Kitchen · Pennsylvania
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Chest Freezer in Pennsylvania?
The short answer
Running a chest freezer around the clock in Pennsylvania costs about $5.07 a month ($0.17 a day), based on a typical 80W unit using 0.77 kWh a day.
The estimate uses Pennsylvania’s average residential electricity price of 21.7¢/kWh from EIA (July 2026) — 19% above the national average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Chest Freezer cost by size and efficiency in Pennsylvania
| Model | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Efficient (50W) | 14.6 | $0.10 | $3.17 | $38.05 |
| Typical (80W) | 23.4 | $0.17 | $5.07 | $60.89 |
| Older / large (150W) | 43.8 | $0.31 | $9.51 | $114 |
Pennsylvania vs other states
At typical use, a chest freezer costs $60.89 a year in Pennsylvania — $73.67 less than in Hawaii and $25.23 more than in Louisiana.
Pennsylvania has the 14th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Pennsylvania price per kWh · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in Pennsylvania
21.7¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +11.3% 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 Pennsylvania?
A typical 80W chest freezer uses about 280 kWh a year, which costs about $60.89 at Pennsylvania’s average rate of 21.7¢/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 Pennsylvania that costs $5.07.
Is it expensive to run a chest freezer in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has the 14th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 21.7¢/kWh — pricier than most. Running a chest freezer here costs about $60.89 a year at typical use, compared with $51.33 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in Pennsylvania right now?
The average residential electricity rate in Pennsylvania was 21.7¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 11.3% 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 Pennsylvania
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).