Unsure which small freezer to buy? We recommend the best mini freezers available right now. Get an energy efficient tiny freezer with our guide.
Making a success of life in a small home means making the most of every inch of space possible.
In today's guide, we take a close look at the top performing mini freezers on the market, so you can squeeze every little bit of usable space out of your kitchen.
We've scoured the internet for the top performing small upright freezers that cover a range of budgets.
There are Energy Star accredited models that are economical on energy use and even those that can switch between fridge and freezer modes.
We're confident that you'll find the perfect tiny freezer for your home with our guide anyway.
Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we may make a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
The Best Small Freezers Compared
Start by taking a look at our recommended miniature freezers in the comparison table below
You can read about them in more detail in the following section.
Best "Large" Small Freezer
Whynter Energy Star 210SS
Our #1 Recommendation
Whynter CUF Energy Star
Great Alternative
HomeLabs Upright Freezer
Mini Freezer Reviews
Here's where we go into more detail.
Besides telling you the specs that make these models stand out in a crowded market, we also give our honest opinion about which are best in certain areas or in specific scenarios.
We'll start with our absolute favorite and the one we'd choose over all others.
This tiny freezer is the complete package of energy saving performance and smart design. It just so happens to be one of the smallest freezers available too.
Our Top Pick
Whynter CUF Energy Star
An energy efficient small freezer that performs well across the board.
Capacity: 1.1 cubic feet
Annual Energy Use: 215 kWh (Energy Star)
Cost: $
This little space saving gem from Whynter is the pick of picks when it comes to miniature freezers.
Besides being tremendously small it also boasts the prized trophy of electrical appliance greatness: an Energy Star Certificate, to back up Whynter's energy-saving claims.
Measuring just 17.75" D x 18.75" W x 19.5" H this is one the most compact freezers on the market today.
It's the perfect choice for any small space where ice cold storage is required.
Designed to take up the absolute minimum of space, it features clever engineering like a reversible-swing door (with a recessed handle) and flush back that allows it to fit snugly against a wall.
Having just fitted a refrigerator/freezer combo into a small kitchen I'm full of praise for the extra installation options a reversible door allows.
By changing the door set-up we were able to fit the fridge/freezer into a corner which would otherwise have been "dead space".
It offers 1.1 cubic feet of cold storage space, which is actually fairly remarkable when you see how small the actual footprint of this freezer is.
The interior features a recessed shelf with a removable wire tray, offering two layers of storage.
On the lower level, there is also a temperature control dial that offers a temperature range from -10° to 2°F. It also gives the option to turn the system off when a manual defrost is needed.
Underneath the hood, this freezer is really well put together. It's one of the few freezers around of this size to be Energy Star rated.
This award means that it has been assessed as being a very energy efficient appliance.
Besides saving energy and being better for the environment this also has the added benefit of saving you money on electricity bills over the course of its lifetime.
Its estimated yearly energy use (a figure ratified by the government) is 215 kWh.
If your electricity was to cost the national average of 12 cents per kWh, then this freezer would cost $26 a year in energy costs.
Find me a more energy efficient freezer of this size and I'll be shocked.
Despite boasting a powerful compressor that manages to work incredibly efficiently, this little freezer manages to perform its job pretty quietly too.
It produces a noise level of less than 42dB, which to put into perspective is around that of a library (check out a noise comparison chart).
Noisy freezers can be a real source of frustration in the home, but thankfully the Whynter CUF won't get on your nerves.
All this comes with a one-year limited warranty too.
Pros
Cons
Bottom Line
If you're looking for the top mini freezer on the market then this is it.
It's energy efficient, quiet, and so small that you'll barely notice it's there. It's actually very good value for money too.
Best "Large" Small Freezer
Whynter Energy Star 210SS
Offering a bit more storage space, it's small and energy efficient.
Capacity: 2.1 cubic feet
Annual Energy Use: 228 kWh (Energy Star)
Cost: $$
In our guide to the best small freezers around, we've chosen the very smallest available (1.1 cu. ft capacity) and also what would be deemed as the biggest of the small upright freezers (3.2 cu. ft capacity).
The Whynter 210SS fits nicely between these two markers. It holds that middle ground and offers a great size alternative in the marketplace.
It's what we recommend for those that are tight on space but need a little more storage space.
As you can see in the image, the 2.1 cubic feet of storage space that this freezer offers is pretty generous. It holds much more than just a few microwave meals.
Like most space-saving freezers it comes with a reversible swing door and flush back so that it fits cleanly against the wall. It also has the standard lockable door (key operated).
But, the standout feature of this model is the Energy Star rating.
Like the smaller 1.1 cubic feet capacity Whynter CUF-110B that we recommended earlier, this miniature freezer has been certified as being one of the most energy-efficient devices in its class.
With an annual energy use of 228 kWh it compares very favorably with similar freezers.
In fact, when comparing the relative capacities and power usages of our recommended 5 models it could be said this freezer is the most energy efficient relative to its size.
For just a 6% increase in power use, it gives almost double the storage capacity of the 1.1 cubic foot capacity freezers.
Pros
Cons
Bottom Line
Now, it's not the smallest mini freezer out there, but it's not far off.
It is, however, very energy efficient and a great piece of engineering. This is a great alternative to the tiny 1.1 cubic foot models.
It's perfect for those tight on space but need a bit more storage space for frozen foods.
Great Alternative
HomeLabs 1.1 Upright
A small upright freezer that's quiet and energy efficient.
Capacity: 2.1 cubic feet
Annual Energy Use: 240 kWh
Cost: $
Measuring just 17.5" x 18.3" x 19.8" this miniature freezer is actually the smallest of our recommendations.
So, why isn't it our number one recommendation?
We'll get to that shortly. But, it's a small matter of opinion really.
With a 1.1 cubic feet capacity it's really tiny, and that's what makes it the ideal freezer for college dorms, offices, and small apartments.
A removable, slide out wire shelf gives some flexibility with storage and the door features a key-lock to keep prying eyes and fingers at bay.
Despite being so small, this HomeLabs freezer is packed full of ice cool features.
For a start, there are 7 temperature settings ranging from -20℃ to -14℃ (-4°F to 6.8°F) offering you some control over the energy consumption.
On the subject of energy consumption, it's a really energy efficient compact freezer. At around 240 kWh of energy use per year, it compares very favorably with freezers of similar size.
However, it's not the most energy efficient tiny freezer and this is the area where it loses out to the Whynter models.
It doesn't have that precious Energy Star certificate, which may put some off. But, this shouldn't be a deal breaker as it's still a very efficient little freezer.
Further features include a reversible stainless steel swing door for extra installation options and a noise level of just 42 dB which is joint best in class with the 1.1 cubic feet Whynter model (our #1 choice).
Pros
Cons
Bottom Line
All in all, an excellent little freezer.
It's the smallest freezer on the market (at the time of writing) but just loses out on energy efficiency to our number one recommendation.
If you simply need the smallest appliance possible, then this is it!
Danby Upright
Capacity: 3.2 cubic feet
Annual Energy Use: 272 kWh
Cost: $$$
This freezer from Danby is a monster compared to the last few. Now, that doesn't make it large by any means, as it's still definitely a small freezer and measures just 22.5" L x 20.7" W x 32.7" H.
The last few are just exceptionally small, making this 3.2 cubic foot capacity freezer seem abnormally large.
With around 3x the capacity of the last two models, this freezer has two shelves and ample cold storage space for a small home.
It doesn't have the Energy Star efficiency rating like the other two but possesses some pretty solid energy use figures.
Rated at 272 kWh of annual energy use and $33 in yearly energy costs, it's not power hungry by any means. The increase in energy use corresponds to the capacity being almost triple the smaller models.
Though bigger than the other models on our list of recommendations, it features the same space-saving design ideas.
The reversible handle gives extra options with regards to the point of installation, and the recessed handle doesn't take up any extra space.
Like most appliances like this, it comes with a 12-month warranty with the option to extend.
Bottom Line: The biggest of the small space-saving freezers. It offers a very usable sized capacity but maintains a small footprint in the kitchen.
Magic Chef Upright
Capacity: 3.0 cubic feet
Annual Energy Use: 270 kWh
Cost: $$$
At 3.0 cubic feet of storage capacity, this small upright freezer is one of the largest of our choices. It actually comes in a variety of sizes ranging from 2.4 - 3.5 cu. ft but the statistics mentioned here all relate to the 3.0 model.
With total dimensions of 22" L x 20.3" W x 32.1" H, its floor footprint isn't all that much bigger than the smallest freezers, but vertically there's a big difference in size.
With an annual energy power use of around 270 kWh it's on the higher end of the scale of our recommendations, which is no real surprise given its large capacity. It ranks 4th out of our 5 picks for energy use.
It comes with the standard reversible door, recessed handle, and removable wire shelves.
Bottom Line: This model gives you great options in terms of size. Rather than standing out in any one area, it performs steadily in each. A reliable and trusted freezer.
Conclusion
In this section, we go over the key takeaways from our findings and give our final opinion on which compact freezers are worth your money.
If you need the smallest freezer on the market then there's only one model for you.
You need the Whynter CUF-110B Energy Star.
It's tiny and also the most energy efficient in its class.
Best Mini Freezer = Whynter CUF-110B Energy Star
If the CUF-110B is just too small for you, then the Whynter 210SS is an excellent option.
It has almost double the capacity but remains extremely energy efficient.
Best Small Freezer (a bit larger) = Whynter 210SS
We assure you we aren't sponsored by, or this post is in any way a paid endorsement of Whynter's products.
This guide has been independently researched and written according to our opinions only.
It just so happens that their two products are the best out there in their class.
Best "Large" Small Freezer
Whynter Energy Star 210SS
Our #1 Recommendation
Whynter CUF Energy Star
Great Alternative
HomeLabs Upright Freezer
Buyer's Guide
If this is your first time buying a freezer then don't miss this section as you can check out the key features that separate the good from the average.
Capacity
The capacity of a freezer is the usable volume that it possesses.
Basically, how much food you can stuff into it. This is very different from the size (see the next part) which is the amount of space that it will take up in your kitchen.
The capacity of a freezer is measured in cubic feet (the symbol is cu. ft or ft3).
It's sometimes hard to envisage a volume measurement like this, so a simple cubic foot is illustrated in the diagram below.
The tiniest of the tiny freezers have a volume just larger than this and measure 1.1 ft3 (see the Whynter Energy Star & HomeLabs models).
The largest model we have included in our recommendations measures 3.2 ft3 (the Danby) which is considerably larger in both its capacity and the space that it takes up in the home.
Just remember that having the same capacity doesn't necessarily mean that two freezers will have the same dimensions.
Different manufacturers use different tricks that minimize the floor space their products take up.
Size
The freezer dimensions are always given in inches. This is the actual footprint that it will take up in the home.
If space is really tight in your home then there are a couple of things to note about sizing a compact freezer for installation:
1. At the back of the freezer lies a compressor. This is the part that does the job of cooling. The compressor needs a bit of space for ventilation as it tends to get pretty hot.
For this reason, you should never position your freezer pressed up against the back wall. You need to give it an inch or so of space.
You need to factor this into your measurements and add an inch or so to the length dimension of a freezer.
2. It's all very good squeezing an appliance into a space but it needs to be easily accessed too.
Allow for the swing of the door in your measurements.
Thankfully, these devices come with reversible doors as standard, that allows an extra option here.
Accessibility
A common feature with tiny freezers is a lockable door, usually operated with a key.
However, this feature isn't standard and you'll find the bigger they get the less likely it is to have this ability.
Another common feature that we touched upon in the last section is the reversible door.
This allows the door to be mounted on either side of the structure. This allows a bit of flexibility with regards to installation.
Energy Usage
Freezers are notorious energy users that waste a lot of energy as heat emitted from the compressor.
However, thankfully recent government guidelines have driven a real effort in improving energy efficiencies of household appliances like them.
Electrical appliances are now required by law to meet certain efficiency standards and display a special label outlining its performance under testing.
You can see an example label taken from the Federal Trade Commission website below.
The very best performers that testing deems the most energy efficient appliances display an Energy Star badge (in the bottom right corner).
Remember that besides being better for the environment, a more efficient appliance will save you money on bills too.
Tiny House Huge Ideas Top Tip
The money that you will pay in energy bills over the course of a freezer's lifespan will dwarf what you pay upfront to buy it.
It's likely that you'll make more savings over 10 years by buying a more expensive but very efficient model, than buying a cheap freezer that is less efficient.
Maintenance
These small, compact freezers need to be manually defrosted.
That means emptying them, turning them off, and removing ice/frost that has accumulated.
This usually needs to happen when the frost exceeds about 1/4" in thickness.
Energy Saving Tips for Small Freezers
To make sure you don't use more energy than absolutely necessary, take a quick look at these simple bits of advice. They'll save you energy and also money.
- Be careful not to open the door too frequently during humid weather. The damp air may add ice to the interior of your freezer. The more ice and frost that accumulates in your freezer, the more inefficiently it will perform.
- Check the ventilation is clear every so often. These devices need a bit of air circulation behind them.
- When adding food to the freezer make sure that it has cooled to room temperature first.
- As we touched on before, ice and frost reduce the energy efficiency of a freezer by making it use more energy to maintain its temperature. Keep an eye on the amount of frost and ice. If it exceeds 1/4" in thickness then it's time to clean.
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Great help in a area where to many choices are offered. Couldn’t connect all the information to make a quality decision. Until I read this review.