What Size Wire for Chest/Upright Freezer?: Complete Wiring Guide
A Chest/Upright Freezer requires 14 AWG (dedicated preferred) with a 15A on a 120V dedicated recommended circuit. Here is the complete NEC-compliant wiring guide.
Chest/Upright Freezer Wiring Details
Standalone freezers draw only 2-5 amps running, but the compressor startup surge can be 3-5× that amount. While a freezer CAN share a circuit, a dedicated 15A circuit is strongly recommended. If the freezer trips a shared breaker, you may not notice until hundreds of dollars of food is ruined. Use a standard 15A outlet on a dedicated 15A circuit.
NEC Code Reference
The wiring requirements for a Chest/Upright Freezer are governed by NEC 210.52. Always check the appliance nameplate for specific electrical requirements, the manufacturer's specifications take precedence over general guidelines. Your local AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) may have additional requirements beyond the NEC.
Pro Tip
If your freezer is in a garage, the outlet must be GFCI protected per NEC 210.8. However, some freezer compressors cause nuisance GFCI tripping on startup. Consider a GFCI breaker (rather than outlet) and choose one specifically rated for motor loads to minimize false trips.
Disclaimer: This guide is for reference only. All electrical work must be performed by or verified by a licensed electrician. Local codes may differ from NEC.