Freestanding Cooling
The choice runs from brightly coloured retro minis to matching tall larder pairs and generous French door designs.
With no housing to build, a freestanding appliance is quick to swap and comes with you when you move. Our guide below the products covers sizes, defrosting, finishes and where to put it.
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Shop freestanding cooling by type
- Freestanding fridge freezers: slim models for small kitchens through to tall and retro designs.
- American-style fridge freezers: French door and quad door models, wider and roomier than the rest.
- Freestanding fridges: full-height larders, models for under the worktop, and Smeg's retro 50s-style fridges in sizes down to a mini.
- Freestanding freezers: tall and under-counter freezers, a number of them designed to partner a matching fridge.
- Frost free fridge freezers: freezers that never need defrosting by hand.
Planning a fitted kitchen instead? See built-in cooling.
Which type suits you?
| Appliance | Suits | Worth checking |
|---|---|---|
| Standard fridge freezer | Most kitchens, and straight swaps for an old model. | Height, how the space is split, and frost free or not. |
| Retro-style fridge freezer | Adding a splash of colour to the kitchen. | Which way the door opens, since each hand is a separate model, and the defrost type. |
| Tall fridge plus tall freezer | Households that need a lot of both. | The total width, and whether the two are made as a pair. |
| French door or quad door | Big weekly shops and wide spaces. | Width, access into the kitchen and plumbing for any ice maker. |
| Under-counter fridge or freezer | Top-up storage, or a one- or two-person home. | Clearance below the worktop and the air gap it needs. |
Making the choice
Width and height
A standard gap takes the usual 55cm to 60cm fridge freezer. A few retro designs take more width, and the French door and quad door models need the most of all. Heights differ far more than widths, so measure up to any wall cupboard above the space.
Frost free or manual defrost
Frost free models move cold, dry air around the freezer so ice never forms. With a manual defrost model (common on fridges with a little ice box), you'll need to switch off, empty it and let the ice melt every so often. Each product page tells you which type it is.
A matching pair
A larder fridge with a tall freezer beside it offers a full column of chilled shelves and a lot more freezer capacity than one combined appliance. Several brands design their tall fridges and freezers as pairs in the same finish. The product pages say what gap or joining kit is needed between them.
Style and finish
Smeg's 50s-style range comes in cream, pastel blue, red, black and many more shades, each made in left- and right-hand versions. Elsewhere, white, silver, black and stainless steel suit a modern kitchen.
Ice, water and extras
Bigger models may make ice or dispense water; some need a cold water pipe and some don't. Also compare chiller drawers for meat and fish, the noise figure if you have an open-plan kitchen, and app control where it's offered.
Before you order
- Measure the gap and the route in. Height, width and depth first, then doorways and stairs. Wide models sometimes need their doors removing to get through.
- Leave room to breathe. A freestanding appliance needs clearance at the sides, top and back to shed heat; the manual gives the minimum.
- Check the door swing. Against a wall, a door may not open wide enough to release the drawers. Look at which side it hinges, and whether you can swap it.
- Let it settle. Once delivered, leave it upright for a few hours before switching on; the manual says how long.
- Garage or outbuilding? Only choose a model the maker approves for cold rooms.
The brands we sell
Our freestanding cooling comes from . Use the brand filter to compare styles and finishes.
Buying freestanding cooling from KDH Electrical
Every appliance comes with the full UK manufacturer's guarantee. We deliver free on orders over £600, normally within 3–7 working days. In our installation area we can install the new one, swap the door hinges to the other side if that suits your kitchen better, and take the old one away for recycling. Each is shown in the basket at a set price.
Cheaper at another UK retailer? Our price match means we'll try to match it. Call 01622 541312 with sizing questions, or visit our showroom in Rochester, ringing first to check what's on display.
Freestanding Cooling: your questions answered
What size fridge freezer do I need?
Start with the space you have. Width is usually 55cm to 60cm, while height varies a lot more. Each product page lists the fridge and freezer capacity in litres.
How much space should I leave around it?
Enough for the heat it gives off to escape at the sides, top and back. The minimum clearances are listed in the manual.
Can the door be switched to open the other way?
Often, yes, by moving the hinges across, and door re-hinging is one of the services we offer in our installation area. Smeg's 50s-style models are the exception: they're made as separate left-hand and right-hand versions instead.
Fridge with a freezer box or fridge freezer: what's the difference?
An ice box is a little compartment within the fridge, big enough for ice cubes and the odd bag of peas. A fridge freezer has a proper freezer section behind its own door or drawers.
Is frost free worth paying for?
For most people, yes: there's no defrosting and no ice eating into the space. Manual defrost makes sense if you freeze very little.
Are Smeg's retro fridges made in more than one size?
Yes, from mini fridges up to full fridge freezers, and most sizes are offered in several colours.