How much does a chest freezer cost to run?
$3.29 a month
- A day
- $0.11
- An hour, averaged
- $0.00
- A year
- $39.43
215 kWh a year (ENERGY STAR typical model), at the US average of 18.3¢ per kWh (EIA, June 2026). How we calculate this
Change the watts, hours or rate
What it costs if yours uses more or less
| Consumption | A day | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 108 kWh a year | $0.05 | $1.64 | $19.72 |
| 161 kWh a year | $0.08 | $2.46 | $29.57 |
| 215 kWh a year typical | $0.11 | $3.29 | $39.43 |
| 323 kWh a year | $0.16 | $4.93 | $59.15 |
| 430 kWh a year | $0.22 | $6.57 | $78.86 |
A typical model uses about 215 kWh a year (ENERGY STAR).
Ways to spend less
- Keep it full; frozen food holds the cold when the lid opens.
- Put it somewhere cool and out of direct sun rather than a hot garage.
- Defrost it when frost builds up on the walls; frost insulates the food from the cold.
What a chest freezer costs to run in every state
| Rank | State | Rate | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | 13.1¢ | $2.35 | $28.19 |
| 2 | Nebraska | 13.3¢ | $2.37 | $28.49 |
| 3 | Utah | 13.4¢ | $2.40 | $28.75 |
| 4 | Louisiana | 13.5¢ | $2.42 | $29.00 |
| 5 | Tennessee | 14.1¢ | $2.52 | $30.25 |
| 6 | Arkansas | 14.1¢ | $2.53 | $30.36 |
| 7 | North Dakota | 14.1¢ | $2.53 | $30.36 |
| 8 | Kentucky | 14.3¢ | $2.55 | $30.66 |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 14.3¢ | $2.57 | $30.81 |
| 10 | Idaho | 14.4¢ | $2.57 | $30.90 |
| 11 | North Carolina | 14.7¢ | $2.64 | $31.69 |
| 12 | Mississippi | 14.9¢ | $2.67 | $31.99 |
| 13 | Washington | 14.9¢ | $2.67 | $32.06 |
| 14 | New Mexico | 15.1¢ | $2.70 | $32.38 |
| 15 | Florida | 15.1¢ | $2.71 | $32.47 |
| 16 | Montana | 15.1¢ | $2.71 | $32.55 |
| 17 | Arizona | 15.2¢ | $2.72 | $32.64 |
| 18 | Wyoming | 15.2¢ | $2.73 | $32.77 |
| 19 | South Dakota | 15.4¢ | $2.75 | $33.02 |
| 20 | West Virginia | 15.5¢ | $2.77 | $33.22 |
| 21 | South Carolina | 15.6¢ | $2.79 | $33.43 |
| 22 | Kansas | 15.7¢ | $2.81 | $33.78 |
| 23 | Iowa | 15.9¢ | $2.85 | $34.25 |
| 24 | Texas | 15.9¢ | $2.86 | $34.27 |
| 25 | Missouri | 16.2¢ | $2.91 | $34.87 |
| 26 | Oregon | 16.3¢ | $2.92 | $35.09 |
| 27 | Georgia | 16.4¢ | $2.93 | $35.17 |
| 28 | Alabama | 16.4¢ | $2.94 | $35.26 |
| 29 | Colorado | 17.1¢ | $3.07 | $36.83 |
| 30 | Virginia | 17.2¢ | $3.09 | $37.02 |
| 31 | Indiana | 17.5¢ | $3.14 | $37.65 |
| 32 | Minnesota | 17.5¢ | $3.14 | $37.67 |
| 33 | Ohio | 19.2¢ | $3.44 | $41.26 |
| 34 | Delaware | 19.3¢ | $3.46 | $41.47 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | 19.6¢ | $3.50 | $42.05 |
| 36 | Illinois | 19.9¢ | $3.56 | $42.76 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | 21.7¢ | $3.89 | $46.72 |
| 38 | Maryland | 21.8¢ | $3.91 | $46.96 |
| 39 | Michigan | 23.0¢ | $4.12 | $49.43 |
| 40 | Connecticut | 24.3¢ | $4.36 | $52.29 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | 24.4¢ | $4.37 | $52.44 |
| 42 | Vermont | 24.4¢ | $4.38 | $52.55 |
| 43 | New Jersey | 25.0¢ | $4.47 | $53.64 |
| 44 | New Hampshire | 27.0¢ | $4.84 | $58.07 |
| 45 | Alaska | 28.2¢ | $5.05 | $60.65 |
| 46 | Rhode Island | 29.2¢ | $5.24 | $62.84 |
| 47 | New York | 29.5¢ | $5.28 | $63.40 |
| 48 | Maine | 29.6¢ | $5.30 | $63.62 |
| 49 | Massachusetts | 29.6¢ | $5.31 | $63.66 |
| 50 | California | 34.7¢ | $6.22 | $74.69 |
| 51 | Hawaii | 52.7¢ | $9.45 | $113.35 |
Questions
How much does it cost to run a chest freezer per year?
About $39.43 a year at the US average of 18.3¢ per kWh, assuming it uses 215 kWh a year like a typical ENERGY STAR model. That is $3.29 a month or $0.11 a day.
How much electricity does a chest freezer use per month?
About 17.9 kWh a month (215 kWh a year ÷ 12), which costs $3.29. Your model may use more or less: the yellow EnergyGuide label on it shows its own annual kWh.
How much does it cost to run a chest freezer per day?
About $0.11 a day: 0.589 kWh at 18.3¢ per kWh.
Which state is cheapest to run a chest freezer in?
Nevada, at 13.1¢ per kWh: $2.35 a month. The most expensive is Hawaii at 52.7¢ per kWh: $9.45 a month. Same appliance, same hours; only the rate differs.
Sources
- ENERGY STAR: Freezers
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: average price of electricity to ultimate customers, residential, June 2026 Figures transcribed from republications of this table on September 26, 2026; pending direct verification from the EIA API.
Usage assumptions (hours a day, season) are ours and listed on the methodology page. Found an error? Tell us.