How Many Watts Does a Refrigerator Use? kWh per Year and Monthly Cost

Quick answer

A refrigerator does not draw one steady wattage. Its compressor switches on and off all day, so the number to use is the kWh per year printed on its yellow EnergyGuide label. In ENERGY STAR’s list of certified models, the typical (median) top-freezer fridge is rated 363 kWh a year and the typical bottom-freezer or French-door fridge 569 kWh a year. That is an average draw of about 41 to 65 watts, or about $5.54 to $8.68 a month at the U.S. average home electricity price for July 2026 (18.31¢ per kWh, according to the EIA). Older fridges use more: ENERGY STAR estimates about 1,031 kWh a year for a mid-size top-freezer model made from 1993 to 2000.

Why “watts” is the wrong number for a refrigerator

A wattage only tells you how fast a fridge uses power while its compressor is running. It does not tell you how much power it uses in a day.

• The compressor cycles. The Department of Energy explains that a refrigerator, although “on” all the time, cycles on and off as needed to hold its inside temperature. DOE’s rough rule is that a fridge runs at its maximum wattage for about one-third of the time it is plugged in, which is about 8 hours a day.
• The label wattage is a maximum. According to DOE, the wattage stamped on an appliance or its nameplate is the maximum power the appliance draws. GE Appliances says the rating plate on a refrigerator lists its electrical information, that volts × amps = watts, and that start-up amps and watts are usually about 3 times the running amps or watts.
• A quoted wattage is not the around-the-clock draw. GE’s refrigerator FAQ says a typical refrigerator uses between 300 and 800 watts. That cannot be its around-the-clock draw: a fridge pulling 300 watts nonstop would use 2,628 kWh a year, and the highest-rated full-size model on ENERGY STAR’s certified list is rated 805 kWh a year.

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So the useful figure is energy over time, in kWh per year. Two simple formulas turn it into the numbers people search for:

• Average watts = kWh per year × 1,000 ÷ 8,760 (there are 8,760 hours in a year)
• Cost per month = kWh per year × price per kWh ÷ 12

A fridge rated 600 kWh a year averages 68.5 watts. Watts still matter in one case: GE notes that the exact running amps or watts may be needed when you plan to run a fridge on a generator or similar backup power. For that, use the rating plate, not the yearly figure.

Where to find your fridge’s kWh per year

Look for the yellow EnergyGuide label. The FTC lists refrigerators among the appliances that carry one, and the federal labeling rule (16 CFR 305.14) requires a refrigerator’s label to show its estimated annual energy consumption. DOE’s Energy Saver Guide shows where it sits on the label: an “Estimated Yearly Electricity Use” figure in kWh, below the “Estimated Yearly Energy Cost” in dollars.

Use the kWh number, not the dollar number. The FTC says the cost is only an estimate based on typical use and a national average energy price, and your cost depends on your local price. Every refrigerator label must state which price it used. The FTC’s current rule sets that price at 14¢ per kWh, based on DOE information from 2022. The price has changed over the years (the sample label in DOE’s 2022 guide shows 12¢), so check the small print on your own label.

The U.S. average home price in July 2026 was 18.31¢ per kWh, about 31% higher than 14¢. A fridge rated 600 kWh a year shows $84 on a 14¢ label, but costs about $109.86 a year at the July 2026 average.

No label? The FTC suggests looking inside the appliance or checking the seller’s or manufacturer’s website. For certified models, ENERGY STAR’s list of certified refrigerators includes each model’s annual energy use. For an older fridge, a plug-in electricity usage monitor works well. DOE says these monitors can measure any 120-volt device and are especially useful for appliances that do not run constantly, like refrigerators. Leave it in place for several days, then multiply the daily kWh by 365.

How much electricity do new refrigerators use?

To see what is normal today, we downloaded ENERGY STAR’s list of certified residential refrigerators and grouped the models sold in the U.S. by type.

Type	Models	Middle 80% of models	Median	Median average draw	Median cost per month
Compact	1,713	206 to 335 kWh/yr	247 kWh/yr	28 W	$3.77
Top freezer	750	297 to 450 kWh/yr	363 kWh/yr	41 W	$5.54
Bottom freezer (includes French door)	1,255	399 to 725 kWh/yr	569 kWh/yr	65 W	$8.68
Side-by-side	93	460 to 670 kWh/yr	615 kWh/yr	70 W	$9.38

Freestanding models listed for the U.S. market. The middle range covers the 10th to 90th percentile of models. Cost per month is the yearly cost divided by 12. Source: ENERGY STAR Certified Residential Refrigerators dataset (downloaded Oct. 23, 2026); costs at the EIA U.S. residential average for July 2026 (18.31¢/kWh)

The pattern matches ENERGY STAR’s buying advice: larger fridges generally use more energy, the most efficient models are typically 16 to 20 cubic feet, and top-freezer models tend to use the least. DOE’s Energy Saver Guide adds that models without an icemaker or water dispenser use less energy.

What a refrigerator costs to run per month and per year

Here is the cost at the U.S. average price for five levels of rated use. The levels come from the ENERGY STAR data above and from ENERGY STAR’s Flip Your Fridge calculator for older models.

Rated use	Average draw	Per month	Per year	Typical of
250 kWh/yr	28.5 W	$3.81	$45.77	A compact fridge (certified median: 247 kWh)
400 kWh/yr	45.7 W	$6.10	$73.24	A new top-freezer fridge (9 in 10 certified models are at or under 450 kWh)
600 kWh/yr	68.5 W	$9.15	$109.86	A new bottom-freezer, French-door or side-by-side fridge (certified medians: 569 and 615 kWh)
800 kWh/yr	91.3 W	$12.21	$146.48	The highest-rated certified full-size models (up to 805 kWh)
1,000 kWh/yr	114.2 W	$15.26	$183.10	A 1990s top-freezer fridge (ENERGY STAR estimate: 1,031 kWh)

Yearly cost = kWh per year × $0.1831. Monthly cost = yearly cost ÷ 12. Average draw = kWh per year × 1,000 ÷ 8,760. Source: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (U.S. residential average, July 2026: 18.31¢/kWh)

For scale, the EIA says the average U.S. household uses about 10,500 kWh of electricity a year, so a 600 kWh fridge is about 6% of a typical home’s use. The EIA notes that refrigerators are used in nearly every home and, with lighting, are the next largest electricity end uses after air conditioning, space heating, and water heating.

What it costs in your state

Prices vary widely. In July 2026, the average home price ranged from 12.72¢ per kWh in Louisiana to 48.00¢ in Hawaii. A fridge rated 600 kWh a year costs about $76.32 a year in Louisiana and about $288.00 a year in Hawaii.

The table below uses a 600 kWh/year fridge, converted to its average draw of 68.5 watts running 24 hours a day.

Cost to run a refrigerator rated 600 kWh a year (68.5 W average) 24 hours a day, by state (July 2026 rates)

State	Rate (¢/kWh)	Per hour	Per day	Per month (30 days)
U.S. average	18.31¢	$0.013	$0.30	$9.03
Alabama	16.40¢	$0.011	$0.27	$8.09
Alaska	28.83¢	$0.020	$0.47	$14.22
Arizona	15.38¢	$0.011	$0.25	$7.58
Arkansas	14.33¢	$0.010	$0.24	$7.07
California	33.61¢	$0.023	$0.55	$16.57
Colorado	17.00¢	$0.012	$0.28	$8.38
Connecticut	24.16¢	$0.017	$0.40	$11.91
Delaware	18.48¢	$0.013	$0.30	$9.11
District of Columbia	25.21¢	$0.017	$0.41	$12.43
Florida	15.03¢	$0.010	$0.25	$7.41
Georgia	16.27¢	$0.011	$0.27	$8.02
Hawaii	48.00¢	$0.033	$0.79	$23.67
Idaho	13.73¢	$0.009	$0.23	$6.77
Illinois	19.22¢	$0.013	$0.32	$9.48
Indiana	16.73¢	$0.011	$0.28	$8.25
Iowa	15.99¢	$0.011	$0.26	$7.89
Kansas	15.27¢	$0.010	$0.25	$7.53
Kentucky	13.81¢	$0.009	$0.23	$6.81
Louisiana	12.72¢	$0.009	$0.21	$6.27
Maine	32.41¢	$0.022	$0.53	$15.98
Maryland	21.41¢	$0.015	$0.35	$10.56
Massachusetts	30.49¢	$0.021	$0.50	$15.04
Michigan	23.05¢	$0.016	$0.38	$11.37
Minnesota	17.45¢	$0.012	$0.29	$8.61
Mississippi	14.54¢	$0.010	$0.24	$7.17
Missouri	16.09¢	$0.011	$0.26	$7.93
Montana	14.99¢	$0.010	$0.25	$7.39
Nebraska	13.78¢	$0.009	$0.23	$6.80
Nevada	12.77¢	$0.009	$0.21	$6.30
New Hampshire	26.60¢	$0.018	$0.44	$13.12
New Jersey	25.19¢	$0.017	$0.41	$12.42
New Mexico	16.09¢	$0.011	$0.26	$7.93
New York	29.90¢	$0.020	$0.49	$14.75
North Carolina	15.16¢	$0.010	$0.25	$7.48
North Dakota	13.41¢	$0.009	$0.22	$6.61
Ohio	19.45¢	$0.013	$0.32	$9.59
Oklahoma	14.35¢	$0.010	$0.24	$7.08
Oregon	15.97¢	$0.011	$0.26	$7.88
Pennsylvania	21.72¢	$0.015	$0.36	$10.71
Rhode Island	28.29¢	$0.019	$0.47	$13.95
South Carolina	15.47¢	$0.011	$0.25	$7.63
South Dakota	15.37¢	$0.011	$0.25	$7.58
Tennessee	13.71¢	$0.009	$0.23	$6.76
Texas	15.88¢	$0.011	$0.26	$7.83
Utah	13.12¢	$0.009	$0.22	$6.47
Vermont	23.75¢	$0.016	$0.39	$11.71
Virginia	17.55¢	$0.012	$0.29	$8.65
Washington	14.71¢	$0.010	$0.24	$7.25
West Virginia	15.78¢	$0.011	$0.26	$7.78
Wisconsin	19.06¢	$0.013	$0.31	$9.40
Wyoming	14.36¢	$0.010	$0.24	$7.08

The state table uses 30-day months, so its monthly figures are about 1.4% lower than one-twelfth of the yearly cost. Your own plan may also have tiers or time-of-use pricing. For the closest estimate, use the price per kWh from your electric bill in the calculator below.

Calculate your own cost

Pick Refrigerator, choose yearly energy use (kWh), and enter the kWh number from your EnergyGuide label or your usage monitor. To compare other appliances in your home, see the appliance cost calculator.

Old refrigerator vs. a new ENERGY STAR model

ENERGY STAR says certified refrigerators are about 9% more energy efficient than models that meet the federal minimum standard, and that an old refrigerator uses about 20% more energy than a new ENERGY STAR model. Age matters more than that average suggests, though. We entered a few common fridges into ENERGY STAR’s Flip Your Fridge calculator at the U.S. average price of 18.31¢ per kWh:

Your current fridge	Estimated use	Estimated cost per year	Savings from replacing it, over 5 years
Top freezer, 19.0 to 21.4 cu ft, made 1993-2000	1,031 kWh/yr	$188.78	$528
Top freezer, 19.0 to 21.4 cu ft, made 2001-2010	651 kWh/yr	$119.20	$218
Top freezer, 19.0 to 21.4 cu ft, made 2011 or later	438 kWh/yr	$80.20	$45
Side-by-side, 21.5 to 24.4 cu ft, made 2001-2010	876 kWh/yr	$160.40	$223

ENERGY STAR bases these estimates on historical data adjusted for age-related wear and on its specifications. Actual savings vary with use and upkeep. Source: ENERGY STAR Flip Your Fridge Calculator, run Oct. 23, 2026 at $0.1831/kWh (option 'Replace my main refrigerator/freezer')

The takeaway: replacing a 1990s fridge saves real money, while a fridge made after 2010 saves little on energy alone ($45 over five years in this example). If you do replace one, ENERGY STAR notes that many appliance retailers will pick up and recycle the old unit.

If your fridge seems to run all the time and still is not keeping food cold, the cause may be a problem you can check rather than age. See our guide to a refrigerator that is not cooling before you decide.

Does a second fridge in the garage cost much?

It can. The EIA reports that 34% of U.S. homes had two or more refrigerators in 2020. On average, the most-used refrigerator cost about $87 to run that year and the second one about $66. The EIA notes that second fridges are often smaller. ENERGY STAR’s fact sheet says a second refrigerator kept in a basement or garage could be wasting $90 a year.

Older second fridges cost more. In the Flip Your Fridge calculator at 18.31¢ per kWh, removing (not replacing) an extra 19.0 to 21.4 cu ft top-freezer fridge saves an estimated $531 over five years if it was made in 2001-2010, and $840 if it was made in 1993-2000.

Garage temperatures make it harder for a standard fridge.

• Whirlpool says its standard refrigerators are meant for locations between 55°F and 110°F (check your owner’s manual for your model), and that garages and basements often fall outside that range.
• In cold weather, Whirlpool says a standard fridge may cycle less or not at all because the cold air hides the need for cooling, so the freezer can warm up and food can thaw. In hot weather, it may run excessively, which raises energy use.
• GE Appliances does not recommend installing a refrigerator where the temperature drops below 60°F unless the owner’s manual says otherwise, notes that there may be no cooling at all at 32°F, and advises against temperatures above 110°F. GE also says aftermarket garage kits or heater kits should not be used.
• Garage-ready models are built for this. GE says its garage-ready top-freezer refrigerators can be installed where temperatures range from 38°F to 110°F. Whirlpool says some of its garage-ready models have a Garage Mode for ambient temperatures that stay between 38°F and 55°F.

If you keep a second fridge, DOE’s Energy Saver Guide suggests recycling an old one, especially if you do not store much in it or it sits in unconditioned space. If you need it year-round, ENERGY STAR recommends replacing the old one with a certified model.

Ways to lower what your fridge costs

These tips come from ENERGY STAR, DOE’s Energy Saver Guide, and the FDA:

• Set the right temperature. ENERGY STAR and DOE recommend 35°F to 38°F for the fridge, and DOE recommends 0°F for a stand-alone freezer. The FDA says to keep the fridge at 40°F or below and the freezer at 0°F, and notes that few fridge controls show the actual temperature, so an inexpensive appliance thermometer helps.
• Keep it away from heat. Place the fridge away from the oven, the dishwasher, and direct sunlight.
• Give it air and keep the coils clean. Leave a few inches between the wall and the fridge. On older models, keep the condenser coils clean, and follow the owner’s manual for how to do it safely.
• Check the door seals. DOE suggests closing the door on a piece of paper or a dollar bill. If it pulls out easily, the latch may need adjusting or the seal may need replacing.
• Cover liquids and wrap food. DOE says uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.
• Keep the door closed as much as you can.
• When you shop, compare EnergyGuide labels, choose the size you need, and consider a top-freezer model, fewer doors, and no through-the-door ice or water if efficiency is your priority.

How we calculated these numbers

• Prices: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, average residential price by state for July 2026 (released September 24, 2026). It is an average across all customers in a state, not your exact plan.
• Energy use: rated kWh per year from ENERGY STAR’s certified refrigerator dataset (downloaded October 23, 2026; freestanding models listed for the U.S. market) and from ENERGY STAR’s Flip Your Fridge calculator, run on October 23, 2026 at $0.1831 per kWh.
• Math: yearly cost = kWh per year × price per kWh; monthly cost = yearly cost ÷ 12; average watts = kWh per year × 1,000 ÷ 8,760. Costs are rounded to the cent.
• Updates: we recalculate the tables when the EIA publishes new monthly prices.