Refrigerator Energy Cost Calculator: Cost per Year, Month and Day
Find what your refrigerator costs to run per year, month and day from its EnergyGuide kWh, a plug-in meter reading, its watts, or its age and style, and see what replacing an old fridge would save and how long it takes to pay back.
How it works
Yearly kWh = label figure, or meter kWh ÷ days × 365, or rated W × running share × 8,760 ÷ 1,000, or typical kWh for its age × style × ice-maker factor · Cost per year = kWh × rate · Per month = ÷ 12 · Per day = ÷ 365 · Average watts = kWh × 1,000 ÷ 8,760 · Saving = (old kWh − new kWh) × rate · Payback = new price ÷ yearly saving
A refrigerator runs around the clock, cycling its compressor on and off, so its cost is best worked out from energy over time rather than its rated watts. The yellow EnergyGuide label gives that figure directly in kWh per year from a standard test. Multiply by your electricity rate for the yearly cost, then divide by 12 or 365. The US average residential rate is about 18 cents per kWh in 2026 (EIA), but rates vary widely by state and utility, so use the rate on your bill. No label? A plug-in energy meter left on the fridge for a few days, scaled to a year, is the most accurate figure for your kitchen. If you only know the age, the calculator uses typical consumption for a 22 cu ft fridge by era, from about 2,200 kWh a year before 1976 to around 600 for 2001–2010 models and 425 or less for efficient new ones, adding 13% for a side-by-side and 17% for an ice maker or through-door dispenser. Rated watts times an assumed running share is the roughest method. Real use can exceed the label in a hot garage, with frequent door openings, worn seals or dusty coils. To decide on a replacement, enter the new model’s label kWh and price under More options to see the yearly saving and payback time.
Worked example
A fridge rated 400 kWh a year at $0.18 per kWh costs 400 × 0.18 = $72.00 a year, $6.00 a month or $0.20 a day. Its average draw is 400,000 ÷ 8,760 = 46 W, and over 12 years it costs $864. A 1993–2000 fridge using about 850 kWh would cost $153 a year at the same rate, so replacing it with a 400 kWh model saves $81 a year.
Sources: U.S. EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook: residential electricity price (17.3¢ in 2025, 18.2¢ forecast for 2026) · ENERGY STAR: Refrigerators (old fridges cost about $95 more a year; 12-year lifetime) · Michael Bluejay: How much electricity does my refrigerator use? (kWh by era, style and ice maker) · Direct Energy: How much electricity does my refrigerator use?
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a refrigerator?
A modern fridge using about 400 kWh a year costs about $72 a year ($6 a month) at the 2026 US average of about 18 cents per kWh. An older one using 1,000–2,000 kWh costs $180–$360 a year at the same rate.
How many watts does a refrigerator use?
Its compressor draws its rated watts only while it runs, and it cycles on and off, so the average is much lower: a modern fridge using 300–450 kWh a year averages about 35–50 W. Average watts = yearly kWh × 1,000 ÷ 8,760.
Where is the yearly kWh figure?
It is the large number on the yellow EnergyGuide label, and it is also in the spec sheet and manual. For a fridge with no label, use a plug-in energy meter for a few days, or choose Age only for a typical figure.
Is it worth replacing an old refrigerator?
Often, if it is very old. A fridge from the 1980s can use 1,100–1,700 kWh a year against about 400 for a new one, a saving of $130–$235 a year at 18 cents. A 2001–2010 model saves much less, around $30–$40 a year. ENERGY STAR estimates fridges over 15 years old could cost about $95 more a year to run.
Does a second fridge in the garage cost a lot?
It can. An old second fridge in a hot garage may use far more than its label, since energy use climbs steeply with room temperature. Unplugging one that is rarely needed saves its whole yearly cost.
Why does my fridge use more than the label says?
The label comes from a standard lab test. A warm room, many door openings, poor door seals, a thermostat set too cold, an ice maker and dusty condenser coils all raise use. Cleaning the coils typically saves about 5%.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.