Refrigerator Electricity Cost Calculator
Work out what your fridge or freezer costs to run, using realistic compressor cycling rather than the label maximum.
Quick answer
A typical 150 W fridge whose compressor runs about 35% of the time uses around 460 kWh a year — about $78 at $0.17/kWh. Older fridges can use twice that. Compare other appliances on the electricity cost calculator.
- Free
- No sign-up
- Energy
- Updated October 2026
Cost per month (30 days)
$6.43
- Cost per day
- $0.21
- Cost per year
- $78.18
- Cost per hour of use
- $0.01
- Energy per day
- 1.26 kWh
- Energy per month
- 37.8 kWh
Show the working
- 150 W × 24 h × 35% × 1 ÷ 1000 = 1.26 kWh/day
- 1.26 kWh × $0.17 = $0.21 per day
About the Refrigerator Electricity Cost calculator
A refrigerator is plugged in 24 hours a day, but its compressor only runs part of the time — commonly 30–40% in a kitchen at room temperature, more in a hot garage or when the door is opened often. Modern fridges draw about 100–250 W while running.
The most reliable number is the yearly kWh on the energy label (for example 400 kWh/year). Divide it by 365 to get kWh per day; if you enter that as watts × 24 hours at 100% load you get the same result.
Old fridges can use two or three times as much as current models. If yours is 15+ years old, compare its yearly cost here against a new model’s label figure.
How to use it
- Enter the running wattage from the label (or the yearly kWh ÷ 8.76).
- Keep 24 hours per day.
- Use 30–40% load for a typical kitchen; raise it for hot rooms.
- Enter your price per kWh.
The formula
kWh per day = Watts × 24 × Load ÷ 1000
- Yearly kWh ÷ 365 gives the same figure if you have the energy label.
Worked example
A 150 W fridge running 35% of the time
- 150 × 24 × 0.35 = 1,260 Wh = 1.26 kWh per day.
- 1.26 × 365 = 460 kWh per year.
- At $0.17/kWh: about $78 per year.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a fridge use per day?
Most modern fridge-freezers use about 1–2 kWh per day. Large side-by-side models with ice makers can use more.
Does a full fridge use less energy?
A reasonably full fridge holds its temperature better when the door is opened, but packing it so tightly that air can’t circulate makes the compressor work harder.
Where should I set the temperature?
Around 3–4 °C (37–40 °F) for the fridge and −18 °C (0 °F) for the freezer. Colder settings use more energy without improving food safety.
Results are estimates for planning — check critical figures with a professional or the official source.
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