Home Depot
Chest freezer ~7–11 cu ft class
Jensen guide band for a quarter share — headroom for produce and airflow, not just the beef volume.
Typical street ~$250–$400 (verify)
Check Home Depot →
free tool for share families
Freezer & light-bill sketch
Pick a share size for a rough chest-freezer target and example retail gear. Prices and stock change — always check Home Depot / Lowe’s before you buy. Not an energy audit. Greenville share guides: quarter cow near Greenville, half cow near Greenville, and whole cow near Greenville. Half-share sizing deep dive: half cow freezer size (12–17 cubic feet). After the share lands in the chest, see How long does frozen beef last? for USDA quality times at 0 °F.
Suggested chest size
7–11 cubic feet class
Quarter share with headroom for other frozen food and airflow
Packaged beef for a quarter is often roughly 80–150 lb — about 2–4 cu ft at a typical 35–40 lb/cu ft. Jensen’s 7–11 cu ft band leaves space so you are not stacking to the lid.
Compact to mid chest (garage-rated in Texas heat)
Texas garages run hot — read the spec label before you buy and use a dedicated outlet when you can. Rough power: many chests use on the order of a few hundred kWh/year; check the EnergyGuide on the model you buy. Read Garage freezers in a Texas August for placement checks before you buy. Once the box is home, organize the chest freezer for your beef share with cut-family bins and a written first-in-first-out list before pickup day.
Example gear (verify live)
Lowe's
Chest freezer ~12–17 cu ft class
Jensen guide band for a half share for a family of four, with room beyond the beef alone.
Typical street ~$350–$550 (verify)
Check Lowe's →
Home Depot
Chest freezer ~18–25 cu ft class
Jensen guide band for a whole cow — or split a whole with another family. Measure door width before delivery day.
Typical street ~$500–$800 (verify)
Check Home Depot →
Either
Vacuum sealer + bags
Re-pack after thaw or portion ground. Beats freezer burn on long holds.
Starter kits often ~$60–$150
Check Either →
Gear shopping list
Edit, then share to your phone before you hit HD / Lowe’s.