Smart shopping

Updated 16 September 2026

Is a second freezer worth it for a grocery budget?

Work out if a second freezer pays for itself. Running costs, bulk savings, and how to make sure it actually saves you money.

It depends on how you use it. A second freezer can pay for itself in roughly a year if you fill it with meat and produce bought on special or in bulk. A modern, efficient chest freezer (around 350 litres, 3.5 stars) costs roughly $89 a year to run; older, larger or less efficient units cost more, from around $190 up to $420 a year. Efficiency and age matter more than size. The sums work in your favour only if you actually fill the space and eat what is in it. An empty or half-full freezer is just an extra power bill.

How much does a second freezer cost to run?

Australian household freezers vary in size and efficiency, so running costs differ. A 350-litre chest freezer rated around 3.5 energy stars costs approximately $89 per year to run. Smaller units, typically using about 1 kilowatt-hour per day, cost roughly $16 a month (about $190 a year). Larger freezers drawing 2 to 3 kilowatt-hours per day run at roughly $20 to $35 per month.

Energy prices vary by state and retailer, so your actual cost will depend on your household's electricity rate. These figures are based on Australian appliance running-cost estimates.

Chest freezers versus upright freezers: which is more efficient?

If you are shopping for a second freezer, a chest freezer is the more efficient choice. Chest freezers have better insulation and less cold air escapes when you open the lid. Upright freezers lose cold air more easily because the door opens from the front, making them less efficient to run. Over a year, this difference in energy use can add up.

When does a second freezer actually save you money?

A second freezer pays off when you use it for bulk buys and products on special. Buy meat and fresh produce when they are discounted, freeze them, and eat them over the coming weeks. Bulk buys split with neighbours or friends work well too. Batch cooking, freezing portions, and defrosting them later also makes good use of the space. With genuine savings from these approaches, the freezer's yearly running cost can be recovered within about a year.

The key is actually using what you buy. A freezer half-full or mostly empty is simply an added power bill with no savings to show for it.

What about a second-hand freezer?

A second-hand freezer is cheaper to buy, but be careful. An older, inefficient unit can cost far more to run each year than a newer energy-efficient model. Check the energy rating on any used freezer before you buy. A freezer with a poor energy rating might save you money upfront but cost you money every month in power bills, making it a false economy.

How to spot a genuine freezer bargain

Use Pinch to track prices for the products you buy most: meat, frozen vegetables, butter, ice cream. Pinch tracks over 74,000 products across Woolworths, Coles, ALDI, and Harris Farm Markets with up to 52 weeks of price history. Check that history and spot the lowest prices. When you see a genuine low, buy extra and freeze it. That is when a second freezer earns its keep.

A $10 meat bargain today, frozen and eaten a month later, is still a bargain. A freezer gives you time to buy on special and plan your meals around genuine discounts. Without Pinch's price history, you are guessing. With it, you are shopping with certainty.