How much does it cost to run a mini fridge?
Short answer: A mini fridge drawing 80 watts costs about $0.01 per hour at the U.S. average residential price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Used 8 hours a day, 30 days a month, that is about $3.52 per month and $42.19 per year. In Louisiana, the cheapest state, the same use costs $2.44 a month; in Hawaii, the most expensive, $9.22.
Mini fridge cost calculator
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Hours per day the compressor is running. It is plugged in all day but runs only about a third of the time.
Uses 19.2 kWh per month. The starting price is the U.S. residential average; choose your state or type the price from your own bill.
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| Appliance | Usage | Per month | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | |||
| Per year |
A mini fridge draws about 80 watts when its compressor is running, which is roughly a third of the day. It is small, but for the space it cools it often uses more electricity than a full-size refrigerator does.
Cost by size and setting
Costs below use the U.S. average price and 8 hours a day, 30 days a month.
| Type | Power | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cube, 1.7 cubic feet | 60 W | $0.01 | $2.64 |
| Compact, 3 to 4.5 cubic feet | 80 W | $0.01 | $3.52 |
| Beverage or wine cooler | 100 W | $0.02 | $4.39 |
Small does not mean efficient
Compact refrigerators have thinner insulation and less efficient compressors than full-size models. A modern full-size refrigerator might use 400 to 500 kWh a year for 20 cubic feet of space; a mini fridge can use 200 to 300 kWh for four. As a second fridge in a bedroom, office or garage, it is a real addition to the bill, not a negligible one.
What changes the cost
Room temperature most of all. A mini fridge in a hot garage or in direct sun runs far longer than one in an air-conditioned room. Models with a small freezer compartment that needs manual defrosting use more as frost builds up.
How to lower the cost
- Leave a few inches of space behind and above it for ventilation.
- Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from heaters.
- Defrost it when frost is a quarter of an inch thick.
- Set the dial to the middle, not the coldest setting.
- Unplug it when it is empty for a long period, such as over a summer break.
How a mini fridge compares with other appliances
Typical power and use for each appliance, at the U.S. average price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Follow a link for that appliance's own calculator, or compare two side by side.
| Appliance | Power | Typical use | Energy per month | Cost per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini fridge | 80 W | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | 19.2 kWh | $3.52 |
| Refrigerator | 150 W | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | 36.0 kWh | $6.59 |
| Chest freezer | 100 W | 8 hours a day, 30 days a month | 24.0 kWh | $4.39 |
| Microwave | 1,500 W | 5 minutes per use, 14 times a week | 7.6 kWh | $1.39 |
| Coffee maker | 1,000 W | 10 minutes per use, 7 times a week | 5.1 kWh | $0.93 |
The math behind the numbers
80 watts ÷ 1,000 = 0.08 kW. 0.08 kW × 8 hours = 0.64 kWh per day. 0.64 kWh × $0.1831 = $0.12 per day. Over 30 days that is 19.2 kWh and $3.52 a month.
Your own figure will differ if your appliance has a different wattage, if you use it more or less, or if your price per kWh is not the national average. Change any of those in the calculator at the top of this page. Our step-by-step guide explains where to find each number.
Cost to run a mini fridge in every state
Based on 80 watts for 8 hours a day, 30 days a month, at each state's average residential electricity price for July 2026.
| State | Price per kWh | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.40¢ | $0.01 | $3.15 | $37.79 |
| Alaska | 28.83¢ | $0.02 | $5.54 | $66.42 |
| Arizona | 15.38¢ | $0.01 | $2.95 | $35.44 |
| Arkansas | 14.33¢ | $0.01 | $2.75 | $33.02 |
| California | 33.61¢ | $0.03 | $6.45 | $77.44 |
| Colorado | 17.00¢ | $0.01 | $3.26 | $39.17 |
| Connecticut | 24.16¢ | $0.02 | $4.64 | $55.66 |
| Delaware | 18.48¢ | $0.01 | $3.55 | $42.58 |
| District of Columbia | 25.21¢ | $0.02 | $4.84 | $58.08 |
| Florida | 15.03¢ | $0.01 | $2.89 | $34.63 |
| Georgia | 16.27¢ | $0.01 | $3.12 | $37.49 |
| Hawaii | 48.00¢ | $0.04 | $9.22 | $110.59 |
| Idaho | 13.73¢ | $0.01 | $2.64 | $31.63 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | $0.02 | $3.69 | $44.28 |
| Indiana | 16.73¢ | $0.01 | $3.21 | $38.55 |
| Iowa | 15.99¢ | $0.01 | $3.07 | $36.84 |
| Kansas | 15.27¢ | $0.01 | $2.93 | $35.18 |
| Kentucky | 13.81¢ | $0.01 | $2.65 | $31.82 |
| Louisiana | 12.72¢ | $0.01 | $2.44 | $29.31 |
| Maine | 32.41¢ | $0.03 | $6.22 | $74.67 |
| Maryland | 21.41¢ | $0.02 | $4.11 | $49.33 |
| Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | $0.02 | $5.85 | $70.25 |
| Michigan | 23.05¢ | $0.02 | $4.43 | $53.11 |
| Minnesota | 17.45¢ | $0.01 | $3.35 | $40.20 |
| Mississippi | 14.54¢ | $0.01 | $2.79 | $33.50 |
| Missouri | 16.09¢ | $0.01 | $3.09 | $37.07 |
| Montana | 14.99¢ | $0.01 | $2.88 | $34.54 |
| Nebraska | 13.78¢ | $0.01 | $2.65 | $31.75 |
| Nevada | 12.77¢ | $0.01 | $2.45 | $29.42 |
| New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | $0.02 | $5.11 | $61.29 |
| New Jersey | 25.19¢ | $0.02 | $4.84 | $58.04 |
| New Mexico | 16.09¢ | $0.01 | $3.09 | $37.07 |
| New York | 29.90¢ | $0.02 | $5.74 | $68.89 |
| North Carolina | 15.16¢ | $0.01 | $2.91 | $34.93 |
| North Dakota | 13.41¢ | $0.01 | $2.57 | $30.90 |
| Ohio | 19.45¢ | $0.02 | $3.73 | $44.81 |
| Oklahoma | 14.35¢ | $0.01 | $2.76 | $33.06 |
| Oregon | 15.97¢ | $0.01 | $3.07 | $36.79 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.72¢ | $0.02 | $4.17 | $50.04 |
| Rhode Island | 28.29¢ | $0.02 | $5.43 | $65.18 |
| South Carolina | 15.47¢ | $0.01 | $2.97 | $35.64 |
| South Dakota | 15.37¢ | $0.01 | $2.95 | $35.41 |
| Tennessee | 13.71¢ | $0.01 | $2.63 | $31.59 |
| Texas | 15.88¢ | $0.01 | $3.05 | $36.59 |
| Utah | 13.12¢ | $0.01 | $2.52 | $30.23 |
| Vermont | 23.75¢ | $0.02 | $4.56 | $54.72 |
| Virginia | 17.55¢ | $0.01 | $3.37 | $40.44 |
| Washington | 14.71¢ | $0.01 | $2.82 | $33.89 |
| West Virginia | 15.78¢ | $0.01 | $3.03 | $36.36 |
| Wisconsin | 19.06¢ | $0.02 | $3.66 | $43.91 |
| Wyoming | 14.36¢ | $0.01 | $2.76 | $33.09 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mini fridge cost to run per month?
About $3.52 a month at the U.S. average electricity price, assuming 80 watts with the compressor running 8 hours a day.
Does a mini fridge use a lot of electricity?
More than its size suggests: roughly half as much as a full-size refrigerator.
How much does a mini fridge cost per year?
About $42.19 a year at the U.S. average price.
Sources
- ENERGY STAR: Refrigerators
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly (state electricity prices)
- U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver: Appliances and Electronics
Electricity prices are the EIA figures for July 2026. Wattages are typical values; check the label on your own appliance.