One Best Mini Freezer Locks, Another Is Rated for the Garage

1. Whynter Upright Freezer 2.1 Cu Ft with Lock, Stainless, CUF-210SS — Best Overall

The only lock on the page, the tightest dial, and the best-selling of the ten.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

This is the one freezer here you can lock. “Secure Storage: The perfect freezer for garages, offices, basements and other small spaces, this compact freezer includes a cylinder lock and 2 keys for added security when storing your food.” No other listing on the page mentions a lock of any kind. In a shared house, a dorm, an office or an unlocked garage, that is the feature that decides the purchase, and only one of ten offers it.

Its dial sits closer to 0°F than any other. “This compact freezer features a mechanical temperature control setting ranging from -10°– 2°F.” That is a 12°F span, by our arithmetic, the narrowest on the page, and the warmest setting is only 2°F above the 0°F standard target. On the 1.1 cu ft boxes the warm end is 6.8°F or 7°F; on the Upstreman and the Danby it is 10.4°F. A narrow range does not prove the cabinet holds any particular temperature, and the listing does not say how many positions the control has. It does mean there is less dial on the wrong side of zero to set by mistake.

The 2.1 cu ft capacity sits between the classes. That is about 59 litres, by our arithmetic, nearly twice a 1.1 cu ft box. At 27.5 inches tall it is about 8 inches taller than the countertop boxes and about 5 inches shorter than the 3 cu ft group, with a 20 by 17.5 inch footprint, 350 square inches by our arithmetic. Inside there is “a removable slide-out wire freezer shelf”, one shelf, stated. The listing pitches it as “An ideal ice cream freezer” and for “breast milk, frozen food, and more”.

The garage line is a suggestion, not a rating. The lock bullet itself calls this “The perfect freezer for garages”, and the first bullet lists “kitchen, office, basement or garage”. But no ambient-temperature range is printed. The Danby is the only listing here that says what room temperatures it can run in. If the Whynter is going into an unheated garage for the lock, ask Whynter for the ambient range first.

The listing is silent on several things the others state. It does not say the door reverses, which eight of the other nine do. It does not name a defrost type, give an energy figure, or give a noise level. The door is stainless steel with a “coordinating black cabinet” and a recessed handle that sits flush, the same look the Magic Chef describes for its 3.0 cu ft model.

What to weigh. It is sold by Amazon.com and ranks #46 overall and #2 in Upright Freezers, the best rank on the page by a clear margin; the next best is the BANGSON at #112 overall. The model number, CUF-210SS, is its own. The release date field reads 6 July 2020, the only release date given on the page. Warranty is one year limited. If you need a lock, there is no second choice on this page.

Best for: A shared house, office or indoor space where a lock matters, and a buyer who wants the dial kept close to 0°F.

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2. BLACK+DECKER 1.2 Cu Ft Compact Upright Freezer, White, BUFK12W — Best Small

The only Energy Star certification on the page, on a countertop box that prints no temperature range.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

This is the one freezer here that says Energy Star. “QUALITY GUARANTEED: Our compact freezer is Energy Star certified and UL Safety certified.” No other listing on the page makes the claim. Energy Star is a label with a published efficiency threshold, so it is the one energy statement on this page that rests on a common standard rather than a seller’s own figure. What the listing does not give is the kWh number behind it; to see that, you would look up the model, BUFK12W, in the Energy Star product finder.

It is a little bigger than the 1.1s, and noticeably heavier. “The 1.2 cu. ft. interior capacity of this BLACK+DECKER compact upright freezer allows for ample storage of your favorite foods.” That is about 34 litres, by our arithmetic, against about 31 for the BANGSON and EUHOMY. The box is close to a cube, “19.69″ x 19.29″ x 19.72″”, about the same height as the 1.1s on a wider base, about 388 square inches by our arithmetic. The listing gives its weight as “40.77 lbs.”, about 10 pounds more than the EUHOMY and 13 more than the BANGSON. Whether that reflects thicker insulation the listing does not say.

Its placement advice is the opposite of a garage claim. “Keep your new mini freezer (40.77 lbs.) in your office, bedroom or temperature-controlled basement.” Temperature-controlled is the important word. This is the only listing that, in effect, tells you to keep it indoors, and it is a useful honesty: most compact freezers are built for room temperatures, and only the Danby here is rated for anything wider.

It prints no temperature range. The listing mentions “an adjustable thermostat control” and stops there: no range, no cold end, no number of settings. It is one of four freezers on the page without a range. There is one “interior full-width wire shelf”, adjustable leveling legs and a “space-saving flat black design”, which reads oddly beside a white finish and probably refers to the flat back. Defrost type, a reversible door and noise are not mentioned.

What to weigh. It is sold by Amazon.com and ranks #1,690 overall and #51 in Upright Freezers. Warranty is one year parts and labor. The part number field reads only “BLACK+DECKER”; the model field gives BUFK12W. Buy it if a recognised efficiency label matters more to you than a printed dial range, and put a thermometer in it on day one.

Best for: An office or bedroom that wants the smallest freezer here with a recognised efficiency label.

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3. Danby 3.2 Cu Ft Upright Freezer, White, DUFM032A3WDB-3 — Best for Garages

The only listing that says what room temperatures it can run in, with the longest warranty on the page.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

This is the only freezer here with an ambient-temperature rating. The first bullet is “Garage Ready: Freezer can perform in temperatures from 0F to 110F (-17C to 43C).” Four listings on this page name the garage as a place to put a freezer. This is the only one that tells you the room temperatures it is built to work in. A freezer designed for indoor rooms can struggle when the space around it gets very cold or very hot; a stated range is what turns “use it in the garage” from a suggestion into a specification.

The warranty is the longest on the page by a distance. “5 years parts and labor coverage with in-home service.” Every other listing gives one year, except the Magic Chef, which adds five years on the compressor, part only. The Danby note excludes installation and yearly cleaning. For a freezer that will sit in a garage through hot summers, five years with in-home service is a substantial difference.

The spec sheet reads like a checklist. Manual defrost, stated. “2 quick freeze shelves”. “Easy-to-use mechanical thermostat”. “Integrated door handle”. “Reversible door hinge”. R600a refrigerant. Capacity is given in both units, “3.2 cu. ft. (90 L)”, and the conversion agrees, by our arithmetic. What it lacks is an energy figure, a noise figure and a lock.

Its range is the Upstreman’s range, to the decimal. “Maintains optimum freezing temperatures of -12°C (10.4°F) to -24°C (-11.2°F).” The Upstreman UP30 prints exactly the same pair. The two are also close in size, 3.2 and 3.0 cu ft, 32.69 and 31.6 inches tall, 20.69 and 20.3 inches wide. The model numbers differ, and the Danby is 59.3 pounds against 42.94, so we do not treat them as the same freezer; the shared range most likely reflects a common thermostat specification. Either way, the warm end sits 10.4°F above 0°F, so set it toward the cold end and check with a thermometer; see our freezer thermometer guide.

Same capacity, more floor than the BODACIOUS. The BODACIOUS also lists 3.2 cu ft at about the same height, on about 324 square inches of floor. The Danby takes about 466, by our arithmetic, roughly 44% more. The listings do not explain the difference; insulation thickness for a 0F to 110F rating is one plausible reason, and the extra 15 pounds of weight fits it, but that is inference.

What to weigh. It is sold by Amazon.com and ranks #6,177 overall and #207 in Upright Freezers, the lowest rank on the page. The best-documented freezer here is the least bought. For a garage, a basement without heating or anywhere the room swings in temperature, it is the only listing on this page that answers the question.

Best for: A garage, unheated basement or workshop where the room temperature swings, and a buyer who values a long warranty.

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4. BANGSON 1.1 Cu Ft Upright Mini Freezer for Dorms and Apartments, US-BSR-019 — Best-Ranked 1.1

The best-selling 1.1 cu ft box, with its own model number and the same Celsius range as two others here.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

This is the 1.1 cu ft box shoppers buy most. It ranks #112 overall and #3 in Upright Freezers, second only to the Whynter on the page and just ahead of the EUHOMY. It is also the lightest freezer here at 28.0 pounds, and the listing makes a point of it: “The BANGSON 1. 1 cu. ft. upright freezer controls the weight of each component, making the freezer very easy to use and move.”

Its range is a shared range, rounded. “The temperature may be adjusted from -8°F to 7°F (-22°C to -14°C).” In Celsius that is exactly what the EUHOMY and the 6.0 cu ft Antarctic Star print; -22°C and -14°C convert to -7.6°F and 6.8°F, so the BANGSON has simply rounded outward. Three listings on this page share one dial range across a fivefold spread of capacity. The BANGSON has its own model number, US-BSR-019, and five levels rather than seven, so it is not the same model as the EUHOMY, but on paper the two are near-twins: 1.1 cu ft, about 19 inches tall, about 18 inches square.

Five levels make bigger steps. Across the 15°F span it prints, five levels work out at about 3.75°F per step if the steps are even, by our arithmetic, against about 2.4°F on the seven-level boxes. “Choose your preferred temperature from the rear of the freezer.” A dial on the back keeps the inside clear, and it also means reaching behind the unit to change it, which matters if it sits against a wall or under a shelf.

The basics are covered and the numbers are not. “The reversible door and flush-back design provide for greater positioning versatility.” The leveling legs adjust. “You can remove the inner shelf based on the height of the meal.” There is no energy figure, no noise figure and no defrost type. The listing suits the box to “2–3 families or dorm workplaces”, which we read as two or three people, and suggests it “would look great in a corner or on a countertop”.

What to weigh. It is sold by BANGSON, with stock flagged scarce at capture. The spec table gives a width of 18.0 inches where the bullet gives 18 inches deep; either way the box is about 18 inches square. Warranty is one year, described as “courteous service for a year”. Against the BLACK+DECKER, it gives up the Energy Star label and 0.1 cu ft, and gains a printed range, a reversible door, the better rank and nearly 13 pounds less to carry.

Best for: A dorm or studio that wants the most-bought 1.1 cu ft box and something light to move.

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5. EUHOMY 1.1 Cu Ft Upright Freezer, Reversible Door Mini Freezer, UF001-11 — Amazon-Sold 1.1

A seven-level 1.1 cu ft box sold by Amazon.com, with its quiet and efficiency claims left unnumbered.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

This is the 1.1 cu ft box with the finest dial. “The 7-level temperature control system allows you to choose within the temperature range -7.6°F to 6.8°F.” Seven levels across 14.4°F is about 2.4°F per step if the steps are even, by our arithmetic, finer than the BANGSON’s five. The range itself is the BANGSON’s in Celsius, -22°C to -14°C, and the Antarctic Star prints the same Fahrenheit figures at 6.0 cu ft.

Amazon.com is the seller. It ranks #152 overall and #4 in Upright Freezers, one place behind the BANGSON. Stock was flagged scarce at capture. The listing gives the outline “(precise): 17.51″W x 18.01″D x 19.51″H”, while the spec table gives 18.6 inches for width; plan for the larger figure.

Its efficiency and noise claims come without numbers. The listing says the compressor “can help you save electricity, which will reduce your electricity bill” and that the freezer is “very quiet”. Neither claim comes with a figure, and it does not say Energy Star. If quiet matters, the BODACIOUS and Antarctic Star are the only listings here that give a decibel number.

The dial is on the back, by design. “In order to free up more storage space inside the freezer, the Euhomy Team sets the thermostat on the back of the freezer.” That is the same arrangement as the BANGSON, with the same trade: more room inside, a reach behind the box to adjust it. The cold end is 7.6°F below zero and the warm end 6.8°F above it.

The extras are stated in a list. “REVERSIBLE DOOR”, “ADJUSTABLE FEET: keep the machine from being corroded by moisture on the ground”, “ADJUSTABLE SHELVES” and a “BUILT-IN HANDLE”. It is the only 1.1 listing to add a setup note: “You’d better put the small freezer upright for at least 24 hours before using it.” The BODACIOUS gives the same 24-hour rest. Compressor freezers generally want time upright after shipping so the oil settles, and it is worth following on any of these.

What to weigh. Warranty is one year. No defrost type is named; assume manual. Against the BANGSON, it adds two dial positions, adjustable shelves and Amazon.com as the seller, and weighs 2.8 pounds more.

Best for: A 1.1 cu ft buyer who wants the finer seven-level dial and Amazon.com as the seller.

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6. Upstreman 3.0 Cu Ft Upright Freezer, Reversible Door, UP30 — Ice Tray Included

The Danby’s exact dial range, a garage suggestion without the Danby’s rating, and defrost tools in the box.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

Its range is identical to the Danby’s. “A 5-speed adjustable thermostat, allowing you to easily set the ideal freezing temperature from -11.2°F to 10.4°F (-24°C to -12°C).” The Danby prints the same two figures in both units. The two are also close in size: 3.0 against 3.2 cu ft, 31.6 against 32.69 inches tall, 20.3 against 20.69 inches wide. The model numbers differ, and the Upstreman lists 42.94 pounds against the Danby’s 59.3, so we treat them as different freezers that share a thermostat specification. The cold end, -11.2°F, is the coldest dial setting on the page, shared with the Danby.

The difference that matters is the garage. The Upstreman says it fits “kitchens, basements, garages, or even under counters”. It gives no ambient range. The Danby, with the same dial, says “Garage Ready” and prints 0F to 110F. If garage use is the reason you are buying, that is the line that separates them.

Five speeds make coarse steps. The span is 21.6°F, by our arithmetic, and five speeds make steps of about 5.4°F if they are even. One notch can move the cabinet several degrees across the 0°F target, and the warm end, 10.4°F, is well above it. Set it near the cold end and check with a thermometer.

The defrost story is told by the accessories. “The enhanced sealing and insulation system minimizes frost buildup, enable efficient cooling while reducing maintenance. The standing upright freezer included ice tray and defrost tools allowing for sustained efficiency.” A freezer that ships with defrost tools is a freezer that will need defrosting, but the listing never uses the words manual defrost. We list it as not named.

The capacity lives in the title, not the spec table. The title and bullets say 3.0 cu ft; the spec table has no size field. The footprint is about 384 square inches by our arithmetic, between the BODACIOUS and the Danby. Under-counter placement for a 31.6 inch tall box depends on your counter height and on clearance for ventilation, which the listing does not specify. The door reverses, the feet level, and the “built-in ergonomic handle provides comfortable access without bending”.

What to weigh. It is sold by Upstreman Innovation Direct and ranks #300 overall and #13 in Upright Freezers, far ahead of the Danby’s #207 in the category. Shelving, energy use and noise are not stated. Warranty is one year. Buy it for an indoor space where the Danby’s rating and five-year warranty are not needed.

Best for: An indoor kitchen or utility room that wants a 3 cu ft box reaching -11.2°F, with defrosting done by hand.

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7. Magic Chef 3.0 Cu Ft Upright Freezer, Stainless Steel, MCUF3S2 — Longest Compressor Cover

Manual defrost and a reversible door stated, five years on the compressor, and two heights that cannot both be right.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

The warranty is the reason to look. “1 Year Parts and Labor, 5 Years Compressor (Part Only).” The compressor is the most expensive part of a freezer to fail, and only two listings here cover it beyond a year: this one, for the part, and the Danby, for five years of parts and labor with in-home service. Part-only means you would pay for the labour to fit it, but it is still more than eight of the ten offer.

Its two heights cannot both be right. The last bullet says “Dimensions of the portable freezer measure 20 x 17 x 24 inches (L x W x H) with a 3 cubic feet capacity.” The spec table says 32.1 inches high, 22.0 long and 20.3 wide. Every other 3.0 to 3.2 cu ft freezer on this page is 31.6 to 32.8 inches tall, so the spec table figure is the more plausible one, but the listing does not say which is current. Measure for 32.1 inches and about 22 by 20 inches of floor.

Defrost and door are stated plainly. “Manual defrost feature helps keep the small freezer clean from frost bite; Adjustable control allows you to select your desired temperature.” That makes it one of four listings to say manual defrost in words. “Customize the door of the upright deep freezer to open on the left or right side.” The adjustable control comes with no range, no number of settings and no cold end, so this is one of four freezers here that never tells you how cold it gets.

It shares the Whynter’s look, not its lock. “Stainless steel door and black cabinet presents a sleek and clean look”, with a “convenient recessed door handle” and a flush back. That is the same styling the Whynter describes. The model numbers, capacities and makers differ (MC Appliance Corporation here), and the Magic Chef does not mention a lock. Inside there are “convenient wire shelves”, number not given.

What to weigh. It is sold by 4Wheel Online, not Amazon.com, with scarce stock at capture, and ranks #2,822 overall and #86 in Upright Freezers. It names “garage, basement, office, and more” but prints no ambient range. At 60.6 pounds it is the heaviest of the 3 cu ft group. Ask for the temperature range and confirm the height before you order.

Best for: A buyer who wants a stainless 3 cu ft freezer with compressor cover beyond one year, and will confirm the range and height first.

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8. BODACIOUS 3.2 Cu Ft Mini Freezer, Compact Upright Small Freezer, BD-80U — Only Energy Figure

The only kWh figure and one of two decibel figures on the page, on a 1.1-sized footprint stretched to waist height.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

This is the only listing that tells you how much electricity it uses. “Save on utility costs with low energy consumption (156.95 kWh/year …), which is 35% lower than similar models.” That is about 0.43 kWh a day, by our arithmetic. The listing does not say how it was measured, and “35% lower than similar models” names no models. It is not Energy Star; only the BLACK+DECKER says that. Read the figure as a stated mark to check against a plug-in meter, not as a certified rating. It is still more than nine of the ten give you.

It fits nearly three 1.1s of capacity into a 1.1’s footprint. The base is 17.5 by 18.5 inches, about 324 square inches by our arithmetic, within a few square inches of the EUHOMY and the BANGSON. The difference is height: 32.8 inches against about 19. That extra height takes the capacity from 1.1 to 3.2 cu ft, about 91 litres by our arithmetic. The Danby lists the same 3.2 cu ft at almost the same height on about 466 square inches, roughly 44% more floor. One of the two is using its space very differently, and the listings do not say how.

It states a cold point, not a range. “Achieve ultra-low temperatures of -13°F in just 12 hours.” That is the coldest figure on the page, colder than any printed dial end. The listing never gives a warm end or a number of dial positions, so you cannot tell from the page how much of the control sits above 0°F. Plan to set it with a thermometer in the cabinet.

The shelving and noise are specific. “3 shelves (10 lbs capacity each) and transparent baffles to prevent flavor mixing.” It is the only listing that gives a shelf load. Noise is “under 40dB”, one of two decibel figures here with the Antarctic Star’s; neither says at what distance. The defrost line is plain: “The manual defrost design ensures you maintain optimal performance with ease.” A reversible door and “2 adjustable feet” handle placement.

What to weigh. It is sold by HengGe-US and ranks #205 overall and #8 in Upright Freezers. The model field reads only “Upright freezer”; the part number, BD-80U, shares a BD- prefix with the Antarctic Star’s BD-165. Warranty is one year with “lifetime technical support” and 30-day returns. For a narrow, tall space where you want energy and noise on paper, it is the best-documented choice.

Best for: An apartment kitchen or utility corner with little floor space but room upwards, where energy use and noise should be on paper.

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9. Commercial Cool 5.0 Cu Ft Upright Freezer, White, CCUL50W6 — Most Shelves

Four full-width shelves and a flat back, and no temperature range at all.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

This is the most shelving on the page, and no temperature information. “Our freezer has 4 full-width steel wire shelves.” No other listing states more shelves, and wire shelves let cold air move between levels. What the listing does not give is a temperature range, a number of settings, a cold end or a warm end. It is one of four freezers here, with the BLACK+DECKER, the Magic Chef and, in part, the BODACIOUS, that leave the dial undescribed.

The energy line is a certification, not a figure. “With ETL energy and safety certification and environmentally friendly R600a refrigerant, this upright freezer saves money on energy bills month after month.” ETL is a testing-laboratory listing mark. It is not the Energy Star label, which only the BLACK+DECKER claims here, and the listing gives no kWh figure to judge it by.

The copy calls it a chest freezer once. “Our chest freezer 5 cu. ft. has a flat back and recessed door handle, which is ideal for corners and smaller spaces up against the wall.” It is an upright, with a single reversible door, as the next bullet says: “Since the single door reverses to open either way, you can fit this compact freezer anywhere.” The slip is harmless, but it is a reminder of how loosely these listings use their category words. The title gives the model as CCUL50W and the spec table as CCUL50W6; the manufacturer is listed as W Appliance Company.

At 5.0 cu ft it is a different appliance from a 1.1. That is about 142 litres, by our arithmetic, more than four times a countertop box. It stands 47.8 inches tall on a 21.5 by 22.2 inch footprint, about 477 square inches by our arithmetic, the largest base on the page. The listing pitches it for backup: “This deep freezer upright allows you to keep extra food frozen for emergencies.” No weight is given.

What to weigh. It is sold by Amazon.com and ranks #316 overall and #18 in Upright Freezers. Warranty is one year. Against the 6.0 cu ft Antarctic Star, it is a little shorter, adds a fourth stated shelf and drops the temperature range, the manual-defrost statement and the noise figure. Ask for the temperature range before you buy.

Best for: A backup freezer in a utility room where shelf space matters more than a printed temperature range.

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10. Antarctic Star 6.0 Cu Ft Upright Freezer with 7-Temp Control and Glass Shelves, BD-165 — Largest Here

The top of the mini range at 6.0 cu ft, on the same dial range as the 1.1 cu ft boxes.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

This is where “mini” ends on this page. 6.0 cu ft is about 170 litres, by our arithmetic, more than five times a 1.1 cu ft box, at 50.98 inches tall and 74.96 pounds. The listing still calls it “Space-Saving, Portable Compact Design” and suggests “apartments, dorm rooms, RVs, offices”. It is the largest freezer here, and the top of the 1.1 to 6 cu ft range most buyers mean by mini.

It is the only listing here that states its own footprint, and the figure checks out. “Its compact footprint (3.23 sq.ft) fits seamlessly into tight spaces.” The spec table gives 21.85 by 21.26 inches, which is about 464.5 square inches, or 3.23 square feet, by our arithmetic. That agreement is a small thing, and it is rarer on this page than it should be.

Its dial is the 1.1 cu ft dial. “Seven adjustable settings (1 low to 7 high), providing a wide range from -7.6°F to 6.8°F.” That is exactly the EUHOMY’s range, and the BANGSON’s in Celsius: three of ten listings share it, across a 1.1 and a 6.0. Its model number, BD-165, shares the BD- prefix with the BODACIOUS part number. The listings do not say where any of them are made, so we note the pattern and draw no conclusion from it. The range calls itself wide; at 14.4°F it is in fact one of the narrower ones here, by our arithmetic.

Defrost and shelving are stated. “Featuring a simple rotary temperature knob, manual defrost, and adjustable leveling legs for stability on uneven floors.” It is one of four listings to say manual defrost in words. The title promises “Removable Glass Shelves”, the only glass shelving on the page; glass shelves stop small items falling through and wipe clean, at the cost of blocking some air movement compared with wire. The door reverses. Noise is “below 40 dB”, and the energy claim is a phrase, “lower energy consumption for cost-effective running”, with no figure.

What to weigh. It is sold by Amazon.com and ranks #255 overall and #11 in Upright Freezers. Warranty is one year. Against the Commercial Cool, it adds a stated range, manual defrost in words, glass shelves and a noise figure, and gives up the fourth shelf count. If you want the most capacity that still counts as a mini freezer, this is it.

Best for: An apartment that needs the most frozen storage still sold as compact, in a corner about 22 inches square.

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