How Much Electricity Does a Refrigerator Use? (2026)
A typical refrigerator costs
about $5 a month
$64 a year, at the US average of 18.0¢ per kWh
The sticker on the box says $50. It is worked out at one national rate, so it moves once you choose your state.
Averaged across 8,708 refrigerators on sale in the US. An estimate at your state's average rate — not a guarantee of your bill.
How much electricity a refrigerator uses
The average one uses 354 kWh a year, which costs $64 a year at the US average rate. Averaged across 8,708 refrigerators on sale in the US, running from 70 to 885 kWh.
Which kind do you have?
Cheapest to run
- 1SIMZILFE C250.9 cu ft$13a year
- 2EKOJUCE C250.9 cu ft$13a year
- 3EUHOMY C250.9 cu ft$13a year
- 4Atlas Homegoods CFC-180.6 cu ft$13a year
- 5Atlas Homegoods CF004-250.9 cu ft$13a year
- 6BougeRV CRH009010.3 cu ft$13a year
- 7Atlas Homegoods J301 cu ft$13a year
- 8SIMZILFE J301 cu ft$13a year
- 9EUHOMY J301 cu ft$13a year
- 10EKOJUCE CFC-180.6 cu ft$14a year
- 11SIMZILFE CFC-180.6 cu ft$14a year
- 12EUHOMY CFC-180.6 cu ft$14a year
- 13BougeRV CRH02001B0.7 cu ft$14a year
- 14Atlas Homegoods J230.8 cu ft$16a year
A year at the U.S. average rate. See the least efficient refrigerators