Best Overall
GE Garage Ready Upright Freezer
- Our top choice, this comes with a lock and key to keep valuable frozen foods safe and secure.
Our top choice, this comes with a lock and key to keep valuable frozen foods safe and secure.
- The right-hand door opening is the only option on this freezer model.
The right-hand door opening is the only option on this freezer model.
Our top choice, this mid-priced upright freezer from GE is a workhorse that’ll store everything you need to freeze, plus more. The freezer comes with four glass shelves, two of which are adjustable.
Glass shelves are sturdy, easy to clean, and see-through, which is a bonus when searching for icy cold food. Clear slide-out freezer bins make it easy to stay organized, and added storage on the freezer’s door means you won’t be digging through a cold freezer looking for smaller items.
Billed as a “garage ready” freezer, this appliance is proven to maintain its cold temperature in a range from 0°F to 110°F. We love that there’s an exterior temperature control, so there’s no need to open the freezer door to adjust the inner temperature. A built-in audible temperature alarm will alert you if the temperature starts to rise. There’s also a function that blasts an extra boost of cold air to restore the interior temperature back to your preferred temperature setting.
In addition to the shelves and bins for easy storage, an automatic interior light makes it easy to see what’s inside this appliance. Speaking of what’s inside—keep out hungry teens or other unwanted guests with a built-in lock and key.
The only drawbacks to this upright freezer are that it’s only available in white, and the right-hand door is the only option. If you don’t have any flexibility regarding where this appliance can go, double-check that a right-hand door (hinges on the right, opens from the left), works for you and your space.
Product Details: Dimensions: 28 x 62 x 32 inches | Capacity: 14.1 cubic feet | Temperature Control: Exterior electronic | Shelves: Four glass shelves
Key Terms to Know
- Frost-Free: This type of freezer features an automatic fan inside the unit that removes warm air, preventing ice buildup.
- Garage Ready: A freezer that operates in garage conditions, meaning optimal functionality anywhere from 0 to 110°F.
Best Budget
Vissani Upright Freezer/Refrigerator
- With the turn of a knob, this appliance can easily switch between a freezer and a refrigerator.
With the turn of a knob, this appliance can easily switch between a freezer and a refrigerator.
- At 7 cubic feet, this appliance has less storage capacity than others on the list.
At 7 cubic feet, this appliance has less storage capacity than others on the list.
If you’re searching for a budget-friendly option with flexibility, this convertible upright appliance is the best choice. This freezer can easily convert from a freezer to a refrigerator and back again. With a turn of a knob, transform this appliance to be a refrigerator before a big holiday and then a freezer afterward to store all the leftovers.
Made with a slim profile and a high-end stainless steel look, the unit has a recessed handle and can be set up with either a left or right-hand door open. There are four removable and easy-to-clean glass shelves and one drawer on the bottom. While there’s no door storage, the ability to remove the shelves does give you lots of flexibility for varying storage needs.
This freezer is a great value for versatility as long as you don’t need immense storage space since this freezer only has a capacity of 6.9 cubic feet. If you like the small size, you could even purchase two for less than the cost of one freezer of a different model—you could use one as a freezer and one as a refrigerator.
Product Details: Dimensions: 56.3 x 21.65 x 22.44 inches | Capacity: 6.9 cubic feet | Temperature Control: Convertible between freezer and refrigerator | Shelves: Four glass shelves
Best Splurge
Whirlpool SideKicks Upright Freezer
- The sleek design is spacious and even has a space designed to hold a large pizza.
The sleek design is spacious and even has a space designed to hold a large pizza.
- This freezer is not safe in temperatures below 40°F, so it’s not garage-ready.
This freezer is not safe in temperatures below 40°F, so it’s not garage-ready.
The Whirlpool Sidekicks Frost Free Upright Freezer is more expensive than other options, but we think its thoughtful and stylish design makes it worth the splurge.
Finding space inside this upright freezer is a cinch thanks to four adjustable glass shelves, five-door bins, and two wire baskets that keep all your food organized. There’s even an extra “pizza pocket” that can hold a full-sized pizza.
Bright interior LED lighting makes searching for your favorite frozen goods easy. While this upright freezer is not is not safe in temperatures below 40°F meaning it’s not garage-ready, it does come with some handy safeguards. For example, the upright freezer has a temperature monitor that will alert you if the freezer is too cold or the freezer door is left open.
Product Details: Dimensions: 30.25 x 66.75 x 31.25 inches | Capacity: 18 cubic feet | Temperature Control: Electronic | Shelves: Four adjustable glass shelves
Best for Garages
GE Garage Ready Frost-Free Upright Freezer
- This freezer will keep food frozen for 48 hours if the appliance loses power.
This freezer will keep food frozen for 48 hours if the appliance loses power.
- The door is right-side only, and it’s only available in white.
The door is right-side only, and it’s only available in white.
This garage-ready upright freezer is a good addition to households that need a lot of freezer storage. It can perform in temperatures from 0°F to 110°F, making it perfect for cooler or warmer climates.
Inside, the freezer is packed with helpful storage options. There are four glass shelves, two of which are adjustable. A slide-out freezer bin and three shelves of on-door storage mean there’s lots of space and flexibility to store items, both big and small. Built-in LED lights spotlight the food when the door is open.
At 17.3 cubic feet, it’s one of the biggest (and most expensive) upright freezers on the list. Because it’s so big, make sure you have the proper room for it in your garage (or wherever you plan to put it). While measuring space, note that the door is on the right side only, so there’s no flexibility if the door direction doesn’t work for your needs.
If you plan to keep this in the garage, the helpful audible alarm will alert you to any temperature changes, and there’s a lock and key so your foodstuffs are secure even if you’re not near the freezer. GE’s “Power Outage Promise” ensures food will stay frozen for up to 48 hours if the appliances lose power, which is helpful peace of mind if you’ve invested in filling the freezer with lots of food.
Product Details: Dimensions: 32.9 x 65 x 31.4 inches | Capacity: 17.3 cubic feet | Temperature Control: Exterior electronic | Shelves: Four glass freezer shelves
Best Frost-Free
Whirlpool Frost-Free Upright Freezer
- The fast freeze option drops the interior temperature to quickly freeze food items.
The fast freeze option drops the interior temperature to quickly freeze food items.
- It's not garage-ready.
It's not garage-ready.
A frost-free freezer means that it’s made with an energy-efficient cooling system that maintains temperatures, moves cool air throughout the unit, and prevents frost from building up inside the appliance.
In addition to the frost-free technology, the Whirlpool Frost-Free Upright Freezer has a lot of convenient features. Boasting almost 16 cubic feet of storage space, the versatile storage includes four adjustable wire shelves, a reversible door, and electronic temperature controls for easy customization.
Bright LED lights on the inside make it easy to find what you’re looking for and a fast-freeze option immediately drops the temperature in order to freeze items quickly.
Depending on your needs, the door is reversible for both left and right open. Keep in mind that this is not a garage-ready freezer, meaning it can't withstand lower temperatures
Product Details: Dimensions: 60.75 x 29.125 x 30.25 inches | Capacity: 15.7 cubic feet | Temperature Control: Exterior electronic | Shelves: Four adjustable wire shelves
Best Small
Frigidaire Platinum Design Series Upright Freezer
- The stainless steel appliance fits in with high-end kitchen decor.
The stainless steel appliance fits in with high-end kitchen decor.
- There’s a prominent logo on the top of the upright freezer, and none of the shelves are adjustable.
There’s a prominent logo on the top of the upright freezer, and none of the shelves are adjustable.
Small but mighty, this mini upright freezer boasts 6.5 cubic feet of storage, so unlike some other super small models, there’s still significant storage space in this freezer. Some of the very small freezers on the market seem too small to be worth the investment or are only helpful if freezing one item.
Made with a stainless steel door and space-saving flush back design, this Frigidaire freezer looks high-end and is attractive enough to add to a kitchen instead of banishing it to the basement or garage. We love that the door is reversible, so the left or right opening will work in a wider range of spaces. Three temperature settings are easily controlled via an intuitive dial making it easy to maintain your preferred cold temperature.
Inside the freezer, there are five shelves, and none are removable, so if you’ve got an oversized cut of meat or a big Thanksgiving turkey, you won’t have the flexibility that other upright freezers have with removable shelves. There’s also no door storage, so if you plan to freeze many small items, you may want to add wire baskets to stay organized.
Product Details: Dimensions: 21.26 x 22.24 x 55.9 inches | Capacity: 6.5 cubic feet | Temperature Control: Three settings on a dial | Shelves: Five shelves
Best Deep Freezer
Koolatron Compact Chest Freezer
- The slim design and top opening design make this a cross between an upright and a chest freezer.
The slim design and top opening design make this a cross between an upright and a chest freezer.
- There are no shelves, just one removable storage basket.
There are no shelves, just one removable storage basket.
Ideal for small spaces, this upright freezer is like a cross between a standard upright freezer and a deep chest freezer. “The term deep freezer can apply to both upright and chest freezers,” Jacobi says. “The difference between a deep freezer vs. a regular refrigerator freezer is primarily around size and space. Deep freezers are standalone appliances ranging from 5 cubic feet to 22 cubic feet of freezer space. They have larger capacity allowing for more bulk storage and improved organization.”
With 5 cubic feet of storage in this appliance, it’s compact yet offers plenty of space for organizing frozen goods. Unlike deep chest freezers, this mid-sized freezer is big enough to store a lot of food, but not so big that food gets lost. The upright design features one large cavity and a removable storage basket that is helpful for small or commonly used food items.
Useful as a deep freezer, the external temperature control means you don’t need to open the freezer door to adjust the levels. When you do open the door, there’s a helpful stay-open lid design, which frees up both your hands to add or remove items from the freezer.
The lid can stay open anywhere from a 45 to a 90-degree angle, depending on your needs and where the freezer is placed in the house. A front access drain with a leak-proof plug makes this appliance easy to clean and defrost.
Product Details: Dimensions: 22.25 x 20.75 x 33.25 inches | Capacity: 5 cubic feet | Temperature Control: External thermostat control dial | Shelves: No shelves, just one removable storage basket
Best with Manual Defrost
Danby Designer 4.3 Cu. Ft. Upright Freezer
- The door hinge is reversible, so it can be left or right open.
The door hinge is reversible, so it can be left or right open.
- The manual defrost function may result in a wet floor.
The manual defrost function may result in a wet floor.
Many upright freezers will automatically defrost or have frost-free capabilities. If you prefer an upright freezer with a manual defrost function, this trusty appliance will work well.
To use the manual defrost, you’ll need to empty your freezer of all foods. Then simply turn the manual temperature dial to zero, unplug the unit, and open the door. The entire freezer will defrost. When defrosting your unit, plan to place a towel under or around the unit to catch any drips from the melting process.
When in use, this freezer has a temperature control dial on the inside of the unit. There are three wire shelves and three door shelves that hold smaller or often-used items. With an overall capacity of 4.3 cubic feet, this unit is in the smaller range of our top upright freezers, but the brand makes larger models. For a good comparison, check the size of your current refrigerator/freezer unit to see your freezer’s capacity and know how this size will compare.
Product Details: Dimensions: 39 x 27 x 26 inches | Capacity: 4.3 cubic feet | Temperature Control: Dial located inside the freezer | Shelves: Three door shelves and three wire shelves
Best Design
Gladiator Upright Rolling Garage Freezer
- The freezer is on wheels and has a step-to-open design.
The freezer is on wheels and has a step-to-open design.
- It’s only offered in matte black.
It’s only offered in matte black.
The Gladiator Upright Rolling Freezer has an innovative step-to-open design that makes it easy to unload your groceries even when your arms are full. Plus, the appliance is also on wheels, so it can easily move around your garage or household.
Garage-ready, the Gladiator freezer will keep food frozen in outdoor temperatures from 0 to 110°F. On the inside, there are three wire shelves, two wired baskets, and several storage areas on the freezer door.
Some assembly is required, and this freezer is more expensive than others on our list. While matte black is the only color offered, we think it’s one of the best upright freezers to consider for your space.
Product Details: Dimensions: 30.25 x 72.2 x 32.3 inches | Capacity: 17.8 cubic feet | Temperature Control: Dial | Shelves: Three wire shelves