Checked against official sources on 15 October 2026
How much does a freezer cost to run?
About $6.33 a month
for a typical freezer in No match. Pick "Another country" to type your own price. , at 18.31 cents per kWh.
Type your electricity price to see the cost.
- Uses
- 1.14 kWh a day
- Draws while running
- 132–192 W
- Needs at start-up
- about 1,200 W
A freezer runs quietly all year, often in a garage or utility room where nobody thinks about it. A typical certified freezer uses about 415 kWh a year. If you're choosing one, the chest-or-upright decision makes the biggest difference.
Averaged over a whole day it draws about 47 W, because the compressor switches on and off.
Work out your own freezer
Typical use: 438 kWh a year
You'll find it on the appliance's energy label.
Which type uses the most
In the ENERGY STAR data, the typical chest freezer uses about half the energy of the typical upright, though few chest models are listed. Costs below use the price you set above.
| Type of freezer | Typical size | Energy per year | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upright freezer500 models | 15.5 cu ft (439 L) | $80 | |
| Chest freezer9 models | 10.6 cu ft (300 L) | $40 | |
| Compact freezer162 models | 4.6 cu ft (130 L) | $45 |
What it costs in other countries
For a typical freezer, at each country's official average electricity price.
| Country | Price per kWh | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 18.31 cents | $6.33 | $76 |
| United Kingdom | 26.32 pence | £9.10 | £109 |
| Germany | 36.18 cents | €13 | €150 |
| Ireland | 38.71 cents | €13 | €161 |
| France | 24.85 cents | €8.59 | €103 |
| Spain | 25.09 cents | €8.68 | €104 |
| Italy | 31.42 cents | €11 | €130 |
| Netherlands | 24.40 cents | €8.44 | €101 |
Prices from the U.S. EIA, Ofgem and Eurostat; see Sources below. To see another country, pick it at the top of the page; we cover 51.
How to cut the cost of running your freezer
-
Choose a chest freezer if it suits you
In the ENERGY STAR data, the typical chest freezer uses 220 kWh a year less than the typical upright.
Saves about $40 a year
-
Keep it somewhere cool
A freezer in a hot garage or next to a heat source has to work harder.
-
Open it less, and let food cool first
Every opening lets cold air out, and warm food takes extra energy to freeze.
-
Check whether an old freezer is worth replacing
Use the kWh from its label in the replace-or-keep calculator.
Savings use the electricity price you set above and figures from this page's sources.
What can power it
To run a freezer from a generator or a portable power station, check two numbers. It must supply the running power, about 132–192 W, all the time. It must also handle about 1,200 W for a moment each time it starts.
Common questions
How many watts does a freezer use?
Honda's generator guide lists an ENERGY STAR refrigerator or freezer at about 132–192 W while running and about 1,200 W for a moment at start-up. Averaged over a day, a typical model draws about 47 W.
How much electricity does a freezer use per year?
The typical ENERGY STAR freezer uses about 415 kWh a year, and most fall between 231 and 511 kWh, across 671 certified models.
How much does it cost to run a freezer per day?
About $0.21 a day in the United States, at the average price of 18.31 cents per kWh, or about £0.30 a day in the UK at 26.32 pence, for a typical freezer. That adds up to about $76 or £109 a year.
Sources
- ENERGY STAR Certified Residential Freezers data set (U.S. EPA), 671 models, fetched 15 October 2026
- Honda Power Equipment, generator wattage estimation guide
- Eurostat, Electricity prices for household consumers (nrg_pc_204): consumption band 2,500–4,999 kWh, all taxes and levies included, January–June 2026 (updated 13 October 2026)
- Ofgem energy price cap: average Direct Debit electricity unit rate, England, Scotland and Wales, 1 October to 31 December 2026
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electricity Monthly Update: average residential price, July 2026 (released 24 September 2026)
Last checked 15 October 2026. How we get our numbers.