Chest vs. upright
Uprights lose cold air with every opening; chests trap it. Same-size chests typically run 10–25% cheaper than uprights, and manual-defrost models beat frost-free.
Chest Freezer Cost per Month
Updated July 2026 rate dataKitchen & LaundrySourced from ENERGY STAR — Freezers
Cold air pools in a chest instead of spilling out with every opening, and a fuller freezer holds temperature with less compressor work. Enter the kWh per year from your label along with your state below.
Quick pick
EIA residential average, July 2026. Your utility's exact rate is on your bill.
280 kWh
100 kWh900 kWh
Common setups
Per hour
—
Per day
$0.14
0.77 kWh
Per month
$4.27
23 kWh
Per year
$51
280 kWh
Run like this for a year and it adds about $51 to your electricity bill.
EnergyGuide labels list exact kWh/year per model — entering yours beats these generic figures.
Energy: 0.77 kWh per day · 280 kWh per year, at 18.31¢/kWh (U.S. average).
What changes the number
Fill level helps
A full freezer holds temperature with less compressor work (frozen food is its own thermal mass). Water jugs fill dead space cheaply.
Location
A freezer on a porch or in a hot garage works much harder in summer — the annual label assumes a moderate room temperature.
Cut the cost
Biggest savings first.
- Manual defrost when frost exceeds ¼ inch — heavy frost acts like insulation in reverse, forcing longer runs.
- Keep it ¾ full; water jugs are fine fillers.
- Set to 0°F. Colder is pure waste for home storage.
- If your model predates 2010, check its label — a replacement can pay for itself within a few years.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chest freezer cost to run per month?
Typically $3–6/month at the U.S. average rate (18.31¢/kWh) depending on size. Old pre-2010 uprights can run $9+/month.
Do chest freezers use a lot of electricity?
No — they're among the cheapest large appliances to run: 200–400 kWh/year for common sizes, roughly 1 kWh/day or less.
Is a chest freezer cheaper to run than an upright?
Generally yes — cold air pools in a chest instead of spilling out, saving roughly 10–25% for equivalent size and age.
Sources
- ENERGY STAR — Freezers
- U.S. EIA, Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A — Average Price of Electricity by State
Rate basis: EIA residential average, July 2026 (retrieved from Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A). Estimates are for planning, not billing.
