The fridge is the only appliance at home that runs around the clock. It lasts 10–15 years, so a poor choice will remind you of itself for a long time through inconvenience and extra electricity bills. Let’s go through the key specifications.
1. Capacity: how many litres
- 1–2 people — 180–250 litres.
- 3–4 people — 250–350 litres.
- 5 or more — over 350 litres or a two-door (side-by-side) model.
If you stock up on meat, vegetables and fruit for winter, pay special attention to the freezer capacity or consider a separate freezer.
2. Dimensions and placement
Before buying, measure the space in the kitchen and the width of doors and the lift. Leave a few centimetres behind and at the sides for air circulation. Check which way the door opens — on many models it can be reversed.
3. No Frost or drip defrost
- No Frost — no ice builds up in the freezer, no defrosting needed. Food dries out a little faster — store it in closed containers.
- Drip defrost — the fridge compartment defrosts itself, the freezer needs defrosting once or twice a year. Cheaper and simpler.
4. Compressor: standard or inverter
An inverter compressor adjusts its power smoothly and runs without stopping: quieter, more economical and more tolerant of voltage spikes. A standard compressor is cheaper but cycles on and off.
5. Energy class
Choose a model rated A+ or higher. Since 1 May 2026, electricity above 700 kWh a month costs more, so an efficient fridge pays off. More in how to save electricity.
6. Noise
For a studio where the kitchen opens into the living room, or a small flat, look for a noise level below 40 dB.
7. Useful features
- Freshness zone — keeps meat and fish at around 0 °C.
- Quick freeze — useful when you load a lot of food at once.
- Open-door alarm.
- Keeps cold during power cuts — important where outages are frequent.
8. Voltage and warranty
If the voltage at home is unstable, it is sensible to buy a stabiliser too. Ask the seller about the warranty period and where the service centre is — this should be on the product page or in the seller’s profile.
After buying
Don’t switch the fridge on straight after delivery: if it was transported lying down, let it stand upright for a few hours so the oil settles (the exact time is in the manual). If it turns out to be faulty, read our article on consumer rights.
In the catalogue: fridges.