Side-by-side running cost
Refrigerator vs Chest Freezer: Which Costs Less to Run?
The short answer
At typical use, a chest freezer costs about $4.28 a month versus $7.02 for a refrigerator at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Refrigerator
- Typical power
- 150W
- Per day
- $0.23
- Per month
- $7.02
- Per year
- $84.21
- Typical use
- running 24/7
Chest Freezer
- Typical power
- 80W
- Per day
- $0.14
- Per month
- $4.28
- Per year
- $51.33
- Typical use
- running 24/7
Refrigerator vs Chest Freezer in the 10 largest states
Monthly cost at typical use and each state’s average residential rate.
| State | Refrigerator | Chest Freezer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $12.88 | $7.85 | $5.03 |
| Texas | $6.09 | $3.71 | $2.38 |
| Florida | $5.76 | $3.51 | $2.25 |
| New York | $11.46 | $6.99 | $4.48 |
| Pennsylvania | $8.33 | $5.07 | $3.25 |
| Illinois | $7.37 | $4.49 | $2.88 |
| Ohio | $7.46 | $4.54 | $2.91 |
| Georgia | $6.24 | $3.80 | $2.44 |
| North Carolina | $5.81 | $3.54 | $2.27 |
| Michigan | $8.83 | $5.39 | $3.45 |
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is a refrigerator cheaper to run than a chest freezer?
At typical use, a chest freezer costs about $4.28 a month versus $7.02 for a refrigerator at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh.
How much power does a refrigerator use compared with a chest freezer?
A refrigerator typically draws 150W, while a chest freezer draws about 80W.
More comparisons
Sources & method
- Electricity rates: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly — average residential retail price, July 2026 (latest available). Retrieved .
- CO₂: EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 emissions rate of in-state power generation.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).