A typical household freezer uses between about 30 watts to 250 watts of power depending on the type, size, age, and efficiency of the model.
- Modern freezers generally consume between 30 and 100 watts when running actively, with annual energy use around 200 to 300 kWh, equating to roughly 35 watts average power consumption over 24 hours
- Chest freezers tend to use about 80 to 200 watts, upright freezers about 100 to 250 watts, and drawer freezers about 100 to 220 watts
- Older freezers consume more power, sometimes double that of newer energy-efficient models
- Power consumption fluctuates during operation: idle/standby uses 0-50 watts, start-up surges can reach 150-800 watts depending on model, and active cooling typically uses 60-250 watts
For example, a modern 15 cu. ft. freezer might average around 35 watts continuously, translating to about 300 kWh per year
. The actual watts used at any moment vary as the compressor cycles on and off to maintain temperature. To estimate your freezer's energy use, multiply its wattage by the hours it runs daily. For monthly consumption, multiply daily use by 30:
- Daily Consumption (Wh) = Wattage (W) × Hours run per day (h)
- Monthly Consumption (Wh) = Daily Consumption × 30 days
In summary, a household freezer typically uses between 30 and 250 watts during operation, with newer models being more efficient and older models consuming more energy.
