Buying a fridge: what matters

Start with where the fridge will go: in a built-in niche, under the worktop or freestanding. That fixes the dimensions and narrows the choice straight away. Then decide how much space you need and whether you want a small freezer compartment or a separate freezer section. Only then is the energy label worth a close look: compare the yearly consumption in kilowatt hours and the noise figure, not just the letter.

Where will the fridge stand?

There are three types. Freestanding fridges have their own outer casing and can go anywhere with space and a socket. Built-in fridges disappear behind a cabinet door in a tall kitchen unit. Under-counter fridges sit below the worktop and usually have their own front.

Built-in fridges fit standard niches. For a niche width of 56 cm, Bosch lists heights of 88, 102.5, 122.5, 140, 158 and 177.5 cm. Other makers give similar sizes, often with a tolerance of a centimetre or two. So measure the clear opening of your niche yourself: height, width and depth. Compare those numbers with the niche dimensions in the appliance data sheet, not with its outer dimensions.

When you replace a built-in fridge, check the hinge too. With a sliding hinge (German: Gleitscharnier or Schlepptür), the cabinet door slides along the appliance door. With a fixed-door hinge (Komplettscharnier), the cabinet front is fixed to the appliance door. That gives a wider opening angle and carries more weight. Find out which system your kitchen uses before you order.

Every fridge needs air to get rid of heat. For built-in models, Bosch recommends a ventilation cross-section of at least 200 cm² at the back and bottom. Under-counter models usually draw in and release air through the plinth. Without enough ventilation, power use goes up.

The German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt, UBA) advises against placing a fridge next to a cooker, dishwasher or washing machine, or in direct sunlight.

How big does the fridge need to be?

There is no official formula, but there are common rules of thumb:

• The UBA, citing Stiftung Warentest, suggests about 90 litres of usable space for a household of one or two people.
• Liebherr suggests about 140 litres for two people, 60 to 70 litres per person for larger households, and around 300 litres for four people.
• For freezing, the UBA, again citing Stiftung Warentest, suggests 40 to 80 litres per person, depending on how much you freeze.

If you rarely cook and shop for fresh food often, the lower figure will do. If you shop once a week or cook ahead, plan for more. According to the UBA, a larger appliance does not necessarily use more electricity, so always compare the yearly consumption on the label.

Freezer compartment, fridge freezer or separate appliances?

A fridge with a freezer compartment has a small compartment inside the cooling space. It is enough for ice cubes and a few packs. A fridge freezer has its own freezer section with a separate door, usually at the bottom. It suits households that freeze food regularly. If you already have a separate freezer, the UBA says a freezer compartment in the fridge is unnecessary. A fridge without one gives you more room for fresh food.

The stars on a freezer compartment tell you how cold it gets. Under EU Regulation 2019/2016, the target temperature is -6 °C for one star, -12 °C for two stars and -18 °C for three and four stars. Only four-star compartments are designed for freezing fresh food. Compartments with fewer stars store food that is already frozen.

Is No Frost worth it?

In a conventional freezer, moisture settles as ice. Ice costs energy, and sooner or later you have to defrost. With No Frost, moisture is led out of the freezer space, as Bosch explains. No ice forms, and you no longer need to defrost. This is most convenient in large freezer sections.

If your appliance has no No Frost, defrost it as soon as ice has formed. The UBA also recommends wrapping food well, so less moisture gets into the appliance.

What does a zero-degree zone do?

Many fridges have drawers that are colder than the rest of the interior. The EU regulation calls these chill compartments: their target temperature is 2 °C, with a permitted range of -3 °C to 3 °C. In the main fresh-food section, the target is 4 °C.

Manufacturers give these zones their own names. Liebherr, for example, describes separate BioFresh drawers kept just above 0 °C: one with high humidity for fruit and vegetables, one with low humidity for meat and dairy. Claims about longer freshness are the manufacturer's own. A zero-degree zone is most useful if you buy a lot of fresh food. For drinks and leftovers you do not need one.

Which climate class do I need?

The climate class tells you the room temperatures at which the appliance works reliably. EU Regulation 2019/2016 defines four classes:

In a heated kitchen, any of these will do. If the fridge is going into a cellar, garage or unheated pantry where winter temperatures drop below 16 °C, you need class SN. Many appliances cover several classes, for example SN to T. You will find this in the product information sheet.

How loud is the fridge?

Since 1 March 2021, the EU energy label for refrigerating appliances shows the noise emission in dB(A) and a noise class from A to D. Regulation 2019/2016 sets the limits:

• A: below 30 dB(A)
• B: 30 to below 36 dB(A)
• C: 36 to below 42 dB(A)
• D: 42 dB(A) and above

The figure is a sound power level. It is good for comparing appliances, but it is not exactly what you will hear in your kitchen. In an open-plan kitchen or a small flat, a low number is worth paying attention to.

How do I read the energy label?

The current label has applied since 1 March 2021 and runs from A (most efficient) to G. Besides the class, it shows the yearly consumption in kWh, the volume of the fridge and freezer compartments in litres, and the noise emission. The QR code takes you to the appliance's entry in the EU product database EPREL, as the UBA explains.

The class describes efficiency relative to size and features. So a large class B fridge can use more electricity than a small class D one. For your electricity bill, the kilowatt hours are what count.

Under the regulation, consumption is measured at room temperatures of 16 °C and 32 °C. The figure is a test value. How much your fridge uses at home depends on where it stands, how often the door is opened and the temperature you set. The UBA considers 7 °C in the fridge and -18 °C in the freezer to be enough.

What does it cost to run per year?

The calculation is: yearly consumption in kWh times your electricity price per kWh. You will find your price on your electricity bill. As a reference, the German energy industry association BDEW, in its October 2026 price analysis, puts the average household price so far in 2026 at 37.3 cents per kWh. It is based on 3,500 kWh a year and on the tariffs available on the reference date.

An example: a fridge using 150 kWh a year costs about 56 euros of electricity a year at 37.3 cents. A fridge that uses 100 kWh less saves about 37 euros a year at that price. The UBA works with an average service life of 15 years. Over that time, such a difference adds up to about 560 euros, if the electricity price stays the same.

If you want to replace an old fridge that still works, first measure its consumption with a plug-in energy meter. The UBA gives thresholds: replacing it with a class A appliance pays off financially from about 460 kWh a year for a fridge and about 560 kWh for a fridge freezer. For the environment, it pays off from about 240 and 340 kWh respectively.

How long does a fridge last, and what if it breaks?

In Germany you have a two-year statutory warranty against the seller (Gewährleistung, § 438 BGB). If a defect appears within the first year after delivery, it is presumed to have existed at the time of sale (§ 477 BGB). A manufacturer's guarantee is voluntary and comes on top. Read its terms before you weigh it in a price comparison.

For repairs, the ecodesign Regulation (EU) 2019/2019 requires spare parts. Manufacturers must keep thermostats, temperature sensors, circuit boards and light sources available to professional repairers for at least seven years after the last unit of a model is placed on the market. Door handles, hinges, trays and baskets must also be available to private buyers for seven years, door gaskets for ten years. Parts must be delivered within 15 working days.

What do I do with the old fridge?

You have two free options for an old fridge:

1. Return it to the retailer. Retailers with at least 400 m² of sales space for electrical goods must take back a similar old appliance free of charge when you buy a new one (§ 17 ElektroG). For food retailers, this applies from 800 m² of total sales space if they sell electrical goods regularly. For online retailers, their storage and shipping space counts. If the new appliance is delivered, your home counts as the place of return: collection of the old appliance is free for you. The retailer must ask you when you buy whether you want to hand over an old appliance on delivery.
2. Recycling centre (Wertstoffhof). Municipal collection points may not charge for accepting old appliances (§ 13 ElektroG).

Mention the return when you order, so the delivery team takes the old fridge with them.

Common mistakes

• Measuring only the appliance. Also check the door hinge side, the opening angle and the route into the kitchen: stairwell, door widths, lift.
• Comparing old and new labels. The classes A+++ to D no longer apply to fridges since March 2021. An old A+++ is not the same as a new A.
• Looking only at the letter. Your electricity cost depends on the yearly kWh.
• Wrong climate class for a cellar or garage. Below 16 °C room temperature you need class SN.
• Buying a freezer compartment you do not need. If you already have a freezer, a fridge without one gives you more cooling space.
• Forgetting the old appliance. Collection on delivery is free if you ask for it when you buy.

How Tallybuy compares prices

For every offer, Tallybuy shows the complete price including delivery, where the shop states its delivery costs. If a figure is missing, it is shown as unknown and never counted as zero. For large appliances like fridges, delivery costs often differ a lot. You can also see how an appliance's price has developed over time, as far as we have observed it. We earn a commission on some shop links. It never affects the order of the offers.

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