Best Under Counter Fridges and Fridge Freezers UK: How to Choose for a Small Kitchen, Flat or Garage

Under counter fridges and fridge freezers fit beneath a standard UK kitchen worktop, usually somewhere around 84cm to 90cm tall. If you only need to keep food cold, a simple fridge with a small chill box is cheaper and easier to live with. If you want separate fresh and frozen storage in one unit, you need a true fridge freezer. If you mainly need frozen storage, a standalone freezer holds more at a steadier, colder temperature. The three fridges and fridge freezers in this guide are each listed at 41dB (about the hum of a quiet conversation) and carry an E rating on the current UK A to G energy label.

Below: four under counter products from Opal Retail, what their own spec sheets actually say, and how to work out which type, not just which model, is right for your kitchen, flat, garage or annexe. One of the four is a true fridge freezer, two are fridges with a chill box, and one is a freezer, so the labels matter.

In this article

• Fridge, fridge freezer or freezer: which do you actually need?
• What size fits your kitchen?
• Compare the specs
• How loud is it?
• What does it cost to run?
• Garage or annexe use
• One combo unit or two separate appliances?
• FAQ

Fridge, fridge freezer or freezer: which do you actually need?

This is where most people get stuck, and it is a fair question: the three product types look similar from the outside but do very different jobs.

• A fridge keeps food at 0 to 10°C. Some compact fridges add a small "chill box" at the top, which runs colder than the main cabinet but is not a true freezer, it is for short-term chilling, not for storing frozen food long term.
• A fridge freezer has two genuinely separate compartments: a fresh food section and a freezer section rated to hold food at -18°C or below. On a compact under counter model the freezer section is small, often only 20 to 25 litres, so it suits a weekly top-up of frozen essentials rather than bulk-buy batch cooking.
• A standalone freezer gives you more total frozen storage at a more consistent temperature, and is the better choice if you bulk-buy meat, batch-cook, or simply run out of space in a combo unit's small freezer drawer.

If you already have a full-size fridge elsewhere and just need extra cold storage for a home office, granny annexe or shared house, a fridge-only model is usually simpler and cheaper than paying for a freezer section you will rarely use.

Best all-rounder fridge freezer

88L Under Counter Fridge Freezer, White

63L fridge plus a 25L freezer section listed at -18°C or below, with reversible doors and a crisper drawer.

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What size under counter fridge or fridge freezer fits your kitchen?

UK kitchen worktops typically sit around 900mm from the floor, though the comfortable range runs from about 800mm for shorter users up to 1000mm for taller ones, according to Worktop Express. That leaves roughly 82 to 90cm of clearance beneath a standard worktop once you allow for the cabinet and the worktop's own thickness, which is why most under counter fridges and fridge freezers are built to around 84 to 87cm tall.

That said, "under counter" is not one fixed size. Always measure the actual gap under your own worktop, including any trim or skirting, and check the model's stated height before ordering, because a difference of only a centimetre or two is the gap between a neat fit and a fridge that will not slide in. Short on storage elsewhere in the room? Our small kitchen storage ideas cover the rest of the space.

Compare the specs

Here is what each model's own spec sheet actually states, rather than marketing claims. All four are freestanding (none are built-in or integrated).

Notice that both "91L" models are nearly identical in size. The grey model's listing title and description still use the words "fridge freezer", but its spec sheet gives an 81L fridge with a 10L chill box, a 0 to 10°C temperature range and no freezer compartment size or temperature, so we call it a fridge with a chill box. The lockable white model is described the same way. Neither listing gives a freezer temperature or capacity, so don't buy either expecting long-term frozen storage. Of the products in this guide, only the 88L white model is a fridge freezer, with a freezer compartment listed at -18°C or below. Read the spec sheet, not just the title, before you buy.

Best value compact fridge

91L Under Counter Fridge, Grey

81L fridge with a 10L chill box (no freezer compartment stated), adjustable shelves and a salad drawer, listed at 107 kWh a year.

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How loud is an under counter fridge or fridge freezer?

The three fridges and fridge freezers in this guide are listed at 41dB by their manufacturer, about the level of a quiet background hum, noticeably below a normal conversation (around 60dB). The mini freezer's listing does not state a noise figure. 41dB is quiet enough for most kitchens, but worth knowing if you are planning to put one in a bedroom, home office or small studio flat where every sound carries, since not every compact fridge on the market is rated this low. Always check the dB figure on the spec sheet rather than assuming "compact" means "silent".

Best if you just need a fridge

White 91L Under Counter Fridge with Lock

No freezer compartment stated, just 81L of fridge storage plus a 10L chiller box, with a lock and two keys for shared spaces and offices.

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What does an under counter fridge or fridge freezer cost to run?

UK energy labels moved from the old A+++ to G scale onto a simpler A to G scale on 1 March 2021, according to the Energy Saving Trust. The scale was deliberately reset to leave headroom for better models, a handful of newer fridge freezers now reach A, but D is still a realistic benchmark for most households, and the compact E-rated models in this guide sit only a little below that, a reasonable trade-off for their size and price rather than a sign of a poor appliance.

Taking the manufacturers' own stated annual consumption figures: the 88L fridge freezer uses 167 kWh a year, the 91L grey fridge uses 107 kWh (its listing writes this as "107kW annually", which we read as kWh), and the 91L lockable fridge uses 85 kWh. Your actual cost depends on your own electricity tariff, but as a rule of thumb, a fridge freezer with a genuine freezer section will usually cost more to run than a fridge-only model of a similar size.

Can you put an under counter fridge or freezer in a garage or annexe?

This comes up a lot for anyone kitting out a garage, annexe or summer house as extra living or entertaining space. Every fridge and freezer is built to work within a manufacturer-rated ambient temperature range, sometimes called a climate class, and running one well outside that range, in a very cold garage in winter or a hot conservatory in summer, can affect how well it cools and how much energy it uses. None of the spec sheets for the models in this guide state a climate class, so check the installation manual or ask the manufacturer before fitting any compact fridge or freezer in an unheated space, rather than assuming it will cope.

If you are setting up a garden annexe or home bar and want chilled drinks or wine alongside everyday food storage, it is also worth a look at Opal Retail's wine racks and coolers, which are built specifically for drinks rather than food and run at warmer, wine-friendly temperatures. Our wine coolers versus wine fridges guide explains the difference.

Fridge freezer or two separate appliances: which is better for a small kitchen?

One combo unit saves floor space and only needs a single plug, which suits most small kitchens and flats. Two separate appliances take up more room but give you more total storage and let you choose the lock, size and features of each independently, worth considering for shared housing, offices and annexes. Planning the rest of the room? Our kitchen diner ideas, kettle and toaster sets guide and compact vented tumble dryers guide cover the other small-space appliances.

Best companion freezer

35L Mini Freezer, Black

A standalone freezer with a reversible door and five temperature settings down to -24°C, for extra frozen storage alongside a simpler fridge.

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Frequently asked questions

Is an under counter fridge or fridge freezer big enough for a family?

Realistically, no, not for a family doing a full weekly shop. Most compact under counter fridges and fridge freezers hold 80 to 90 litres in total, which suits one or two people, a studio flat, a home office or a secondary fridge far better than a main family kitchen. A family wanting more capacity is usually better served by a full-height fridge freezer, or by pairing a fridge with a separate standalone freezer for extra frozen storage.

Will an under counter fridge or fridge freezer fit under my worktop?

Possibly, but check first. UK worktops typically sit around 900mm from the floor, and the fridges and fridge freezer in this guide measure 84 to 86.5cm tall, which usually leaves enough clearance. Measure the actual gap under your own worktop, including skirting, and compare it against the model's stated height before ordering.

How loud is an under counter fridge or fridge freezer?

The fridges and fridge freezer compared in this guide are listed at 41dB, about the level of a quiet hum. That is fine for most kitchens, but check the dB rating before buying if you plan to put one somewhere quiet, like a bedroom or home office.

Can I put one in a garage or unheated annexe?

Only if the manufacturer confirms it is rated for that temperature range. None of the models in this guide state a climate class on their spec sheet, so check the installation manual or contact the manufacturer before fitting any compact fridge or freezer in an unheated space.

What's the difference between a fridge freezer and a fridge with a chill box?

A true fridge freezer has a separate compartment built to hold food at -18°C or below, suitable for long-term frozen storage. A chill box, like the ones in both 91L fridges compared above (the grey model and the lockable white model), only runs a little colder than the main fridge cabinet. It is useful for keeping drinks or short-term items extra cold, but neither listing gives a freezer temperature or capacity, so do not rely on it for frozen storage. Of the products in this guide, only the 88L is a fridge freezer, and the 35L is a freezer only.

Is frost-free or manual defrost better for a small fridge or fridge freezer?

The two 91L fridges in this guide (grey and white) are both manual defrost, which is typical at this compact size; the 88L fridge freezer's defrost type is not stated on its spec sheet, so check before you buy if this matters to you. Manual defrost units are simpler and usually cheaper, but you will need to switch them off and clear any ice build-up every so often. Frost-free models avoid that chore but are less common, and usually larger and pricier, at the compact under counter size.

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