How much does it cost to run top-freezer refrigerators?

Among 674 certified models in this data, top-freezer refrigerators cost $50 to $95 a year to run at the U.S. average electricity rate (18.8¢/kWh) — a median of $68.

Do top-freezer refrigerators cost more or less than the average refrigerator?

The median model here runs $68 a year, 5% more than the $65 median across all certified refrigerators.

What's the cheapest model among top-freezer refrigerators?

The Absocold ARD1033FB21R/L costs about $50 a year at the U.S. average rate (263 kWh/yr) — the lowest certified figure in this group.

What does the certified annual-kWh figure assume for refrigerators?

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.

Data through April 2026

Refrigerators · 674 certified models

Top-Freezer Refrigerators

674 of 4,229 certified refrigerators are top-freezer refrigerators — running $50 to $95 a year at the U.S. average rate (median $68, versus $65 across the whole category).

The 50 most efficient (of 674)

Top-Freezer Refrigerators, ranked by certified annual kWh
#	Model	kWh/yr	$/yr (US avg)
1	Absocold ARD1033FB21R/Lmost efficient	263	$50
2	Absocold ARD1033FS21R/Lmost efficient	263	$50
3	Absocold ARD1033FW21R/Lmost efficient	263	$50
4	MicroFridge 10.0LMF4Rmost efficient	263	$50
5	MicroFridge 10.0LMF4RWmost efficient	263	$50
6	MicroFridge 10.0RMF4Rmost efficient	263	$50
7	MicroFridge 10.0RMF4RWmost efficient	263	$50
8	Insignia NS-RTM10SS2-Cmost efficient	283	$53
9	Insignia NS-RTM10WH2-Cmost efficient	283	$53
10	LG LT11C2000most efficient	291	$55
11	Galanz GLR10T**EFmost efficient	292	$55
12	Galanz GLR10T**EFRmost efficient	292	$55
13	Galanz GLR10TBKEFRmost efficient	292	$55
14	Galanz GLR10TRDEFRmost efficient	292	$55
15	XTRA XET10RSSmost efficient	292	$55
16	XTRA XET10RWWmost efficient	292	$55
17	Summit FF103PLmost efficient	296	$56
18	Summit FF1100Wmost efficient	296	$56
19	Summit FF1101SSmost efficient	296	$56
20	Summit FF1102Bmost efficient	296	$56
21	Summit LTM10Bmost efficient	296	$56
22	Summit LTM10PLmost efficient	296	$56
23	Summit LTM10SSmost efficient	296	$56
24	Summit LTM10Wmost efficient	296	$56
25	Summit STM10Bmost efficient	296	$56
26	Summit STM10PLmost efficient	296	$56
27	Summit STM10SSmost efficient	296	$56
28	Summit STM10Wmost efficient	296	$56
29	Avanti FF10Bmost efficient	297	$56
30	BLACK DECKER BR1000HSmost efficient	297	$56
31	Conserv MDRF1010ESEmost efficient	297	$56
32	Criterion CTMR101C1most efficient	297	$56
33	Danby DFF101B1BSSDBmost efficient	297	$56
34	Danby DFF101B2WDBmost efficient	297	$56
35	ELEMENT ENR10TFGBmost efficient	297	$56
36	FARBERWARE FW-RF262-I6Amost efficient	297	$56
37	Frestec FR 1002 BKmost efficient	297	$56
38	Frestec FR 1002 SLBmost efficient	297	$56
39	Frestec FR 1002 WHBmost efficient	297	$56
40	Frigidaire FFET1022Umost efficient	297	$56
41	GreenLine GRCHR10FFSmost efficient	297	$56
42	GreenLine GRCHR10FFWmost efficient	297	$56
43	Magic Chef HMDR1000BEmost efficient	297	$56
44	Magic Chef HMDR1000SEmost efficient	297	$56
45	Magic Chef HMDR1000STmost efficient	297	$56
46	Magic Chef HMDR1000WEmost efficient	297	$56
47	Magic Chef HMDR1000WFmost efficient	297	$56
48	Magic Chef MCAR1000BEmost efficient	297	$56
49	Magic Chef MCAR1000STmost efficient	297	$56
50	Magic Chef MCAR1000WEmost efficient	297	$56

Other type facets

Questions, answered with the data

How much does it cost to run top-freezer refrigerators?: Among 674 certified models in this data, top-freezer refrigerators cost $50 to $95 a year to run at the U.S. average electricity rate (18.8¢/kWh) — a median of $68.
Do top-freezer refrigerators cost more or less than the average refrigerator?: The median model here runs $68 a year, 5% more than the $65 median across all certified refrigerators.
What's the cheapest model among top-freezer refrigerators?: The Absocold ARD1033FB21R/L costs about $50 a year at the U.S. average rate (263 kWh/yr) — the lowest certified figure in this group.
What does the certified annual-kWh figure assume for refrigerators?: 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.

The 50 most efficient (of 674)

Other type facets

Questions, answered with the data

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