Kitchen · Wisconsin
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Chest Freezer in Wisconsin?
The short answer
A typical 80W chest freezer uses about 0.77 kWh a day, which costs $0.15 a day in Wisconsin — about $4.45 a month or $53.43 a year.
Wisconsin’s average residential rate was 19.1¢ per kWh in July 2026 (EIA), 4% above the US average.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Chest Freezer cost by size and efficiency in Wisconsin
| Model | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Efficient (50W) | 14.6 | $0.09 | $2.78 | $33.39 |
| Typical (80W) | 23.4 | $0.15 | $4.45 | $53.43 |
| Older / large (150W) | 43.8 | $0.27 | $8.35 | $100 |
Wisconsin vs other states
At typical use, a chest freezer costs $53.43 a year in Wisconsin — $81.12 less than in Hawaii and $17.77 more than in Louisiana.
Wisconsin has the 18th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Wisconsin electricity rates · all states ranked
Electricity price trend in Wisconsin
19.1¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +4.4% 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 Wisconsin?
A typical 80W chest freezer uses about 280 kWh a year, which costs about $53.43 at Wisconsin’s average rate of 19.1¢/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 Wisconsin that costs $4.45.
Is it expensive to run a chest freezer in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has the 18th-most-expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 19.1¢/kWh — pricier than most. Running a chest freezer here costs about $53.43 a year at typical use, compared with $51.33 at the national average rate.
What is the electricity rate in Wisconsin right now?
The average residential electricity rate in Wisconsin was 19.1¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 4.4% 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 Wisconsin
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).