How Much Does It Cost to Run a Chest Freezer?
A chest freezer is well-insulated and cycles infrequently, so despite running around the clock it's one of the cheaper always-on appliances. At the US-average rate of 16.5¢/kWh, running a chest freezer costs about $12.03/month ($144.36/year) at typical use. Adjust the watts, hours, and your rate below for your exact number.
Cost to run a chest freezer
$144/yr
- Per day
- $0.40
- Per month
- $12.03
- Energy per year
- 876 kWh
Cost = power (kW) × hours × days × your rate. Defaults are typical values — enter your appliance's actual watts (often on a label) and your real rate for a precise figure.
How much electricity does a chest freezer use?
At 100 W for 24 hours a day, a chest freezer uses about 2.4 kWh per day — roughly 73 kWh per month and 876 kWh per year. That's about 8% of the 863 kWh the average US home uses in a month. Energy use is the same everywhere — only the price per kWh changes your bill.
Wondering about the circuit instead? See how many amps a chest freezer draws.
Cost to run a chest freezer by electricity rate
Same 100 W appliance, 24 h/day — the bill changes with where you live.
| Scenario | Rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest states (North Dakota) | 11.5¢ | $8.40 | $100.83 |
| US average | 16.5¢ | $12.03 | $144.36 |
| Most expensive (Hawaii) | 42.9¢ | $31.29 | $375.45 |
Find your state's rate on the electricity rates by state page, or see the appliance wattage chart for more devices.
Measure what a chest freezer really costs you
The estimate above uses typical wattage and hours. A plug-in energy meter logs the kilowatt-hours this appliance actually uses — leave it in for a week, multiply by your rate, and the estimate becomes a measurement. A whole-home monitor does the same for every circuit at once, but its sensors install inside the panel.
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Plug-in power meter
P3 International Kill A Watt P4400
Best for: Measuring what one plug-in appliance really uses
Whole-home energy monitor
Emporia Vue 3 Home Energy Monitor (16 circuit sensors)
Best for: Measuring hardwired and 240 V loads, or every circuit at once
Frequently asked questions
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