Freeze Dryer Cost per Batch by State (2026 Electricity Rates)
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"How much does it cost to run a freeze dryer?" is the most common question new buyers ask, and the honest answer is: it depends mostly on where you live. Residential electricity prices in the US vary by almost four times between states. Below is an estimated electricity cost per batch for every state and each Harvest Right size, followed by the other per-batch costs that often matter more.
Method and sources
Electricity rates are average residential prices for July 2026 from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (released September 24, 2026). They are statewide averages; your utility's tariff, time-of-use plan or tiered pricing may produce a different number. Check the per-kWh "energy" plus "delivery" charges on your bill for the most accurate figure.
Energy per batch is our estimate. Harvest Right states its Small and Medium units draw an average of about 9–11 amps (roughly 990–1,210 watts), the Large about 1,500 watts at peak, and the X-Large about 15 amps on average. Batches commonly run about a day or longer, but the compressor and heaters cycle, so average draw over the whole run is lower than peak. We use 14 kWh (Small), 18 kWh (Medium), 24 kWh (Large) and 40 kWh (X-Large) per batch. Harvest Right's own estimates — $1.25–$2.80 per batch for Small/Medium, $2–$3 for Large, about $4 for X-Large — imply somewhat lower consumption at lower electricity prices, so treat our figures as a cautious middle ground. Wet, dense or thick-cut food, a hot garage and overloaded trays all lengthen cycles.
Estimated electricity cost per batch, by state
| State | Residential rate (Jul 2026) | Small (14 kWh) | Medium (18 kWh) | Large (24 kWh) | X-Large (40 kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 48.00¢ | $6.72 | $8.64 | $11.52 | $19.20 |
| California | 33.61¢ | $4.71 | $6.05 | $8.07 | $13.44 |
| Maine | 32.41¢ | $4.54 | $5.83 | $7.78 | $12.96 |
| Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | $4.27 | $5.49 | $7.32 | $12.20 |
| New York | 29.90¢ | $4.19 | $5.38 | $7.18 | $11.96 |
| Alaska | 28.83¢ | $4.04 | $5.19 | $6.92 | $11.53 |
| Rhode Island | 28.29¢ | $3.96 | $5.09 | $6.79 | $11.32 |
| New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | $3.72 | $4.79 | $6.38 | $10.64 |
| District of Columbia | 25.21¢ | $3.53 | $4.54 | $6.05 | $10.08 |
| New Jersey | 25.19¢ | $3.53 | $4.53 | $6.05 | $10.08 |
| Connecticut | 24.16¢ | $3.38 | $4.35 | $5.80 | $9.66 |
| Vermont | 23.75¢ | $3.33 | $4.28 | $5.70 | $9.50 |
| Michigan | 23.05¢ | $3.23 | $4.15 | $5.53 | $9.22 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.72¢ | $3.04 | $3.91 | $5.21 | $8.69 |
| Maryland | 21.41¢ | $3.00 | $3.85 | $5.14 | $8.56 |
| Ohio | 19.45¢ | $2.72 | $3.50 | $4.67 | $7.78 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | $2.69 | $3.46 | $4.61 | $7.69 |
| Wisconsin | 19.06¢ | $2.67 | $3.43 | $4.57 | $7.62 |
| Delaware | 18.48¢ | $2.59 | $3.33 | $4.44 | $7.39 |
| US average | 18.31¢ | $2.56 | $3.30 | $4.39 | $7.32 |
| Virginia | 17.55¢ | $2.46 | $3.16 | $4.21 | $7.02 |
| Minnesota | 17.45¢ | $2.44 | $3.14 | $4.19 | $6.98 |
| Colorado | 17.00¢ | $2.38 | $3.06 | $4.08 | $6.80 |
| Indiana | 16.73¢ | $2.34 | $3.01 | $4.02 | $6.69 |
| Alabama | 16.40¢ | $2.30 | $2.95 | $3.94 | $6.56 |
| Georgia | 16.27¢ | $2.28 | $2.93 | $3.90 | $6.51 |
| Missouri | 16.09¢ | $2.25 | $2.90 | $3.86 | $6.44 |
| New Mexico | 16.09¢ | $2.25 | $2.90 | $3.86 | $6.44 |
| Iowa | 15.99¢ | $2.24 | $2.88 | $3.84 | $6.40 |
| Oregon | 15.97¢ | $2.24 | $2.87 | $3.83 | $6.39 |
| Texas | 15.88¢ | $2.22 | $2.86 | $3.81 | $6.35 |
| West Virginia | 15.78¢ | $2.21 | $2.84 | $3.79 | $6.31 |
| South Carolina | 15.47¢ | $2.17 | $2.78 | $3.71 | $6.19 |
| Arizona | 15.38¢ | $2.15 | $2.77 | $3.69 | $6.15 |
| South Dakota | 15.37¢ | $2.15 | $2.77 | $3.69 | $6.15 |
| Kansas | 15.27¢ | $2.14 | $2.75 | $3.66 | $6.11 |
| North Carolina | 15.16¢ | $2.12 | $2.73 | $3.64 | $6.06 |
| Florida | 15.03¢ | $2.10 | $2.71 | $3.61 | $6.01 |
| Montana | 14.99¢ | $2.10 | $2.70 | $3.60 | $6.00 |
| Washington | 14.71¢ | $2.06 | $2.65 | $3.53 | $5.88 |
| Mississippi | 14.54¢ | $2.04 | $2.62 | $3.49 | $5.82 |
| Wyoming | 14.36¢ | $2.01 | $2.58 | $3.45 | $5.74 |
| Oklahoma | 14.35¢ | $2.01 | $2.58 | $3.44 | $5.74 |
| Arkansas | 14.33¢ | $2.01 | $2.58 | $3.44 | $5.73 |
| Kentucky | 13.81¢ | $1.93 | $2.49 | $3.31 | $5.52 |
| Nebraska | 13.78¢ | $1.93 | $2.48 | $3.31 | $5.51 |
| Idaho | 13.73¢ | $1.92 | $2.47 | $3.30 | $5.49 |
| Tennessee | 13.71¢ | $1.92 | $2.47 | $3.29 | $5.48 |
| North Dakota | 13.41¢ | $1.88 | $2.41 | $3.22 | $5.36 |
| Utah | 13.12¢ | $1.84 | $2.36 | $3.15 | $5.25 |
| Nevada | 12.77¢ | $1.79 | $2.30 | $3.06 | $5.11 |
| Louisiana | 12.72¢ | $1.78 | $2.29 | $3.05 | $5.09 |
Source: U.S. EIA Table 5.6.A (cents per kWh, residential, July 2026). Per-batch costs are estimates = kWh estimate × rate.
What the table tells you
For a Medium unit, power ranges from about $2.29 per batch in Louisiana to about $8.64 in Hawaii. In most of the South, Midwest and Mountain West, expect roughly $2.30–$3.50. In New England, New York and California, $4.30–$6.10 is more typical. Summer rates are often higher than winter rates in many states, so a yearly average may be a little lower than this July snapshot.
Even at the high end, electricity is rarely the deciding factor. Four Medium batches a month in California cost about $24 in power — real money, but small next to the $2,000+ purchase price and the value of the food.
The other per-batch costs
A full cost per batch includes:
- Mylar bags: roughly $0.30–$1.00 each depending on size and thickness (estimate from typical online pack prices). A Medium batch might fill 12–20 bags.
- Oxygen absorbers: about $0.08–$0.20 each in bulk packs (estimate), one per bag.
- Vacuum pump oil: standard oil pumps need oil changes; amortized, perhaps $0.50–$1.50 per batch (estimate). Oil-free pumps avoid this but cost more upfront.
- Wear items: tray liners, parchment or silicone mats, door gasket care.
Our calculator's default supplies figure is $7 for a Medium batch. Add it to the electricity cost from the table and a typical US Medium batch costs about $10 before the food itself.
Ways to lower the cost per batch
- Fill the trays. A half-empty batch uses nearly the same energy as a full one.
- Pre-freeze food in a regular freezer to shorten the freezing phase.
- Keep the room cool. A machine in a 90°F garage works harder.
- Slice thin and evenly so drying finishes sooner.
- Use time-of-use rates if your utility offers them, starting batches so the longest phase falls off-peak.
- Buy supplies in bulk once you know your preferred bag sizes.
Calculate yours
Pick your state in our payback calculator; it fills the EIA rate automatically, and you can overwrite it with the exact rate from your bill.