If you're looking for a ballpark estimate of the dimensions of upright or chest freezers, you're in the right place! Maybe you need to fit your new freezer through a narrow doorway or have other limitations on the dimensions. Although the overall size can vary, we hope this will give you a basic idea of how much space different freezer sizes will take up.
We took a look at the different freezer dimensions across various brands in both upright and chest freezers. These numbers are approximate, so you should always check the specific model you're considering. Remember that you'll also need 1-3" of space on all sides of the freezer for air circulation. The air space is not included in the dimensions we list below!
For more information on choosing a new freezer, check out our freezer buying guide.
Chest Freezers
Capacity | Height | Width | Depth |
5.0 cu. ft. | 32-33" | 28-30" | 21-22" |
7.0 cu. ft. | 32-33.5" | 37-39" | 21-22" |
9-10.0 cu. ft. | 33" | 41.5-44" | 24-27" |
14-15 cu. ft. | 32-36" | 47-56" | 30-32" |
20-22 cu. ft. | 32-34" | 66-74" | 30-33" |
As you can see, the height doesn't vary too much regardless of the size. We found that the width could vary a lot with larger capacities.
Upright Freezers
Capacity | Height | Width | Depth |
3.0 cu. ft. | 33-34" | 19.5-21.5" | 20-22.5" |
6.0 cu. ft. | 56-57" | 21-22" | 22-23" |
8-9.0 cu. ft. | 59-60" | 23-24" | 25-26" |
13-14.0 cu. ft. | 60-64" | 28-30" | 25-32" |
16-18.0 cu. ft. | 60-67" | 28-30" | 25.5-32" |
20-22.0 cu. ft. | 67-72" | 32.5-33" | 28-29" |
As you increase the capacity, depth and width increase steadily. Height had some major variation depending on the model, so that's a factor to pay attention to if you're installing an upright freezer under some shelving or into a cabinet cutout.
The rule of thumb for choosing a capacity is 1.5 cubic feet per person. One cubic foot can hold 30-35 pounds of food! Of course, if you like to buy meat in bulk or freeze produce from your garden, you may want an even larger freezer. For example, half a cow is about 220 pounds of beef, which would require about 7 cubic feet of capacity. If you hunt deer, you may only need 2-3 cubic feet to store the meat from one deer. (We had to Google this, as we aren't hunters! :) )
A mostly-empty freezer is a waste of electricity. They don't run as efficiently when they are mostly empty. Ideally your freezer should be at least 2/3 full most of the time.
We hope this information helped you figure out what size freezer will work for you! Leave us a comment below - We'd love to hear from you!