How much does it cost to run a freeze dryer?
For a 24-hour batch at the U.S. average rate of 18.31 cents per kWh, the electricity comes to about $4.35–$5.32 for a small or medium Harvest Right, $6.59 for a large and $7.47 for an X-large. The Countertop 360 row uses about 1,600 W, the figure Trimleaf quotes for it. Oil and packaging add a few dollars more. The tables below show where those numbers come from and how they change with your power rate and batch length.
Electricity per 24-hour batch
The Harvest Right FAQ gives an average draw for each model. The small and medium share one range, 990 to 1,210 watts, so their row shows both ends. Energy per batch is watts × hours ÷ 1,000, and cost is that times your rate.
| Model | Watts | kWh | 10¢ | 15¢ | 18.31¢ | 25¢ | 35¢ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 990–1,210 | 23.8–29.0 | $2.38–$2.90 | $3.56–$4.36 | $4.35–$5.32 | $5.94–$7.26 | $8.32–$10.16 |
| Medium | 990–1,210 | 23.8–29.0 | $2.38–$2.90 | $3.56–$4.36 | $4.35–$5.32 | $5.94–$7.26 | $8.32–$10.16 |
| Large | 1,500 | 36 | $3.60 | $5.40 | $6.59 | $9.00 | $12.60 |
| X-Large | 1,700 | 40.8 | $4.08 | $6.12 | $7.47 | $10.20 | $14.28 |
| Countertop 360 | 1,600 | 38.4 | $3.84 | $5.76 | $7.03 | $9.60 | $13.44 |
18.31¢ is the U.S. residential average for July 2026 from the EIA's Electric Power Monthly. State averages vary a lot, so use the rate on your own bill.
Cost by batch length
Harvest Right says most foods take "between 13 hours and 35 hours", and that thick slices and foods like pineapple and watermelon take longer. Because cost grows in step with hours, a long batch can cost almost three times a short one on the same machine. At 18.31¢:
| Batch | Small / medium | Large | X-large |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 h | $2.36–$2.88 | $3.57 | $4.05 |
| 24 h | $4.35–$5.32 | $6.59 | $7.47 |
| 35 h | $6.34–$7.75 | $9.61 | $10.89 |
Why Harvest Right's own estimate is lower
The same FAQ estimates $1.25–$2.80 a batch for the small and medium, $2.00–$3.00 for the large and about $4.00 for the X-large, "depending on power costs in your area". It doesn't say which batch length or rate it assumes.
My arithmetic: the small and medium range fits a 13-hour batch, the shortest in its own range, at about 10 to 18 cents per kWh (990 W × 13 h = 12.9 kWh, and $1.25 ÷ 12.9 is about 9.7¢; 1,210 W × 13 h = 15.7 kWh, and $2.80 ÷ 15.7 is about 17.8¢). For a batch closer to a day, plan on the table above instead. Your own batch times are the best guide, which is why I'd log them.
The costs that aren't electricity
Power is only part of a batch. With the calculator's defaults for a medium machine (12.5 lb of fresh food, 24 hours), one batch breaks down like this:
- Electricity: $4.83
- Pump oil: $0.64 ($16 per change over 25 batches)
- Mylar bags and oxygen absorbers: $4.50 (5 bags at $0.50 + $0.40)
- Food: $37.50 (12.5 lb at $3.00)
With these defaults, food is the largest line by far. If you freeze dry garden surplus you'd otherwise throw away, set it to 0 in the freeze dryer cost calculator and the cost per batch drops to the running costs alone. The oil line depends on the pump: the FAQ says the Premier oil pump needs a change every 20–30 batches and the Standard pump every 4–5, and an oil-free pump has no oil cost. Oil changes against an oil-free pump works out when the extra price is repaid.
One more cost that isn't per batch: Harvest Right asks for a dedicated 15-amp circuit for the small, medium and large, and a 20-amp circuit for the X-large. If your kitchen doesn't have a free one, an electrician's bill belongs in the price you enter.
A month of running costs
Running costs without food for that medium machine come to $9.97 a batch, so $19.95 at 2 batches a month and $39.90 at 4. Whether that is worth paying depends on what the food would cost ready-made; the page on whether a freeze dryer is worth it runs those numbers. If you sell freeze-dried candy, see cost per bag and what to charge.