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

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

The short answer

A typical 80W chest freezer uses about 0.77 kWh a day, which costs $0.11 a day in Washington — about $3.44 a month or $41.24 a year.

That’s based on Washington’s average residential rate of 14.7¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026), 20% below the US average.

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

Chest Freezer cost by size and efficiency in Washington

Cost at 14.7¢/kWh, the Washington average (EIA, Jul 2026)
ModelkWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
Efficient (50W) 14.6 $0.07 $2.15 $25.77
Typical (80W) 23.4 $0.11 $3.44 $41.24
Older / large (150W) 43.8 $0.21 $6.44 $77.32

Washington vs other states

At typical use, a chest freezer costs $41.24 a year in Washington — $93.32 less than in Hawaii and $5.58 more than in Louisiana.

Washington has the 13th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Washington price per kWh · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in Washington

14.7¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +9.4% 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 Washington?

A typical 80W chest freezer uses about 280 kWh a year, which costs about $41.24 at Washington’s average rate of 14.7¢/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 Washington that costs $3.44.

Is it expensive to run a chest freezer in Washington?

Washington has the 13th-cheapest residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 14.7¢/kWh — cheaper than most. Running a chest freezer here costs about $41.24 a year at typical use, compared with $51.33 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in Washington right now?

The average residential electricity rate in Washington was 14.7¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 9.4% 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

Cheapest and priciest states

Comparisons

Sources & method