At the U.S. average price of 18.16¢ per kWh. Your state's price changes these numbers; use the calculator.
Work out your cost
Change any number. The price per kWh is on your electric bill.
Starts at the U.S. average residential price, 18.16¢/kWh (August 2026, EIA, checked Oct 24, 2026). Month is 30 days; year is 12 such months.
The formula
cost = watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh
Worked example: 41.67 W × 24 h ÷ 1,000 = 1.00008 kWh a day. 1.00008 kWh × $0.1816 = $0.18 a day, or about $5.45 over 30 days.
How many watts does a refrigerator use?
Most are rated 34 to 78 W. The yellow EnergyGuide label on the door or in the manual lists estimated yearly electricity use in kWh. That figure is what utilities and ENERGY STAR compare.
- Refrigerators are continuous, duty-cycled loads. EnergyGuide and ENERGY STAR figures are annual kWh. Average watts = annual kWh × 1,000 ÷ 8,760. Our default of 41.67 W is the continuous average that yields 360 kWh over twelve 30-day months (30 kWh a month), matching ENERGY STAR's roughly 360 kWh a year top-freezer average (360 × 1,000 ÷ 8,760 ≈ 41.1 W).
- FEMP's December 2023 purchase guidance lists 363.5 kWh a year for an ENERGY STAR 18.1 cu ft top-freezer with automatic defrost, 404 kWh for a less-efficient model of the same size, and about 362 kWh for the best available model then on the list.
- Product examples from the ENERGY STAR Product Finder: LG LT13C2000* top-freezer (13.2 cu ft) uses 300 kWh a year (about 34 W average); Magic Chef MCTM18W top-freezer (17.6 cu ft) uses 360 kWh; Whirlpool WRS331SDH*0* side-by-side (21.4 cu ft) uses 602 kWh (about 69 W); Whirlpool WRF555SDH* bottom-freezer (24.7 cu ft) uses 685 kWh (about 78 W).
- EIA's 2020 RECS estimates 617 kWh a year for the most-used refrigerator in a home and 839 kWh for all refrigerators in the home (including second units). Older or garage units often use more than a new ENERGY STAR model.
- The rating plate lists locked-rotor and running current for the compressor, which is much higher than the 24-hour average. For bill estimates, prefer the yellow EnergyGuide annual kWh over a spot watt reading.
Cost at different electricity prices
| Use | Nevada (lowest state)12.72¢/kWh | U.S. average18.16¢/kWh | New York28.65¢/kWh | California29.75¢/kWh | Hawaii (highest state)47.18¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Efficient small top-freezer (about 300 kWh/yr, 34 W average)24 kWh a month | $3.11$37.37/yr | $4.45$53.35/yr | $7.01$84.16/yr | $7.28$87.39/yr | $11.55$139/yr |
| ENERGY STAR top-freezer average (about 360 kWh/yr, 41.67 W)30 kWh a month | $3.82$45.80/yr | $5.45$65.38/yr | $8.60$103/yr | $8.93$107/yr | $14.16$170/yr |
| Typical primary fridge, EIA RECS 2020 (about 617 kWh/yr, 70 W)50 kWh a month | $6.41$76.93/yr | $9.15$110/yr | $14.44$173/yr | $14.99$180/yr | $23.78$285/yr |
| ENERGY STAR side-by-side example (602 kWh/yr, 69 W)50 kWh a month | $6.32$75.83/yr | $9.02$108/yr | $14.23$171/yr | $14.78$177/yr | $23.44$281/yr |
| Large bottom-freezer with ice/water (685 kWh/yr, 78 W)56 kWh a month | $7.14$85.72/yr | $10.20$122/yr | $16.09$193/yr | $16.71$200/yr | $26.50$318/yr |
Per month (30 days) and per year (12 such months). Real use is usually seasonal. Average residential prices for August 2026 from the same EIA table. Your utility's rate, including delivery charges, may differ. Check the price per kWh on your bill.
Ways to pay less
- Buy a top-freezer the right size ENERGY STAR and DOE both note that top-mounted freezers usually use the least electricity, and that the most efficient full-size models are typically 16 to 20 cubic feet. Side-by-side designs and through-the-door ice tend to use more.
- Set 35 to 38°F in the fridge and 0°F in the freezer DOE's Energy Saver guide and ENERGY STAR both recommend those ranges. Colder settings make the compressor run longer without keeping food any safer.
- Recycle an old second refrigerator ENERGY STAR says an old refrigerator uses about 20% more energy than a certified model, and units over 15 years old can cost about $95 a year to run. A spare in the garage is often the biggest kitchen electricity waste.
- Keep seals tight and coils clear Close the door on a piece of paper; if it slides out easily, the gasket may need replacing. Leave a few inches behind the unit and clean condenser coils on older models so heat can escape.
- Keep it out of heat and sunlight DOE and ENERGY STAR advise placing the fridge away from the oven, dishwasher and direct sun. Cover liquids and wrap foods so the compressor does not fight extra moisture.
Questions
How much does a refrigerator cost to run per month?
About $5.45 a month for a typical ENERGY STAR top-freezer at 360 kWh a year and 18.16¢/kWh (EIA, August 2026). At state averages the same fridge runs from about $3.82 a month in Nevada (12.72¢/kWh) to $14.15 in Hawaii (47.18¢/kWh). A large side-by-side around 600 kWh a year is closer to $9 a month.
How much electricity does a refrigerator use per day?
About 1.0 kWh a day for a 360 kWh/year ENERGY STAR top-freezer (360 ÷ 365), or roughly $0.18 a day at 18.16¢/kWh. EIA's 2020 RECS figure of 617 kWh a year for the most-used refrigerator is about 1.7 kWh a day ($0.31).
How much does it cost to run a refrigerator for a year?
About $65.38 a year for 360 kWh at 18.16¢/kWh. FEMP's less-efficient 404 kWh example is about $73.37. A Whirlpool side-by-side listed at 602 kWh is about $109 a year; a 685 kWh bottom-freezer is about $124.
Does a refrigerator use a lot of electricity?
Per hour its average draw is small (about 42 W for a 360 kWh/year unit), but it never really stops. Over a year that adds up to a few percent of a typical home's electricity: 360 kWh is about 3% of the 10,791 kWh a year EIA reports for the average U.S. residential customer (about 899 kWh a month).
Is a new ENERGY STAR fridge cheaper to run than an old one?
Usually yes. ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators are about 9% more efficient than models that only meet the federal minimum, and ENERGY STAR says an old refrigerator uses about 20% more energy than a certified model. Replacing a 15-year-old unit and recycling it is one of the higher-payback kitchen upgrades.
Does a refrigerator use more electricity than a bitcoin miner?
No. An ENERGY STAR top-freezer at about 41.67 W average is a small fraction of an 800 W Avalon Mini 3 home miner. Over 30 days the fridge is about 30 kWh ($5.45 at 18.16¢/kWh) while the miner uses 576 kWh (about $105). At the November 2, 2026 hashprice the Mini 3 earns back about 35% of its electricity, so its net cost is about $67.77 a month. Mining income moves with the bitcoin price and network difficulty; our bitcoin heater page recalculates it daily.
Sources
- U.S. EIA: Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: Average price of electricity by state, August 2026 (released Oct 23, 2026). Used for: U.S. average residential rate (18.16¢/kWh) and state rates
- ENERGY STAR: Refrigerators product page. Used for: About 9% more efficient than federal minimum; top-freezer preference; 16–20 cu ft most efficient; 35–38°F guidance; old fridge ~20% more energy; tips on seals, placement, coils
- ENERGY STAR: Certified Refrigerators and Freezers Marketing Toolkit (2024). Used for: ENERGY STAR top-freezer average about 360 kWh a year; old refrigerator about 20% more energy than ENERGY STAR
- U.S. DOE FEMP: Purchasing Energy-Efficient Residential Refrigerators (updated Dec 2023). Used for: 18.1 cu ft top-freezer: ENERGY STAR 363.5 kWh/yr, less efficient 404 kWh/yr, best available ~362; buyer tips against side-by-side and through-door ice; temperature setpoints
- U.S. EIA: 2020 RECS Table CE5.3b, detailed household site electricity end-use consumption (averages). Used for: Most-used refrigerator 617 kWh/yr; all refrigerators in the home 839 kWh/yr
- ENERGY STAR Product Finder: LG LT13C2000* top-freezer. Used for: 300 kWh/yr, 13.2 cu ft top-freezer example (low end)
- ENERGY STAR Product Finder: Magic Chef MCTM18W top-freezer. Used for: 360 kWh/yr, 17.6 cu ft top-freezer example matching the ENERGY STAR average
- ENERGY STAR Product Finder: Whirlpool WRS331SDH*0* side-by-side. Used for: 602 kWh/yr, 21.4 cu ft side-by-side with thru-door dispenser
- ENERGY STAR Product Finder: Whirlpool WRF555SDH* bottom-freezer. Used for: 685 kWh/yr, 24.7 cu ft bottom-freezer with ice and water (high end)
- U.S. DOE: Energy Saver guide (2022, PDF). Used for: Top-freezer preference; 16–20 cu ft; 35–38°F / 0°F; door-seal paper test; placement and coil tips; recycle second fridge
- U.S. DOE: Consumer Guide to Kitchen Appliances fact sheet (PDF). Used for: ENERGY STAR refrigerators use 9% less energy; second fridge often costs more than $100 a year; seals, coils, temperatures
- U.S. EIA: How much electricity does an American home use?. Used for: Average U.S. residential customer about 10,791 kWh/year (≈899 kWh/month) in 2022
- WattCost: hashprice (mempool.space), November 2, 2026, and Canaan Avalon Mini 3 specifications. Used for: Avalon Mini 3: 37.5 TH/s at 800 W; mining income at $32.74 per PH/s a day (page blocks some automated checks; specs also used on our crypto mining and oven pages)