🍳 Kitchen
How Much Does a Upright Freezer Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a upright freezer costs about $16.11 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
$16.11
88 kWh
Per year
$193
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
$16.11
Per year
$193
Uses 88 kWh/month at 18.4¢ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 12.4 | 1.5¢ | $10.86 | $130 |
| Utah | 13.0 | 1.6¢ | $11.38 | $137 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | 1.6¢ | $11.73 | $141 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | 1.6¢ | $11.91 | $143 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | 1.6¢ | $11.91 | $143 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | 1.6¢ | $11.91 | $143 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | 1.6¢ | $11.99 | $144 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | 1.7¢ | $12.34 | $148 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | 1.7¢ | $12.34 | $148 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | 1.7¢ | $12.43 | $149 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | 1.7¢ | $12.61 | $151 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | 1.7¢ | $12.70 | $152 |
| Montana | 14.7 | 1.8¢ | $12.87 | $155 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | 1.8¢ | $12.96 | $156 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | 1.8¢ | $13.13 | $158 |
| Washington | 15.0 | 1.8¢ | $13.13 | $158 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | 1.8¢ | $13.22 | $159 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | 1.8¢ | $13.22 | $159 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | 1.8¢ | $13.31 | $160 |
| Florida | 15.2 | 1.8¢ | $13.31 | $160 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | 1.9¢ | $13.75 | $165 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | 1.9¢ | $13.83 | $166 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | 1.9¢ | $14.18 | $170 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | 1.9¢ | $14.18 | $170 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | 1.9¢ | $14.18 | $170 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | 2.0¢ | $14.27 | $171 |
| Texas | 16.4 | 2.0¢ | $14.36 | $172 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | 2.0¢ | $14.71 | $177 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | 2.0¢ | $14.71 | $177 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | 2.0¢ | $14.88 | $179 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 2.1¢ | $15.41 | $185 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | 2.2¢ | $15.93 | $191 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | 2.3¢ | $16.99 | $204 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 2.3¢ | $17.07 | $205 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | 2.4¢ | $17.25 | $207 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | 2.6¢ | $18.91 | $227 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | 2.6¢ | $19.09 | $229 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | 2.6¢ | $19.26 | $231 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | 2.8¢ | $20.40 | $245 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | 2.9¢ | $20.92 | $251 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | 3.0¢ | $21.80 | $262 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | 3.0¢ | $22.24 | $267 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | 3.3¢ | $23.90 | $287 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | 3.3¢ | $23.99 | $288 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | 3.4¢ | $24.69 | $296 |
| Maine | 28.6 | 3.4¢ | $25.04 | $301 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | 3.5¢ | $25.21 | $303 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | 3.5¢ | $25.83 | $310 |
| New York | 29.9 | 3.6¢ | $26.18 | $314 |
| California | 33.3 | 4.0¢ | $29.15 | $350 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | 6.2¢ | $45.53 | $547 |
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 18.4¢/kWh, one hour costs about 2.2¢. In Idaho (12.4¢/kWh) it's 1.5¢, while in Hawaii (52¢/kWh) it's 6.2¢.
How much does a upright freezer cost to run per month?
With typical usage (24 hours/day (always on)), expect about $16.11 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $10.86 in Idaho up to $45.53 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 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.