WattCost

Data through April 2026

Category · 568 certified models

Freezers: what they cost to run

Because a freezer never turns off, efficiency differences accumulate hour after hour. The 568 ENERGY STAR certified models here range from $26 to $122 a year at the U.S. average rate (median $79).

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
$79/yr
Cheapest model
$26/yr
Priciest model
$122/yr
137 kWh649 kWh
Distribution of certified annual kWh across 568 freezers

Cost by configuration

Median certified use per configuration — different types are different animals
ConfigurationModelsMedian kWh/yrMedian $/yr (US avg)
Upright Freezer431438$82
Compact128245$46
Chest Freezer9218$41

The 10 cheapest to run

Lowest certified annual kWh among all freezers
#ModelTypekWh/yr$/yr (US avg)
1Avanti CF24Q0Wmost efficientCompact137$26
2Liebherr UF3651most efficientCompact155$29
3Kalamera KCF-100ECompact172$32
4Danby DCF035A5WDBCompact173$33
5Arctic King AC35ESKCR1RCMCompact174$33
6Arctic King ARC04B2CCompact174$33
7Midea MRC04M3CCompact174$33
8Cool-living CL-5UFRCompact195$37
9Danby DCF050A5WDBCompact195$37
10Arctic King AC05ESWCR1RCMCompact196$37

Typical cost by state

Median certified freezer (418 kWh/yr) at each state's average residential rate
StateRate ¢/kWhMedian $/yrRelative cost
Alabama17.4¢$73
Alaska27.4¢$114
Arizona15.5¢$65
Arkansas14.2¢$59
California35.3¢$147
Colorado16.5¢$69
Connecticut32.2¢$135
Delaware18.8¢$79
District of Columbia25.4¢$106
Florida15.4¢$64
Georgia15.4¢$64
Hawaiipriciest46.6¢$195
Idaho12.7¢$53
Illinois20.5¢$86
Indiana17.9¢$75
Iowa13.9¢$58
Kansas15.8¢$66
Kentucky15.0¢$63
Louisiana14.4¢$60
Maine28.4¢$119
Maryland22.1¢$92
Massachusetts29.4¢$123
Michigan21.4¢$89
Minnesota16.4¢$69
Mississippi16.8¢$70
Missouri14.0¢$59
Montana13.9¢$58
Nebraska13.3¢$56
Nevada14.3¢$60
New Hampshire27.2¢$114
New Jersey23.5¢$98
New Mexico15.2¢$63
New York29.4¢$123
North Carolina16.3¢$68
North Dakotacheapest12.3¢$52
Ohio19.5¢$81
Oklahoma13.3¢$56
Oregon15.8¢$66
Pennsylvania21.5¢$90
Rhode Island28.3¢$118
South Carolina17.1¢$71
South Dakota14.5¢$61
Tennessee14.9¢$62
Texas17.0¢$71
Utah13.3¢$56
Vermont24.6¢$103
Virginia17.4¢$73
Washington14.4¢$60
West Virginia16.1¢$67
Wisconsin19.2¢$80
Wyoming14.7¢$61

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 →

Questions, answered with the data

How much does a freezer cost to run per year?
The median ENERGY STAR certified freezer costs about $79 a year at the U.S. average rate (18.8¢/kWh). Across all 568 certified models, costs range from $26 to $122.
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?
North Dakota has the lowest residential rate (12.3¢/kWh), putting the median freezer at $52 a year; Hawaii (46.6¢/kWh) is the most expensive at $195.
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 $41 a year at the U.S. average rate) while the median upright freezer uses 438 kWh/yr (about $82).

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