Refrigerators: what they cost to run

Questions, answered with the data

How much does a refrigerator cost to run per year?

The median ENERGY STAR certified refrigerator costs about $65 a year at the U.S. average rate (18.8¢/kWh). Across all 4229 certified models, costs range from $7.91 to $152.

How much electricity does a refrigerator use?

Certified models use between 42 and 805 kWh per year (median 345). The certified annual kWh comes from the DOE test procedure, which measures continuous 24/7 operation at standardized temperatures — refrigerators never get a day off.

Where is a refrigerator cheapest and most expensive to run?

North Dakota has the lowest residential rate (12.3¢/kWh), putting the median refrigerator at $43 a year; Hawaii (46.6¢/kWh) is the most expensive at $161.

What makes one refrigerator cheaper to run than another?

Size and configuration dominate: side-by-side and through-door-ice models run the compressor hardest, while bottom-freezer and top-freezer layouts tend to be thriftier per cubic foot. Compact units use less in absolute terms but are often less efficient per cubic foot of storage.

Do different refrigerators types cost different amounts to run?

Substantially. The median compact cooler uses 143 kWh/yr (about $27 a year at the U.S. average rate) while the median side-by-side uses 644 kWh/yr (about $121).

Keep digging

• The Most Efficient Full-Size Refrigerators
• The Cheapest Mini Fridges to Run
• The Most Expensive Refrigerators to Run
• The Cheapest States to Run a Refrigerator
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