How much does a chest freezer cost to run?
Updated August 2026 · average residential rates
Quick answer: a chest freezer (80–150 W while running) costs about 0.6¢ per hour to run at the US average rate. With always on, that's 14.2¢/day, $4.32/month and $51.82/year — using ~0.8 kWh a day. Your state's rate can move this from $2.86 to $10.75 monthly.
Run your own numbers
80–150 W while running · default assumes always on · compressor duty cycle ~35% factored in
Uses about 0.8 kWh/day at 15.6¢/kWh (Texas). National average would be $4.32/month.
Chest Freezer cost by state
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 15.6¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $3.98 |
| Alaska | 24.9¢/kWh | 0.9¢ | $6.36 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $3.88 |
| Arkansas | 12.7¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | $3.24 |
| California | 31.8¢/kWh | 1.1¢ | $8.12 |
| Colorado | 15.3¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $3.91 |
| Connecticut | 32.3¢/kWh | 1.1¢ | $8.25 |
| Delaware | 16.8¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | $4.29 |
| District of Columbia | 17.6¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | $4.49 |
| Florida | 15.1¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $3.86 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $3.63 |
| Hawaii | 42.1¢/kWh | 1.5¢ | $10.75 |
| Idaho | 11.6¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | $2.96 |
| Illinois | 16.4¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | $4.19 |
| Indiana | 15.7¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $4.01 |
| Iowa | 13.7¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $3.50 |
| Kansas | 14.3¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $3.65 |
| Kentucky | 13.1¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $3.35 |
| Louisiana | 12.1¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | $3.09 |
| Maine | 25.6¢/kWh | 0.9¢ | $6.54 |
| Maryland | 18.1¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | $4.62 |
| Massachusetts | 31.2¢/kWh | 1.1¢ | $7.97 |
| Michigan | 19.4¢/kWh | 0.7¢ | $4.95 |
| Minnesota | 15.1¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $3.86 |
| Mississippi | 13.6¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $3.47 |
| Missouri | 12.6¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | $3.22 |
| Montana | 12.8¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | $3.27 |
| Nebraska | 12.1¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | $3.09 |
| Nevada | 15.4¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $3.93 |
| New Hampshire | 25.2¢/kWh | 0.9¢ | $6.44 |
| New Jersey | 19.6¢/kWh | 0.7¢ | $5.01 |
| New Mexico | 14.6¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $3.73 |
| New York | 24.6¢/kWh | 0.9¢ | $6.28 |
| North Carolina | 14.1¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $3.60 |
| North Dakota | 11.2¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | $2.86 |
| Ohio | 16.3¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | $4.16 |
| Oklahoma | 12.2¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | $3.12 |
| Oregon | 14.8¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $3.78 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.4¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | $4.70 |
| Rhode Island | 30.4¢/kWh | 1.1¢ | $7.76 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $3.75 |
| South Dakota | 12.6¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | $3.22 |
| Tennessee | 13.2¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $3.37 |
| Texas | 15.6¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $3.98 |
| Utah | 11.7¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | $2.99 |
| Vermont | 21.6¢/kWh | 0.8¢ | $5.52 |
| Virginia | 14.6¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $3.73 |
| Washington | 12.3¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | $3.14 |
| West Virginia | 14.8¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | $3.78 |
| Wisconsin | 17.2¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | $4.39 |
| Wyoming | 11.8¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | $3.01 |
FAQ
How much electricity does a chest freezer use?+
A typical chest freezer draws 80–150 W while running. At always on (with a ~35% duty cycle), that's about 0.8 kWh per day.
How much does a chest freezer cost to run per month?+
About $4.32 per month at the US average residential rate of 16.9¢/kWh — ranging from roughly $2.86 in North Dakota to $10.75 in Hawaii.
Is it expensive to leave a chest freezer on?+
Running it costs about 0.6¢ per hour at average rates. Multiply by your actual hours — and check your state's rate above, since electricity prices vary almost 4× across the US.