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.
DOE EnergyGuide baseline kWh, adjusted for unit age and installation location.
Baseline kWh from DOE EnergyGuide testing; rate uses the EIA US residential average of 13¢/kWh.
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.
+15% for 5–10 yr units, +30% for 10–15 yr, +50% for 15+ yr. Compressor and gasket degradation is real.
Garage +20% (hot summers), basement -5% (cooler ambient). Indoor is the baseline.
Annual cost = annual kWh × $0.13 per kWh. Monthly = annual ÷ 12. Ten-year = annual × 10.
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
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