United States Kitchen
How much does it cost to run a mini fridge?
A mini fridge draws about 20 to 50 watts averaged over the day, or 200 to 400 kWh a year. Per cubic foot it is less efficient than a full size fridge, but in total it costs less because it is small.
A 30 watt mini fridge costs about 0.5 cents an hour to run in the US on average at 18.16 cents per kWh. Running it 24 hours a day comes to about 13 cents a day, $3.98 a month and $47.76 a year.
- Prices: EIA, August 2026, every state
- Wattage range with its source
- Checked 26 October 2026
Uses 0.72 kWh a day, 22 kWh a month, at 18.16 cents per kWh (US 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 30 watt mini fridge costs about 0.5 cents an hour to run in the US on average at 18.16 cents per kWh. Running it 24 hours a day comes to about 13 cents a day, $3.98 a month and $47.76 a year.
What this assumes
The default is a 30 watt mini fridge running 24 hours a day. Published typical ratings run from 20 to 50 watts (average draw over the day, not the nameplate). Your label or manual gives the exact figure, and the calculator takes it.
The price is the average residential rate in each state from the EIA's Electric Power Monthly for August 2026, released 23 October 2026. The next monthly table is due 24 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 to run a mini fridge in every state
Same 30 watt mini fridge, 24 hours a day, priced at each state's average residential rate for August 2026. Cheapest: Nevada at 12.72 cents per kWh. Dearest: Hawaii at 47.18. Change the numbers above and the table follows.
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 12.72c | 0.4 cents | 9.2 cents | $2.79 | $33.45 |
| Louisiana | 12.87c | 0.4 cents | 9.3 cents | $2.82 | $33.85 |
| North Dakota | 13.31c | 0.4 cents | 9.6 cents | $2.92 | $35.00 |
| Utah | 13.31c | 0.4 cents | 9.6 cents | $2.92 | $35.00 |
| Idaho | 13.37c | 0.4 cents | 9.6 cents | $2.93 | $35.16 |
| Tennessee | 13.42c | 0.4 cents | 9.7 cents | $2.94 | $35.29 |
| Nebraska | 13.54c | 0.4 cents | 9.7 cents | $2.97 | $35.61 |
| Kentucky | 13.8c | 0.4 cents | 9.9 cents | $3.02 | $36.29 |
| Arkansas | 14.37c | 0.4 cents | 10 cents | $3.15 | $37.79 |
| Mississippi | 14.43c | 0.4 cents | 10 cents | $3.16 | $37.95 |
| Wyoming | 14.43c | 0.4 cents | 10 cents | $3.16 | $37.95 |
| Washington | 14.63c | 0.4 cents | 11 cents | $3.21 | $38.47 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82c | 0.4 cents | 11 cents | $3.25 | $38.97 |
| North Carolina | 14.95c | 0.4 cents | 11 cents | $3.28 | $39.32 |
| Florida | 14.99c | 0.4 cents | 11 cents | $3.29 | $39.42 |
| Arizona | 15.05c | 0.5 cents | 11 cents | $3.30 | $39.58 |
| South Dakota | 15.15c | 0.5 cents | 11 cents | $3.32 | $39.84 |
| Kansas | 15.47c | 0.5 cents | 11 cents | $3.39 | $40.68 |
| Montana | 15.57c | 0.5 cents | 11 cents | $3.41 | $40.95 |
| South Carolina | 15.76c | 0.5 cents | 11 cents | $3.45 | $41.45 |
| Georgia | 15.9c | 0.5 cents | 11 cents | $3.48 | $41.81 |
| Texas | 15.91c | 0.5 cents | 11 cents | $3.49 | $41.84 |
| Oregon | 15.92c | 0.5 cents | 11 cents | $3.49 | $41.87 |
| Missouri | 16.02c | 0.5 cents | 12 cents | $3.51 | $42.13 |
| West Virginia | 16.31c | 0.5 cents | 12 cents | $3.57 | $42.89 |
| Alabama | 16.33c | 0.5 cents | 12 cents | $3.58 | $42.94 |
| New Mexico | 16.51c | 0.5 cents | 12 cents | $3.62 | $43.42 |
| Indiana | 17.02c | 0.5 cents | 12 cents | $3.73 | $44.76 |
| Iowa | 17.06c | 0.5 cents | 12 cents | $3.74 | $44.86 |
| Colorado | 17.17c | 0.5 cents | 12 cents | $3.76 | $45.15 |
| Minnesota | 17.2c | 0.5 cents | 12 cents | $3.77 | $45.23 |
| Virginia | 17.64c | 0.5 cents | 13 cents | $3.87 | $46.39 |
| Delaware | 18.7c | 0.6 cents | 13 cents | $4.10 | $49.18 |
| Illinois | 19.32c | 0.6 cents | 14 cents | $4.23 | $50.81 |
| Ohio | 19.38c | 0.6 cents | 14 cents | $4.25 | $50.97 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41c | 0.6 cents | 14 cents | $4.25 | $51.04 |
| Maryland | 21.4c | 0.6 cents | 15 cents | $4.69 | $56.28 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77c | 0.7 cents | 16 cents | $4.77 | $57.25 |
| Michigan | 22.99c | 0.7 cents | 17 cents | $5.04 | $60.46 |
| Vermont | 23.84c | 0.7 cents | 17 cents | $5.22 | $62.69 |
| Connecticut | 24.51c | 0.7 cents | 18 cents | $5.37 | $64.46 |
| New Jersey | 24.61c | 0.7 cents | 18 cents | $5.39 | $64.72 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98c | 0.8 cents | 19 cents | $5.69 | $68.32 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64c | 0.8 cents | 20 cents | $6.06 | $72.69 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18c | 0.8 cents | 20 cents | $6.18 | $74.11 |
| New York | 28.65c | 0.9 cents | 21 cents | $6.28 | $75.34 |
| Alaska | 29.41c | 0.9 cents | 21 cents | $6.45 | $77.34 |
| California | 29.75c | 0.9 cents | 21 cents | $6.52 | $78.24 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48c | 0.9 cents | 22 cents | $6.68 | $80.16 |
| Maine | 32.11c | 1 cent | 23 cents | $7.04 | $84.44 |
| Hawaii | 47.18c | 1.4 cents | 34 cents | $10.34 | $124.07 |
Rates: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, residential sector, August 2026, preliminary. All rates with the year-on-year change.
How a mini fridge uses electricity
Compressor mini fridges cycle like a big fridge. Thermoelectric (Peltier) coolers run continuously at 40 to 70 watts and cannot get as cold, so they can cost more to run than a compressor model twice their size.
A dorm fridge in a warm room with a freezer compartment that is never defrosted will sit at the top of the range.
Ways to cut the cost
- Keep it out of direct sun and away from the radiator.
- Defrost the ice box when the ice is a quarter inch thick.
Questions people ask
How much does a mini fridge cost per month?
At 30 watts average, about 22 kWh a month. At 18 cents that is about 4 dollars, at 26p about 5.70 pounds.
Does a mini fridge use a lot of electricity?
No. A typical compressor mini fridge uses about half the electricity of a full size fridge.
Other kitchen costs
More in the US
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.