How much does it cost to run a chest freezer?
A typical chest freezer draws about 100 watts. Used 24 hours a day, that works out to roughly $0.41 per day, $12.41 per month, and $148.92 per year on an average electricity rate of 17¢ per kWh. Standalone freezers run around the clock, making efficiency ratings matter a lot.
Chest Freezer running cost calculator
- Per day
- $0.41
- Per month
- $12.41
- Per year
- $148.92
- CO₂ / year
- 350.4 kg
Based on 876 kWh per year. Adjust the price per kWh to match your latest electricity bill for an exact figure.
The number that matters most is your own electricity rate. Rates range from under 11¢ per kWh in some regions to over 30¢ in others, so the same chest freezer can cost two or three times as much depending on where you live. Enter your exact rate in the calculator above to get a figure tailored to your bill.
Over a full year this chest freezer uses about 876 kWh of electricity and is responsible for roughly 350.4 kg of CO₂ emissions on an average grid. Reducing run time, or switching to a more efficient model, lowers both the cost and the footprint.
If this chest freezer is one you use daily, even small efficiency gains compound. Cutting its usage or wattage by 20% would save around $29.78 every year — money that an efficient replacement can recover over its lifetime.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to run a chest freezer per hour?
- At 100 watts and a 17¢/kWh rate, a chest freezer costs about $0.02 per hour to run.
- How much electricity does a chest freezer use per month?
- Running 24 hours a day, a chest freezer uses roughly 73.0 kWh per month, costing about $12.41.
- Is a chest freezer expensive to run?
- Not particularly — at around $148.92 per year, a chest freezer is a relatively minor part of most electricity bills.
- How can I reduce my chest freezer running costs?
- Use it during off-peak hours if your utility offers time-of-use pricing, reduce daily run time, and consider an ENERGY STAR rated chest freezer, which uses less power for the same job.