How much does it cost to run a refrigerator?
A refrigerator averages about 55 watts over a full day as it cycles on and off. That works out to about 1.32 kWh per day, costing about $0.26 per day, $7.80 per month, and $93.52 per year at the US average residential rate of 19.4¢/kWh. Enter your own wattage and state below for an exact figure.
Estimates only — based on typical wattages and average state rates, not your actual bill.
What drives the cost
A refrigerator's compressor cycles on and off, so although it draws a few hundred watts while running, the 24-hour average for a modern unit is roughly 55 watts. Age is the dominant variable: a refrigerator from the 1990s can easily use two to three times what a current model does, which is why replacing an old second fridge often pays for itself.
Cost at different daily usage
Same refrigerator at 55 watts, run for different amounts of time, at 19.4¢/kWh.
| Usage | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 h/day | 0.33 kWh | $0.06 | $1.95 | $23.38 |
| 12 h/day | 0.66 kWh | $0.13 | $3.90 | $46.76 |
| 18 h/day | 0.99 kWh | $0.19 | $5.85 | $70.14 |
| 24 h/day | 1.32 kWh | $0.26 | $7.80 | $93.52 |
Cost by model power draw
Not all models are equal. At 24 h/day, here is what the range costs.
| Model | Power | kWh/day | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-draw model | 35 W | 0.84 kWh | $0.16 | $4.96 |
| Typical | 55 W | 1.32 kWh | $0.26 | $7.80 |
| High-draw model | 120 W | 2.88 kWh | $0.56 | $17.02 |
Cost by state
A refrigerator at 55 W for 24 h/day, priced at each state's average residential rate.
| State | Rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.8¢ | $0.22 | $6.74 | $80.80 |
| Alaska | 28.2¢ | $0.37 | $11.34 | $136.01 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢ | $0.20 | $6.12 | $73.38 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | $0.19 | $5.77 | $69.19 |
| California | 33.2¢ | $0.44 | $13.36 | $160.20 |
| Colorado | 16.2¢ | $0.21 | $6.49 | $77.86 |
| Connecticut | 27.4¢ | $0.36 | $11.00 | $131.87 |
| Delaware | 19.4¢ | $0.26 | $7.79 | $93.37 |
| District of Columbia | 25.4¢ | $0.34 | $10.21 | $122.38 |
| Florida | 15.2¢ | $0.20 | $6.10 | $73.09 |
| Georgia | 15.8¢ | $0.21 | $6.36 | $76.32 |
| Hawaii | 52.0¢ | $0.69 | $20.89 | $250.54 |
| Idaho | 12.3¢ | $0.16 | $4.96 | $59.50 |
| Illinois | 23.9¢ | $0.31 | $9.58 | $114.91 |
| Indiana | 18.1¢ | $0.24 | $7.29 | $87.45 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.19 | $5.68 | $68.13 |
| Kansas | 15.1¢ | $0.20 | $6.08 | $72.90 |
| Kentucky | 15.0¢ | $0.20 | $6.02 | $72.17 |
| Louisiana | 14.2¢ | $0.19 | $5.69 | $68.17 |
| Maine | 28.6¢ | $0.38 | $11.50 | $137.94 |
| Maryland | 21.8¢ | $0.29 | $8.75 | $104.89 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8¢ | $0.38 | $11.58 | $138.85 |
| Michigan | 22.0¢ | $0.29 | $8.84 | $106.04 |
| Minnesota | 16.9¢ | $0.22 | $6.81 | $81.67 |
| Mississippi | 16.2¢ | $0.21 | $6.49 | $77.86 |
| Missouri | 13.7¢ | $0.18 | $5.50 | $65.91 |
| Montana | 14.7¢ | $0.19 | $5.89 | $70.68 |
| Nebraska | 13.6¢ | $0.18 | $5.46 | $65.48 |
| Nevada | 13.6¢ | $0.18 | $5.46 | $65.52 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3¢ | $0.36 | $10.98 | $131.68 |
| New Jersey | 23.3¢ | $0.31 | $9.35 | $112.11 |
| New Mexico | 14.1¢ | $0.19 | $5.67 | $68.03 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.40 | $12.03 | $144.20 |
| North Carolina | 15.1¢ | $0.20 | $6.06 | $72.70 |
| North Dakota | 13.6¢ | $0.18 | $5.47 | $65.57 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.26 | $7.84 | $94.05 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4¢ | $0.18 | $5.38 | $64.46 |
| Oregon | 16.3¢ | $0.21 | $6.54 | $78.39 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6¢ | $0.28 | $8.66 | $103.83 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5¢ | $0.39 | $11.84 | $141.94 |
| South Carolina | 16.2¢ | $0.21 | $6.50 | $77.96 |
| South Dakota | 15.7¢ | $0.21 | $6.32 | $75.79 |
| Tennessee | 14.5¢ | $0.19 | $5.81 | $69.72 |
| Texas | 16.4¢ | $0.22 | $6.61 | $79.21 |
| Utah | 13.0¢ | $0.17 | $5.21 | $62.44 |
| Vermont | 24.9¢ | $0.33 | $10.00 | $119.92 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.23 | $7.08 | $84.84 |
| Washington | 14.9¢ | $0.20 | $6.01 | $72.03 |
| West Virginia | 16.8¢ | $0.22 | $6.75 | $80.94 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7¢ | $0.26 | $7.93 | $95.11 |
| Wyoming | 14.8¢ | $0.20 | $5.95 | $71.31 |
How to cut the cost
- Vacuum the condenser coils once or twice a year so the compressor runs shorter cycles.
- Check door seals with a dollar bill — if it slides out easily, the gasket is leaking cold air.
- Set the fridge around 37°F and the freezer at 0°F; colder than needed wastes energy continuously.
- Retire the old garage or basement second fridge if it's rarely used — it's often the most expensive appliance in the house per unit of usefulness.
Compare with related appliances
Monthly cost at typical usage and 19.4¢/kWh.
Questions
Does a refrigerator use a lot of electricity?
Individually it's modest per hour, but because it never switches off entirely it accumulates. A modern fridge uses roughly 1.3 kWh per day; an old one can use several times that.
Is it worth replacing an old refrigerator?
Often yes if it predates about 2000. The efficiency gap is large enough that the energy savings can offset a new unit over its lifetime, particularly for a second fridge running in a hot garage.
How do you calculate what a refrigerator costs to run?
Multiply its wattage by the hours it runs per day, divide by 1,000 to get kilowatt-hours, then multiply by your electricity rate. For a refrigerator: 55 W × 24 h ÷ 1,000 = 1.32 kWh per day, which at 19.4¢/kWh is $0.26 per day.
How many watts does a refrigerator use?
Typically 55 watts, with most models falling between 35 and 120 watts. The label on the appliance or its power supply gives the figure for your specific unit.