How Much Does It Cost to Run a Refrigerator? (Per Day, Month & Year)

A refrigerator never really switches off, so even a modest power draw adds up over a year. The good news: its cost is easy to find and, for older models, easy to cut.

Refrigerator running costs by type

Fridges cycle on and off, so the power figures below are averages over a whole day, worked out from typical yearly energy use.

Calculate your own fridge

If you know your fridge’s yearly kWh, divide it by 8,760 (hours in a year) and multiply by 1,000 to get its average watts, then enter them below with 24 hours a day.

How to find your fridge’s real energy use

• Check the yellow EnergyGuide label (or the manual). In the US it shows the model’s estimated yearly electricity use in kWh, measured under a standard test.
• Measure it. Plug the fridge into a plug-in energy meter for at least 24 hours, ideally 48, and read the kWh. Multiply a 24-hour reading by 365 for a yearly figure.
• Don’t use the running watts on the back plate. The compressor might draw 100 to 250 W while running, but it is off for much of the day, so multiplying that figure by 24 hours overstates the cost.

What makes a fridge cost more

• Age. Efficiency standards have tightened over the decades; a fridge from the 1990s can use more than twice the energy of a new one of similar size.
• Size and layout. Side-by-side models and those with through-the-door ice and water dispensers generally use more than top-freezer models.
• Temperature settings. The US Food and Drug Administration recommends keeping the fridge at or below 40°F (4°C) and the freezer at 0°F (−18°C). Setting it much colder than that uses more energy without making food safer.
• Worn door seals. Close the door on a sheet of paper: if it slides out easily, cold air is escaping.
• Dusty condenser coils and poor ventilation, or a spot next to the oven or in direct sun.
• A second fridge in a hot garage. High surrounding temperatures make the compressor run much longer.

Is it worth replacing an old fridge?

Swapping a 1990s fridge (about 1,100 kWh a year) for a typical new model (about 450 kWh) saves roughly 650 kWh a year, worth about $118.30 a year at the US average rate. That alone rarely pays for a new fridge quickly, but it tips the decision when the old one needs repairs. Unplugging an old second fridge you barely use saves the full amount straight away.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a fridge cost to run per day?

A typical new full-size fridge uses about 1.2 kWh a day, roughly $0.22 at the US average rate.

Does a full fridge use less electricity?

A reasonably full fridge holds its temperature better after the door is opened, but packing it so tightly that air cannot circulate makes it work harder. Aim for full but not crammed.

How many watts does a refrigerator use?

While the compressor runs, typically 100 to 250 W, with a brief higher surge at start-up. Averaged over a day, a modern fridge works out at roughly 30 to 75 W.

A real example: the old fridge in the garage

Many homes keep a second, older fridge in the garage or basement. A 20-year-old model can easily use around 1,100 kWh a year, about $200.20 a year in the US or £289.52 in the UK. A new ENERGY STAR model of the same size uses about 450 kWh, roughly $81.90 or £118.44.

Unplugging the second fridge altogether saves the full amount, and garage fridges often work harder still in hot summers. If you only need it for drinks at parties, emptying it for most of the year is one of the easiest savings in this guide.

Quick checks that cut fridge running costs

• Set the fridge to about 37°F (3°C) and the freezer to 0°F (-18°C). Colder settings use more energy without keeping food safer.
• Close the door on a sheet of paper. If it slides out easily, the door seal may need cleaning or replacing.
• Leave a few inches of space around the back and top so the condenser coils can release heat, and vacuum them once a year.
• Let hot food cool before putting it in, and keep the fridge away from the oven and direct sunlight.
• Defrost manual-defrost freezers when ice is more than about a quarter of an inch thick.

More questions readers ask

Should I unplug my fridge when I go on vacation?

Only for long trips of several weeks, and only if you empty, clean and leave the door ajar to prevent mould. For a week away, simply keep it running.

Is a fridge-freezer cheaper to run than two separate appliances?

Usually yes. One combined appliance has one compressor and less outside surface area to lose cold through than two separate units of the same total size.

Sources

• U.S. Federal Trade Commission, EnergyGuide label requirements for appliances.
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration, refrigerator and freezer temperature guidance.
• U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook.
• Our methodology.