How much does it cost to run a refrigerator?
Last updated: February 2026 · 6 min read
Your refrigerator is the one appliance that never turns off, so it feels like it must be an energy hog. The reality is more reassuring: because the compressor cycles on and off rather than running constantly, a modern fridge is one of the cheaper always-on things in your home — typically $5 to $12 a month. Here is how that breaks down, how to find your own number, and how to shrink it.
The quick answer
A typical modern refrigerator uses about 1 to 2 kWh per day, or roughly 400 to 700 kWh per year. At the U.S. average rate of $0.17/kWh, that works out to about:
- $0.17 to $0.34 per day
- $5 to $10 per month
- $68 to $119 per year
Older or oversized units cost more — sometimes double — which we will get to.
Cost by fridge type and age
Two things drive the cost more than anything else: how old the fridge is (efficiency has improved dramatically) and how big it is. Here is the rough picture at $0.17/kWh:
| Refrigerator | Typical use | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| New ENERGY STAR (top-freezer) | ~350 kWh/yr | ~$60 | ~$5 |
| Modern side-by-side / French door | ~550 kWh/yr | ~$94 | ~$8 |
| 10–15 years old | ~800 kWh/yr | ~$136 | ~$11 |
| Pre-2000s or garage second fridge | ~1,200 kWh/yr | ~$204 | ~$17 |
That last row is the eye-opener: an old second fridge keeping a few drinks cold in the garage can quietly cost more than $200 a year.
How to calculate your fridge's exact cost
Because a fridge cycles, its "nameplate" wattage is misleading — it does not run at full power all day. Two accurate ways to get your real number:
- Read the EnergyGuide label. The yellow sticker (or the manual, or the model number looked up online) lists the estimated annual kWh. Multiply that by your electricity rate: annual kWh × rate = yearly cost. A fridge rated 500 kWh/yr at $0.17 = $85/year.
- Measure it directly. Plug the fridge into a plug-in energy monitor and leave it for 24 hours (or longer for accuracy). It shows the actual kWh the fridge used, cycling and all — the most precise method, and the one that settles arguments about that garage fridge.
Get your exact monthly and yearly cost
Enter your fridge's wattage or annual kWh and your local electricity rate to see the cost per day, month, and year.
Open the cost-to-run calculatorWhat makes a fridge cost more
- Age. Efficiency standards have improved so much that a 20-year-old fridge can use two to three times a new one.
- Size and style. Bigger boxes cost more; side-by-side and French-door models generally use more than a simple top-freezer.
- Location. A fridge in a hot garage or next to an oven works harder and costs more.
- Temperature settings. Set colder than needed, it runs more. The sweet spot is about 37–40°F for the fridge and 0°F for the freezer.
- Condition. Dusty condenser coils and worn door seals both make the compressor run longer.
Easy ways to cut the cost
- Set the right temperature — 37–40°F fridge, 0°F freezer. Colder than that just wastes energy.
- Clean the coils once or twice a year so the compressor sheds heat efficiently.
- Check the door seals — if a dollar bill slides out easily when closed in the door, the gasket is leaking cold air.
- Keep it out of the heat — avoid the garage in hot climates and don't put it beside the oven.
- Retire very old units. If a fridge is 15+ years old — especially a second one — the energy savings from a new ENERGY STAR model, or simply unplugging the spare, can be substantial.
Keeping the fridge running in a power outage
Because a fridge only draws power part of the time, it is one of the easiest essentials to back up during an outage. A portable power station of around 1,000–2,000 Wh — like a Bluetti unit — can keep one cold for a day or more, and pairing it with solar extends that further. If you want to plan backup power, our battery sizing calculator tells you exactly what size you need, and the power-outage prep guide walks through the whole kit.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a refrigerator per month?
For most modern refrigerators, about $5–$12 a month at the U.S. average rate of $0.17/kWh. Older units or a second garage fridge can run $15–$25 a month because they use far more electricity.
Do refrigerators use a lot of electricity?
They run 24/7, but because the compressor cycles on and off, a modern fridge only uses roughly 1–2 kWh per day — a modest, steady load. It feels like a lot because it never turns off, but the daily cost is small. Older fridges use two to three times as much.
How many watts does a refrigerator use?
About 100–200 watts while the compressor is running, with a brief startup surge of 600–1,000 watts. Because it cycles rather than running constantly, the average draw is much lower. The most accurate number is the annual kWh printed on the yellow EnergyGuide label.
Is it worth replacing an old refrigerator to save energy?
Often yes if it is 15 or more years old. A pre-2000s fridge can use two to three times the electricity of a new ENERGY STAR model, so the energy savings can offset a meaningful share of the replacement cost over the appliance's life — especially for a second fridge running in a hot garage.
How much does a second garage refrigerator cost to run?
More than you would expect. A hot garage makes the compressor work harder, so an older second fridge can cost $15–$25 a month — $180–$300 a year — to keep a few drinks cold. Measuring its actual draw often convinces people to unplug it.