How much does it cost to run a chest freezer?
Short answer: A chest freezer drawing 100 watts costs about $0.02 per hour at the U.S. average residential price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Used 8 hours a day, 30 days a month, that is about $4.39 per month and $52.73 per year. In Louisiana, the cheapest state, the same use costs $3.05 a month; in Hawaii, the most expensive, $11.52.
Chest freezer cost calculator
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A freezer is plugged in all day, but its compressor runs only part of the time. About 8 hours of compressor time per day is typical.
Uses 24.0 kWh per month. The starting price is the U.S. residential average; choose your state or type the price from your own bill.
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| Appliance | Usage | Per month | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | |||
| Per year |
A chest freezer is among the cheapest large appliances to run. Its compressor draws around 100 watts and, because cold air stays inside when the lid is lifted, it runs for only part of the day.
Cost by size and setting
Costs below use the U.S. average price and 8 hours a day, 30 days a month.
| Type | Power | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENERGY STAR chest freezer | 75 W | $0.01 | $3.30 |
| Standard chest freezer | 100 W | $0.02 | $4.39 |
| Upright frost-free freezer | 150 W | $0.03 | $6.59 |
Chest versus upright
Design makes a real difference. ENERGY STAR reports that a certified chest freezer uses about 215 kWh a year, while a certified upright uses about 395 kWh. A chest model keeps its cold air when opened, has thicker insulation and usually no automatic defrost heater.
Manual-defrost models use roughly half the energy of automatic-defrost ones, at the cost of having to defrost them once or twice a year.
Where you put it matters
A freezer in a hot garage works much harder than one in a cool basement, because the compressor has to pump heat out against a higher outside temperature. Some models are not designed to work in unheated spaces at all, and can stop cooling properly when the room falls close to freezing. Check the manual for the operating temperature range.
How to lower the cost
- Keep it at 0°F. Colder settings add run time without adding food safety.
- Keep it reasonably full; frozen food holds the cold when the lid opens.
- Defrost when the frost is more than a quarter-inch thick.
- Leave a few inches of space around it for air to circulate.
How a chest freezer compares with other appliances
Typical power and use for each appliance, at the U.S. average price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Follow a link for that appliance's own calculator, or compare two side by side.
| Appliance | Power | Typical use | Energy per month | Cost per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest freezer | 100 W | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | 24.0 kWh | $4.39 |
| Refrigerator | 150 W | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | 36.0 kWh | $6.59 |
| Dishwasher | 600 W | 120 minutes per use, 5 times a week | 26.0 kWh | $4.76 |
| Dehumidifier | 500 W | 12 hours a day, 30 days a month | 180.0 kWh | $32.96 |
| TV | 100 W | 5 hours a day, 30 days a month | 15.0 kWh | $2.75 |
The math behind the numbers
100 watts ÷ 1,000 = 0.1 kW. 0.1 kW × 8 hours = 0.8 kWh per day. 0.8 kWh × $0.1831 = $0.15 per day. Over 30 days that is 24.0 kWh and $4.39 a month.
Your own figure will differ if your appliance has a different wattage, if you use it more or less, or if your price per kWh is not the national average. Change any of those in the calculator at the top of this page. Our step-by-step guide explains where to find each number.
Cost to run a chest freezer in every state
Based on 100 watts for 8 hours a day, 30 days a month, at each state's average residential electricity price for July 2026.
| State | Price per kWh | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.40¢ | $0.02 | $3.94 | $47.23 |
| Alaska | 28.83¢ | $0.03 | $6.92 | $83.03 |
| Arizona | 15.38¢ | $0.02 | $3.69 | $44.29 |
| Arkansas | 14.33¢ | $0.01 | $3.44 | $41.27 |
| California | 33.61¢ | $0.03 | $8.07 | $96.80 |
| Colorado | 17.00¢ | $0.02 | $4.08 | $48.96 |
| Connecticut | 24.16¢ | $0.02 | $5.80 | $69.58 |
| Delaware | 18.48¢ | $0.02 | $4.44 | $53.22 |
| District of Columbia | 25.21¢ | $0.03 | $6.05 | $72.60 |
| Florida | 15.03¢ | $0.02 | $3.61 | $43.29 |
| Georgia | 16.27¢ | $0.02 | $3.90 | $46.86 |
| Hawaii | 48.00¢ | $0.05 | $11.52 | $138.24 |
| Idaho | 13.73¢ | $0.01 | $3.30 | $39.54 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | $0.02 | $4.61 | $55.35 |
| Indiana | 16.73¢ | $0.02 | $4.02 | $48.18 |
| Iowa | 15.99¢ | $0.02 | $3.84 | $46.05 |
| Kansas | 15.27¢ | $0.02 | $3.66 | $43.98 |
| Kentucky | 13.81¢ | $0.01 | $3.31 | $39.77 |
| Louisiana | 12.72¢ | $0.01 | $3.05 | $36.63 |
| Maine | 32.41¢ | $0.03 | $7.78 | $93.34 |
| Maryland | 21.41¢ | $0.02 | $5.14 | $61.66 |
| Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | $0.03 | $7.32 | $87.81 |
| Michigan | 23.05¢ | $0.02 | $5.53 | $66.38 |
| Minnesota | 17.45¢ | $0.02 | $4.19 | $50.26 |
| Mississippi | 14.54¢ | $0.01 | $3.49 | $41.88 |
| Missouri | 16.09¢ | $0.02 | $3.86 | $46.34 |
| Montana | 14.99¢ | $0.01 | $3.60 | $43.17 |
| Nebraska | 13.78¢ | $0.01 | $3.31 | $39.69 |
| Nevada | 12.77¢ | $0.01 | $3.06 | $36.78 |
| New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | $0.03 | $6.38 | $76.61 |
| New Jersey | 25.19¢ | $0.03 | $6.05 | $72.55 |
| New Mexico | 16.09¢ | $0.02 | $3.86 | $46.34 |
| New York | 29.90¢ | $0.03 | $7.18 | $86.11 |
| North Carolina | 15.16¢ | $0.02 | $3.64 | $43.66 |
| North Dakota | 13.41¢ | $0.01 | $3.22 | $38.62 |
| Ohio | 19.45¢ | $0.02 | $4.67 | $56.02 |
| Oklahoma | 14.35¢ | $0.01 | $3.44 | $41.33 |
| Oregon | 15.97¢ | $0.02 | $3.83 | $45.99 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.72¢ | $0.02 | $5.21 | $62.55 |
| Rhode Island | 28.29¢ | $0.03 | $6.79 | $81.48 |
| South Carolina | 15.47¢ | $0.02 | $3.71 | $44.55 |
| South Dakota | 15.37¢ | $0.02 | $3.69 | $44.27 |
| Tennessee | 13.71¢ | $0.01 | $3.29 | $39.48 |
| Texas | 15.88¢ | $0.02 | $3.81 | $45.73 |
| Utah | 13.12¢ | $0.01 | $3.15 | $37.79 |
| Vermont | 23.75¢ | $0.02 | $5.70 | $68.40 |
| Virginia | 17.55¢ | $0.02 | $4.21 | $50.54 |
| Washington | 14.71¢ | $0.01 | $3.53 | $42.36 |
| West Virginia | 15.78¢ | $0.02 | $3.79 | $45.45 |
| Wisconsin | 19.06¢ | $0.02 | $4.57 | $54.89 |
| Wyoming | 14.36¢ | $0.01 | $3.45 | $41.36 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chest freezer cost to run per month?
About $4.39 a month at the U.S. average electricity price, based on 100 watts and 8 hours of compressor time a day.
Does a chest freezer use less electricity than an upright?
Yes. ENERGY STAR puts a certified chest freezer at about 215 kWh a year and a certified upright at about 395 kWh.
Is an empty freezer more expensive to run?
Slightly. With little frozen mass inside, more cold is lost each time it is opened, so the compressor runs more often.
Sources
- ENERGY STAR: Freezers
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly (state electricity prices)
- U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver: Appliances and Electronics
Electricity prices are the EIA figures for July 2026. Wattages are typical values; check the label on your own appliance.