How much does it cost to run a refrigerator?
Short answer: A refrigerator drawing 150 watts costs about $0.03 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 $6.59 per month and $79.10 per year. In Louisiana, the cheapest state, the same use costs $4.58 a month; in Hawaii, the most expensive, $17.28.
Refrigerator cost calculator
A refrigerator is plugged in 24 hours a day, but the compressor only runs for part of that. About 8 hours of compressor time per day is typical.
Energy used: 36.0 kWh per month. Default price is the U.S. residential average; pick your state or type the price from your own bill.
A refrigerator is the one appliance that never switches off, yet it is not the energy hog people assume. A modern full-size model draws around 150 watts while its compressor is running and the compressor runs only about a third of the time.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact / mini fridge | 80 W | $0.01 | $3.52 |
| Modern full-size refrigerator | 150 W | $0.03 | $6.59 |
| Older or side-by-side model | 250 W | $0.05 | $10.99 |
Why you cannot just multiply watts by 24
The wattage on the nameplate is what the fridge draws while the compressor is on. A thermostat switches the compressor off once the inside is cold, so over a full day it typically runs 8 to 10 hours in total. That is why the calculator on this page defaults to 8 hours, not 24.
The most reliable figure for your own model is the yellow EnergyGuide label, which gives estimated kilowatt-hours per year. Most new full-size refrigerators are rated between 400 and 700 kWh per year. Multiply that number by your price per kWh to get the yearly cost directly.
The second fridge in the garage
An old refrigerator kept running in a hot garage is often the most expensive appliance per unit of usefulness in the house. Models from the 1990s can use more than 1,200 kWh a year, and a hot garage makes them work harder still. Unplugging one can save more than replacing every light bulb in the home.
How to lower the cost
- Set the fridge to 37°F and the freezer to 0°F. Colder than that just adds run time.
- Leave a few inches of space behind and above the unit so heat can escape.
- Check the door gasket: if a dollar bill slides out easily with the door shut, the seal is leaking.
- Let hot leftovers cool on the counter briefly before putting them away.
Cost to run a refrigerator in every state
Based on 150 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¢ | $0.02 | $5.90 | $70.85 |
| Alaska | 28.83¢ | $0.04 | $10.38 | $124.55 |
| Arizona | 15.38¢ | $0.02 | $5.54 | $66.44 |
| Arkansas | 14.33¢ | $0.02 | $5.16 | $61.91 |
| California | 33.61¢ | $0.05 | $12.10 | $145.20 |
| Colorado | 17.00¢ | $0.03 | $6.12 | $73.44 |
| Connecticut | 24.16¢ | $0.04 | $8.70 | $104.37 |
| Delaware | 18.48¢ | $0.03 | $6.65 | $79.83 |
| District of Columbia | 25.21¢ | $0.04 | $9.08 | $108.91 |
| Florida | 15.03¢ | $0.02 | $5.41 | $64.93 |
| Georgia | 16.27¢ | $0.02 | $5.86 | $70.29 |
| Hawaii | 48.00¢ | $0.07 | $17.28 | $207.36 |
| Idaho | 13.73¢ | $0.02 | $4.94 | $59.31 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | $0.03 | $6.92 | $83.03 |
| Indiana | 16.73¢ | $0.03 | $6.02 | $72.27 |
| Iowa | 15.99¢ | $0.02 | $5.76 | $69.08 |
| Kansas | 15.27¢ | $0.02 | $5.50 | $65.97 |
| Kentucky | 13.81¢ | $0.02 | $4.97 | $59.66 |
| Louisiana | 12.72¢ | $0.02 | $4.58 | $54.95 |
| Maine | 32.41¢ | $0.05 | $11.67 | $140.01 |
| Maryland | 21.41¢ | $0.03 | $7.71 | $92.49 |
| Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | $0.05 | $10.98 | $131.72 |
| Michigan | 23.05¢ | $0.03 | $8.30 | $99.58 |
| Minnesota | 17.45¢ | $0.03 | $6.28 | $75.38 |
| Mississippi | 14.54¢ | $0.02 | $5.23 | $62.81 |
| Missouri | 16.09¢ | $0.02 | $5.79 | $69.51 |
| Montana | 14.99¢ | $0.02 | $5.40 | $64.76 |
| Nebraska | 13.78¢ | $0.02 | $4.96 | $59.53 |
| Nevada | 12.77¢ | $0.02 | $4.60 | $55.17 |
| New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | $0.04 | $9.58 | $114.91 |
| New Jersey | 25.19¢ | $0.04 | $9.07 | $108.82 |
| New Mexico | 16.09¢ | $0.02 | $5.79 | $69.51 |
| New York | 29.90¢ | $0.04 | $10.76 | $129.17 |
| North Carolina | 15.16¢ | $0.02 | $5.46 | $65.49 |
| North Dakota | 13.41¢ | $0.02 | $4.83 | $57.93 |
| Ohio | 19.45¢ | $0.03 | $7.00 | $84.02 |
| Oklahoma | 14.35¢ | $0.02 | $5.17 | $61.99 |
| Oregon | 15.97¢ | $0.02 | $5.75 | $68.99 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.72¢ | $0.03 | $7.82 | $93.83 |
| Rhode Island | 28.29¢ | $0.04 | $10.18 | $122.21 |
| South Carolina | 15.47¢ | $0.02 | $5.57 | $66.83 |
| South Dakota | 15.37¢ | $0.02 | $5.53 | $66.40 |
| Tennessee | 13.71¢ | $0.02 | $4.94 | $59.23 |
| Texas | 15.88¢ | $0.02 | $5.72 | $68.60 |
| Utah | 13.12¢ | $0.02 | $4.72 | $56.68 |
| Vermont | 23.75¢ | $0.04 | $8.55 | $102.60 |
| Virginia | 17.55¢ | $0.03 | $6.32 | $75.82 |
| Washington | 14.71¢ | $0.02 | $5.30 | $63.55 |
| West Virginia | 15.78¢ | $0.02 | $5.68 | $68.17 |
| Wisconsin | 19.06¢ | $0.03 | $6.86 | $82.34 |
| Wyoming | 14.36¢ | $0.02 | $5.17 | $62.04 |
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a refrigerator use per day?
A modern full-size refrigerator uses roughly 1 to 2 kWh per day. At the default settings on this page that is 1.2 kWh, or about $0.22 at the U.S. average price.
Does a mini fridge use less electricity than a full-size one?
Less, but not in proportion to its size. Mini fridges are often poorly insulated, and many use 200 to 300 kWh a year, around half of a full-size model that stores five times as much.
Is it worth replacing an old refrigerator to save electricity?
If it was made before about 2001, usually yes. Compare the yearly kWh on a new model's EnergyGuide label with an estimate for your old one and multiply the difference by your electricity price.