How Much Does It Cost to Run a chest freezer?
A typical chest freezer uses about 100 watts, which costs about $0.02 per hour. Used 8 hours a day, that is $0.14 per day, $4 per month and about $53 per year at the US average of about 18 cents per kWh. Change the numbers below for your own model and rate.
Typical estimate: the compressor runs about 8 hours a day in a conditioned space. These are typical estimates – check your own label or use a plug-in meter for exact figures.
Chest freezer running cost by electricity rate
Rates vary widely across the country. $0.12 is typical of low-cost areas, $0.18 is about the national average, and $0.25–$0.35 or more is common in high-cost areas such as parts of California, New England and Hawaii.
| Rate per kWh | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0.12 | $0.012 | $0.10 | $2.92 | $35 |
| $0.18 | $0.018 | $0.14 | $4.38 | $53 |
| $0.25 | $0.025 | $0.20 | $6.08 | $73 |
| $0.35 | $0.035 | $0.28 | $8.52 | $102 |
Based on 100 W for 8 h/day; month = 30.42 days.
Cost by hours of use per day
| Hours per day | kWh per month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 h | 18 | $0.11 | $3.29 | $39 |
| 8 h | 24 | $0.14 | $4.38 | $53 |
| 12 h | 37 | $0.22 | $6.57 | $79 |
At 18 cents per kWh and 100 W.
Low, typical and high wattage
A typical 5–15 cubic foot chest freezer draws about 60–150 W while running. A hot garage makes it run longer.
| Case | Watts | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 60 | $0.011 | $2.63 | $32 |
| Typical | 100 | $0.018 | $4.38 | $53 |
| High | 150 | $0.027 | $6.57 | $79 |
At 8 h/day and 18 cents per kWh.
How it is calculated
100 W × 8 h ÷ 1,000 = 0.8 kWh per day
0.8 kWh × $0.18 = $0.14 per day
$0.14 × 30.42 days = $4.38 per month
How to cut the cost of running a chest freezer
- Chest freezers lose less cold air than uprights because the cold air sits in the tub when you open the lid – keep it that way by organizing with baskets.
- Leave a few inches of clearance around the cabinet so the condenser walls can shed heat, and keep it out of direct sun.
- Fill empty space with jugs of water. Frozen mass makes the compressor cycle less often.
- Defrost when frost builds up past about a quarter inch; thick ice insulates the walls and raises runtime.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a chest freezer per month?
At 18 cents per kWh, a typical 100 W chest freezer used 8 hours a day costs about $4.38 per month (24 kWh). That is about $53 a year.
How much does it cost to run a chest freezer per hour?
About $0.018 per hour at 18 cents per kWh, or $0.035 per hour if you pay 35 cents per kWh. Multiply by your hours of use to estimate any day.
Why does the cost of a chest freezer vary so much?
Wattage varies by model and setting – from 60 W to 150 W here. At the same 8 hours a day and 18 cents per kWh, that is $3 to $7 per month. Your electricity rate matters just as much: at 35 cents per kWh the typical unit costs $9 per month.