CALL US TODAY
Open M-F, 9-5 CST
How Many Watts Does a Freezer Use? Chest and Upright Freezer Watts
A freezer uses about 100 to 500 watts while the compressor runs, but only about 25 to 50 watts averaged over a full day. A typical ENERGY STAR upright freezer uses about 438 kWh a year (about 1.2 kWh a day), and a typical chest freezer about 218 kWh a year. When the compressor starts, it pulls a short surge of roughly 500 to 1,200 watts, which matters when you run one on a generator or power station.
Freezer watts: running vs starting
| Source | Running watts | Starting watts |
|---|---|---|
| Champion wattage chart: freezer | 100 to 500 W | 500 to 1,000 W |
| Honda wattage guide: refrigerator or freezer (ENERGY STAR) | 132 to 192 W | 1,200 W |
Sources: Champion Power Equipment generator wattage chart; Honda Power Equipment generator wattage estimation guide. Your freezer's rating plate lists its amps; multiply by 115 for rated watts.
Freezer energy use by type (ENERGY STAR data)
| Type | Models | Typical kWh per year | kWh per day | Average watts | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upright freezer | 474 | 438 | About 1.2 | About 50 W | About $74 |
| Chest freezer (full size) | 9 | 218 | About 0.6 | About 25 W | About $37 |
| Compact freezer | 134 | 249 | About 0.68 | About 28 W | About $42 |
Source: ENERGY STAR Certified Residential Freezers data set, US market, as of October 2026. Typical = median. Only 9 full-size chest freezers are on the certified list, so that figure is based on a small group. Average watts = kWh per year x 1,000 / 8,760 hours. Cost at 17 cents per kWh.
Find your own number: the yellow EnergyGuide label lists your freezer's yearly kWh. Older freezers and units in a hot garage use more.
How many amps does a freezer use?
About 1 to 4 amps while running (100 to 500 W / 120V), with a brief jump when the compressor starts. A freezer belongs on its own outlet so it does not share a circuit with a space heater or microwave.
How long will a power station run a freezer?
| Power station | Capacity / output | Upright (about 50 W avg) | Chest (about 25 W avg) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | 1,070 Wh / 1,500 W | About 19 hours | About 39 hours | From $499 |
| Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 | 2,042 Wh / 2,200 W | About 37 hours | About 74 hours | From $899 |
| Jackery HomePower 3000 | 3,072 Wh / 3,600 W (7,200 W surge) | About 55 hours | About 111 hours | From $1,349 |
Hours = capacity x 0.9 / average watts. Capacity, output, and surge are from each product page. Every station's output covers a freezer's startup surge. Browse all portable power stations.
Can a generator run a freezer?
Yes. Based on Honda's 1,200 starting watts, a freezer alone needs about 1,200 starting watts. A fridge and freezer together need about 1,400. The DuroMax XP5500HX (5,500 starting / 4,500 running watts, CO alert, $629) runs both with room for more. Full details: What Size Generator to Run a Refrigerator.
How long does a freezer stay cold with no power at all? About 48 hours full and 24 hours half full with the door closed, per USDA. See How Long Will Food Last in a Fridge Without Power? Going solar? Read our solar freezer guide.
Need help sizing? Call 1-888-855-7286. Send us the kWh from your freezer's EnergyGuide label and we will match you to a power station or generator.
Freezer wattage FAQ
How many watts does a freezer use? About 100 to 500 watts while running, per Champion, and about 25 to 50 watts averaged over the day for ENERGY STAR chest and upright models.
How many watts does a chest freezer use? A typical ENERGY STAR full-size chest freezer uses about 218 kWh a year, about 25 watts averaged over the day.
How many watts does a deep freezer use per day? About 0.6 kWh a day for a typical ENERGY STAR chest freezer and about 1.2 kWh for an upright.
What are a freezer's starting watts? About 500 to 1,000 watts per Champion, or 1,200 watts per Honda's guide.
How much does it cost to run a freezer? About $37 a year for a typical ENERGY STAR chest freezer and $74 for an upright, at 17 cents per kWh.