How Much Does It Cost to Run a Chest Freezer in Quebec? (2026)
Chest freezers are more efficient than upright freezers because cold air stays inside when the lid opens. A modern 200 litre chest freezer uses around 200 to 300 kWh a year; older units can use double that.
A typical chest freezer (100 W) costs C$0.008 per hour, or about C$1.99 per month at 8 hours a day in Quebec. Average running cost
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low 60 W | C$0.005 | C$0.040 | C$1.19 | C$14.52 |
| Typical 100 W | C$0.008 | C$0.066 | C$1.99 | C$24.21 |
| High 200 W | C$0.017 | C$0.13 | C$3.98 | C$48.41 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 8 h/day ≈ 292 kWh per year.
One hour of a chest freezer (0.10 kWh) is the same electricity as
- 2.0hours of a fridge
- 2.2hours of a laptop
- 10hours of Wi-Fi
- 11hours of an LED bulb
In Quebec, with electricity at 8.3¢ per kWh (source: Hydro-Québec 2025 comparison, 2025-04), a typical chest freezer costs C$0.008 per hour and about C$24.21 per year at 8 hours a day. That is about 41% less than the national average for Canada (C$3.36 per month), because electricity in Quebec costs 8.3¢ per kWh against 14.0¢ nationally. Each C$1.00 of electricity buys roughly 120.6 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a chest freezer
- Keep it in a cool garage or basement, not a hot utility room.
- Keep it at least two-thirds full. Frozen mass holds cold through door openings and power cuts.
- Defrost when ice exceeds about 5 mm. Ice buildup makes the compressor run longer.
Is an efficient chest freezer worth it?
Freezer from the 2000s in a garage: about 480 kWh a year. Current A or B-rated chest freezer: about 170 kWh. The difference is worth C$25.70 a year in Quebec.
- Replacing one that still works pays back in 23.3 years.
- When yours needs replacing anyway, the extra cost of the efficient model pays back in 4.7 years.
Usage assumed: always on. Typical prices: C$600.00 for the efficient model, C$120.00 more than a basic one. Work it out with your own prices
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a chest freezer per year?
A typical modern unit uses 250 to 350 kWh a year. Check the yearly figure above.
Is a chest freezer cheaper to run than an upright?
Yes, typically 10 to 25 percent, because less cold air spills out when opened.
Does a freezer use more power in a hot garage?
Yes. Every 5 C rise in ambient temperature can add 10 to 20 percent to running cost.
Compare with
Cost by region
US states
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Canadian provinces
Related appliances
- Mini Fridge80 W typical
- Air Fryer1,500 W typical
- Slow Cooker200 W typical
- Coffee Maker (Drip)1,000 W typical
Use the generic electricity cost calculator · Which uses more? Take the quiz