Canadian Ashley Stores Are 100% Proudly Owned & Operated by Canadians
Freezer Buying Guide
For households that buy in bulk, preserve seasonal food, or want a reliable backup to the kitchen fridge, a standalone freezer is a straightforward solution. Ashley Canada offers chest and upright models across a range of sizes to fit basements, garages, condos, and everything in between.
Chest Freezers and Upright Freezers
Both types have a strong following for good reason. Chest freezers open from the top and hold a generous amount of food relative to their footprint, making them a natural fit for garages and basements. Upright freezers, on the other hand, stand like a regular refrigerator, open from the front, and keep food organized with shelves and drawers. If you’re storing large cuts of meat or bulk items you only need occasionally, a chest freezer is the practical call. If you want to find things without digging, go upright. Small chest freezers and compact upright models suit condos and apartments where floor space is limited, and both types are available in energy-efficient configurations worth considering given how long a freezer tends to run.
Before You Buy
Start with cubic feet rather than just external dimensions. For one or two people, a small chest freezer in the 5 to 8 cubic foot range handles most needs without dominating the room. Families of four typically need between 10 and 16 cubic feet, especially if the freezer is being used for serious bulk buying. Before ordering, measure the actual space the unit will sit in, including ceiling clearance if it’s going into a basement with overhead ductwork.
If the freezer will be placed in an unheated garage, look for a model specifically rated as garage-ready. Standard freezers are built to run in climate-controlled rooms. In Canadian winters, the temperature in a cold garage can drop low enough to prevent the compressor from cycling, which means food stops freezing. A garage-ready model is built to handle that temperature swing. Setting up a new home? Our guide to furnishing your first apartment covers how to plan appliance space alongside the rest of your furniture.
Frequently Asked Freezer Questions
What is the difference between a chest freezer and an upright freezer? Chest freezers open from the top and offer more storage per square foot, making them a natural fit for garages and basements. Upright models open from the front, are easier to organize, and take up less floor space.
What size freezer do I need? For one or two people, a 5 to 8 cubic foot model covers most needs. Families of four typically land between 10 and 16 cubic feet.
What does frost-free mean on a freezer? A frost-free freezer runs automatic defrost cycles to prevent ice from building on the interior walls and shelves. Without that feature, you need to manually defrost the unit periodically to maintain efficiency.
What is a garage-ready freezer? A garage-ready freezer is rated to operate in spaces where temperatures fluctuate significantly, including a cold Canadian garage in winter. A standard model can stop running correctly once the ambient temperature drops too low.
How much does a chest freezer cost in Canada? Pricing varies by size and features. Ashley Canada offers financing and carries options at multiple price points for any budget.
What is a deep chest freezer? A deep chest freezer is a high-capacity chest model, typically 10 cubic feet or more, built for bulk storage and households that freeze food in large quantities at once.
Does Ashley Canada carry compact refrigerators alongside freezers? Yes, and if you need refrigeration and freezer space together, browsing compact refrigerators and the broader kitchen appliances section makes planning easier.