For most households the best upright freezer is a compact 3.0 to 3.6 cubic foot model, and the Maine 3.6 Cu. Ft. Small Upright Freezer is our top pick because it offers the most space in the compact group with a sleek glossy black finish. If you need real bulk storage for a family, a garage or a basement, the Upstreman 7.0 Cu. Ft. Upright Freezer roughly doubles that capacity for about $400. For a stainless look in a kitchen or office, the Kismile 3.0 Cu. Ft. and the Electactic 3.2 Cu. Ft. are the pair to compare.
Compact uprights in this list usually sell for about $190 to $240, so price differences are small; choose by capacity, finish and door hinge needs. Upright freezers win over chest freezers when floor space is limited and you want to see and reach food without digging. One product in this group is actually a chest freezer, and one is sold as a fridge-freezer hybrid, so we treat those two as alternatives.
Our top picks
Frostorm 3.2 Cu Ft Mini Fridge with- 【Large 3.2 Cu Ft Capacity with 0.35 Cu…
- 【Energy Efficient & Cost-Saving Daily Use】Designed for economy,…
- 【Reversible Door for Ultimate Layout Flexibility】Customize your setup…
DEMULLER Chest Freezer Small Deep Freeezer with- Quick-Freeze Nutrient Preservation: Experience high-efficiency cooling that locks…
- Precision Temperature Control: Take command with intelligent digital…
- Convenient Top Open Door: Our top-open door allows…
Kismile Small Freezer Upright- Large Capacity for Protection:Compact design, 3.0Cu.ft large internal…
- 7-Speed Thermostat Design:Built-in temperature control knob, you can…
- User-Friendly Design:Reversible Door--The door opening direction can be…
| Product | Key specs | |
|---|---|---|
| Frostorm 3.2 Cu Ft Mini Fridge with | 【Large 3.2 Cu Ft Capacity with 0.35 Cu… 【Energy Efficient & Cost-Saving Daily Use】Designed for economy,… 【Reversible Door for Ultimate Layout Flexibility】Customize your setup… | Check price |
| DEMULLER Chest Freezer Small Deep Freeezer with | Quick-Freeze Nutrient Preservation: Experience high-efficiency cooling that locks… Precision Temperature Control: Take command with intelligent digital… Convenient Top Open Door: Our top-open door allows… | Check price |
| Kismile Small Freezer Upright | Large Capacity for Protection:Compact design, 3.0Cu.ft large internal… 7-Speed Thermostat Design:Built-in temperature control knob, you can… User-Friendly Design:Reversible Door--The door opening direction can be… | Check price |
 Electactic 3.2 Cu.ft Upright Freezer | ALL-ROUND FAST COOLING：3.2 Cu.ft high capacity upright freezer… SEVEN LEVELS of THERMOSTATIC CONTROL: The 7-level adjustable… Compact Upright Freezer uses advanced, high-efficiency and low-energy… | Check price |
 BODACIOUS 3.2 Cu.Ft Mini Freezer | This compact freezer (17.5"D × 18.5"W × 32.8"H)… Enjoy advanced 4D cooling technology that eliminates hot… Save on utility costs with low energy consumption… | Check price |
 Maine 3.6 Cu. Ft. Small Upright Freezer | COMPACT SIZE, GENEROUS FREEZER STORAGE Use the 3-position adjustable thermostat to tailor the… Choose a left- or right-opening door direction to… | Check price |
 Upstreman 3.0 Cu.ft Upright Freezer | 3 Cu.Ft Capacity & Compact Design：This mini freezer… High-Efficiency Ice System & Quick Defrosting：3.0 Cu.Ft Upright… 5-Speed Precise Temperature Control：This upright freezer features a… | Check price |
 Upstreman 7.0 Cu.Ft Upright Freezer Large Capacity | Large Capacity Upright Freezer: With spacious 7.0 cubic… Convertible Temperature Control: The standing upright freezer can… Crisper Drawer & Removable Shelves: This deep freezer… | Check price |
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Top picks
- Best overall: Maine 3.6 Cu. Ft. Small Upright Freezer, glossy black.
- Best large upright: Upstreman 7.0 Cu. Ft. Upright Freezer, white.
- Best stainless compact: Electactic 3.2 Cu. Ft. Upright Freezer.
- Best small stainless: Kismile 3.0 Cu. Ft. Mini Freezer.
- Best budget compact: Upstreman 3.0 Cu. Ft. Upright Freezer with reversible door.
- Silver finish option: BODACIOUS 3.2 Cu. Ft. Mini Freezer.
Upright freezer comparison
| Model | Type | Capacity | Finish | Typical price range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maine Small Upright Freezer | Upright | 3.6 cu ft | Glossy black | About $220–$245 |
| Upstreman Large Upright Freezer | Upright | 7.0 cu ft | White | About $390–$420 |
| Electactic Upright Freezer | Upright | 3.2 cu ft | Stainless steel | About $225–$245 |
| Kismile Small Freezer Upright | Upright | 3.0 cu ft | Stainless steel | About $215–$240 |
| Upstreman Upright Freezer | Upright | 3.0 cu ft | Black, reversible door | About $185–$205 |
| BODACIOUS Mini Freezer | Upright | 3.2 cu ft | Silver | About $190–$210 |
| Frostorm Mini Fridge with Freezer | Single-door hybrid (alternative) | 3.2 cu ft | Not specified | About $130–$150 |
| DEMULLER Small Chest Freezer | Chest (alternative) | Compact | White | About $160–$180 |
The upright freezers, ranked
1. Maine 3.6 Cu. Ft. Small Upright Freezer
At 3.6 cubic feet, the Maine is the roomiest of the compact uprights here while keeping a footprint that fits beside a refrigerator, in a pantry or in a laundry room. The glossy black finish suits modern kitchens and dark cabinetry. It is a good fit for a couple or a small family that wants overflow space for frozen vegetables, meat bought on sale and batch-cooked meals.
Trade-offs: a newer, lesser-known brand, so check warranty coverage; glossy black shows fingerprints.
2. Upstreman 7.0 Cu. Ft. Upright Freezer
The 7.0 cu ft Upstreman is the only full-height option in this group and the one to buy if you shop in bulk, freeze garden produce or store hunting harvests. Twice the space of a compact model means you are less likely to need a second freezer in a year or two. The white finish is typical for garage and basement freezers.
Trade-offs: needs more floor space and costs nearly double the compact models. If it goes in a garage, confirm the rated operating temperature range.
3. Electactic 3.2 Cu. Ft. Upright Freezer
The Electactic pairs a mid-size 3.2 cu ft capacity with a stainless steel finish that blends with kitchen appliances. It is a sensible pick for a kitchen corner, home bar or office where looks matter as much as space.
Trade-offs: slightly higher price than the black or silver 3.2 cu ft alternatives.
4. Kismile 3.0 Cu. Ft. Mini Freezer
Kismile’s 3.0 cu ft stainless model is a little smaller than the Electactic. It works well for apartments, dorms and spare-room use where you want a few shelves of frozen food without giving up much floor space.
Trade-offs: priced near the larger 3.2 and 3.6 cu ft models, so compare cost per cubic foot.
5. Upstreman 3.0 Cu. Ft. Upright Freezer
This is usually the least expensive true upright freezer in the list. The reversible door is a practical bonus because you can swap the hinge side to suit a tight wall or corner. Black finish.
Trade-offs: the smallest capacity in the upright group.
6. BODACIOUS 3.2 Cu. Ft. Mini Freezer
The BODACIOUS offers 3.2 cubic feet in a silver finish at a price below the stainless options. It is a fair middle ground if you want a metallic look without stainless pricing.
Trade-offs: a smaller brand; confirm support and warranty details.
Alternatives: Frostorm and DEMULLER
The Frostorm 3.2 cu ft is listed as both a mini fridge with freezer and a single-door upright freezer. Many single-door hybrids cannot hold true freezer temperatures across the whole cabinet, so read the temperature range before buying it as a dedicated freezer. The DEMULLER is a small chest freezer with 2 removable baskets and a digital control panel adjustable in 1°F steps; it is a strong pick if you prefer a chest layout and better cold retention during outages, but it is not an upright.
How to choose an upright freezer
Capacity planning
A common rule of thumb is about 1.5 to 2 cubic feet of freezer space per person for regular use, more if you buy in bulk. That puts a 3.0 to 3.6 cu ft compact upright as a supplement for one or two people, and a 7.0 cu ft model as a meaningful extra freezer for a family of three or four.
Upright vs. chest
Uprights take less floor space and use shelves and door bins, so food stays organized and visible. Chest freezers hold cold better when the lid opens, often use less energy per cubic foot, and keep food frozen longer during a power outage. If you have the floor space and don’t mind digging, a chest is efficient; if you value organization and a small footprint, go upright.
Manual vs. frost-free defrost
Most compact uprights in this price range are manual defrost. Plan to defrost once or twice a year, or when frost reaches about a quarter inch. Frost-free models cost more and can cause slight freezer burn over very long storage periods.
Placement and garage use
Leave a few inches of clearance at the back and sides. Garages that drop near freezing or climb above 100°F can push standard freezers outside their design range. If you plan to use a garage, choose a model that lists a garage-ready rating or a wide operating range.
Temperature control
Aim for 0°F or below for long-term storage. A freezer thermometer is a cheap way to confirm the dial setting delivers what you expect, especially with compact units that use simple mechanical thermostats.
FAQ
How much does an upright freezer cost to run?
Compact uprights generally use a few hundred kilowatt-hours a year; check the yellow EnergyGuide label for each model’s estimate.
Can I lay an upright freezer down to move it?
Keep it upright when possible. If it must lie down, let it stand upright for several hours before plugging in so the compressor oil settles.
