United Kingdom Kitchen
How much does it cost to run a fridge freezer?
A refrigerator has a nameplate rating of 300 to 800 watts, but it only draws that while the compressor runs, which is about a third of the time. Averaged over a day a modern full size fridge draws 40 to 80 watts, or 400 to 700 kWh a year.
A 60 watt fridge freezer costs about 1.6p an hour to run in Great Britain at 26.32 pence per kWh. Running it 24 hours a day comes to about 38p a day, £11.54 a month and £138.43 a year.
- Price: Ofgem cap, Oct to Dec 2026
- Wattage range with its source
- Checked 26 October 2026
Uses 1.4 kWh a day, 44 kWh a month, at 26.32 pence per kWh (Great Britain (price cap average)).
The dial places the daily cost between a 50 watt fan and a 4.5 kW water heater on 2.5 hours a day.
A 60 watt fridge freezer costs about 1.6p an hour to run in Great Britain at 26.32 pence per kWh. Running it 24 hours a day comes to about 38p a day, £11.54 a month and £138.43 a year.
What this assumes
The default is a 60 watt fridge freezer running 24 hours a day. Published typical ratings run from 35 to 120 watts (average draw over the day, not the nameplate (the compressor cycles)). Your label or manual gives the exact figure, and the calculator takes it.
The price is the Ofgem price cap unit rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026, average for England, Scotland and Wales, paying by Direct Debit. The cap for 1 January to 31 March 2027 is announced in late November 2026. A fixed tariff, a time-of-use plan or a different payment method changes the rate, which is why the rate field is editable.
Cost by wattage and hours at the price cap rate
At 26.32p per kWh, running flat out. Multiply by the share of the time your thermostat keeps the element on.
| Power | 1 hour | 8 hours | 24 hours | A week at 24 hours a day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 watt | 0.9p | 7.4p | 22p | £1.55 |
| 60 watt | 1.6p | 13p | 38p | £2.65 |
| 120 watt | 3.2p | 25p | 76p | £5.31 |
How a fridge freezer uses electricity
This page uses the average draw, not the nameplate, so the hours are fixed at 24 and the duty at 100%. The yellow EnergyGuide label (US) or the energy label (UK and EU) gives the kWh a year for your exact model: divide by 365 for kWh a day.
A 20 year old fridge can use twice the electricity of a new ENERGY STAR model of the same size. A second fridge in a hot garage runs its compressor far more than one in the kitchen.
Opening the door, a warm kitchen and a frost-clogged freezer compartment all raise the compressor run time.
Ways to cut the cost
- Set the fridge to 37 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit (3 to 5 Celsius) and the freezer to 0 Fahrenheit (minus 18 Celsius).
- Leave a gap behind it so the coils can shed heat.
- Check the door seal with a sheet of paper: if it slides out easily, the seal is gone.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to run a refrigerator for a month?
At an average draw of 60 watts, a fridge uses about 43 kWh a month. At 18 cents that is about 7.80 dollars. At 26p it is about 11.20 pounds.
Why does my fridge say 700 watts if it only uses 60?
The nameplate is the maximum the compressor and defrost heater can draw together. The compressor runs about a third of the time, and the defrost heater for a few minutes a day, so the average over 24 hours is far lower.
Is it cheaper to keep a fridge full?
Slightly. A full fridge loses less cold air when the door opens. Do not block the air vents inside, though.
Other kitchen costs
More in the UK
Sources
The electricity price on this page is read from the data file that also lists the release it came from. The wattage range is a published typical range, not a measurement of your appliance.