GE FCM22DLWW 21.7 cu ft Chest Freezer
#1 in LargeFull review
A big ENERGY STAR garage freezer with an alarm, lock and five baskets, for a whole beef or a hunting season. It needs a long stretch of wall.
GE Appliances $1,169$1,169
A chest freezer is the cheapest way to store a side of beef, a deer, a season of garden harvest or a bulk buy. It holds more per dollar than an upright, uses less power because cold air stays put when you open the lid, and keeps food frozen longer in a power outage. These rankings compare what the makers publish on the same terms.
Freezers are grouped by size. Small freezers, under 7 cubic feet, fit an apartment, a cabin or a corner of the kitchen. Medium freezers, 7 to 15 cubic feet, are what most households pick for half a beef or a big garden. Large freezers, 15 cubic feet and up, take a whole beef and a hog. A rough rule is about 1 cubic foot for every 35 lb of meat.
Most freezers end up in a garage, basement or barn, so check the room temperature range before you buy. An ordinary freezer can stop cycling when the room drops near freezing and let the food thaw. A garage ready model is rated to keep running in an unheated space, often down to 0 °F.
Top Picks
Igloo 5.0 Cu Ft Chest Freezer
#2 in SmallFull review
A budget 5 cu ft freezer that is easy to move around. Fine for a basement or kitchen; the Danby is the safer pick for a cold garage.
Amazon $249.99$249.99
Shop by Size
Small
12 rankedUnder 7 cu ft: room for a quarter of a beef or a season of garden vegetables, and small enough for an apartment or a cabin.
Top rated: Danby DCF050A5WDB 5.0 Cu Ft Freezer $349.99
Medium
14 ranked7 to 15 cu ft: the size most households pick for half a beef, a deer or a big garden.
Top rated: Danby DCF100A6WM 10 Cu Ft Freezer $607.53
Large
10 ranked15 cu ft and up: for a whole beef, a hog and a season of harvest.
Top rated: GE FCM22DLWW 21.7 cu ft Chest Freezer $1,169
Narrow It Down
By budget
Prices were last checked October 31, 2026 and are subject to change; the price and availability shown by the retailer at the time of purchase apply.
Best Small Chest Freezers
- Danby DCF050A5WDB 5.0 Cu Ft Freezer#1 of 12Full review
A 5 cu ft garage freezer with the longest warranty in its size and a low rated energy use. Worth the extra over budget brands if you keep it for years.
Amazon $349.99$349.995 cu ft195 kWh/yr0 °F - Igloo 5.0 Cu Ft Chest Freezer#2 of 12Full review
A budget 5 cu ft freezer that is easy to move around. Fine for a basement or kitchen; the Danby is the safer pick for a cold garage.
Amazon $249.99$249.995 cu ft-- - Frigidaire EFRF5003 5.0 Cu Ft Freezer#3 of 12Full review
A 5 cu ft freezer for buyers who want a Frigidaire badge and a black finish. Rated energy use is not published.
Amazon $278.99$278.995 cu ft-- - Kenmore KKCF05 5.0 cu ft Chest Freezer#4 of 12Full review
A small convertible chest that works as a freezer or a fridge, with a two year warranty. Good for a cabin, dorm or garage overflow.
Amazon $335.99$335.995 cu ft-- - Euhomy 3.5 Cu Ft Chest Freezer#5 of 12Full review
A budget small freezer for an apartment, dorm or office where low noise and price matter most. Keep it indoors since no garage rating is given.
Amazon $188.98$188.983.5 cu ft--
Best Medium Chest Freezers
- Danby DCF100A6WM 10 Cu Ft Freezer#1 of 14Full review
A plain 10 cu ft garage freezer for a household stocking up on meat. Shop around, since it costs more than rivals with longer warranties.
Amazon $607.53$607.5310 cu ft234 kWh/yr0 °F - Frigidaire EFRF7003 7.0 Cu Ft Freezer#2 of 14Full review
A 7 cu ft freezer at a fair price for indoor use. Choose the Midea 7.0 instead if it will sit in a cold garage.
Amazon $320.15$320.157 cu ft-- - GE FCM11SRWW 10.7 cu ft Chest Freezer#3 of 14Full review
A garage ready 10.7 cu ft freezer with an audible alarm, for a half beef or a deer in an unheated garage. You pay extra for the GE name and alarm.
GE Appliances $809$80910.7 cu ft245 kWh/yr0 °F - GE FCM9SRWW 8.8 cu ft Chest Freezer#4 of 14Full review
A garage ready 8.8 cu ft freezer with a warning light and low rated energy use. A good mid size pick for a garage, if a one year warranty is enough.
GE Appliances $629$6298.8 cu ft220 kWh/yr0 °F - Midea 7.0 Cu Ft Convertible Freezer#5 of 14Full review
A low cost 7 cu ft freezer for a garage that can also run as a fridge. It uses a little more power than ENERGY STAR rivals.
Amazon $299.99$299.997 cu ft250 kWh/yr0 °F
Best Large Chest Freezers
- GE FCM22DLWW 21.7 cu ft Chest Freezer#1 of 10Full review
A big ENERGY STAR garage freezer with an alarm, lock and five baskets, for a whole beef or a hunting season. It needs a long stretch of wall.
GE Appliances $1,169$1,16921.7 cu ft346 kWh/yr0 °F - GE FCM16DLWW 15.7 cu ft Chest Freezer#2 of 10Full review
A well equipped 15.7 cu ft garage freezer with an alarm, a lock and four baskets. For buyers who want the features and are fine with a one year warranty.
GE Appliances $989$98915.7 cu ft277 kWh/yr0 °F - Hamilton Beach 21 Cu Ft Chest Freezer#3 of 10Full review
A big double lid freezer with a lock for a garage full of venison or a whole beef. Its energy use is not published, which matters at this size.
Amazon $949.99$949.9921 cu ft-- - GE FCM16SLWW 15.7 cu ft Chest Freezer#4 of 10Full review
A lockable 15.7 cu ft garage freezer for a whole season of meat. The FCM16DLWW costs a little more but adds an audible alarm, more baskets and lower energy use.
GE Appliances $899$89915.7 cu ft308 kWh/yr0 °F - BLACK+DECKER 19.8 Cu Ft Chest Freezer#5 of 10Full review
For homesteads and hunters who need the most space in one cabinet. Keep it in a heated space since no garage rating is given.
Amazon $1,099$1,09919.8 cu ft361 kWh/yr-
How We Rank
Each freezer is ranked against others of the same size, and scored on its price per cubic foot, its rated energy use for its size, the coldest room it’s rated to run in, its warranty and its features.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Value | price per cubic foot | 30% |
| Efficiency | rated energy use per cubic foot | 25% |
| Garage | coldest room it's rated to run in | 15% |
| Warranty | full warranty and sealed system warranty | 15% |
| Features | temperature alarm, defrost drain, lock and baskets | 15% |
How we rank explains each factor in full.