How much does a freezer cost to run per year?

The median ENERGY STAR certified freezer costs about $77 a year at the U.S. average rate (18.3¢/kWh). Across all 594 certified models, costs range from $25 to $119.

Where is a freezer cheapest and most expensive to run?

Nevada has the lowest residential rate (13.1¢/kWh), putting the median freezer at $55 a year; Hawaii (52.7¢/kWh) is the most expensive at $220.

Do different freezers types cost different amounts to run?

Substantially. The median chest freezer uses 218 kWh/yr (about $40 a year at the U.S. average rate) while the median upright freezer uses 438 kWh/yr (about $80).

Data through June 2026

Category · 594 certified models

Freezers: what they cost to run

Because a freezer never turns off, efficiency differences accumulate hour after hour. The 594 ENERGY STAR certified models here range from $25 to $119 a year at the U.S. average rate (median $77).

Chest freezers generally beat uprights on efficiency (cold air stays put when you open the lid), and manual-defrost models undercut auto-defrost ones. Every figure on this page comes from ENERGY STAR's certified test data — the 137–649 kWh/yr range you see is measured, not estimated.

Median cost: $77/yr
Cheapest model: $25/yr
Priciest model: $119/yr

Distribution of certified annual kWh across 594 freezers

Cost by configuration

Median certified use per configuration — different types are different animals
Configuration	Models	Median kWh/yr	Median $/yr (US avg)
Upright Freezer	451	438	$80
Compact	134	249	$46
Chest Freezer	9	218	$40

The 20 most efficient to run

Lowest certified annual kWh among all freezers
#	Model	Type	kWh/yr	$/yr (US avg)
1	Avanti CF24Q0Wmost efficient	Compact	137	$25
2	Liebherr UF3651most efficient	Compact	155	$28
3	Kalamera KCF-100E	Compact	172	$32
4	Danby DCF035A5WDB	Compact	173	$32
5	Arctic King AC35ESKCR1RCM	Compact	174	$32
6	Arctic King ARC04B2C	Compact	174	$32
7	Midea MRC04M3C	Compact	174	$32
8	Cool-living CL-5UFR	Compact	195	$36
9	Danby DCF050A5WDB	Compact	195	$36
10	Arctic King AC05ESWCR1RCM	Compact	196	$36
11	Arctic King ARC05B2C	Compact	196	$36
12	Frigidaire FFCS0562AW	Compact	196	$36
13	Galanz GLF50*E	Compact	196	$36
14	Whirlpool WZC3209LW	Chest Freezer	201	$37
15	Danby DCF100A5WDB	Chest Freezer	211	$39
16	Frigidaire EFRF1005-BLACK-ID-6COM	Chest Freezer	213	$39
17	Frigidaire EFRF1005-D-ID-6COM	Chest Freezer	213	$39
18	Arctic King AUFM011AEW	Compact	215	$39
19	Honeywell H11MFB	Compact	215	$39
20	Honeywell H11MFS	Compact	215	$39

Typical cost by state

Median certified freezer (418 kWh/yr) at each state's average residential rate
State	Rate ¢/kWh	Median $/yr
Alabama	16.4¢	$69
Alaska	28.2¢	$118
Arizona	15.2¢	$63
Arkansas	14.1¢	$59
California	34.7¢	$145
Colorado	17.1¢	$72
Connecticut	24.3¢	$102
Delaware	19.3¢	$81
District of Columbia	24.4¢	$102
Florida	15.1¢	$63
Georgia	16.4¢	$68
Hawaiipriciest	52.7¢	$220
Idaho	14.4¢	$60
Illinois	19.9¢	$83
Indiana	17.5¢	$73
Iowa	15.9¢	$67
Kansas	15.7¢	$66
Kentucky	14.3¢	$60
Louisiana	13.5¢	$56
Maine	29.6¢	$124
Maryland	21.8¢	$91
Massachusetts	29.6¢	$124
Michigan	23.0¢	$96
Minnesota	17.5¢	$73
Mississippi	14.9¢	$62
Missouri	16.2¢	$68
Montana	15.1¢	$63
Nebraska	13.3¢	$55
Nevadacheapest	13.1¢	$55
New Hampshire	27.0¢	$113
New Jersey	24.9¢	$104
New Mexico	15.1¢	$63
New York	29.5¢	$123
North Carolina	14.7¢	$62
North Dakota	14.1¢	$59
Ohio	19.2¢	$80
Oklahoma	14.3¢	$60
Oregon	16.3¢	$68
Pennsylvania	21.7¢	$91
Rhode Island	29.2¢	$122
South Carolina	15.6¢	$65
South Dakota	15.4¢	$64
Tennessee	14.1¢	$59
Texas	15.9¢	$67
Utah	13.4¢	$56
Vermont	24.4¢	$102
Virginia	17.2¢	$72
Washington	14.9¢	$62
West Virginia	15.4¢	$65
Wisconsin	19.6¢	$82
Wyoming	15.2¢	$64

How to read these numbers

The certified annual kWh comes from the DOE test procedure, which measures continuous 24/7 operation at standardized temperatures. Full methodology and limitations →

Browse Freezers by Brand

Browse Freezers by Type

Browse Freezers by Efficiency

Questions, answered with the data

How much does a freezer cost to run per year?: The median ENERGY STAR certified freezer costs about $77 a year at the U.S. average rate (18.3¢/kWh). Across all 594 certified models, costs range from $25 to $119.
How much electricity does a freezer use?: Certified models use between 137 and 649 kWh per year (median 418). The certified annual kWh comes from the DOE test procedure, which measures continuous 24/7 operation at standardized temperatures.
Where is a freezer cheapest and most expensive to run?: Nevada has the lowest residential rate (13.1¢/kWh), putting the median freezer at $55 a year; Hawaii (52.7¢/kWh) is the most expensive at $220.
What makes one freezer cheaper to run than another?: Chest freezers generally beat uprights on efficiency (cold air stays put when you open the lid), and manual-defrost models undercut auto-defrost ones.
Do different freezers types cost different amounts to run?: Substantially. The median chest freezer uses 218 kWh/yr (about $40 a year at the U.S. average rate) while the median upright freezer uses 438 kWh/yr (about $80).