Find out how much electricity TVs and freezers use, compare estimated energy costs, and learn how appliance usage affects your electricity bill.
A 55-inch LED TV can cost approximately $16–$26 per year to run, while an energy-efficient chest freezer may cost around $39 annually. Here's how to estimate your appliance electricity costs and understand what they mean for your bill.
Ever wonder how much electricity your TV uses during a movie marathon? Or how much that extra freezer in your garage adds to your monthly electric bill?
While TVs and freezers serve different purposes, both contribute to your home's electricity consumption. How much they cost to operate depends on their energy efficiency, how they're used, and your electricity rate.
Let's break down how much electricity these appliances typically use, how to estimate their costs, and what to look for on your electricity bill.
The amount of electricity a TV uses depends on its screen size, display technology, brightness settings, and how many hours it's turned on.
A typical 55-inch LED TV may use approximately 60–100 watts while operating. If you watch TV for four hours a day, that translates to roughly 88–146 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually.
At an example electricity supply rate of $0.18 per kWh, that's approximately $16–$26 per year in energy supply costs.
Different display technologies can have different electricity requirements.
Unlike TVs, which typically operate for a few hours a day, freezers maintain their internal temperature around the clock.
However, that doesn't mean they continuously draw electricity at their full operating wattage. A freezer's compressor cycles on and off as needed to maintain its temperature.
A freezer's energy consumption depends on its size, design, age, efficiency, surrounding temperature, and how frequently it's opened.
Generally, chest freezers are more energy-efficient than comparable upright freezers.
Because chest freezers open from the top, less cold air escapes when the lid is opened. Upright freezers offer easier organization and access, but their design can result in greater energy consumption.
According to ENERGY STAR reference estimates, a certified chest freezer uses approximately 215 kWh annually, while a certified upright freezer uses approximately 395 kWh annually.
At $0.18/kWh, that works out to:
It can.
Freezers located in hot garages may need to work harder to maintain their internal temperature, especially during warmer months.
For example, a freezer in an uncooled Texas garage may experience significantly higher surrounding temperatures than one kept inside an air-conditioned home.
However, the impact depends on the freezer's design, insulation, ambient temperature, and whether it's rated for garage use.
Before placing a freezer in your garage, check the manufacturer's recommended operating temperature range.
Older freezers may consume more electricity than newer, energy-efficient models, but age alone doesn't determine how much energy an appliance uses.
If your freezer is more than 10–15 years old, compare its estimated annual electricity consumption with current models.
A newer appliance may reduce electricity usage, but whether replacing your existing freezer makes financial sense depends on the purchase price and the difference in annual operating costs.
You don't need to be an electricity expert to estimate how much an appliance costs to operate.
For appliances like TVs, you can use a simple formula:
For freezers, use the appliance's estimated annual kWh consumption and multiply it by your electricity rate.
These calculations estimate energy-related costs. They don't necessarily capture every charge on your electricity bill.
Generally, using more electricity increases your usage-based charges. However, your total electricity bill depends on more than the amount of electricity your appliances consume.
In areas where customers can choose their electricity supplier, understanding the difference between supply and delivery charges can help explain what you're paying for.
For example, watching your TV for additional hours increases your electricity consumption. That extra usage can affect your supply charges and any delivery charges calculated per kWh.
A fixed-rate electricity supply plan keeps your contracted supply rate per kWh consistent during your agreement. However, your total bill can still change because of electricity usage, delivery charges, taxes, and other applicable fees.
This distinction is important for customers in competitive electricity markets, including eligible areas of Texas, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
Small adjustments to how you use your appliances can help reduce unnecessary electricity consumption.
Your appliances influence how much electricity you use, but your electricity plan helps determine what you pay for that usage.
A fixed-rate supply plan keeps your contracted electricity supply rate consistent throughout your agreement, making that portion of your electricity costs more predictable. Your total bill can still vary based on electricity usage, delivery charges, taxes, and applicable fees.
Learn what determines electricity prices, why electric bills change, and how supply, delivery charges, and fixed vs. variable rates affect your costs.
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