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Bettesworth Construction
chest freezer

Best Chest Freezers for a Keezer: How to Choose and Convert One

A practical guide to choosing a chest freezer for a keezer: measure usable interior space, plan keg and CO₂ tank placement, then account for the collar, controller and draft hardware.

By Bettesworth Construction Team 6 min read
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The best chest freezer for a kegerator—usually called a keezer—is one whose usable interior fits your kegs, CO₂ tank and lines, with enough depth and clearance to load them safely. Cubic-foot capacity alone won’t tell you that. Measure the interior, map the equipment layout, and plan for a temperature controller and a collar before choosing a freezer.

What is a keezer?

A keezer is a chest freezer modified to store and dispense kegged beer. A temperature controller lets the freezer operate at beverage-serving temperatures instead of its normal freezing setting. Many builds add a wooden collar between the freezer body and lid; the collar provides clearance for faucet shanks and a mounting surface for taps without drilling through the freezer cabinet.

That collar changes the loading height. Kegs have to be lifted over it, so the right build balances faucet placement and usable space against how easily you can load and remove heavy kegs.

What size freezer do you need for a keezer?

Start with the freezer’s usable interior width, depth and height, not its advertised cubic feet. Interior space may be reduced by a compressor hump, a sloped or shallow area, or the space needed for the CO₂ tank and fittings. A freezer that appears large by volume can still have a floor shape that does not fit your planned keg arrangement.

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Kismile 3.2 Cubic Feet Chest Freezer, Small Deep Freezer for Home, Black
  • Compact Chest Freezer Dimensions: 3.2 cubic feet free standing Chest Freezer. Measures: 20.67"(W) *17.12"(D)"31.89"(H). Compact Freezer is saving space design. Large Capacity is Great using for breast milk, meat, aquatic products, cold drinks, quick-freezing and other purposes. Perfect for Home,Dorms,Kitchen and Office
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  • Contents of the Package:1x deep freezer, 2x basket are included in the package. (The power cord of this chest freezer is installed on the left side of the unit. When facing the freezer head-on, customers will see the power cord on the right side.) Before using the tiny freezer, leave it upright for at least 24 hours.Hanging storage basket keeping smaller items readily available, and sliding easily, can quickly see items underneath

Map the keg layout before buying

  1. Measure the footprint of each keg you plan to use, along with its height. Include the CO₂ tank and any other equipment that must sit inside the freezer.
  2. Check the candidate freezer’s interior width and depth, paying particular attention to compressor humps and shallow areas.
  3. Cut cardboard circles matching the keg diameters and arrange them on the freezer floor. Leave space for the tank, lines and access to connections.
  4. Confirm that the kegs will clear the collar and lid when loaded, and that you can lift them in and out without an awkward or unsafe reach.

Kegerators.com’s keezer build guide recommends cardboard cutouts as a practical way to test a layout before purchase. It is a planning aid, not a guarantee of capacity: check actual interior dimensions and the specific kegs you intend to use.

Examples of why capacity claims need checking

Kegerators.com lists the 5 cu. ft. IF50CM23NW as holding up to three slim kegs with a tall 10-inch collar, and its listing for the 7 cu. ft. NS-CZ70WH6 says it can hold up to three slim kegs, possibly more with a taller collar. Those are retailer claims, not independently verified layouts. Check each model’s current interior dimensions and test the keg arrangement before relying on the stated count.

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  • Removable Storage Basket: Our compact freezer features a removable storage basket for easy organization of your frozen items. This small freezer chest helps enhance your storage efficiency.
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A 5 cu. ft. GE FCM5SHWW listing gives interior dimensions of 15 × 23 × 28 inches at the deep end and about 24 inches at the shallow end over the motor, and describes capacity for two to three Corny kegs with a collar. Kegerators.com marks that model discontinued, so it is an example of how interior shape affects fit, not a current buying recommendation. Frigidaire’s product page for the 5 cu. ft. garage-ready convertible FFCS0562AW does not establish usable interior dimensions or keg capacity; do not infer a keg count from its volume alone.

What to compare when choosing a chest freezer

Check Why it matters
Interior width, depth and floor shape These determine whether the planned keg footprints fit, including around a compressor hump or shallow section.
Keg and CO₂ tank dimensions The tank and connections use space that would otherwise appear available for kegs.
Collar height and loading access A collar offers a place for shanks but raises the opening and makes lifting kegs harder.
Temperature-control method and probe access The controller must be able to control the freezer and its probe must be positioned where it can sense the interior temperature.
Defrost features, energy claims and footprint Compare these only where specifications for the exact model are available; they do not replace checking the physical layout.
Full build components and cost A freezer is only one part of the system. Account for the controller, collar materials and draft components, checking what a kit actually includes.

The available product information does not provide a consistent, independent comparison of current freezer models, so there is no well-supported test winner. Choose based on the dimensions and equipment layout of your build, and verify volatile retailer specifications and availability before purchase.

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  • Energy Efficient Design - This 7.0 Cu Ft chest freezer features advanced energy-saving technology, helping you reduce electricity bills while keeping your food fresh. Whether freezing meats, vegetables, or ice cream, enjoy long-lasting freezing performance.It’s about $0.0492 per day (based on a 12-cent per kWh electricity rate).
  • Quiet Operation - Designed with quiet technology, this freezer operates almost silently, making it perfect for use in homes, apartments, or garages. Enjoy a cool environment without the noise disruption.
  • Adjustable Temperature Control - Equipped with a 6-setting adjustable thermostat, you can easily set the temperature according to your needs, ensuring that different foods are stored at their optimal conditions to meet your personalized requirements.
  • User-Friendly Design - The built-in removable basket allows for easy storage and retrieval of food items, helping you keep your frozen goods organized and accessible. The exterior defrost water drain simplifies cleaning and maintenance.
  • Compact and Versatile - This compact deep freezer is designed to fit in various spaces. Whether in your home, office, or garage, it serves as your ideal freezing solution, providing ample storage space to meet all your freezing needs.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

How to build a keezer

Plan the enclosure and equipment together. The freezer, collar, temperature controller and draft hardware each affect the others: collar height influences loading, interior space affects keg and tank placement, and the controller’s probe needs a sensible route into the freezer.

1. Plan the collar and tap placement

A collar sits between the freezer body and lid. It creates a surface for mounting faucet shanks and helps avoid drilling the freezer walls. Decide its height and tap positions with the keg layout in mind, while accounting for the extra lift needed to get kegs over the collar. Kegerators.com’s build guide describes both the mounting advantage and the lifting drawback.

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FRIGIDAIRE EFRF5003-BLACK Chest Deep Freezer-Garage-Ready, 5.0 Cu. Ft. Capacity, Black-Adjustable Thermostat-Removable Vinyl Coated Wire Basket-Easy Defrost Drain
  • Large Storage Capacity - Effortlessly store frozen food and meals with this spacious 5.0 cu. ft. freezer that’s perfect for large families and those who love to meal prep. Use it to store frozen appetizers and treats, freezer meals, meats, and more.
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  • Easy Maintenance - Enjoy hassle-free cleaning with the easy access exterior defrosting drain, making clean up and maintenance a breeze.
  • Convenient Design - Easily monitor the power status at a glance with the power-on indicator light.

2. Add temperature control

A freezer’s factory thermostat is intended to freeze its contents, so a keezer needs a temperature controller to operate at serving temperatures. Kegerators.com says the controller bypasses the appliance thermostat and calls it essential to a keezer build. Follow the controller and appliance instructions, confirm their electrical compatibility, and place the probe so it can sense the freezer’s interior rather than being trapped outside it.

A listed FE600 controller is described by its retailer as adjustable from 20–80°F, with a probe routed into the freezer without drilling. Treat those as product claims; confirm the current specifications, compatibility and electrical ratings for the exact setup. Do not drill into the freezer cabinet unless the appliance maker confirms that the location is safe.

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FRIGIDAIRE EFRF7003-BLACK Chest Deep Freezer, 7 Cu. Ft, Black Adjustable Thermostat-Removable Vinyl Coated Wire Basket-Easy Defrost Drain
  • Large Storage Capacity - Effortlessly store frozen food and meals with this spacious 7.0 cu. ft. freezer that’s perfect for large families and those who love to meal prep. Use it to store frozen appetizers and treats, freezer meals, meats, and more.
  • Adjustable Thermostat - Set the temperature with ease using the Adjustable Thermostat knob, featuring seven settings for personalized temperature control based on your needs.
  • Effortless Organization - Equipped with a removable vinyl-coated wire basket, this top door freezer offers simplified organization and easy access to smaller items.
  • Easy Maintenance - Enjoy hassle-free cleaning with the easy access exterior defrosting drain, making clean up and maintenance a breeze.
  • Convenient Design - Easily monitor the power status at a glance with the power-on indicator light.

3. Install the draft system

Build around the number and type of kegs you will serve. Northern Brewer’s keezer build guide identifies liquid lines, a CO₂ tank, a regulator, a gas manifold and temperature control as system components. A manifold with spare ports can leave room for expansion, but its product recommendations are vendor advice, not comparative testing.

Conversion kits can simplify sourcing, but contents vary. For example, the listed four-tap ball-lock kit model 99-0217 includes a Taprite dual-gauge regulator, a four-way gas splitter with check valves, four ball-lock faucet shanks, beer and gas lines, MFL disconnects, clamps and a faucet wrench. Verify the current kit contents and identify anything you must buy separately—such as faucets, a controller, collar materials or a CO₂ tank—before comparing its cost with assembling components individually.

What to check before buying a conversion kit

  • Tap count: Make sure the number of faucets and gas connections matches your planned system.
  • Keg connections: Confirm whether the kit uses ball-lock, pin-lock or another connection type, and whether it matches your kegs.
  • Gas and beer hardware: Check for a regulator, manifold or splitter, lines, shanks, faucets, disconnects and required fittings.
  • Temperature control: Confirm whether a controller is included; do not assume a draft kit provides one.
  • Build materials: Check whether the collar and its mounting materials are included or need to be sourced separately.
  • Current configuration: Retailer listings can change, so compare the actual included-parts list for the model being sold.

Common planning mistakes

  • Choosing by cubic feet alone: A volume rating does not reveal floor shape, compressor-hump space or usable depth.
  • Counting kegs but not the tank: Reserve space for the CO₂ tank, lines and access to fittings before treating the remaining floor as keg capacity.
  • Adding a collar without considering the lift: The collar can solve tap-mounting problems while making loading less convenient.
  • Assuming every kit includes everything: Check tap type, connection style, controller, faucets, collar materials and other components individually.
  • Trusting an old listing as a current recommendation: Model availability and specifications change; the discontinued GE example is useful for understanding layout, not as a current buy.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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