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.