🍳 Kitchen
How Much Does a Upright Freezer Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.8¢/kWh (April 2026), a upright freezer costs about $16.46 per month at typical usage — 24 hours/day (always on).
Per hour
2.3¢
at 80–180 W
Per day
$0.54
24 hours/day (always on)
Per month
$16.46
88 kWh
Per year
$198
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
2.3¢
Per day
$0.54
Per month
$16.46
Per year
$198
Uses 88 kWh/month at 18.8¢ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.4 | 1.5¢ | $10.86 | $130 |
| Idaho | 12.7 | 1.5¢ | $11.12 | $134 |
| Nebraska | 13.3 | 1.6¢ | $11.64 | $140 |
| Oklahoma | 13.3 | 1.6¢ | $11.64 | $140 |
| Utah | 13.3 | 1.6¢ | $11.64 | $140 |
| Iowa | 13.9 | 1.7¢ | $12.17 | $146 |
| Montana | 13.9 | 1.7¢ | $12.17 | $146 |
| Missouri | 14.0 | 1.7¢ | $12.26 | $147 |
| Arkansas | 14.2 | 1.7¢ | $12.43 | $149 |
| Nevada | 14.3 | 1.7¢ | $12.52 | $150 |
| Louisiana | 14.4 | 1.7¢ | $12.61 | $151 |
| Washington | 14.4 | 1.7¢ | $12.61 | $151 |
| South Dakota | 14.5 | 1.7¢ | $12.70 | $152 |
| Wyoming | 14.7 | 1.8¢ | $12.87 | $155 |
| Tennessee | 14.9 | 1.8¢ | $13.05 | $157 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | 1.8¢ | $13.13 | $158 |
| New Mexico | 15.2 | 1.8¢ | $13.31 | $160 |
| Florida | 15.4 | 1.8¢ | $13.48 | $162 |
| Georgia | 15.4 | 1.8¢ | $13.48 | $162 |
| Arizona | 15.5 | 1.9¢ | $13.57 | $163 |
| Kansas | 15.8 | 1.9¢ | $13.83 | $166 |
| Oregon | 15.8 | 1.9¢ | $13.83 | $166 |
| West Virginia | 16.1 | 1.9¢ | $14.10 | $169 |
| North Carolina | 16.3 | 2.0¢ | $14.27 | $171 |
| Minnesota | 16.4 | 2.0¢ | $14.36 | $172 |
| Colorado | 16.5 | 2.0¢ | $14.45 | $173 |
| Mississippi | 16.8 | 2.0¢ | $14.71 | $177 |
| Texas | 17.0 | 2.0¢ | $14.88 | $179 |
| South Carolina | 17.1 | 2.1¢ | $14.97 | $180 |
| Alabama | 17.4 | 2.1¢ | $15.23 | $183 |
| Virginia | 17.4 | 2.1¢ | $15.23 | $183 |
| Indiana | 17.9 | 2.1¢ | $15.67 | $188 |
| Delaware | 18.8 | 2.3¢ | $16.46 | $198 |
| Wisconsin | 19.2 | 2.3¢ | $16.81 | $202 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 2.3¢ | $17.07 | $205 |
| Illinois | 20.5 | 2.5¢ | $17.95 | $215 |
| Michigan | 21.4 | 2.6¢ | $18.74 | $225 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.5 | 2.6¢ | $18.82 | $226 |
| Maryland | 22.1 | 2.7¢ | $19.35 | $232 |
| New Jersey | 23.5 | 2.8¢ | $20.57 | $247 |
| Vermont | 24.6 | 3.0¢ | $21.54 | $259 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | 3.0¢ | $22.24 | $267 |
| New Hampshire | 27.2 | 3.3¢ | $23.81 | $286 |
| Alaska | 27.4 | 3.3¢ | $23.99 | $288 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | 3.4¢ | $24.78 | $297 |
| Maine | 28.4 | 3.4¢ | $24.86 | $299 |
| Massachusetts | 29.5 | 3.5¢ | $25.83 | $310 |
| New York | 29.5 | 3.5¢ | $25.83 | $310 |
| Connecticut | 32.2 | 3.9¢ | $28.19 | $338 |
| California | 35.3 | 4.2¢ | $30.91 | $371 |
| Hawaii | 46.6 | 5.6¢ | $40.80 | $490 |
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 18.8¢/kWh, one hour costs about 2.3¢. In North Dakota (12.4¢/kWh) it's 1.5¢, while in Hawaii (46.6¢/kWh) it's 5.6¢.
How much does a upright freezer cost to run per month?
With typical usage (24 hours/day (always on)), expect about $16.46 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $10.86 in North Dakota up to $40.80 in Hawaii. Rates are as of April 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.