🧊How much does it cost to run a refrigerator?
A refrigerator runs around the clock but cycles on about a third of the time, using roughly 1.0–2.0 kWh a day. At the US-average 17¢/kWh that’s about $5.10–$10 a month — $62–$124 a year.
These are estimates, not a meter reading. The wattage and energy figures are typical US ranges and the 17¢/kWh is the national-average rate — the math is exact once you plug in your own wattage and rate. Your real cost depends on the specific unit, your settings and your utility.
Energy and cost, broken down
| Timeframe | Energy (kWh) | Cost @ 17¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Per day | 1.0–2.0 | $0.17–$0.34 |
| Per month | 30.0–60.0 | $5.10–$10 |
| Per year | 365–730 | $62–$124 |
At the US-average 17¢/kWh. On a cheap rate (~11¢) these drop about a third; in California, New England or Hawaii (~33¢+) they roughly double. Ranges reflect the typical span of an efficient, well-kept unit to an older or harder-working one.
Why it costs what it does
A refrigerator is on 24/7, but the compressor only runs about a third of the time, so the real number is energy used, not the plate wattage. A newer ENERGY STAR fridge uses roughly 350–500 kWh a year (about 1–1.4 kWh a day); a large side-by-side, a second garage fridge or anything 15+ years old climbs to 600–800 kWh (1.6–2.2 kWh a day). The single most reliable figure is the kWh/year printed on the yellow EnergyGuide label — that is the tested number, not a guess.
How to run it for less
- Read the yellow EnergyGuide kWh/year on any fridge you buy — a modern unit can use half the energy of a 15-year-old one, which pays back the price gap over its life.
- Retire the second "beer fridge" in the garage — an old spare running in a hot garage can quietly cost $80–$150 a year by itself.
- Keep coils clean and the fridge a few inches off the wall so it can shed heat; dusty coils make the compressor run longer.
- Set it to the manufacturer's recommended temps (~37°F fridge, 0°F freezer) rather than colder-than-needed, and keep the freezer reasonably full so it holds cold between cycles.
Keep going
Frequently asked
How many kWh does a refrigerator use per day?▾
Roughly 1 to 2 kWh a day for a typical home fridge — about 1–1.4 for a modern ENERGY STAR model and 1.6–2.2 for a large side-by-side or an older unit. Divide the kWh/year on the EnergyGuide label by 365 for your exact fridge; that tested figure beats any wattage estimate because the compressor cycles.
Is it worth replacing an old refrigerator to save electricity?▾
Often yes for a fridge from the early 2000s or before. A 20-year-old unit can use 800–1,200 kWh a year versus 350–500 for a new ENERGY STAR model — a difference of $50–$100+ a year at average rates. Over a 10–15 year life that energy gap frequently covers most of a new fridge's price, and the old one is the appliance most worth retiring first.
How do I work out what a refrigerator costs to run for my electricity rate?▾
Take the wattage ÷ 1,000 to get kilowatts, multiply by the hours you run it, then by your electricity rate. Find your rate on your bill (total ÷ kWh used) — the US average is about 17¢/kWh, but it ranges from ~11¢ in the cheapest states to 30–42¢ in California, New England and Hawaii. So the same refrigerator costs roughly 35% less on a cheap rate and nearly double on an expensive one than the figures here.
What is the average price of electricity in the US?▾
About 17¢ per kWh for residential customers as a national average (2026). The cheapest states — parts of the Midwest and Pacific Northwest — sit near 11¢, while California, most of New England and Hawaii run 30¢ to over 40¢. Your exact rate is on your utility bill; divide the dollar total by the kWh used, or read the per-kWh charge directly.