United States Kitchen
How much does it cost to run a refrigerator?
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 refrigerator costs about 1.1 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 26 cents a day, $7.96 a month and $95.51 a year.
- Prices: EIA, August 2026, every state
- Wattage range with its source
- Checked 26 October 2026
Uses 1.4 kWh a day, 44 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 60 watt refrigerator costs about 1.1 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 26 cents a day, $7.96 a month and $95.51 a year.
What this assumes
The default is a 60 watt refrigerator 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 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 refrigerator in every state
Same 60 watt refrigerator, 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 | 0.8 cents | 18 cents | $5.58 | $66.90 |
| Louisiana | 12.87c | 0.8 cents | 19 cents | $5.64 | $67.69 |
| North Dakota | 13.31c | 0.8 cents | 19 cents | $5.83 | $70.01 |
| Utah | 13.31c | 0.8 cents | 19 cents | $5.83 | $70.01 |
| Idaho | 13.37c | 0.8 cents | 19 cents | $5.86 | $70.32 |
| Tennessee | 13.42c | 0.8 cents | 19 cents | $5.88 | $70.58 |
| Nebraska | 13.54c | 0.8 cents | 19 cents | $5.93 | $71.21 |
| Kentucky | 13.8c | 0.8 cents | 20 cents | $6.05 | $72.58 |
| Arkansas | 14.37c | 0.9 cents | 21 cents | $6.30 | $75.58 |
| Mississippi | 14.43c | 0.9 cents | 21 cents | $6.32 | $75.90 |
| Wyoming | 14.43c | 0.9 cents | 21 cents | $6.32 | $75.90 |
| Washington | 14.63c | 0.9 cents | 21 cents | $6.41 | $76.95 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82c | 0.9 cents | 21 cents | $6.50 | $77.95 |
| North Carolina | 14.95c | 0.9 cents | 22 cents | $6.55 | $78.63 |
| Florida | 14.99c | 0.9 cents | 22 cents | $6.57 | $78.84 |
| Arizona | 15.05c | 0.9 cents | 22 cents | $6.60 | $79.16 |
| South Dakota | 15.15c | 0.9 cents | 22 cents | $6.64 | $79.68 |
| Kansas | 15.47c | 0.9 cents | 22 cents | $6.78 | $81.37 |
| Montana | 15.57c | 0.9 cents | 22 cents | $6.82 | $81.89 |
| South Carolina | 15.76c | 0.9 cents | 23 cents | $6.91 | $82.89 |
| Georgia | 15.9c | 1 cent | 23 cents | $6.97 | $83.63 |
| Texas | 15.91c | 1 cent | 23 cents | $6.97 | $83.68 |
| Oregon | 15.92c | 1 cent | 23 cents | $6.98 | $83.73 |
| Missouri | 16.02c | 1 cent | 23 cents | $7.02 | $84.26 |
| West Virginia | 16.31c | 1 cent | 23 cents | $7.15 | $85.78 |
| Alabama | 16.33c | 1 cent | 24 cents | $7.16 | $85.89 |
| New Mexico | 16.51c | 1 cent | 24 cents | $7.24 | $86.84 |
| Indiana | 17.02c | 1 cent | 25 cents | $7.46 | $89.52 |
| Iowa | 17.06c | 1 cent | 25 cents | $7.48 | $89.73 |
| Colorado | 17.17c | 1 cent | 25 cents | $7.53 | $90.31 |
| Minnesota | 17.2c | 1 cent | 25 cents | $7.54 | $90.47 |
| Virginia | 17.64c | 1.1 cents | 25 cents | $7.73 | $92.78 |
| Delaware | 18.7c | 1.1 cents | 27 cents | $8.20 | $98.35 |
| Illinois | 19.32c | 1.2 cents | 28 cents | $8.47 | $101.62 |
| Ohio | 19.38c | 1.2 cents | 28 cents | $8.49 | $101.93 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41c | 1.2 cents | 28 cents | $8.51 | $102.09 |
| Maryland | 21.4c | 1.3 cents | 31 cents | $9.38 | $112.56 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77c | 1.3 cents | 31 cents | $9.54 | $114.50 |
| Michigan | 22.99c | 1.4 cents | 33 cents | $10.08 | $120.92 |
| Vermont | 23.84c | 1.4 cents | 34 cents | $10.45 | $125.39 |
| Connecticut | 24.51c | 1.5 cents | 35 cents | $10.74 | $128.91 |
| New Jersey | 24.61c | 1.5 cents | 35 cents | $10.79 | $129.44 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98c | 1.6 cents | 37 cents | $11.39 | $136.64 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64c | 1.7 cents | 40 cents | $12.11 | $145.38 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18c | 1.7 cents | 41 cents | $12.35 | $148.22 |
| New York | 28.65c | 1.7 cents | 41 cents | $12.56 | $150.69 |
| Alaska | 29.41c | 1.8 cents | 42 cents | $12.89 | $154.68 |
| California | 29.75c | 1.8 cents | 43 cents | $13.04 | $156.47 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48c | 1.8 cents | 44 cents | $13.36 | $160.31 |
| Maine | 32.11c | 1.9 cents | 46 cents | $14.07 | $168.89 |
| Hawaii | 47.18c | 2.8 cents | 68 cents | $20.68 | $248.15 |
Rates: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, residential sector, August 2026, preliminary. All rates with the year-on-year change.
How a refrigerator 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 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.