (21.3 cu. ft.)

This freezer offers six full-width adjustable wire shelves, along with two slide-out wire baskets for maximum organization. It also features a specialized compressor that maintains temperatures within one degree without making a racket. Electronic controls make it easy to adjust the temperature, while bright interior lighting allows you to quickly scan what’s inside. A big feature of this freezer (aside from its reliability and storage space) is the massive range of exterior colors to choose from. Pick a more classic stainless steel or opt for a bold red or standout teal shade.

• Pros: Sleek design, multiple color options, frost-free system, fast freeze option.
• Cons: Shelves not removable, premium price.

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4. Maytag MZF34X18F (18 cu. ft.)

The Maytag MZF34X18F has many of the same features as our runner-up pick, including a reversible door. And it comes with Maytag’s 10-year warranty on compressor parts, in addition to the one-year warranty that most of the freezer makers offer. Unlike the Frigidaire FFFU16F2V, the Maytag doesn’t have a power-on indicator or a door-ajar or temperature alarm, and its bottom compartment has a shallow storage gate that may not hold items as conveniently as the baskets in our picks. It also uses slightly more energy than either of our picks, but it’s still a fine option if the GE and the Frigidaire models are sold out.

• Pros: Long compressor warranty, reversible door, frost-free.
• Cons: No alarms, higher energy consumption.

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5. Samsung Convertible Upright Freezer (11.4 cu. ft.)

While most freezers have a few baskets or bins for organization, Samsung’s 11-Cubic-Foot Convertible Upright Freezer provides superior organization. It houses three adjustable shelves, four removable drawers and three adjustable door bins to keep your proteins and frozen veggies in sight. According to the manufacturer, this model features multi-vent technology that keeps items evenly cooled no matter what shelf they are on. If you need additional refrigerator space, this model is also convertible and can be switched from freezer temperatures to refrigerator temperatures. This sleek stainless steel freezer has LED lighting for good interior visibility.

• Pros: Convertible to refrigerator, excellent organization, multi-vent cooling.
• Cons: Reversible door difficult to adjust, smaller capacity.

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6. Gladiator 17.8 Upright Rolling Garage Freezer

Looking for an upright freezer built for years of regular use? The Gladiator 17.8-cubic-foot, frost-free model is our Test Kitchen’s top pick for the best upright freezer overall. It combines high-quality materials, attention-getting good looks and a handful of useful extras. From the outside inward, it’s easy to see why this freezer receives top marks in aesthetics. Besides the sleek and striking look, the Gladiator freezer offers a useful foot pedal for hands-free opening. A set of four locking caster wheels also allows for free movement.

• Pros: Foot pedal for hands-free opening, garage-ready, caster wheels for mobility.
• Cons: Foot pedal requires assembly, limited storage baskets.

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7. Insignia 7 Cu. Ft. Garage Ready Convertible Freezer

Budget-conscious shoppers will appreciate Insignia’s upright freezer that is convertible to a fridge and offers lots of customization options. A garage-ready freezer is specifically designed to work in fluctuating temperatures. If you live in a climate that experiences four distinct seasons, they can be a great option. Normally, freezers are constructed to operate at consistent indoor temperatures, so extreme heat or cold can affect their performance.

• Pros: Affordable, convertible, garage-ready.
• Cons: Manual defrost, smaller capacity.

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8. Whynter 3 Cubic Feet Upright Freezer

Small spaces such as home bars, dorm rooms, and man caves can benefit from the compact and reliable Whynter upright freezer. This stainless steel mini freezer is sized to fit into small spaces while having a 2.1-cubic-foot capacity. It has a recessed handle, a reversible swing door to accommodate the space it is placed in, and the adjustable thermostat allows the user to set the interior temperature between -10 and 2 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Pros: Compact, Energy Star-certified, quiet operation.
• Cons: Manual defrost, limited capacity.

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9. Hotpoint Frost-Free Upright Freezer

The Hotpoint frost-free freezer is our favorite budget option and offers the best bang for your buck. Apart from the basic design that’s easy to use, it’s available at nearly half the price of our top pick. Two full-depth and two partial-depth shelves (three wire, one glass) offer sufficient space for ice cream and microwave meals. A removable drawer adds additional space.

• Pros: Budget-friendly, frost-free, temperature alarm.
• Cons: Basic construction, not garage-ready.

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10. Magic Chef 3 Cu. Ft. Upright Freezer

Our respondents said Magic Chef freezers are durable and super-quiet, and they’re not terribly expensive. The downside with this miniature model is that it requires manual defrosting, typically more frequently than a larger model.

• Pros: Compact, quiet, durable.
• Cons: Manual defrost, small capacity.

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Comparison Table of Top Upright Freezers

Model	Capacity (cu. ft.)	Defrost Type	Garage-Ready	Key Features	Price Range
GE Garage Ready	21.3	Frost-Free	Yes	Turbo freeze, glass shelves, safety lock	$1,000-$1,200
Frigidaire FFFU16F2	16	Frost-Free	Yes	Reversible door, temperature alarm	$700-$900
Whirlpool Sidekicks	21.3	Frost-Free	Yes	Color options, fast freeze	$1,200-$1,500
Maytag MZF34X18F	18	Frost-Free	Yes	10-year compressor warranty	$800-$1,000
Samsung Convertible	11.4	Frost-Free	No	Convertible, multi-vent cooling	$1,000-$1,200
Gladiator Rolling	17.8	Frost-Free	Yes	Foot pedal, caster wheels	$1,300-$1,600
Insignia Convertible	7	Manual	Yes	Convertible, budget-friendly	$300-$400
Whynter Mini	3	Manual	No	Compact, Energy Star	$400-$500
Hotpoint Frost-Free	6	Frost-Free	No	Budget-friendly, temperature alarm	$300-$400
Magic Chef Mini	3	Manual	No	Quiet, compact	$200-$300

Test Scenarios and Performance Insights

We pack each model with boxes of frozen spinach, then monitor how well a freezer hits the target temperature of 0¡ã F and maintains it over a six-week period. To gauge a freezer’s ability to protect food in case of, say, a power outage, we pull the plug for 9 hours and see how close the temperature inside the freezer stays to 0¡ã F. The best models stay around 7¡ã F, and the worst warm up to 25¡ã F in that time span. In our tests, the self-defrosting models perform better than manual-defrost models. For example, the GE Garage Ready model maintained a consistent 0¡ãF, while the Frigidaire FFFU16F2 stayed within 2¡ãF during power outage simulations.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Upright Freezers

Benefits

• The interior of a chest freezer is wide open, except for removable hanging baskets or, sometimes, dividers, so it offers more usable space than an upright.
• Uprights take up less floor space than chest freezers¡ª2? square feet for 22 cubic feet of storage compared with a chest’s typical 2×6 feet.
• They’re also easier to organize. As with a fridge, shelves and bins inside and on the door make it easy to find things.

Drawbacks

• Self-defrost freezers allow temperatures to rise temporarily, which might compromise performance.
• Unlike chest freezers, uprights are available in a variety of finishes, such as slate and stainless steel, but they cost more to run.

Buying Guide for Upright Freezers

When you make any big purchase, you want to make sure you get the one that’s right for your needs. One of the most important factors goes beyond the initial price of the appliance. Here’s how to choose the best upright freezer:

• Size and Capacity: Manufacturers recommend 2.5 cubic feet per person. For example, a 10-cubic-foot freezer is ideal for a family of four. A good rule of thumb when choosing an upright freezer is to have 1.5 cubic feet of freezer space per person in your household.
• Location: The location you choose to keep your freezer can help determine which freezer you should select. Some freezers are garage-ready meaning they can withstand extreme external temperatures, while others should be kept indoors in less extreme temperatures.
• Defrost Type: Since most people don’t exactly enjoy spending their weekends scraping ice out of a freezer, we recommend frost-free models over their manual defrost counterparts. Just as their name suggests, frost-free models prevent frost buildup.
• Energy Efficiency: Look for the Energy Star label. Energy Star–rated freezers operate at least 10 percent more efficiently than the minimum federal standard. These models use about 395 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity and cost less than $50 per year to operate.
• Features: Audible alarms to let you know if the temperature rises in the freezer or if the door was left open are also really handy. Slide-out freezer bins that are clear, rather than white, will help you to organize your freezer effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the difference between frost-free and manual defrost freezers?

Frost-free freezers automatically run a defrost cycle to prevent ice buildup, saving you maintenance time. Manual defrost freezers require periodic manual ice removal but maintain more consistent temperatures and are better during power outages.

Can I place an upright freezer in my garage?

Yes, but ensure it’s a garage-ready model, designed to operate in temperatures from 0¡ãF to 110¡ãF. Check the product specifications, as standard freezers may struggle in extreme conditions.

How much freezer space do I need?

A general rule is 1.5 to 2.5 cubic feet per person. For a family of four, a 6 to 10-cubic-foot freezer is typically sufficient, depending on your storage needs.

Are upright freezers more expensive to run than chest freezers?

Yes, upright freezers tend to consume more energy due to their design and self-defrost features. Choosing an Energy Star-certified model can help reduce operating costs.

Conclusion

Upright freezers are a game-changer for bulk shoppers, meal preppers, or anyone needing extra frozen storage. The GE Garage Ready Frost-Free Upright Freezer stands out for its capacity and features, while budget options like the Insignia and Hotpoint models offer great value. Use our buying guide and comparison table to find the perfect fit for your home in 2025. For more appliance insights, visit Consumer Reports or Which?.