Kitchen · North Carolina
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Chest Freezer in North Carolina?
The short answer
A typical 80W chest freezer uses about 0.77 kWh a day, which costs $0.12 a day in North Carolina — about $3.54 a month or $42.50 a year.
North Carolina’s average residential rate was 15.2¢ per kWh in July 2026 (EIA), 17% below the US average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Chest Freezer cost by size and efficiency in North Carolina
| Model | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Efficient (50W) | 14.6 | $0.07 | $2.21 | $26.56 |
| Typical (80W) | 23.4 | $0.12 | $3.54 | $42.50 |
| Older / large (150W) | 43.8 | $0.22 | $6.64 | $79.68 |
North Carolina vs other states
At typical use, a chest freezer costs $42.50 a year in North Carolina — $92.06 less than in Hawaii and $6.84 more than in Louisiana.
North Carolina has the 16th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. North Carolina price per kWh · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in North Carolina
15.2¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +13.4% 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 North Carolina?
A typical 80W chest freezer uses about 280 kWh a year, which costs about $42.50 at North Carolina’s average rate of 15.2¢/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 North Carolina that costs $3.54.
Is it expensive to run a chest freezer in North Carolina?
North Carolina has the 16th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 15.2¢/kWh — cheaper than most. Running a chest freezer here costs about $42.50 a year at typical use, compared with $51.33 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in North Carolina right now?
The average residential electricity rate in North Carolina was 15.2¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 13.4% 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 North Carolina
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).