Upright freezer: electricity cost calculator
Quick answer: a typical upright freezer costs about $5/month while in use at the U.S. average electricity price (18.44¢/kWh) — about $65 per year. Your number depends on wattage, runtime and your state — calculate it below.
A modern 16–20 cu ft upright freezer averages 80–200 W of effective draw depending on age and frost-free cycles. Self-defrosting models use noticeably more than manual-defrost ones.
0.96 kWh/day used · 29 kWh/month in use · 351 kWh/year at 18.44¢ per kWh
Low, typical and heavy use
Monthly cost while in use, at the U.S. average price of 18.44¢/kWh.
| Scenario | Watts | Hours/day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light use | 80 W | 4.8 h | $2.16 |
| Typical | 120 W | 8.0 h | $5.39 |
| Heavy use | 200 W | 12.0 h | $13.47 |
Common questions
Upright vs chest freezer — which is cheaper to run?
Chest freezers usually win: cold air stays inside when the lid opens, and most are manual-defrost. A comparable chest model typically uses 10–25% less energy.
Cost in every state
Monthly cost of a typical upright freezer (120 W, 8h/day) at each state's average residential price, May 2026.
| State | Avg price | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.77¢ | $4.90 |
| Alaska | 28.23¢ | $8.25 |
| Arizona | 15.23¢ | $4.45 |
| Arkansas | 14.36¢ | $4.20 |
| California | 33.25¢ | $9.72 |
| Colorado | 16.16¢ | $4.72 |
| Connecticut | 27.37¢ | $8.00 |
| Delaware | 19.38¢ | $5.66 |
| District of Columbia | 25.40¢ | $7.42 |
| Florida | 15.17¢ | $4.43 |
| Georgia | 15.84¢ | $4.63 |
| Hawaii | 52.00¢ | $15.19 |
| Idaho | 12.35¢ | $3.61 |
| Illinois | 23.85¢ | $6.97 |
| Indiana | 18.15¢ | $5.30 |
| Iowa | 14.14¢ | $4.13 |
| Kansas | 15.13¢ | $4.42 |
| Kentucky | 14.98¢ | $4.38 |
| Louisiana | 14.15¢ | $4.13 |
| Maine | 28.63¢ | $8.37 |
| Maryland | 21.77¢ | $6.36 |
| Massachusetts | 28.82¢ | $8.42 |
| Michigan | 22.01¢ | $6.43 |
| Minnesota | 16.95¢ | $4.95 |
| Mississippi | 16.16¢ | $4.72 |
| Missouri | 13.68¢ | $4.00 |
| Montana | 14.67¢ | $4.29 |
| Nebraska | 13.59¢ | $3.97 |
| Nevada | 13.60¢ | $3.97 |
| New Hampshire | 27.33¢ | $7.99 |
| New Jersey | 23.27¢ | $6.80 |
| New Mexico | 14.12¢ | $4.13 |
| New York | 29.93¢ | $8.75 |
| North Carolina | 15.09¢ | $4.41 |
| North Dakota | 13.61¢ | $3.98 |
| Ohio | 19.52¢ | $5.70 |
| Oklahoma | 13.38¢ | $3.91 |
| Oregon | 16.27¢ | $4.75 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.55¢ | $6.30 |
| Rhode Island | 29.46¢ | $8.61 |
| South Carolina | 16.18¢ | $4.73 |
| South Dakota | 15.73¢ | $4.60 |
| Tennessee | 14.47¢ | $4.23 |
| Texas | 16.44¢ | $4.80 |
| Utah | 12.96¢ | $3.79 |
| Vermont | 24.89¢ | $7.27 |
| Virginia | 17.61¢ | $5.15 |
| Washington | 14.95¢ | $4.37 |
| West Virginia | 16.80¢ | $4.91 |
| Wisconsin | 19.74¢ | $5.77 |
| Wyoming | 14.80¢ | $4.32 |
Related calculators
Refrigerator Runs 24/7, but the compressor only works part-time.
~150 W · 8h/day →
Garage refrigerator Usually an old unit in a hot space — a double penalty.
~200 W · 10h/day →
Chest freezer The cheapest cold storage per cubic foot.
~90 W · 8h/day →
Microwave High draw, short bursts — cheaper than the oven for small jobs.
~1,100 W · 0.25h/day →
Electric oven Preheating and long bakes are where the money goes.
~2,400 W · 1h/day →
Electric stove burner A large coil burner on high is a 3 kW load.
~2,000 W · 1h/day →
Methodology & sources
Cost = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × price per kWh. Electricity prices are average residential prices by state from the EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (May 2026). EIA averages include delivery charges and taxes but are not any specific utility tariff — for an exact figure, use the rate from your own bill. Wattage presets reflect common product ranges; check your appliance's nameplate or a plug-in power meter for its true draw.
Last verified: July 30, 2026. Prices refresh automatically each month when EIA publishes new data.