Microwave vs Upright freezer: which costs more to run? (2026)
Estimates use U.S. average $0.180 $/kWh, typical wattage, and typical hours/day from our catalog. Adjust on each appliance page.
Microwave
- Typical watts
- 1200 W
- Hours/day
- 0.3
- Monthly est.
- $1.94
- kWh/mo
- 10.8
Upright freezer
- Typical watts
- 200 W
- Hours/day
- 24
- Monthly est.
- $25.89
- kWh/mo
- 144.0
Upright freezer is estimated to cost more per month at typical use.