How much does it cost to run a freezer?
The same freezer costs $178 a year in Hawaii (40.59 ¢ per kWh) and $52 in North Dakota (11.81 ¢), a gap of $126 or 3.4 times. Model range at 17.30 ¢: $61.41 to $90.91 a year (506 listed).
Map
- $51.73 to $57.73
- $57.73 to $65.52
- $65.52 to $71.09
- $71.09 to $100
- $100 to $178
Darker = costlier to run freezer. Click a state for its hub.
Your numbers
All 51 states
| 1 | Hawaii | 40.59 | $177.78 | $144.09 | $213.30 | $14.82 | 275 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | California | 32.54 | $142.53 | $115.52 | $171.00 | $11.88 | 78 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 30.48 | $133.50 | $108.20 | $160.17 | $11.13 | 163 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 29.46 | $129.03 | $104.58 | $154.81 | $10.75 | 167 |
| 5 | Connecticut | 29.38 | $128.68 | $104.30 | $154.39 | $10.72 | 107 |
| 6 | Maine | 27.78 | $121.68 | $98.62 | $145.98 | $10.14 | 62 |
| 7 | New York | 26.39 | $115.59 | $93.68 | $138.68 | $9.63 | 92 |
| 8 | Alaska | 26.09 | $114.27 | $92.62 | $137.10 | $9.52 | 161 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 24.56 | $107.57 | $87.19 | $129.06 | $8.96 | 54 |
| 10 | Vermont | 22.92 | $100.39 | $81.37 | $120.44 | $8.37 | 9 |
| 11 | New Jersey | 22.63 | $99.12 | $80.34 | $118.92 | $8.26 | 93 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | 21.94 | $96.10 | $77.89 | $115.29 | $8.01 | 78 |
| 13 | Michigan | 20.01 | $87.64 | $71.04 | $105.15 | $7.30 | 158 |
| 14 | Maryland | 19.48 | $85.32 | $69.15 | $102.37 | $7.11 | 103 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | 19.30 | $84.53 | $68.52 | $101.42 | $7.04 | 128 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | 18.16 | $79.54 | $64.47 | $95.43 | $6.63 | 230 |
| 17 | Illinois | 17.69 | $77.48 | $62.80 | $92.96 | $6.46 | 94 |
| 18 | Delaware | 17.13 | $75.03 | $60.81 | $90.02 | $6.25 | 140 |
| 19 | Ohio | 16.96 | $74.28 | $60.21 | $89.12 | $6.19 | 211 |
| 20 | Indiana | 16.23 | $71.09 | $57.62 | $85.29 | $5.92 | 290 |
| 21 | Alabama | 16.10 | $70.52 | $57.16 | $84.61 | $5.88 | 141 |
| 22 | Colorado | 15.85 | $69.42 | $56.27 | $83.29 | $5.79 | 216 |
| 23 | Minnesota | 15.82 | $69.29 | $56.16 | $83.13 | $5.77 | 149 |
| 24 | Texas | 15.47 | $67.76 | $54.92 | $81.29 | $5.65 | 153 |
| 25 | West Virginia | 15.41 | $67.50 | $54.71 | $80.98 | $5.62 | 388 |
| 26 | Oregon | 15.37 | $67.32 | $54.56 | $80.77 | $5.61 | 72 |
| 27 | Arizona | 15.32 | $67.10 | $54.39 | $80.51 | $5.59 | 136 |
| 28 | Virginia | 15.28 | $66.93 | $54.24 | $80.30 | $5.58 | 107 |
| 29 | Florida | 15.24 | $66.75 | $54.10 | $80.09 | $5.56 | 156 |
| 30 | New Mexico | 15.08 | $66.05 | $53.53 | $79.25 | $5.50 | 153 |
| 31 | South Carolina | 14.96 | $65.52 | $53.11 | $78.61 | $5.46 | 111 |
| 32 | Georgia | 14.73 | $64.52 | $52.29 | $77.41 | $5.38 | 142 |
| 33 | Kansas | 14.56 | $63.77 | $51.69 | $76.51 | $5.31 | 145 |
| 34 | Mississippi | 14.03 | $61.45 | $49.81 | $73.73 | $5.12 | 164 |
| 35 | North Carolina | 14.02 | $61.41 | $49.77 | $73.68 | $5.12 | 124 |
| 36 | Iowa | 13.72 | $60.09 | $48.71 | $72.10 | $5.01 | 125 |
| 37 | Missouri | 13.49 | $59.09 | $47.89 | $70.89 | $4.92 | 287 |
| 38 | South Dakota | 13.38 | $58.60 | $47.50 | $70.31 | $4.88 | 66 |
| 39 | Wyoming | 13.38 | $58.60 | $47.50 | $70.31 | $4.88 | 362 |
| 40 | Kentucky | 13.24 | $57.99 | $47.00 | $69.58 | $4.83 | 345 |
| 41 | Tennessee | 13.18 | $57.73 | $46.79 | $69.26 | $4.81 | 131 |
| 42 | Nevada | 13.15 | $57.60 | $46.68 | $69.10 | $4.80 | 128 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | 13.12 | $57.47 | $46.58 | $68.95 | $4.79 | 129 |
| 44 | Washington | 13.11 | $57.42 | $46.54 | $68.89 | $4.79 | 53 |
| 45 | Utah | 13.07 | $57.25 | $46.40 | $68.68 | $4.77 | 281 |
| 46 | Montana | 12.98 | $56.85 | $46.08 | $68.21 | $4.74 | 210 |
| 47 | Arkansas | 12.84 | $56.24 | $45.58 | $67.47 | $4.69 | 197 |
| 48 | Louisiana | 12.57 | $55.06 | $44.62 | $66.06 | $4.59 | 151 |
| 49 | Nebraska | 12.34 | $54.05 | $43.81 | $64.85 | $4.50 | 202 |
| 50 | Idaho | 11.82 | $51.77 | $41.96 | $62.11 | $4.31 | 62 |
| 51 | North Dakota | 11.81 | $51.73 | $41.93 | $62.06 | $4.31 | 256 |
438 kWh a year times each state's 2025 home price (506 models (full-size), ENERGY STAR data as of 2 Oct 2026).
CSVPay less
- Model spread: 10th percentile 355 kWh, 90th 526; the 170 kWh gap is $29.50 a year at 17.30 ¢ and $69.21 at 40.59 ¢ (Hawaii).
- Median certified model: 10% below the federal standard for its class.
- 19 models meet the Most Efficient 2025 criteria: median 385 kWh against 438, $9.17 a year at 17.30 ¢.
- Location: 3.4 times between Hawaii ($177.78) and North Dakota ($51.73); 100% of utilities in Hawaii list a time-of-use rate (EIA-861).
Where the kWh comes from
Runs all day; annual figure from the ENERGY STAR test listing. Median 438 kWh, 10th to 90th percentile 355 to 526, range 201 to 649, 506 models (full-size). Certified models only. Method: appliance hub.
Sources
| Source | Retrieved |
|---|---|
| ENERGY STAR Certified products | 2 Oct 2026 |
| EIA retail sales | 1 Oct 2026 |
| EPA eGRID2023 | 2 Oct 2026 |
| DOE formula | 2 Oct 2026 |
More
a refrigerator, a window air conditioner, a dehumidifier, all appliances, EV charging, calculators.
Questions
Cost to run a freezer for a year?
$75.77 at 17.30 ¢ and 438 kWh; $51.73 in North Dakota to $177.78 in Hawaii.
Most expensive state for a freezer?
Hawaii: $177.78 at 40.59 ¢.
Cheapest state for a freezer?
North Dakota: $51.73 at 11.81 ¢.
kWh used by a freezer?
Median 438; 10th to 90th percentile 355 to 526; 506 models (full-size).
Does the model matter for a freezer?
Yes: 90th against 10th percentile is $29.50 a year at the U.S. price.
CO2 from a freezer?
152 kg a year at 0.348 kg per kWh (U.S.).
Why would my freezer bill differ?
Median 438 kWh is for new certified models; 17.30 ¢ is an average.
Fixed charges in the freezer cost?
Not included.