U.S. residential electricity EIA data: July 2026 US average 18.3¢/kWh Updated
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Kitchen · Delaware

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Chest Freezer in Delaware?

The short answer

Running a chest freezer around the clock in Delaware costs about $4.32 a month ($0.14 a day), based on a typical 80W unit using 0.77 kWh a day.

That’s based on Delaware’s average residential rate of 18.5¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026), about the same as the US average.

Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated

Chest Freezer cost by size and efficiency in Delaware

Cost at 18.5¢/kWh, the Delaware average (EIA, Jul 2026)
ModelkWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
Efficient (50W) 14.6 $0.09 $2.70 $32.38
Typical (80W) 23.4 $0.14 $4.32 $51.80
Older / large (150W) 43.8 $0.27 $8.10 $97.13

Delaware vs other states

At typical use, a chest freezer costs $51.80 a year in Delaware — $82.75 less than in Hawaii and $16.15 more than in Louisiana.

Delaware has the 19th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. electricity prices in Delaware · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in Delaware

18.5¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +11.5% from a year earlier.

How to lower the cost of running a chest freezer

Chest freezers are among the most efficient appliances per cubic foot because cold air sinks and stays inside when the lid opens. Like a refrigerator, the compressor cycles on and off — we assume about 40% of the time. Placement matters: a freezer in a hot garage runs much longer than one in a cool basement.

  • Keep it in a cool spot away from the water heater, furnace and direct sun.
  • A full freezer holds cold better — fill empty space with jugs of water.
  • Defrost when ice builds up beyond a quarter inch.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How much does a chest freezer cost to run per year in Delaware?

A typical 80W chest freezer uses about 280 kWh a year, which costs about $51.80 at Delaware’s average rate of 18.5¢/kWh.

How many kWh does a chest freezer use per month?

At running 24/7, a typical chest freezer uses about 23.4 kWh a month. In Delaware that costs $4.32.

Is it expensive to run a chest freezer in Delaware?

Delaware has the 19th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 18.5¢/kWh — pricier than most. Running a chest freezer here costs about $51.80 a year at typical use, compared with $51.33 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in Delaware right now?

The average residential electricity rate in Delaware was 18.5¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 11.5% from a year earlier.

Is a chest freezer cheaper to run than an upright freezer?

Usually yes. Chest freezers lose less cold air when opened and typically use 10–25% less electricity than upright freezers of the same size.

Chest Freezer costs in nearby states

Cheapest and priciest states

Comparisons

Sources & method