Chest freezers (2026)
A chest freezer lets you buy meat, bread and garden food in bulk and keep a deeper store of meals. This page compares the chest freezers we list, from a 2 cubic foot compact to a 21 cubic foot double-lid model. Every spec is from the maker's page or the listing, read on the date in each card's notes; we haven't used these ourselves. If it's going in a garage, check that the maker states a room-temperature range: only some do.
By Tom Calder · Updated November 8, 2026 · 8 products, 6 of 8 price-tracked
Our picks
Frigidaire 7 cu ft (EFRF7013)
A garage freezer for most families
BLACK+DECKER 2 cu ft
Apartments and dorm-size spaces
GE 15.7 cu ft (FCM16SLWW)
A big garage freezer with a warning light
All 8 compared
| Freezer | Capacity | Garage-ready (maker) | Energy use (label) | Size (W x D x H) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Frigidaire 7.0 cu ft Garage-Ready Chest Freezer (EFRF7013, Granite) Best chest freezer for most families 7 cu ft · Yes: 0 to 110°F (maker) · 250 kWh/yr · See the listing A garage freezer for most families | 7 cu ft | Yes: 0 to 110°F (maker) | 250 kWh/yr | See the listing | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched A 7 cubic foot chest freezer that its maker says works in a garage from 0°F to 110°F, with the temperature dial outside so you don't open the lid to adjust it. Seven cubic feet holds a good stock of meat and freezer meals for a family. Defrosting is manual, with a drain. Best for A garage freezer for most families Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you need it for a cold unheated space below 0°F. | |||||
7 cu ft · Yes: 0 to 110°F (maker) · 250 kWh/yr · 32.1 x 21.7 x 33.5 in The garage freezer with the clearest specs | 7 cu ft | Yes: 0 to 110°F (maker) | 250 kWh/yr | 32.1 x 21.7 x 33.5 in | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched GE states a 0°F to 110°F room range for this 7 cubic foot freezer and publishes full dimensions, including the 53 inches it needs with the lid open. Two slide-out baskets make it easier to find things than one. A strong choice for a garage. Best for The garage freezer with the clearest specs Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you need more than 7 cu ft: GE's 15.7 cu ft model is garage-ready too. | |||||
15.7 cu ft · Yes: 0 to 110°F (maker) · 308 kWh/yr · 65 x 28.5 x 33.4 in A big garage freezer with a warning light | 15.7 cu ft | Yes: 0 to 110°F (maker) | 308 kWh/yr | 65 x 28.5 x 33.4 in | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched A large 15.7 cubic foot freezer that GE says works in a garage from 0°F to 110°F, with a high-temperature light that tells you if it's warmed up, useful after an outage. It also has a lock and an interior light. Best for A big garage freezer with a warning light Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you won't keep it full: a half-full freezer holds its cold for about half as long in an outage (USDA). | |||||
5 cu ft · Listing says yes; maker page doesn't · 216 kWh/yr · See the listing A smaller freezer for a couple or small family | 5 cu ft | Listing says yes; maker page doesn't | 216 kWh/yr | See the listing | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched A 5 cubic foot chest freezer that fits in a utility room or closet. Amazon's listing calls it garage-ready, but the maker's page doesn't give a temperature range, so if it's going in a hot or cold garage, the GE or the 7 cu ft Frigidaire state theirs. Best for A smaller freezer for a couple or small family Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if it's going in an unheated garage: pick a model whose maker states a range. | |||||
8.6 cu ft · 214 kWh/yr · See the listing More room for about the same running cost | 8.6 cu ft | — | 214 kWh/yr | See the listing | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Sold as 9 cubic feet (its energy label says 8.6), with almost the same yearly energy use as the 5 cu ft model on its label. A good size for a family that buys meat in bulk. Keep it indoors or in a mild space: the maker doesn't state a garage range. Best for More room for about the same running cost Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if it's going in a garage that gets very hot or cold. | |||||
7 cu ft · 250 kWh/yr · 30.3 x 22 x 33.5 in A freezer that can be an extra fridge | 7 cu ft | — | 250 kWh/yr | 30.3 x 22 x 33.5 in | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched A 7 cubic foot chest freezer that switches to fridge mode, handy for holidays, parties or a second fridge while you're running a generator. It has an interior light. Midea doesn't give a garage temperature range for this model. Best for A freezer that can be an extra fridge Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if it's going in a hot garage. | |||||
21 cu ft · Listing says yes; maker page doesn't · 375 kWh/yr · About 81 in wide (carton) Whole-animal and bulk-buy storage | 21 cu ft | Listing says yes; maker page doesn't | 375 kWh/yr | About 81 in wide (carton) | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched A 21 cubic foot freezer with two lids, for a hunting season, a half cow or a big garden. Two lids mean you open only half at a time. It's about 6.5 feet wide, so measure the space and the doorways first. Best for Whole-animal and bulk-buy storage Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you won't fill it: an empty freezer warms faster in an outage, so buy the size you'll keep full. | |||||
2 cu ft · About 21 x 17 x 27 in Apartments and dorm-size spaces | 2 cu ft | — | — | About 21 x 17 x 27 in | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched A small 2 cubic foot freezer, about 70 lb of food by the listing, that fits under a counter or in a closet. Enough for a few weeks of extra frozen meals. Like any freezer, it holds its cold longest when full: USDA says about 48 hours full and 24 hours half full, with the door closed. Best for Apartments and dorm-size spaces Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you buy meat in bulk: 5 to 7 cu ft is the common family size. | |||||
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Before you buy
Size: about 5 to 7 cubic feet suits many families; 2 to 3.5 cu ft fits an apartment; 15 cu ft and up is for bulk meat buys and hunting.
Buy the size you'll keep full: USDA's figures are 48 hours for a full freezer and 24 for a half-full one.
Garage-ready means the maker says the freezer keeps working across a range of room temperatures.
GE states 0°F to 110°F for its garage-ready models, and Frigidaire's maker page says the same for the EFRF7013. Where only the listing says garage-ready, each card says so.
Set it to 0°F or below, as USDA advises, and keep an appliance thermometer inside so you can tell the temperature after an outage.
Energy: the yellow EnergyGuide label gives kWh a year.
The freezers here with a label figure run from 214 to 375 kWh a year.
Measure with the lid open
GE says its 7 cu ft model needs 53 inches of height with the lid up, and the 21 cu ft double-lid model is over 6 feet wide.
Manual defrost is normal on chest freezers; a drain makes it much easier.
Backup power: a chest freezer can run from a generator or a big power station.
Ready.gov says to run generators only outdoors and at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages.
We verify every product's specifications against at least two independent sources, re-check its US price and stock on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and cross-check safety-relevant claims against official guidance. Every review is labeled Researched or Used and reviewed by us: where we've bought a product, or been sent it free, and used it ourselves, its review says which; where we haven't, our verdict is a considered spec-and-evidence comparison, not a hands-on test. When two products are close, commission can decide which one we pick. A clearly better product always wins. Read our full methodology →
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Common questions
How long will a chest freezer keep food frozen without power?
USDA says a full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours, or 24 hours if it is half full, as long as the door stays closed. Keep the lid shut and check an appliance thermometer when the power comes back.
Can I refreeze food that partly thawed in an outage?
USDA says food may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40°F or below, though partial thawing and refreezing may reduce the quality of some food. Never taste food to determine its safety.
What does garage-ready mean?
It means the maker says the freezer keeps working in the hotter and colder room temperatures of a garage. GE says its garage-ready freezers are tested to perform from 0°F to 110°F. If a maker doesn't state a range, ask it before you put the freezer in an unheated garage.
What temperature should a chest freezer be set to?
USDA says 0°F or lower, with an appliance thermometer inside so you can check it.
Will dry ice keep a freezer cold in a long outage?
USDA says 50 pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic-foot full freezer for 2 days. Handle dry ice with gloves and keep the room ventilated.
Sources (4)
- USDA FSIS: Keeping food safe during an emergency48 hours full, 24 half full, 0°F, refreezing, dry ice
- FoodSafety.gov: Food safety during a power outage
- Ready.gov: Power outagesgenerators outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages
- GE Appliances: FCM7STWW specifications (garage ready, 0°F to 110°F)