The best vertical freezer in NZ overall is the Imprasio 242L Upright Freezer, a roomy mid-size unit that fits a slim 600 mm footprint and undercuts most big-brand uprights on price. Vertical freezers (also called upright or stand-up freezers) store food on eye-level shelves and drawers instead of a deep chest bin, so nothing gets lost at the bottom.
This guide compares eight upright freezers sold in New Zealand right now, from an 83 litre under-bench bar freezer to a 366 litre family unit, covering frost-free convenience, running cost, door reversibility and who each one suits. Every pick below was checked as currently listed and in stock at a NZ retailer.
Quick comparison
| Freezer | Capacity | Defrost | Energy | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imprasio 242L Upright Freezer | 242 L | Manual | 3.5 star | Best overall value |
| Midea 172L Upright Freezer | 172 L | Manual | 3.5 star | Compact / small homes |
| Midea 238L Dual Model | 238 L | Frost-free | 2.5 star | Convertible fridge or freezer |
| Imprasio 366L Upright Freezer | 366 L | Frost-free | 2.5 star | Large capacity on a budget |
| Midea 83L Bar Freezer | 83 L | Manual | 4 star | Under-bench / bar |
| Haier 272L 300 Series Hybrid | 272 L | Frost-free | 5 star (freezer) | Premium hybrid |
| Samsung 323L 1-Door Freezer | 323 L | Frost-free | 4 star | Even cooling, large |
| LG 324L Vertical Freezer | 324 L | Frost-free | 4 star | Premium overall |
1. Imprasio Upright Freezer – Best Overall Value
Verdict: The best all-round vertical freezer in NZ for most homes is the Imprasio 242L, which pairs a generous 242 litres of storage with a slim 600 mm-wide cabinet and a lower price than the big-brand uprights.
Design and shape: At 1710 mm tall, 600 mm wide and 605 mm deep it slots into a standard appliance nook or garage corner, and the 55 kg build is manageable for two people to position. Inside are wire shelves, clear drawers and interior lighting.
User experience: One thing to know before buying: despite some marketing copy mentioning “no frost”, the retailer spec sheet lists this as a manual-defrost freezer, so expect to clear it out a few times a year. A front temperature control runs it, finished in white with an inox-look accent and a recessed handle.
Performance: 242 litres is enough for a couple or small family to batch-cook and freeze bulk meat, and the 3.5-star energy rating keeps running costs reasonable for the size.
Trade-offs: The reversible door is a technician job at extra cost rather than a DIY swap, and this model is new enough that verified owner reviews are still thin. Buyers set on true frost-free convenience should look further down the list.
Pros
- Roomy 242 L in a slim 600 mm cabinet
- Simple front temperature control and interior light
- Solid 3.5-star energy rating for the size
- Long 3-year total warranty
Cons
- Manual defrost despite some “no frost” marketing
- Door reversal needs a technician
- Few verified owner reviews so far
Key specs: Model IMUF242, 242 L, 1710 x 600 x 605 mm, 55 kg, 3.5-star energy, manual defrost, R600a, reversible door, 24-month plus 12-month extended warranty.
2. Midea Upright Freezer – Best Compact for Small Households
Verdict: For a one or two-person household, apartment or a second freezer, the Midea 172L is the easiest upright to live with, thanks to its small 550 mm-square footprint and roll-into-place wheels.
Design and shape: It stands 1420 mm tall and just 550 mm wide and deep, and at 47 kg it is the lightest full-height pick here; built-in wheels and adjustable legs make it simple to position and level. Plain white with transparent drawers, plus a no-twist ice maker and a 1.7 m power cord.
User experience: Owners on NZ retailer pages describe it as affordable and competitively priced without looking cheap, praise how the upright layout saves the back versus stooping into a chest freezer, and report smooth ordering and delivery.
Performance: 172 litres gross (162 net) suits everyday frozen groceries and a modest bulk-buy, and the 3.5-star rating plus small cabinet keep it cheap to run.
Trade-offs: Like the Imprasio it is a manual-defrost model, so it needs occasional defrosting, and the reversible door again requires a technician. It is also the smallest full-height unit here, so large families will outgrow it.
Pros
- Compact 550 mm-square footprint with wheels and adjustable legs
- See-through drawers make food easy to find
- Energy-efficient 3.5 stars
- Light at 47 kg and easy to place
Cons
- Manual defrost
- Smallest capacity of the full-height picks
- Door reversal is not DIY
Key specs: Model MDRU229FGF01AP, 172 L gross (162 L net), 1420 x 550 x 550 mm, 47 kg, 3.5-star energy, manual defrost, wheels and adjustable legs, 3-year total warranty.
3. Midea Upright Fridge/Freezer Dual Model – Best Convertible
Verdict: The Midea 238L Dual Model is the most flexible pick, because the whole cabinet switches between fridge and freezer, so it can be a summer drinks fridge and a winter deep-freeze in the same spot.
Design and shape: A stainless-steel-finish cabinet measuring 1722 x 595 x 632 mm, so it lines up neatly next to a standard fridge, with adjustable feet and an LED interior light.
User experience: A front control panel handles the mode switch and temperature, and unlike the budget uprights this one uses No Frost technology, so in freezer mode it stays frost-free with no manual defrosting. The one verified owner review on a NZ retailer rates it 5/5, noting the temperature settings are easy to adjust and the unit cools down quickly.
Performance: 238 litres of convertible space is genuinely useful for households whose storage needs change with the seasons or who host at Christmas.
Trade-offs: It is a whole-cabinet switch, not a dual-zone fridge-and-freezer combo, so you get one mode at a time. The 2.5-star energy rating is lower than the smaller Midea units, door reversal is again a technician job, and stock varies by retailer so confirm availability.
Pros
- Switches fully between fridge and freezer
- Frost-free operation, no manual defrosting
- Stainless finish with LED light
- Easy front controls praised by an owner
Cons
- One mode at a time, not dual-zone
- Lower 2.5-star energy rating
- Door reversal needs a technician
Key specs: Model MDRU333FGF02AP, 238 L, 1722 x 595 x 632 mm, 60 kg, frost-free (No Frost), 2.5-star energy, convertible fridge or freezer, LED light, 3-year total warranty.
4. Imprasio Upright Freezer – Best Large Capacity on a Budget
Verdict: Families who need serious freezer space without a premium price will find the Imprasio 366L the best value big upright, packing 366 litres into a single white cabinet.
Design and shape: At 1720 x 670 x 710 mm it is the deepest and widest unit here, so measure the space first; the 62 kg body needs two people to move and has adjustable feet for uneven floors.
User experience: Three simple temperature settings (Cold, Colder, Coldest) run the whole freezer, retailer listings describe it as a no-frost, frost-free unit, and both verified owner reviews on a NZ retailer are 5-star, one simply calling it a great freezer for the price.
Performance: 366 litres swallows a whole-animal meat order or a big family’s batch cooking, which is where this unit earns its place.
Trade-offs: The 2.5-star energy rating means it costs more to run than a smaller freezer, so the bigger cabinet is not free to feed. The door reversal is a paid technician job, and independent owner reviews remain scarce beyond the retailer’s own short comments.
Pros
- Big 366 L capacity for the price
- Frost-free convenience
- Three easy temperature settings
- Adjustable levelling feet for garages
Cons
- Large footprint needs planning
- 2.5-star rating means higher running cost
- Door reversal is not DIY
Key specs: Model IMUF366, 366 L, 1720 x 670 x 710 mm, 62 kg, frost-free, 2.5-star energy, three temperature settings, R600a, 3-year total warranty.
5. Midea 83L Bar Freezer – Best Under-Bench Bar Freezer
Verdict: The Midea 83L Bar Freezer is the best small, tuck-away option, a genuinely compact under-bench freezer for apartments, sleepouts or a backup unit in the garage.
Design and shape: At just 845 mm tall, 574 mm wide and 553 mm deep it fits under a bench or in a corner, and at 27.5 kg one person can shift it.
User experience: A reversible door helps it fit awkward corners, and at a quoted 39 dB it is one of the quietest freezers here, described across the wider Midea compact range as barely noticeable unless you are standing next to it. Being manual defrost, it needs an occasional defrost, which is simple given its size.
Performance: 83 litres is modest, but the standout number is the 4-star energy rating at about 146 kWh a year, the most efficient rating on this list, so it is cheap to leave running as a backup.
Trade-offs: Capacity is small, so it is a top-up or single-person freezer rather than a family’s main unit, and the manual defrost adds a small maintenance chore.
Pros
- Compact under-bench size
- Most efficient here at 4 stars (about 146 kWh/yr)
- Quiet at around 39 dB
- Light and easy for one person to place
Cons
- Only 83 litres
- Manual defrost
- Too small for a main family freezer
Key specs: Model MDRD129FGF01AP, 83 L, 845 x 574 x 553 mm, 27.5 kg, 4-star energy (about 146 kWh/yr), around 39 dB, manual defrost, reversible door, 3-year total warranty.
6. Haier 300 Series Hybrid Vertical Freezer – Best Hybrid
Verdict: The Haier 272L 300 Series is the best premium hybrid, a frost-free upright that switches from a full freezer to a full fridge across a single-degree range from minus 24C to plus 8C.
Design and shape: It measures 1775 x 597 x 693 mm in white, with three glass shelves, three freezer drawers, a slide-out storage compartment and levelling feet.
User experience: An external LED control panel sets the mode and temperature, and useful extras include a SuperFreeze function, manual twist ice maker, child lock, door alarm and Eco mode. It is frost-free, so there is no manual defrosting.
Performance: Energy ratings differ by mode (6 stars as a fridge at about 97 kWh a year, 5 stars as a freezer at about 200 kWh a year), and it holds a 4.3/5 rating on Haier NZ, with a Harvey Norman reviewer calling it a great little freezer that will fit in most places.
Trade-offs: The main complaint owners raise is noise, with some finding it louder than rivals, a pattern seen across parts of the Haier range. The warranty is 2 years, shorter than the budget uprights’ effective 3, and it sits at a premium price.
Pros
- Full fridge or freezer conversion
- Frost-free with SuperFreeze, child lock and door alarm
- Strong 4.3/5 owner rating
- Efficient in fridge mode (about 97 kWh/yr)
Cons
- Some owners report it runs noisy
- Shorter 2-year warranty
- Premium price
Key specs: Model HVF275DW, 272 L, 1775 x 597 x 693 mm, frost-free, hybrid fridge/freezer (minus 24C to plus 8C), 5-star freezer / 6-star fridge, SuperFreeze, 2-year warranty.
7. Samsung 1-Door Freezer – Best for Even Cooling
Verdict: The Samsung 323L single-door freezer targets even, all-shelf cooling, using All-Round Cooling vents and a digital inverter compressor to keep temperatures consistent from top to bottom.
Design and shape: A tall 1858 x 595 x 694 mm white cabinet that lines up with a standard fridge, with a reversible door and easy-open handle for flexible placement.
User experience: A front display, Power Freeze fast-freeze and a movable twist ice maker cover the basics, and the digital inverter compressor is quiet (about 39 dBA on the sibling model) and carries a long parts warranty.
Performance: 323 litres of frost-free storage plus even cooling make it a capable large single-door freezer on paper, and it holds a 4-star energy rating on the retailer listing.
Trade-offs: This is where buyers should tread carefully. Owners of the closely related SFP-series models, including several New Zealand buyers, report a recurring fault where the freezer stops cooling while the display still shows a cold temperature, spoiling food, with one sibling model scoring just 1.3/5 on a review site before being discontinued. The reliability reports are a genuine reason to weigh this pick against the LG and Haier.
Pros
- Large 323 L capacity
- All-Round Cooling for even shelf temperatures
- Quiet digital inverter compressor with long parts warranty
- Power Freeze fast-freeze
Cons
- Related SFP models have repeated reports of losing cooling while showing cold
- A sibling model was discontinued after poor ratings
- 2-year main warranty
Key specs: Model SFP350RW, 323 L, 1858 x 595 x 694 mm, frost-free, All-Round Cooling, digital inverter compressor, 4-star energy, reversible door, 2-year warranty.
8. LG 324L Vertical Freezer – Best Premium Overall
Verdict: The LG 324L is the best premium vertical freezer here for buyers who want quiet, reliable, frost-free storage, backed by LG’s 10-year compressor warranty.
Design and shape: A stainless-finish cabinet at 595 x 1860 x 707 mm with three tempered-glass shelves and four clear freezer drawers, plus near zero-clearance doors that open in tight spaces.
User experience: LG’s Smart Inverter Compressor drives Linear Cooling, Multi Air Flow and Express Freeze, with soft LED lighting, a door alarm and Smart Diagnosis, and it is frost-free so there is no manual defrosting.
Performance: 324 litres at a 4-star rating (about 256 kWh a year), and owners consistently praise how quiet it runs. Harvey Norman NZ reviewers rate it 5/5 for keeping things cold efficiently, the closely related model averages 4.7/5 across dozens of reviews for quiet, roomy performance, and CHOICE lists the variant as Recommended.
Trade-offs: It is the most expensive pick here and there is no Wi-Fi or ThinQ connectivity, which some buyers expect at this level. At 76 kg it is also the heaviest unit, so plan the delivery path.
Pros
- Quiet Smart Inverter Compressor with 10-year warranty
- Frost-free with Express Freeze and even Multi Air Flow cooling
- Strong owner ratings and CHOICE Recommended
- Roomy 324 L with four drawers
Cons
- Most expensive pick here
- No Wi-Fi or ThinQ connectivity
- Heaviest unit at 76 kg
Key specs: Model GP-F324PL (GPF324PL), 324 L, 595 x 1860 x 707 mm, 76 kg, frost-free, Smart Inverter Compressor, 4-star (about 256 kWh/yr), 2-year parts and labour plus 10-year compressor warranty.
How to choose a vertical freezer
Capacity and size: Match the litres to your household. Around 80 to 170 litres suits one or two people or a second freezer, 200 to 280 litres fits an average three-bedroom home, and 300 litres and up handles big families or bulk meat buyers. Measure the nook height, width and depth, and check which side the door is hinged, as several models here are reversible (usually by a technician).
Frost-free or manual defrost: Frost-free (No Frost) models like the LG, Haier, Samsung and the larger Midea and Imprasio units save you the chore of defrosting, while the budget manual-defrost freezers cost less up front but need clearing out a few times a year.
Running cost: Check the kWh figure on the Energy Rating Label and multiply by your power price (around $0.28 to $0.30 a kWh in NZ) for a yearly running cost. A 4-star 83-litre freezer at roughly 146 kWh costs far less to run than a 2.5-star 366-litre unit, so a bigger cabinet is not free to feed.
Placement: If the freezer is headed for the garage, check its ambient temperature rating, because NZ garages swing hot and cold and an unrated unit can struggle. If you only need to chill drinks and a few groceries rather than freeze in bulk, a compact fridge may suit better; the guide to the best bar fridges covers those.
Households kitting out a garage or laundry can also compare the best tumble dryers.
If a new washer is on the list too, the roundup of top-loader washing machines is compared separately.
For keeping a room comfortable through summer, see the roundup of portable air conditioners.
Cheaper cooling is covered in the guide to air coolers.
Verdict
For most New Zealand homes the Imprasio 242L Upright Freezer is the best all-round vertical freezer, balancing a roomy 242 litres, a slim footprint and value pricing. Small households and apartments are better served by the compact Midea 172L or the tiny, efficient Midea 83L bar freezer, while big families should size up to the 366L Imprasio. If budget allows, the LG 324L is the premium pick for quiet, reliable frost-free storage with a 10-year compressor warranty, and the Haier 272L hybrid wins for flexibility. The Samsung 323L offers strong even-cooling on paper, but the reliability reports on its sibling models are worth weighing before buying.
FAQs
Is a vertical freezer the same as an upright freezer?
Yes. Vertical, upright and stand-up freezer all describe the same thing: a tall freezer that opens from the front, with food stored on shelves and in drawers, rather than a chest freezer that opens from the top. Every freezer in this guide is a vertical, front-opening upright model.
Are upright freezers more expensive to run than chest freezers?
Usually a little, yes. Cold air spills out of an upright’s front-opening door each time you open it, so uprights are generally slightly less efficient than an equivalent chest freezer. The gap is small, though, and a modern frost-free upright with a good energy rating keeps the difference minor for most households.
How much does an upright freezer cost to run in NZ?
Find the kWh figure on the Energy Rating Label and multiply by your power price, around $0.28 to $0.30 a kWh in New Zealand. A compact 146 kWh freezer costs roughly $40 to $45 a year, while a large 256 kWh unit runs closer to $70 to $80 a year.
Do upright freezers need defrosting?
It depends on the model. Frost-free (No Frost) uprights, like the LG, Haier, Samsung and the larger Midea and Imprasio units here, defrost themselves automatically. Manual-defrost models, such as the smaller Midea and Imprasio freezers, need clearing out a few times a year when frost builds up inside.
What size upright freezer do I need?
Match litres to your household. Around 80 to 170 litres suits one or two people or a second freezer, 200 to 280 litres fits an average three-bedroom home, and 300 litres or more handles large families or bulk meat buyers. Measure your space first, as taller units need clearance.
Can I put an upright freezer in the garage?
You can, but check the ambient temperature rating first. New Zealand garages swing hot in summer and cold in winter, and a freezer that is not rated for those extremes can struggle to hold temperature or run inefficiently. Look for a model rated for a wide ambient range before placing one in an unheated garage.
How long will food stay frozen in a power cut?
With the door kept shut, a full freezer holds food safely for about 48 hours and a half-full one for around 24 hours. Keeping the freezer well stocked helps it stay cold longer during an outage, so avoid opening the door until power returns.
How long do upright freezers last?
A well-maintained upright freezer typically lasts around 10 to 16 years, sometimes longer. Keeping it level, not overpacking the vents, and defrosting manual models regularly all help. A longer compressor warranty, like LG’s 10-year cover, is a useful sign of expected longevity.