Freezer Energy Cost Calculator

What does your freezer actually cost to run?

Estimate the annual electricity cost of running your standalone freezer. Sized using DOE EnergyGuide kWh-per-cu-ft baselines, EIA US average residential electricity rate, and adjustments for unit age and installation location.

⏱ ~30 sec•DOE EnergyGuide + EIA rate•Calculator

kWh / cu ft / yr

Upright base

kWh / cu ft / yr

Chest base

$0.13

US avg rate

EIA 2024

+50%

15+ yr units

vs new

STEP 01

Four inputs.
One real bill.

DOE EnergyGuide baseline kWh, adjusted for unit age and installation location.

Freezer size

cu ft

Freezer type

Unit age

Installation location

Garage installs need a garage-rated unit.

Updates live as you type

Estimated annual cost

$49/ yr

375 kWh per year at the EIA US average rate of 13¢/kWh.

Monthly

$4.06

10-year cost

$488

Under the hood

DOE numbers. Real rates.

Baseline kWh from DOE EnergyGuide testing; rate uses the EIA US residential average of 13¢/kWh.

01
Baseline kWh by type
Uprights pull about 25 kWh per cu ft per year. Chest freezers — 20 kWh per cu ft — run roughly 20% leaner because cold air doesn't fall out.
02
Age multiplier
+15% for 5–10 yr units, +30% for 10–15 yr, +50% for 15+ yr. Compressor and gasket degradation is real.
03
Location adjustment
Garage +20% (hot summers), basement -5% (cooler ambient). Indoor is the baseline.
04
Cost = kWh × rate
Annual cost = annual kWh × $0.13 per kWh. Monthly = annual ÷ 12. Ten-year = annual × 10.

Refrigerator Energy Costs by State

Illustrative annual electricity costs at each state's residential average: a 1,700 kWh refrigerator versus a 500 kWh refrigerator. Actual consumption and your tariff may differ.

State	Electricity rate (¢/kWh)	Annual cost, 1,700 kWh	Annual cost, 500 kWh	Illustrative savings
Alabama	16.4¢	$278.80	$82.00	$196.80
Alaska	28.21¢	$479.57	$141.05	$338.52
Arizona	15.18¢	$258.06	$75.90	$182.16
Arkansas	14.12¢	$240.04	$70.60	$169.44
California	34.74¢	$590.58	$173.70	$416.88
Colorado	17.13¢	$291.21	$85.65	$205.56
Connecticut	24.32¢	$413.44	$121.60	$291.84
Delaware	19.29¢	$327.93	$96.45	$231.48
District of Columbia	24.39¢	$414.63	$121.95	$292.68
Florida	15.1¢	$256.70	$75.50	$181.20
Georgia	16.36¢	$278.12	$81.80	$196.32
Hawaii	52.72¢	$896.24	$263.60	$632.64
Idaho	14.37¢	$244.29	$71.85	$172.44
Illinois	19.89¢	$338.13	$99.45	$238.68
Indiana	17.51¢	$297.67	$87.55	$210.12
Iowa	15.93¢	$270.81	$79.65	$191.16
Kansas	15.71¢	$267.07	$78.55	$188.52
Kentucky	14.26¢	$242.42	$71.30	$171.12
Louisiana	13.49¢	$229.33	$67.45	$161.88
Maine	29.59¢	$503.03	$147.95	$355.08
Maryland	21.84¢	$371.28	$109.20	$262.08
Massachusetts	29.61¢	$503.37	$148.05	$355.32
Michigan	22.99¢	$390.83	$114.95	$275.88
Minnesota	17.52¢	$297.84	$87.60	$210.24
Mississippi	14.88¢	$252.96	$74.40	$178.56
Missouri	16.22¢	$275.74	$81.10	$194.64
Montana	15.14¢	$257.38	$75.70	$181.68
Nebraska	13.25¢	$225.25	$66.25	$159.00
Nevada	13.11¢	$222.87	$65.55	$157.32
New Hampshire	27.01¢	$459.17	$135.05	$324.12
New Jersey	24.95¢	$424.15	$124.75	$299.40
New Mexico	15.06¢	$256.02	$75.30	$180.72
New York	29.49¢	$501.33	$147.45	$353.88
North Carolina	14.74¢	$250.58	$73.70	$176.88
North Dakota	14.12¢	$240.04	$70.60	$169.44
Ohio	19.19¢	$326.23	$95.95	$230.28
Oklahoma	14.33¢	$243.61	$71.65	$171.96
Oregon	16.32¢	$277.44	$81.60	$195.84
Pennsylvania	21.73¢	$369.41	$108.65	$260.76
Rhode Island	29.23¢	$496.91	$146.15	$350.76
South Carolina	15.55¢	$264.35	$77.75	$186.60
South Dakota	15.36¢	$261.12	$76.80	$184.32
Tennessee	14.07¢	$239.19	$70.35	$168.84
Texas	15.94¢	$270.98	$79.70	$191.28
Utah	13.37¢	$227.29	$66.85	$160.44
Vermont	24.44¢	$415.48	$122.20	$293.28
Virginia	17.22¢	$292.74	$86.10	$206.64
Washington	14.91¢	$253.47	$74.55	$178.92
West Virginia	15.45¢	$262.65	$77.25	$185.40
Wisconsin	19.56¢	$332.52	$97.80	$234.72
Wyoming	15.24¢	$259.08	$76.20	$182.88

Source: EIA Form 861M · June 2026 monthly residential average · preliminary; your tariff may differ

Questions

Frequently asked

A modern 15 cu ft upright freezer averages around 375 kWh per year — about $49 at the EIA US average residential rate of 13¢/kWh. Chest freezers run about 20% lower.