Top Freezer vs. Bottom Freezer

Shopping for a new refrigerator comes with a lot of decisions.

How much capacity do you need for a family of 4? What type of budget are you working for? And of course, what style of fridge will you buy? Typically the configuration of a refrigerator is distinguished by the location of the freezer. Other than side-by-side, your choices are top or bottom. Which one you choose will depend on how you use your refrigerator every day. Here we compare the differences between the top and bottom freezer configuration.

Accessibility

Winner: Bottom Freezer

In this category, there are actually advantages to both configurations. With the top freezer refrigerator, your frozen items are at eye level. Many times frozen foods get lost or forgotten so this configuration makes it easier to navigate through your freezer. Additionally, you can access your frozen foods much easier without straining your back (I’m looking at you, frozen 30-lb Thanksgiving turkey). However, more than likely you use your refrigerator way more than you do your freezer from your favorite breakfast foods to your late night snacks. The bottom freezer configuration puts all the foods you use on a regular basis at eye level for easy access. So unless you want to work those glutes (or let’s be honest, wear out your lower back muscles), the bottom freezer configuration is the way to go.

Upfront Cost

Winner: Top Freezer

While it will depend on what brand and finish you choose, top freezer refrigerators are generally more affordable than bottom freezer refrigerators. Top freezer refrigerators are typically more basic in features and functionality while bottom freezer refrigerators usually have a lot of features, including extra storage compartments, discreet water dispensers, flexible shelves, and even WiFi connectivity.

Flexibility

Winner: Bottom Freezer

Bottom freezer refrigerators come in a variety of different styles compared to its top freezer counterpart. You can choose from 1 door, french doors, 4-door and even 5-door styles to fit you and your family’s lifestyle. These multiple styles offer more flexibility when it comes to the size, shape, and location of your foods.

Energy Efficiency

Winner: Top Freezer

It may come as a surprise that top freezer refrigerators are more energy efficient than bottom freezers. Refrigerators use compressors to keep your favorite foods chilled or frozen. However, these compressors give off heat. In today’s refrigerator, the compressor is tucked away underneath the unit. For bottom freezers, this means the heat-generating compressor is right next to the freezer so it has to work harder to keep your frozen foods at the optimal temperature. According to the US Department of Energy, top freezers use around 10-25% less energy than bottom freezers which means more money in your pocket and less carbon footprint.

Freezer Storage

Winner: Bottom Freezer

Freezers offer you many ways to get creative with how you plan your meals each week, from freezing cooked meats or soups for a quick, easy dinner to turning healthy smoothies into summer popsicles. Thanks to their drawer design, bottom freezers offer the best flexible storage that make it easy to find and access your favorite frozen foods. They’re also generally more roomier than top freezers and can adapt better to larger frozen items, like that beast-of-a-bird we mentioned earlier.

Shop both refrigerator configurations here.