Upright freezer vs. refrigerator: running cost
An upright freezer is cheaper to run: about $81 a year versus $90 for a refrigerator at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $9 difference.
| Upright freezer | Refrigerator | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 150 W | 150 W |
| Watt range | 90–250 W | 100–250 W |
| Typical use | 450 kWh a year | 500 kWh a year |
| Energy per year | 450 kWh | 500 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 0.9¢ | 1.0¢ |
| Cost per day | 22¢ | 25¢ |
| Cost per month | $6.75 | $7.50 |
| Cost per year | $81 | $90 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $196 | $218 |
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What drives the difference
- Upright freezer: Frost-free upright freezers of 13-21 cu ft typically use 400-650 kWh a year because the auto-defrost heater runs several times a day; manual-defrost uprights use about 30% less.
- Refrigerator: A modern 18-22 cu ft top- or bottom-freezer refrigerator uses about 400-550 kWh a year; larger 25+ cu ft and through-door ice models run 600-750 kWh. The compressor cycles on roughly a third of the time.
Ways to cut either cost
Chest freezers are typically 20-40% more efficient than frost-free uprights of equal capacity.
See options on AmazonCertified uprights use at least 10% less than the federal minimum.
See options on AmazonTop-freezer models with no through-door ice dispenser use 10-25% less energy than side-by-side or French door units of the same size.
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Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, an upright freezer or a refrigerator?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a refrigerator costs about $90 a year versus $81 for an upright freezer. That's $9 more.
How many watts do upright freezer and refrigerator use?
An upright freezer typically draws 150 W (range 90–250 W). A refrigerator draws 150 W (range 100–250 W). Watts alone don't decide cost. Hours of use, cycling and standby matter just as much.
Rates: EIA, 12 months ending 2026-07. Methodology.