What a chest or upright freezer costs to run in every state
Last updated · Prices: U.S. EIA, August 2026
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The median ENERGY STAR upright freezer costs $79.00 a year to run at the U.S. average electricity price, and the median full-size chest freezer $39.59. The energy use is what ENERGY STAR lists for each certified model; the prices are the residential averages the U.S. Energy Information Administration published for August 2026.
Quick answers at the U.S. average of 18.16¢ per kWh
Median annual energy use of the ENERGY STAR certified freezers in each class, with the lowest and highest.
| Type | kWh/yr (range) | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upright, automatic defrost (336 models, median 17 cu ft) | 435 (249–520) | $79.00 | $6.58 |
| Chest, full size (9 models, median 10.6 cu ft) | 218 (201–346) | $39.59 | $3.30 |
| Compact chest (40 models, median 5.05 cu ft) | 196 (137–226) | $35.59 | $2.97 |
| Compact upright, manual defrost (93 models, median 3.1 cu ft) | 244 (215–305) | $44.31 | $3.69 |
| Compact upright, automatic defrost (29 models, median 4.6 cu ft) | 369 (155–408) | $67.01 | $5.58 |
Cost per year in every state
For the median upright, automatic defrost (435 kWh/yr) and chest, full size (218 kWh/yr) freezer, most expensive state first.
| State | Price/kWh | Upright, automatic defrost | Chest, full size |
|---|---|---|---|
| HawaiiHawaii electricity bill & rates | 47.18¢ | $205.23 | $102.85 |
| MaineMaine electricity bill & rates | 32.11¢ | $139.68 | $70.00 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48¢ | $132.59 | $66.45 |
| CaliforniaCalifornia electricity bill & rates | 29.75¢ | $129.41 | $64.86 |
| Alaska | 29.41¢ | $127.93 | $64.11 |
| New York | 28.65¢ | $124.63 | $62.46 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18¢ | $122.58 | $61.43 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64¢ | $120.23 | $60.26 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98¢ | $113.01 | $56.64 |
| New Jersey | 24.61¢ | $107.05 | $53.65 |
| Connecticut | 24.51¢ | $106.62 | $53.43 |
| Vermont | 23.84¢ | $103.70 | $51.97 |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $100.01 | $50.12 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77¢ | $94.70 | $47.46 |
| Maryland | 21.40¢ | $93.09 | $46.65 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41¢ | $84.43 | $42.31 |
| OhioOhio electricity bill & rates | 19.38¢ | $84.30 | $42.25 |
| Illinois | 19.32¢ | $84.04 | $42.12 |
| Delaware | 18.70¢ | $81.35 | $40.77 |
| Virginia | 17.64¢ | $76.73 | $38.46 |
| Minnesota | 17.20¢ | $74.82 | $37.50 |
| Colorado | 17.17¢ | $74.69 | $37.43 |
| Iowa | 17.06¢ | $74.21 | $37.19 |
| Indiana | 17.02¢ | $74.04 | $37.10 |
| New Mexico | 16.51¢ | $71.82 | $35.99 |
| Alabama | 16.33¢ | $71.04 | $35.60 |
| West Virginia | 16.31¢ | $70.95 | $35.56 |
| Missouri | 16.02¢ | $69.69 | $34.92 |
| Oregon | 15.92¢ | $69.25 | $34.71 |
| TexasTexas electricity bill & rates | 15.91¢ | $69.21 | $34.68 |
| Georgia | 15.90¢ | $69.17 | $34.66 |
| South Carolina | 15.76¢ | $68.56 | $34.36 |
| Montana | 15.57¢ | $67.73 | $33.94 |
| Kansas | 15.47¢ | $67.29 | $33.72 |
| South Dakota | 15.15¢ | $65.90 | $33.03 |
| Arizona | 15.05¢ | $65.47 | $32.81 |
| FloridaFlorida electricity bill & rates | 14.99¢ | $65.21 | $32.68 |
| North CarolinaNorth Carolina electricity bill & rates | 14.95¢ | $65.03 | $32.59 |
| OklahomaOklahoma electricity bill & rates | 14.82¢ | $64.47 | $32.31 |
| WashingtonWashington electricity bill & rates | 14.63¢ | $63.64 | $31.89 |
| Mississippi | 14.43¢ | $62.77 | $31.46 |
| WyomingWyoming electricity bill & rates | 14.43¢ | $62.77 | $31.46 |
| Arkansas | 14.37¢ | $62.51 | $31.33 |
| Kentucky | 13.80¢ | $60.03 | $30.08 |
| Nebraska | 13.54¢ | $58.90 | $29.52 |
| Tennessee | 13.42¢ | $58.38 | $29.26 |
| Idaho | 13.37¢ | $58.16 | $29.15 |
| North Dakota | 13.31¢ | $57.90 | $29.02 |
| Utah | 13.31¢ | $57.90 | $29.02 |
| Louisiana | 12.87¢ | $55.98 | $28.06 |
| Nevada | 12.72¢ | $55.33 | $27.73 |
Prices are EIA's average residential figures for August 2026; your utility's rate may differ.
How the numbers are worked out
- Energy: the median of the annual energy use, in kWh per year, that ENERGY STAR lists for every certified freezer in each of its product classes (data retrieved 2026-10-28).
- Cost: kWh per year times your state's average residential price; a month is a twelfth of that.
Starting from the yearly kWh ENERGY STAR lists, rather than a wattage, means there is no guess about how many hours a day the freezer runs. The list covers ENERGY STAR certified models only, so it says nothing about older or uncertified freezers. At the extremes, the same 435 kWh upright costs $205.23 a year in Hawaii and $55.33 in Nevada. For the fridge itself, see what a refrigerator costs to run, and for the right setting, see what temperature a fridge and freezer should be.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does it cost to run a chest freezer?
- The median full-size ENERGY STAR chest freezer is listed at 218 kWh a year, which costs $39.59 a year, or $3.30 a month, at 18.16¢ per kWh, the August 2026 U.S. average. The median compact chest freezer (196 kWh a year) costs $35.59 a year.
- How much does an upright freezer cost to run per month?
- About $6.58 a month for the median ENERGY STAR upright freezer with automatic defrost (435 kWh a year) at 18.16¢ per kWh, the August 2026 U.S. average. In Hawaii, the most expensive state, it is $17.10 a month; in Nevada, the cheapest, $4.61.
- Is a chest freezer cheaper to run than an upright?
- In ENERGY STAR's list, yes, but the sizes differ. The median full-size chest freezer uses 218 kWh a year and holds 10.6 cubic feet; the median automatic-defrost upright uses 435 kWh and holds 17. Only 9 full-size chest models are certified, against 336 uprights, so compare the models you are actually choosing between.
- How do I find what my own freezer costs to run?
- Look up its model number in ENERGY STAR’s certified freezer list, linked in Sources, which gives each model’s annual energy use in kWh. Multiply that by your price per kWh for the cost per year, and divide by 12 for a month.
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