Chest Freezer vs. Upright Freezer: Which Should You Buy?

Chest freezers have room for large items like an entire turkey, or bulk items like the fresh-from-the-boat shrimp you bought when you went to the beach and put in 40 one-pound bags.

Chest freezers are more energy-efficient than upright freezers. That chest-style lid is tight fitting, and its deep design keeps cold air from getting out when you open the freezer to grab a few bags of that shrimp. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) says the typical 15-cubic-foot deep freezer uses about 330 kilowatt-hours a year, about half as much electricity as an upright freezer.

Chest freezers tend to be less expensive than uprights. Most cost less than $600, and you can get a small deep freezer for less than $400.

Chest freezers take up more floor space than an upright freezer because they have a larger footprint.

It’s harder to organize your food in a chest freezer. Items get buried in that deep box and it’s not quite as easy to reach in and grab a bag of shrimp without moving that whole turkey and those three gallons of ice cream.

Upright freezers take up less floor space than chest freezers. They go up instead of out, so they have a smaller footprint. They’re a good pick for a small home.

It’s easier to organize and find your food in an upright freezer. The arrangement of shelves is better suited for small items like bags of frozen veggies or boxes of frozen waffles. You can arrange the shelves to accommodate oddly shaped items like pizza boxes. Since an upright freezer is tall and not as deep, you can spot your food items more quickly, with no rummaging around in a three-foot deep freezer. There’s also less food waste because you are less likely to lose items in an upright freezer.

Upright freezers do not have room for bulky items like a standing rib roast or 30-pound turkey. They have less storage space overall because of the way their shelves are arranged.

Upright freezers use more electricity than deep freezers. They lose more chilly air every time you open them, so they can be more expensive to operate.

Upright freezers generally cost more, with most models starting at $700. You can get small upright freezers that are about the size of a beer refrigerator for less, but they don’t have room for much food.