How Much Will a 1-5 Cubic Foot (Compact) Freezer Hold?

If you’re looking for extra food storage, buying a freezer is a great investment. You can take advantage of food sales and stock up on meat, ice cream, and freezer meals. If you don’t have a lot of space or need for a large freezer, you may wonder, how much will a 5 cubic foot freezer hold? A general guideline is to multiply the number of people in your household by 1.5–2.5 cubic feet of freezer space to determine your storage needs.

Why the variation in cubic feet? Depending on your needs this helps account for packaging which takes up space, and also to adjust for various appetites. If you have small children, multiply by 1.5 cubic feet.

It’s important to buy the right size freezer for your needs and space availability. A freezer that’s too small won’t meet your needs. In my opinion it’s safer to buy one that’s slightly larger than needed. This way you won’t run out of room, and you can always fill up the empty space with ice to maximize efficiency.

A 5 cubic foot freezer is also known as a compact freezer. So, how much will a 5 cubic foot freezer hold? Let’s take a closer look.

Freezer Sizes

Most freezers come in four standard sizes¹. Determining the minimum size freezer for your household is a good starting point.

Type	Freezer Capacity (cubic feet)
Compact	3 to 5 cu. ft.
Small	6 to 9 cu. ft.
Medium	10 to 16 cu. ft.
Large	17+ cu. ft.

Micro, mini, or sub-compact freezers

Want to go extra-small? There are freezer models that are smaller than 5 cubic feet. 

Common mini freezers come in 1.5 cubic feet or 3.5 cubic feet. 

If you’re looking for a freezer for just one person, a 1.5 cubic feet freezer does the job. A 1.5 cubic feet freezer holds about 53 pounds (24 kilograms) of food.

You can find both upright models and freezer chest styles with a 1.5 cubic feet (or similar) capacity. Most often, these mini freezers are shaped like a cube, making it easy to tuck away in a corner. Some of these mini models come as a portable freezer chest.

If you’re looking for something that’s just slightly smaller than a 5 cubic feet freezer, a 3.5 cubic feet freezer works much the same way. 

How big is a 3.5 cubic feet freezer? This size would accommodate a two-person household with modest storage needs. A 3.5 cubic foot freezer would hold roughly 123 pounds (56 kilograms) of food.

How much meat does a 5 cubic foot freezer hold?

One of the most common items to stock up on is meat. With a short shelf life in the fridge, it makes sense to freeze extra meat from steak and uncooked roasts to ground beef in the freezer. Whether you have a hunter in the family, or prefer to buy your meat in bulk, having freezer space is a good thing.

According to Cove Creek Farm³ one cubic foot of freezer space stores roughly 35–40 pounds (16–18 kilograms) of packaged meat. This guideline accounts for variation in packaging size and shapes.

A 5 cubic foot freezer would snugly fit a quarter beef. Note that this is a dedicated 5 cubic foot freezer to hold only a quarter beef. If you have other frozen foods, they may need transferring to your refrigerator freezer if possible. Otherwise, you may need to get an eighth beef.

How much will a 5 cubic foot freezer hold: different scenarios

We mentioned above that a general guideline is to multiply the number of people in your household by 1.5–2.5 cubic feet to determine your freezer storage needs.

Here’s a chart outlining a rough guideline of freezer storage needs based on household composition. To be on the safe side and allow for extra space, we’ve multiplied adults by 2.5, and children by 1.5.

Household	Freezer Storage Needs (cubic feet)
Two adults	5 cu. ft.
Two adults, two young children	8 cu. ft.
Two adults, three young children	9.5 cu. ft.
Four adults	10 cu. ft.

Generally speaking, a 5 cubic foot freezer is sufficient for a two-person household.

Tip: A good guideline to consider is that 1 cubic foot of freezer space holds roughly 35 pounds (16 kilograms) of food². A 5 cubic foot freezer holds approximately 175 pounds (79 kilograms) of food.

3.5 vs. 5 cubic feet freezer

Are you deciding between a 3.5 and a 5 cubic feet freezer? A 3.5 cubic feet freezer holds roughly 123 pounds (56 kilograms) of food, compared to a 5 cubic feet freezer with a capacity of about 175 pounds (79 kilograms) of food.

A 5 cubic feet freezer can hold approximately 52 pounds (24 kilograms) of extra food. 

5 vs. 7 cubic feet freezer

Deciding whether a 5 cubic feet freezer will hold enough food? A 5 cubic feet freezer carries about 175 pounds (79 kilograms) of food compared to a 7 cubic feet freezer which holds roughly 245 pounds (111 kilograms) of food.

A 7 cubic feet freezer holds approximately 70 pounds (32 kilograms) of extra food.

How much food fits in 1 cubic foot?

If all these numbers have made you more confused, it helps to break it down to the basics. 

If you’re wondering how much food fits in 1 cubic foot (1 foot X 1 foot X 1 foot), I calculated my own very unscientific measurement: you can fit about four standard loaves of bread in 1 cubic foot (the loaves fit 2 X 2).

Freezer considerations

There are many factors to take in account when deciding on the proper freezer other than size.

Household needs

Are you planning on making extra meals to freeze? Do you like to buy food in bulk? Do you have someone who hunts in the family and needs a lot of space for meat? Do you have a large garden that requires freezing fresh fruits and vegetables?

Or, maybe, you prefer to buy your food fresh and are only looking to freeze the occasional lasagna or loaf of bread.

Evaluating your household needs is one of the most important considerations when determining the freezer size.

Freezer style

There are two main styles of deep freezer: upright freezer or chest freezer (aka box freezer).

An upright model looks similar to a refrigerator with a door that swings open horizontally. They have adjustable shelving and take up less floor space. People like upright freezers for easy-access to food.

The downside to upright freezers is they hold less than chest freezers. According to Consumer Reports⁴, the shelves and bins of upright freezers take up about 20 percent of the available storage space.

Chest freezers have doors that open like a treasure chest. While they take up more floor space, they also hold more food per cubic foot. Food also tends to stay cooler better in a chest freezer. In case of a power outage, food stored in a chest freezer is generally able to keep cool for a longer period of time than an upright freezer. New or used chest freezers are typically less expensive than upright freezers.

The downside to chest freezers is that food that’s on the bottom is often forgotten about. To keep frozen foods organized, consider buying freezer bins or wire baskets. A small chest freezer may keep the amount of frozen food you have at any given time more manageable.

Tip: Did you know that freezer burn is a result of moisture loss and/or improperly sealed food? To prevent freezer burn, squeeze out any excess air and thoroughly wrap or seal food before freezing. Keep the freezer temperature at 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 degrees Celsius) or lower. And don’t forget to enjoy your frozen foods in a timely manner!

Available space

How much space do you have available in your home for a freezer? Or, are you planning to put your freezer in the garage? No matter where you decide to place your freezer, you’ll need adequate space to accommodate it.

A compact freezer appliance (5 cubic feet or less) works great if you’re short on space.

Make sure to allow for at least 1 inch of space between the back of the freezer and the wall, as well as several inches clearance all around. This ensures adequate airflow and helps your freezer work well.

Ensure you have a cool, dry area to put your freezer away from windows and sunlight, and other heat sources.

Why it’s important to get the right freezer size

When it comes to freezer efficiency and food safety, it’s important to get the appropriate size for your household needs. Why?

Freezers that are stuffed to the brim don’t have adequate air circulation. Some foods stay cold, while others aren’t cold enough leading to potential food safety and temperature control issues. The freezer compressor also works harder when your freezer is too full. Try to leave room at the top and along the sides of the freezer compartment for better airflow.

On the other hand, freezers that sit mostly empty are also inefficient. While a bit of extra freezer space is fine, a large cavernous space requires a lot of energy to constantly keep cool.

So, how do you fill up an empty freezer?

Try filling clean milk jugs or other juice containers with water (remember to leave room at the top for expansion). You can also fill Ziploc bags with water or ice cubes. When your freezer is adequately full, it helps to better retain the cold air every time the door is opened.

Tip: Aim for a freezer that’s around 70-85 percent full⁵. This allows proper air circulation while also maximizing energy efficiency.

The takeaway: how much will a 5 cubic foot freezer hold?

A 5 cubic foot small deep freezer should be sufficient for a two-person household. It may accommodate a family of four (but it’ll likely be a tight squeeze!). A freezer of this size holds approximately 175 pounds (79 kilograms) of food. If you’re wondering how much meat fits in, it’s roughly a quarter beef.

Whether a 5 cubic foot freezer is right for you really depends on your personal needs and usage as well as home space availability.

Related questions

How big is a standard freezer?

The term “standard” can be tough to define. (After all, everybody has different standards.) However, a standard refrigerator freezer (with a top-freezer) has a storage capacity of roughly 4–5 cubic feet.

The most common standalone freezer sizes are: 3.5, 5, 7, and 10 cubic feet.

However, those who live in rural areas and farms have differing needs than city dwellers. My husband grew up on a farm where they had two large freezer chests (18+ cubic feet), side-by-side.

How to measure and calculate freezer capacity

Freezers are measured in cubic feet, a measurement of volume. Imagine a cube with sides that measure 1 feet.

To calculate freezer capacity, measure the interior of your freezer’s length, width and height. (Remember to convert your measurement to feet if you measured in inches or centimeters.)

Next, multiple the three numbers together (in feet): Length X Width X Height

The answer gives you a rough idea of your freezer capacity.

How much floor space is available inside a freezer?

The available floor space inside a freezer is highly dependent on the manufacturer and model. But you can easily figure it out by looking at the depth and width measurement in the product dimensions.

Keep in mind that these product measurements are typically an exterior measurement, so the interior measurements will be a few inches smaller.

If you have a lot of large, bulky frozen items, a chest freezer might make your life easier than an upright model.

How much floor space is required for a freezer?

The floor space you need to have available for the freezer is simply the product’s depth and width measurement (plus a buffer space of at least 1 inch, preferably more, from a wall or other appliance).

If it’s an upright freezer, you’ll need clearance for the door to swing open. Be sure to check the product description to see if the door swing is reversible.

Chest freezers also need several feet of clearance for the door to swing fully open. You don’t want to tuck these babies under a staircase for example, and not be able to open it!

References

1. MayTag, Guide to Freezer Sizes and Dimensions, https://www.maytag.com/blog/kitchen/freezer-sizes-and-dimensions-guide.html. Accessed October 2021.
2. Lowe’s, Freezer Buying Guide, https://www.lowes.com/n/buying-guide/freezer-buying-guide. Accessed November 2020.
3. Sparacio, Micah (23 March 2020). “ How Much Beef Can I Fit in a Freezer? “, Cove Creek Farm. Accessed November 2020.
4. Consumer Reports, Freezer Buying Guide, https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/freezers/buying-guide/index.htm . Accessed November 2020.
5. Sears Home Services, 5 Most Common Freezer Problems and Solutions, https://www.searshomeservices.com/blog/5-most-common-freezer-problems-and-solutions . Accessed November 2020.

Sharing is caring!