United States Kitchen
How much does it cost to run a chest freezer?
A chest freezer is the most efficient cold box in the house. Cold air sinks, so little escapes when the lid opens, and a 7 cubic foot chest freezer averages only 25 to 50 watts, around 220 to 400 kWh a year.
A 40 watt chest freezer costs about 0.7 cents an hour to run in the US on average at 18.16 cents per kWh. Running it 24 hours a day comes to about 17 cents a day, $5.31 a month and $63.68 a year.
- Prices: EIA, August 2026, every state
- Wattage range with its source
- Checked 26 October 2026
Uses 0.96 kWh a day, 29 kWh a month, at 18.16 cents per kWh (US average).
The dial places the daily cost between a 50 watt fan and a 4.5 kW water heater on 2.5 hours a day.
A 40 watt chest freezer costs about 0.7 cents an hour to run in the US on average at 18.16 cents per kWh. Running it 24 hours a day comes to about 17 cents a day, $5.31 a month and $63.68 a year.
What this assumes
The default is a 40 watt chest freezer running 24 hours a day. Published typical ratings run from 25 to 80 watts (average draw over the day, not the nameplate). Your label or manual gives the exact figure, and the calculator takes it.
The price is the average residential rate in each state from the EIA's Electric Power Monthly for August 2026, released 23 October 2026. The next monthly table is due 24 November 2026. A fixed tariff, a time-of-use plan or a different payment method changes the rate, which is why the rate field is editable.
Cost to run a chest freezer in every state
Same 40 watt chest freezer, 24 hours a day, priced at each state's average residential rate for August 2026. Cheapest: Nevada at 12.72 cents per kWh. Dearest: Hawaii at 47.18. Change the numbers above and the table follows.
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 12.72c | 0.5 cents | 12 cents | $3.72 | $44.60 |
| Louisiana | 12.87c | 0.5 cents | 12 cents | $3.76 | $45.13 |
| North Dakota | 13.31c | 0.5 cents | 13 cents | $3.89 | $46.67 |
| Utah | 13.31c | 0.5 cents | 13 cents | $3.89 | $46.67 |
| Idaho | 13.37c | 0.5 cents | 13 cents | $3.91 | $46.88 |
| Tennessee | 13.42c | 0.5 cents | 13 cents | $3.92 | $47.06 |
| Nebraska | 13.54c | 0.5 cents | 13 cents | $3.96 | $47.48 |
| Kentucky | 13.8c | 0.6 cents | 13 cents | $4.03 | $48.39 |
| Arkansas | 14.37c | 0.6 cents | 14 cents | $4.20 | $50.39 |
| Mississippi | 14.43c | 0.6 cents | 14 cents | $4.22 | $50.60 |
| Wyoming | 14.43c | 0.6 cents | 14 cents | $4.22 | $50.60 |
| Washington | 14.63c | 0.6 cents | 14 cents | $4.27 | $51.30 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82c | 0.6 cents | 14 cents | $4.33 | $51.96 |
| North Carolina | 14.95c | 0.6 cents | 14 cents | $4.37 | $52.42 |
| Florida | 14.99c | 0.6 cents | 14 cents | $4.38 | $52.56 |
| Arizona | 15.05c | 0.6 cents | 14 cents | $4.40 | $52.77 |
| South Dakota | 15.15c | 0.6 cents | 15 cents | $4.43 | $53.12 |
| Kansas | 15.47c | 0.6 cents | 15 cents | $4.52 | $54.24 |
| Montana | 15.57c | 0.6 cents | 15 cents | $4.55 | $54.59 |
| South Carolina | 15.76c | 0.6 cents | 15 cents | $4.61 | $55.26 |
| Georgia | 15.9c | 0.6 cents | 15 cents | $4.65 | $55.75 |
| Texas | 15.91c | 0.6 cents | 15 cents | $4.65 | $55.79 |
| Oregon | 15.92c | 0.6 cents | 15 cents | $4.65 | $55.82 |
| Missouri | 16.02c | 0.6 cents | 15 cents | $4.68 | $56.17 |
| West Virginia | 16.31c | 0.7 cents | 16 cents | $4.77 | $57.19 |
| Alabama | 16.33c | 0.7 cents | 16 cents | $4.77 | $57.26 |
| New Mexico | 16.51c | 0.7 cents | 16 cents | $4.82 | $57.89 |
| Indiana | 17.02c | 0.7 cents | 16 cents | $4.97 | $59.68 |
| Iowa | 17.06c | 0.7 cents | 16 cents | $4.98 | $59.82 |
| Colorado | 17.17c | 0.7 cents | 16 cents | $5.02 | $60.20 |
| Minnesota | 17.2c | 0.7 cents | 17 cents | $5.03 | $60.31 |
| Virginia | 17.64c | 0.7 cents | 17 cents | $5.15 | $61.85 |
| Delaware | 18.7c | 0.7 cents | 18 cents | $5.46 | $65.57 |
| Illinois | 19.32c | 0.8 cents | 19 cents | $5.65 | $67.74 |
| Ohio | 19.38c | 0.8 cents | 19 cents | $5.66 | $67.95 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41c | 0.8 cents | 19 cents | $5.67 | $68.06 |
| Maryland | 21.4c | 0.9 cents | 21 cents | $6.25 | $75.04 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77c | 0.9 cents | 21 cents | $6.36 | $76.33 |
| Michigan | 22.99c | 0.9 cents | 22 cents | $6.72 | $80.61 |
| Vermont | 23.84c | 1 cent | 23 cents | $6.97 | $83.59 |
| Connecticut | 24.51c | 1 cent | 24 cents | $7.16 | $85.94 |
| New Jersey | 24.61c | 1 cent | 24 cents | $7.19 | $86.29 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98c | 1 cent | 25 cents | $7.59 | $91.10 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64c | 1.1 cents | 27 cents | $8.08 | $96.92 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18c | 1.1 cents | 27 cents | $8.23 | $98.81 |
| New York | 28.65c | 1.1 cents | 28 cents | $8.37 | $100.46 |
| Alaska | 29.41c | 1.2 cents | 28 cents | $8.59 | $103.12 |
| California | 29.75c | 1.2 cents | 29 cents | $8.69 | $104.32 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48c | 1.2 cents | 29 cents | $8.91 | $106.88 |
| Maine | 32.11c | 1.3 cents | 31 cents | $9.38 | $112.59 |
| Hawaii | 47.18c | 1.9 cents | 45 cents | $13.79 | $165.43 |
Rates: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, residential sector, August 2026, preliminary. All rates with the year-on-year change.
How a chest freezer uses electricity
Upright freezers of the same size use 10 to 25% more because they lose cold air every time the door opens and most are frost-free with a defrost heater.
A freezer in a garage that hits 95 degrees in summer runs its compressor far more than one in a cool basement.
Ways to cut the cost
- Keep it full. Fill empty space with bottles of water.
- Defrost manual models when the frost is a quarter inch thick.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to run a chest freezer per month?
At 40 watts average, about 29 kWh a month. At 18 cents that is about 5.20 dollars, at 26p about 7.50 pounds.
Is a chest freezer cheaper to run than an upright?
Yes, typically by 10 to 25% for the same capacity, because the lid design keeps the cold air in.
Other kitchen costs
More in the US
Sources
The electricity price on this page is read from the data file that also lists the release it came from. The wattage range is a published typical range, not a measurement of your appliance.