Open Maytag® chest freezer with food items

GUIDE TO FREEZER SIZES AND DIMENSIONS

More time spent at home means more time cooking and more groceries to buy. Maybe you’re buying in bulk and running out of space in your fridge or have taken on a new hobby that demands more storage space. Whatever your needs, Maytag brand is here to help. Our freezer guide can help you choose between a chest or upright freezer in the right size so you can stock up with your biggest grocery hauls.

UPRIGHT FREEZER SIZES AND DIMENSIONS

An upright freezer will have a smaller footprint and fit nicely between kitchen cabinets. Common upright freezer sizes include compact, small, medium and large. As cubic footage increases, the freezer will typically be taller rather than wider or deeper. The built-in, vertical shelving and door storage make it easy to organize and the finish options allow you to match other appliances.

What are the sizes of upright freezers?

UPRIGHT FREEZER SIZE	CUBIC FOOTAGE	DIMENSIONS (APPROXIMATE)
Compact	3 to 5 cubic feet	20–24″ W x 31–37″ H x 20–25″ D
Small	5 to 9 cubic feet	21–25″ W x 55–60″ H x 22–26″ D
Medium	10 to 16 cubic feet	23–30″ W x 60–73″ H x 27–30″ D
Large	17+ cubic feet	27–33″ W x 64–76″ H x 29–30″ D

FIND THE RIGHT UPRIGHT FREEZER FOR YOUR HOME

If you’re ready to explore freezer options, you can choose from several durable, long-lasting, Maytag^® upright freezers. Our 10-year limited parts warranty on the compressor guarantees that you can count on Maytag^® upright freezers to keep all your favorite frozen food at its chilly best.

CHEST FREEZER SIZES AND DIMENSIONS

If you have a larger household, buy in bulk or just like to stock up for the unexpected, a chest freezer might be the better option for you since they’re available in the largest capacities. However, the wider, shorter design means you’ll need more open floor space for a chest freezer vs. an upright model, making them ideal for a basement or sometimes a garage, if you purchase a garage-ready freezer. As you move up in cubic footage, the freezer will usually get wider rather than taller or deeper.

Inside, chest freezers generally have more open, usable space overall but may lack some of the shelving and storage compartments of an upright freezer, often making them less convenient to organize. Food stored toward the bottom of the freezer can be more difficult to reach as well.

Use the chart below to see which freezer sizes work best for your household. Keep in mind that you’ll need about 3 inches of space around the freezer to allow for proper air circulation.

What sizes do chest freezers come in?

CHEST FREEZER SIZE	CUBIC FOOTAGE	DIMENSIONS (APPROXIMATE)
Compact	3 to 5 cubic feet	21–28″ W x 32–34″ H x 19–22″ D
Small	5 to 9 cubic feet	29–38″ W x 32–34″ H x 22–27″ D
Medium	10 to 16 cubic feet	54–65″ W x 33–36″ H x 24–28″ D
Large	17+ cubic feet	72–84″ W x 31–34″ H x 27–32″ D

FIND THE RIGHT CHEST FREEZER FOR YOUR HOME

If you’re ready to purchase a Maytag^® chest freezer, explore a selection of freezers that offer dependability and convenient features such as heavy-duty sliding baskets for a durable organization solution on select models.

Woman removing a frozen turkey from a Maytag® chest freezer

WHAT FREEZER SIZE DO I NEED?

There is a wide range of sizes to choose from for both upright and Maytag^® chest freezers. In terms of storage space, expect anywhere from 3 to 25 cubic feet for either type of freezer. As a general rule of thumb, each cubic foot can hold approximately 25 lbs of food. When it comes to exterior dimensions, these two freezer types have completely different shapes, so they will take up space in different ways.

What size chest or upright freezer do I need for a family of 4?

To help determine the best freezer size for your family, you could allow for 2.5 cubic feet of freezer space for each household member. For a family of four, a freezer with around 10 to 16 cubic feet of capacity could be ideal, depending on your storage needs. Larger items will require more space, so factor food size into your decision as well.

How much does a 7 cubic foot freezer hold?

Consider that 1 cubic foot of freezer space will hold approximately 25 lbs of food, depending on the item. A 7 cubic foot freezer may accommodate around 175 lbs of food. This is a smaller freezer size and would be a good choice for overflow items that won’t fit in your refrigerator’s freezer.

Keep in mind that the weight and volume (or space) of an item may vary. For instance, a lighter weight loaf of bread may take up more space than one pound of frozen ground beef, which is heavier.

How much does a 14 cubic foot freezer hold?

To store up to 350 lbs of food, a 14 cubic foot freezer may fit your needs. Although weight and volume are not the same, you can estimate that 1 cubic foot of freezer space may hold approximately 25 lbs. Medium freezers are usually 10 to 16 cubic feet and could hold up to around 400 lbs of food.

MAP THE FREEZER’S PATH

Before choosing a size, be sure to map out the freezer’s route to its final location, taking entryways into consideration. It's important that the freezer fits through all the halls and doorways leading up to the space it will occupy.