How Much Electricity Does a Freezer Use?
So how much electricity does a freezer use? A standalone chest or upright freezer draws roughly 1,080 to 1,240 watts of running wattage, similar to a refrigerator, but because the compressor cycles on and off rather than running continuously, its real average draw over a full day is well below that peak figure. Use the calculator below with an "effective hours" figure (8 is a reasonable stand-in for a full day of cycling) and your own rate for a realistic estimate.
Calculate your cost to run a freezer
Enter your rate to see your estimate.
What affects how much electricity a freezer uses
Size and type are the main factors: chest freezers are generally somewhat more efficient than upright models of a similar capacity, since a top-opening door loses less cold air each time it's opened than a front-opening one. Age matters a lot too, since older freezers, especially pre-ENERGY STAR models, can run significantly less efficiently than newer units. Where it's placed also affects the compressor's workload: a freezer in an uninsulated garage working against extreme outdoor temperatures runs harder than one in a climate-controlled space.
How to reduce your freezer's electricity use
- Keep it full (even with water jugs if needed), since a fuller freezer holds cold better and requires less work to recover after the door opens
- Check the door seal for a tight fit, since a worn gasket lets cold air escape continuously
- Keep it out of hot spaces like an uninsulated garage in summer, if possible, since extreme heat around the unit makes the compressor work harder
- Defrost a manual-defrost model regularly, since built-up frost reduces efficiency
Typical wattage figure: roughly 1,080 W (15 cu ft chest freezer) to 1,240 W (15 cu ft upright freezer) running wattage. Source: Jackery — Appliance Wattage Chart. (This is a commonly cited estimate, not a government-published figure.) This is a commonly cited commercial estimate, not a government-published figure. Like a refrigerator, the compressor cycles on and off rather than running continuously, so real average draw is well below this peak figure. We review this figure periodically and update it if the source changes; last checked September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many watts does a freezer use?
A standalone chest or upright freezer draws roughly 1,080 to 1,240 watts of running wattage, based on a commonly cited commercial wattage reference chart. This is not a government-published figure, and like a refrigerator, real average draw over a full day is well below this peak figure since the compressor cycles rather than running continuously.
How much does it cost to run a freezer?
Using 1,150 watts and an estimated 8 effective hours a day of compressor cycling, at the U.S. average rate of about 16.5 cents/kWh, that works out to roughly $1.52 a day, or about $46 a month. Use the calculator above with your own freezer's specs and rate for a more tailored estimate.
Is a chest freezer cheaper to run than an upright?
Generally, yes, for a comparable capacity, mainly because a top-opening chest freezer loses less cold air each time it's opened than a front-opening upright, so the compressor doesn't have to work as hard to recover afterward.
How can I reduce how much electricity my freezer uses?
Keep it full, since a fuller freezer holds cold better and recovers faster after the door opens, check that the door seal is tight with no gaps, and defrost a manual-defrost model regularly, since built-up frost makes it run less efficiently.
This page provides estimates based on a commonly cited commercial wattage reference chart, not a government-published figure, using an estimated 'effective hours' figure to represent cycling rather than continuous running. Actual electricity cost depends on your specific freezer's size, age, and placement.