🍳 Kitchen
How Much Does a Upright Freezer Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a upright freezer costs about $16.02 per month at typical usage — 24 hours/day (always on).
Per hour
2.2¢
at 80–180 W
Per day
$0.53
24 hours/day (always on)
Per month
$16.02
88 kWh
Per year
$192
1,051 kWh
Upright freezers trade some efficiency for convenience: cold air spills out of the vertical door each time it opens, and frost-free defrost cycles add consumption. Expect 20–40% higher running costs than an equivalent chest freezer.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
2.2¢
Per day
$0.53
Per month
$16.02
Per year
$192
Uses 88 kWh/month at 18.3¢ per kWh.
Cheapest and most expensive states
Monthly cost at typical usage, using each state's current average residential rate.
Cost in every state
| State | Rate (¢/kWh) | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 12.7 | 1.5¢ | $11.12 | $134 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | 1.5¢ | $11.21 | $135 |
| Utah | 13.1 | 1.6¢ | $11.47 | $138 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | 1.6¢ | $11.73 | $141 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | 1.6¢ | $11.99 | $144 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | 1.6¢ | $11.99 | $144 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | 1.7¢ | $12.08 | $145 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | 1.7¢ | $12.08 | $145 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | 1.7¢ | $12.52 | $150 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | 1.7¢ | $12.61 | $151 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | 1.7¢ | $12.61 | $151 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | 1.7¢ | $12.70 | $152 |
| Washington | 14.7 | 1.8¢ | $12.87 | $155 |
| Florida | 15.0 | 1.8¢ | $13.13 | $158 |
| Montana | 15.0 | 1.8¢ | $13.13 | $158 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | 1.8¢ | $13.31 | $160 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | 1.8¢ | $13.40 | $161 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | 1.8¢ | $13.48 | $162 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | 1.8¢ | $13.48 | $162 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | 1.9¢ | $13.57 | $163 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | 1.9¢ | $13.83 | $166 |
| Texas | 15.9 | 1.9¢ | $13.92 | $167 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | 1.9¢ | $14.01 | $168 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | 1.9¢ | $14.01 | $168 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | 1.9¢ | $14.10 | $169 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | 1.9¢ | $14.10 | $169 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | 2.0¢ | $14.27 | $171 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | 2.0¢ | $14.36 | $172 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | 2.0¢ | $14.62 | $176 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | 2.0¢ | $14.88 | $179 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | 2.1¢ | $15.32 | $184 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 2.1¢ | $15.41 | $185 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | 2.2¢ | $16.20 | $194 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | 2.3¢ | $16.72 | $201 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | 2.3¢ | $16.81 | $202 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 2.3¢ | $17.07 | $205 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | 2.6¢ | $18.74 | $225 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | 2.6¢ | $19.00 | $228 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | 2.8¢ | $20.22 | $243 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | 2.9¢ | $20.84 | $250 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | 2.9¢ | $21.19 | $254 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | 3.0¢ | $22.06 | $265 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | 3.0¢ | $22.06 | $265 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | 3.2¢ | $23.29 | $280 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | 3.4¢ | $24.78 | $297 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | 3.5¢ | $25.21 | $303 |
| New York | 29.9 | 3.6¢ | $26.18 | $314 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | 3.7¢ | $26.70 | $321 |
| Maine | 32.4 | 3.9¢ | $28.37 | $341 |
| California | 33.6 | 4.0¢ | $29.42 | $353 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | 5.8¢ | $42.02 | $505 |
How to lower the cost
- Match the appliance to the portion: microwave and air fryer beat the big oven for anything small.
- Keep refrigerator coils clean and gaskets tight — it runs 24/7, so small inefficiencies compound.
- Run the dishwasher full and skip heated dry.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a upright freezer use?
A typical upright freezer draws about 120 watts in use. At 24 hours/day (always on), that works out to roughly 2.9 kWh per day, or 88 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a upright freezer for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh, one hour costs about 2.2¢. In Louisiana (12.7¢/kWh) it's 1.5¢, while in Hawaii (48¢/kWh) it's 5.8¢.
How much does a upright freezer cost to run per month?
With typical usage (24 hours/day (always on)), expect about $16.02 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $11.12 in Louisiana up to $42.02 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 2026.
Does a upright freezer use a lot of electricity?
It's a moderate load: roughly 10% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption at typical usage. Noticeable, but not a bill-driver on its own.