Kitchen · Montana
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Chest Freezer in Montana?
The short answer
A typical 80W chest freezer uses about 0.77 kWh a day, which costs $0.12 a day in Montana — about $3.50 a month or $42.02 a year.
Montana’s average residential rate was 15.0¢ per kWh in July 2026 (EIA), 18% below the US average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Chest Freezer cost by size and efficiency in Montana
| Model | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Efficient (50W) | 14.6 | $0.07 | $2.19 | $26.26 |
| Typical (80W) | 23.4 | $0.12 | $3.50 | $42.02 |
| Older / large (150W) | 43.8 | $0.22 | $6.57 | $78.79 |
Montana vs other states
At typical use, a chest freezer costs $42.02 a year in Montana — $92.53 less than in Hawaii and $6.36 more than in Louisiana.
Montana has the 14th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Montana electricity rates · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in Montana
15.0¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +5.0% 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 Montana?
A typical 80W chest freezer uses about 280 kWh a year, which costs about $42.02 at Montana’s average rate of 15.0¢/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 Montana that costs $3.50.
Is it expensive to run a chest freezer in Montana?
Montana has the 14th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 15.0¢/kWh — cheaper than most. Running a chest freezer here costs about $42.02 a year at typical use, compared with $51.33 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in Montana right now?
The average residential electricity rate in Montana was 15.0¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 5.0% 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
Other appliances in Montana
Cheapest and priciest states
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.
- Default usage for chest freezer: running 24/7, 40% duty cycle. Typical power 80W.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).