I think I actually thought of a formula for freezer size needed!

[frugalfamilymom]

Great formula. I think for me, the bigger the better, especially if you really want to stockpile. Of course, I have five adults and one child. 5 x 200 = 1000 1 x 100 = 100 for a total of 1100, if I am following you. Divide by 35 and get 31.4. I sell appliances and in a consumer store there isn't a freezer that big. Maybe that is why I think the bigger the better. But when I was first getting a freezer, my mom said better to keep it full so you don't use as much electricity. She suggested filling with crunched up newspaper until it is full.

I do want to also mention that I have a 19 cubit foot freezer and am amazed at how much I can store. My son buys tv dinners to take to work with him. He buys three weeks at a time. I buy pork loins on sale to cut into chops and roasts. Right now I have 9 of them and they are all huge, enough for four meals each for my large family. I have a box of 60 eggo waffles, two weeks of green beans for my three dogs, five packages of chicken legs and many other things. Staying organized is the key.

[edje4him]

No wonder I'm running out of freezer space!! According to your calculations I need 32cf and I only have a 9cf plus the 'side' of my side by side refrigerator!!

[shannon1189]

I am not sure of the size of our freezer but is a small one. Its normally perfect for us. However since I am getting into couponing it may not work. Normally we get about 2 or 3 deer processed and that takes up almost all of my freezer space. I have a side by side fridge and that freezer does not hold much at all.

[Homeschoolmomof3]

Well we have a 24.9 cubic ft. chest freezer, the largest you can get. Really I think it depends on the family and their needs, we buy a whole beef at once and so it takes up a good portion of the freezer for a while. But I do have a ton of room, plenty for stockpiling, putting produce in when I garden and just lots of different things.

[ekoury]

To me, the bigger, the better