How much does it cost to run a wine fridge?
A wine fridge averages about 70 watts over a full day as it cycles on and off. That works out to about 1.68 kWh per day, costing about $0.33 per day, $9.93 per month, and $119.02 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 wine cooler runs continuously like any refrigerator, but many models are thermoelectric rather than compressor-based, which makes them notably less efficient and far more sensitive to room temperature. A thermoelectric unit in a warm room can run flat out and never reach its setpoint, drawing full power all day.
Cost at different daily usage
Same wine fridge at 70 watts, run for different amounts of time, at 19.4¢/kWh.
| Usage | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 h/day | 0.42 kWh | $0.08 | $2.48 | $29.76 |
| 12 h/day | 0.84 kWh | $0.16 | $4.96 | $59.51 |
| 18 h/day | 1.26 kWh | $0.24 | $7.44 | $89.27 |
| 24 h/day | 1.68 kWh | $0.33 | $9.93 | $119.02 |
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 | 25 W | 0.60 kWh | $0.12 | $3.55 |
| Typical | 70 W | 1.68 kWh | $0.33 | $9.93 |
| High-draw model | 140 W | 3.36 kWh | $0.65 | $19.85 |
Cost by state
A wine fridge at 70 W for 24 h/day, priced at each state's average residential rate.
| State | Rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.8¢ | $0.28 | $8.58 | $102.83 |
| Alaska | 28.2¢ | $0.47 | $14.44 | $173.11 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢ | $0.26 | $7.79 | $93.39 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | $0.24 | $7.34 | $88.06 |
| California | 33.2¢ | $0.56 | $17.00 | $203.89 |
| Colorado | 16.2¢ | $0.27 | $8.26 | $99.09 |
| Connecticut | 27.4¢ | $0.46 | $14.00 | $167.83 |
| Delaware | 19.4¢ | $0.33 | $9.91 | $118.84 |
| District of Columbia | 25.4¢ | $0.43 | $12.99 | $155.75 |
| Florida | 15.2¢ | $0.25 | $7.76 | $93.02 |
| Georgia | 15.8¢ | $0.27 | $8.10 | $97.13 |
| Hawaii | 52.0¢ | $0.87 | $26.59 | $318.86 |
| Idaho | 12.3¢ | $0.21 | $6.32 | $75.73 |
| Illinois | 23.9¢ | $0.40 | $12.20 | $146.25 |
| Indiana | 18.1¢ | $0.30 | $9.28 | $111.30 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.24 | $7.23 | $86.71 |
| Kansas | 15.1¢ | $0.25 | $7.74 | $92.78 |
| Kentucky | 15.0¢ | $0.25 | $7.66 | $91.86 |
| Louisiana | 14.2¢ | $0.24 | $7.24 | $86.77 |
| Maine | 28.6¢ | $0.48 | $14.64 | $175.56 |
| Maryland | 21.8¢ | $0.37 | $11.13 | $133.49 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8¢ | $0.48 | $14.74 | $176.72 |
| Michigan | 22.0¢ | $0.37 | $11.26 | $134.97 |
| Minnesota | 16.9¢ | $0.28 | $8.67 | $103.94 |
| Mississippi | 16.2¢ | $0.27 | $8.26 | $99.09 |
| Missouri | 13.7¢ | $0.23 | $7.00 | $83.89 |
| Montana | 14.7¢ | $0.25 | $7.50 | $89.96 |
| Nebraska | 13.6¢ | $0.23 | $6.95 | $83.33 |
| Nevada | 13.6¢ | $0.23 | $6.95 | $83.40 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3¢ | $0.46 | $13.98 | $167.59 |
| New Jersey | 23.3¢ | $0.39 | $11.90 | $142.69 |
| New Mexico | 14.1¢ | $0.24 | $7.22 | $86.58 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.50 | $15.31 | $183.53 |
| North Carolina | 15.1¢ | $0.25 | $7.72 | $92.53 |
| North Dakota | 13.6¢ | $0.23 | $6.96 | $83.46 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.33 | $9.98 | $119.70 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4¢ | $0.22 | $6.84 | $82.05 |
| Oregon | 16.3¢ | $0.27 | $8.32 | $99.77 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6¢ | $0.36 | $11.02 | $132.14 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5¢ | $0.49 | $15.07 | $180.65 |
| South Carolina | 16.2¢ | $0.27 | $8.27 | $99.22 |
| South Dakota | 15.7¢ | $0.26 | $8.04 | $96.46 |
| Tennessee | 14.5¢ | $0.24 | $7.40 | $88.73 |
| Texas | 16.4¢ | $0.28 | $8.41 | $100.81 |
| Utah | 13.0¢ | $0.22 | $6.63 | $79.47 |
| Vermont | 24.9¢ | $0.42 | $12.73 | $152.63 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.30 | $9.01 | $107.98 |
| Washington | 14.9¢ | $0.25 | $7.65 | $91.67 |
| West Virginia | 16.8¢ | $0.28 | $8.59 | $103.02 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7¢ | $0.33 | $10.09 | $121.05 |
| Wyoming | 14.8¢ | $0.25 | $7.57 | $90.75 |
How to cut the cost
- Site it away from ovens, dishwashers, and direct sun — ambient heat is the dominant cost factor for these units.
- Prefer a compressor model over thermoelectric if the room gets warm; the efficiency difference is significant.
- Leave ventilation clearance at the back and sides so it can reject heat.
- Keep it reasonably full; bottles hold temperature between cycles.
Compare with related appliances
Monthly cost at typical usage and 19.4¢/kWh.
Questions
Are wine fridges expensive to run?
More than their small size suggests, especially thermoelectric models in warm rooms. A compressor-based unit in a cool room is much cheaper to operate.
How do you calculate what a wine fridge 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 wine fridge: 70 W × 24 h ÷ 1,000 = 1.68 kWh per day, which at 19.4¢/kWh is $0.33 per day.
How many watts does a wine fridge use?
Typically 70 watts, with most models falling between 25 and 140 watts. The label on the appliance or its power supply gives the figure for your specific unit.