How much does it cost to run a chest freezer? (2026–27)
At typical draw · official state tariffs
Typical household use (running continuously (350 kWh/year)) runs $96–$147 a year depending on your state's tariff.
Wattage basis: Compressor-on draw 80–200 W; annual energy 200–500 kWh/yr by size (typical domestic 300–400).
| State | Model | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales33.1c/kWh · Ausgrid | Efficient (80 W) | $0.03 | $0.11 | $3.22 | $39 |
| Typical (140 W) | $0.05 | $0.19 | $5.64 | $68 | |
| High (200 W) | $0.07 | $0.27 | $8.06 | $97 | |
| Victoria27.5c/kWh · Jemena | Efficient (80 W) | $0.02 | $0.09 | $2.67 | $32 |
| Typical (140 W) | $0.04 | $0.15 | $4.68 | $56 | |
| High (200 W) | $0.05 | $0.22 | $6.68 | $80 | |
| Queensland28.0c/kWh · Energex | Efficient (80 W) | $0.02 | $0.09 | $2.72 | $33 |
| Typical (140 W) | $0.04 | $0.16 | $4.76 | $57 | |
| High (200 W) | $0.06 | $0.22 | $6.80 | $82 | |
| South Australia41.9c/kWh · SA Power Networks | Efficient (80 W) | $0.03 | $0.13 | $4.08 | $49 |
| Typical (140 W) | $0.06 | $0.23 | $7.13 | $86 | |
| High (200 W) | $0.08 | $0.34 | $10.19 | $122 | |
| Western Australia33.3c/kWh · Western Power (SWIS) | Efficient (80 W) | $0.03 | $0.11 | $3.24 | $39 |
| Typical (140 W) | $0.05 | $0.19 | $5.66 | $68 | |
| High (200 W) | $0.07 | $0.27 | $8.09 | $97 | |
| Tasmania28.0c/kWh · TasNetworks | Efficient (80 W) | $0.02 | $0.09 | $2.72 | $33 |
| Typical (140 W) | $0.04 | $0.16 | $4.76 | $57 | |
| High (200 W) | $0.06 | $0.22 | $6.80 | $82 | |
| Australian Capital Territory37.0c/kWh · Evoenergy | Efficient (80 W) | $0.03 | $0.12 | $3.59 | $43 |
| Typical (140 W) | $0.05 | $0.21 | $6.29 | $76 | |
| High (200 W) | $0.07 | $0.30 | $8.99 | $108 | |
| Northern Territory31.7c/kWh · Power and Water | Efficient (80 W) | $0.03 | $0.10 | $3.08 | $37 |
| Typical (140 W) | $0.04 | $0.18 | $5.39 | $65 | |
| High (200 W) | $0.06 | $0.25 | $7.70 | $93 |
This table costs a constant draw at 4 h a day. The typical-use yearly figures below use the appliance's measured energy per use (350 kWh per year) instead.
Where a chest freezer costs more
- South Australia is the dearest state to run one: $0.06 an hour at 140 W on its 41.9c/kWh rate, against $0.04 in Victoria. Over a year of typical use that gap is $51 (52.6% more).
- By yearly running cost at typical use it ranks 17th of the 26 appliances costed on this site (1st costs the most): $116 a year at the NSW rate.
- At the 1 July 2026 price reset, typical-use cost fell $8 in VIC (Jemena usage rate 29.7c to 27.5c/kWh) and rose $3 in WA (Western Power (SWIS) usage rate 32.4c to 33.3c/kWh).
| Rank | State | Usage rate | Typical year | Above the cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victoria | 27.5c | $96 | — |
| 2 | Tasmania | 28.0c | $98 | +$2 |
| 3 | Queensland | 28.0c | $98 | +$2 |
| 4 | Northern Territory | 31.7c | $111 | +$15 |
| 5 | New South Wales | 33.1c | $116 | +$20 |
| 6 | Western Australia | 33.3c | $116 | +$20 |
| 7 | Australian Capital Territory | 37.0c | $129 | +$33 |
| 8 | South Australia | 41.9c | $147 | +$51 |
Rates by state (each state's capital-city network): NSW: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8); VIC: ESC Victorian Default Offer 2026–27; QLD: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8); SA: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8); WA: WA Government Standard Electricity Prices 2026–27 (Synergy Home Plan A1); TAS: OTTER-approved Aurora Energy Standing Offer 2026–27 (approved 25 June 2026) — Tariff 31; ACT: ICRC retail electricity price recalibration 2026–27 (ActewAGL standing offer); NT: NT Electricity Pricing Order 2026–27 (Jacana Energy standard residential). All effective 1 July 2026.
Appliance running-cost calculator
NSWChest freezer: 80–200 W typical range.
Runs continuously; the most efficient cold-storage type.
- Per day (4 h)
- $0.19
- Per month
- $5.64
- Per year (365 days)
- $67.73
Tariff: 33.1c/kWh — AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8) for the Ausgrid network, effective 1 July 2026. Wattage basis: EcoFlow AU — freezer power consumption. Full chest freezer costs in NSW →
Cutting the cost
A full freezer runs more efficiently, so fill the gaps with water bottles if it's half-empty. Keep it somewhere cool rather than a hot garage or laundry, and defrost it before the ice builds up thick, since heavy frost makes it work harder. Check the lid seals firmly all round. If it's an old unit sitting barely used, consolidating and switching it off can quietly save plenty.
Frequently asked questions
- How is the running cost calculated?
- Watts ÷ 1,000 × the electricity rate = cost per hour. A chest freezer drawing 140 W on NSW's 33.1c/kWh rate costs $0.05 an hour; the calculator below lets you change every input. For this appliance the yearly figure uses its measured energy per use rather than a constant draw.
- Does a higher star rating cut the cost?
- Yes. The star rating compresses the power draw or energy per use, which scales these figures directly. The low–high band in the table (80–200 W) roughly spans efficient to inefficient models.
Related
- Ducted aircon
- Split-system aircon
- Portable aircon
- Ceiling fan
- Reverse-cycle heating
- Electric heater
- All appliances
- Appliance calculator
Costs use each state's representative-zone reference usage rate, effective 1 July 2026. Runs continuously; the most efficient cold-storage type.