How much does an upright freezer cost to run in South Dakota?

$5.06 a month

A day
$0.17
An hour, averaged
$0.01
A year
$60.67

395 kWh a year (ENERGY STAR typical model), at South Dakota’s average rate of 15.4¢ per kWh (EIA, June 2026). How we calculate this

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What it costs if yours uses more or less

Upright freezer at 15.4¢ per kWh
ConsumptionA dayA monthA year
198 kWh a year$0.08$2.53$30.34
296 kWh a year$0.12$3.79$45.50
395 kWh a year typical$0.17$5.06$60.67
593 kWh a year$0.25$7.58$91.01
790 kWh a year$0.33$10.11$121.34
Monthly cost of an upright freezer in South Dakota, nearby states and the USSouth Dakota: $5.06; Iowa: $5.24; Minnesota: $5.77; Montana: $4.98; North Dakota: $4.65; Nebraska: $4.36; US average: $6.04South Dakota$5.06Iowa$5.24Minnesota$5.77Montana$4.98North Dakota$4.65Nebraska$4.36US average$6.04

A typical model uses about 395 kWh a year (ENERGY STAR).

South Dakota compared with other states

CheapestMost expensive

South Dakota’s residential rate is the 19th cheapest of 51 states and DC, 3.0¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−16%). South Dakota’s rate is up 1.1¢ from June 2025 (14.2¢, +8.0%).

A cheaper way to do the same job

  • A chest freezer would cost $2.75 a month, saving $2.30 a month and $27.65 a year.

Ways to spend less

  • Manual-defrost models use less energy than auto-defrost ones; defrost when frost builds up.
  • Keep it out of hot garages and away from the oven.
  • Open the door less often and for shorter spells.

Questions

How much does it cost to run an upright freezer per year in South Dakota?

About $60.67 a year at South Dakota’s average of 15.4¢ per kWh, assuming it uses 395 kWh a year like a typical ENERGY STAR model. That is $5.06 a month or $0.17 a day.

How much electricity does an upright freezer use per month?

About 32.9 kWh a month (395 kWh a year ÷ 12), which costs $5.06 in South Dakota. 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 an upright freezer per day?

About $0.17 a day: 1.08 kWh at 15.4¢ per kWh.

Is it cheaper to run an upright freezer or a chest freezer?

Using a chest freezer instead would cost about $2.75 a month instead of $5.06, saving $2.30 in South Dakota.

Why does an upright freezer cost more or less to run in South Dakota than elsewhere?

South Dakota’s residential rate is the 19th cheapest of 51 states and DC, 3.0¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−16%). South Dakota’s rate is up 1.1¢ from June 2025 (14.2¢, +8.0%). The appliance uses the same energy everywhere; only the price per kWh changes.

Sources

Usage assumptions (hours a day, season) are ours and listed on the methodology page. Found an error? Tell us.