kitchen · 130W typical
Running a upright freezer costs about $5.41/month.
That's the typical upright freezer at 130W, run 24 hours a day at the US-average rate of 16.5¢/kWh. Change any of those and the number moves — use the calculator below to see yours.
Estimated cost
A upright freezer draws full power only while the thermostat/compressor is running — about 8.4 effective hours at 130W across your 24-hour window.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same upright freezer can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
garage overflow
$5.41
per month
bulk-meat and freezer-meal storage
kitchen secondary
$5.41
per month
ice cream and frozen vegetables
Where you live
$9.80 spread between the cheapest and priciest states.
Same appliance, same hours of use, different zip code — the monthly cost varies this much.
| State | Rate | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 41.2¢ | $13.50 | $164.21 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $10.29 | $125.15 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $10.09 | $122.76 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $9.40 | $114.39 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $9.14 | $111.20 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $8.06 | $98.05 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $7.96 | $96.85 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $7.31 | $88.88 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $7.24 | $88.09 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $7.04 | $85.69 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $6.32 | $76.93 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $6.26 | $76.13 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $6.03 | $73.34 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $5.93 | $72.14 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $5.83 | $70.95 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $5.70 | $69.35 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $5.63 | $68.56 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $5.54 | $67.36 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $5.44 | $66.16 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $5.34 | $64.97 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $5.18 | $62.98 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $5.14 | $62.58 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $5.11 | $62.18 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $5.05 | $61.38 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $4.98 | $60.58 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $4.98 | $60.58 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $4.95 | $60.19 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $4.85 | $58.99 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $4.85 | $58.99 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $4.82 | $58.59 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $4.82 | $58.59 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $4.78 | $58.19 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $4.65 | $56.60 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $4.62 | $56.20 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $4.55 | $55.40 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $4.46 | $54.21 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $4.39 | $53.41 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $4.36 | $53.01 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $4.32 | $52.61 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $4.29 | $52.21 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $4.29 | $52.21 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $4.16 | $50.62 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $4.06 | $49.42 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $4.00 | $48.63 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $3.96 | $48.23 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $3.96 | $48.23 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $3.90 | $47.43 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $3.80 | $46.24 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $3.77 | $45.84 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $3.73 | $45.44 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $3.70 | $45.04 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A -$75.88/year difference across the wattage range.
Swapping a high-draw model for an efficient one pays for itself. Here's what that looks like annually at typical usage.
Most efficient
400W
$16.63 per month
$202.36 per year
Typical
130W
$5.41 per month
$65.77 per year
High draw
250W
$10.40 per month
$126.47 per year
When it hits hardest
year-round peak
Consistent load; slight summer increase in unconditioned garages.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Keep 70-80% full — thermal mass reduces compressor starts
Fewer cycles cut kWh 10-15%
- 2
Vacuum coils every 6 months
Restores 10-15% efficiency on older units
- 3
Retire any freezer over 15 years old
Pre-2005 freezers use 2-3x new ENERGY STAR models
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| GE | FUF17SMRWW (17 cu ft) | 120W |
| Whirlpool | WZF34X16DW (16 cu ft) | 130W |
| Frigidaire | FFFU16F2VW (16 cu ft) | 140W |
Picks that actually move the needle
Three products worth comparing if you're thinking about upgrading or supplementing what you have.
Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy, we may earn a small commission — it never changes the price you pay, and we only recommend picks we would stand behind.
See also
Related appliances
Sources: www.energystar.gov · www.energy.gov
Last updated: 2026-04-13