Electricity cost · refrigerator

Cost to run a refrigerator

A 150 W refrigerator used about 24 hours a day costs roughly $0.61 per day, $18.61 a month, or $223.38 a year at the $0.17/kWh US average rate — and uses about 3.6 kWh a day. These are indicative figures; adjust the wattage, hours, and your $/kWh below for your own home.

Typical wattages & rates indicative, as of — use your bill's $/kWh

Refrigerator: the short answer

Running a typical 150 W refrigerator about 24 hours a day costs roughly $0.61 a day, $18.61 a month, and $223.38 a year at the $0.17/kWh US average — about 3.6 kWh a day. A refrigerator runs around the clock but cycles its compressor, so it's modeled as an effective average of about 150 W over 24 hours rather than its peak draw.

Make it your own

These are indicative figures, not a bill. Your real cost depends on the unit's actual wattage, how long you run it, and your local rate. Enter your own watts and the $/kWh from your bill in the calculator above for an accurate estimate. Cycling appliances don't run at full power continuously.

Indicative: typical 150 W × 24 h/day at the $0.17/kWh US average, as of 2026-06. Use your bill for accuracy.

FAQ

How much does it cost to run a refrigerator?

Indicatively, a typical 150 W refrigerator run about 24 hours a day costs roughly $0.61 per day, $18.61 per month, and $223.38 per year at the US-average rate of $0.17/kWh, using about 3.6 kWh a day (1314 kWh a year). A refrigerator runs around the clock but cycles its compressor, so it's modeled as an effective average of about 150 W over 24 hours rather than its peak draw. These are indicative figures — your real cost depends on the unit's actual wattage, how long you run it, and your own electricity rate.

How much electricity does a refrigerator use?

At a typical 150 W and 24 hours of use a day, it draws about 3.6 kWh per day — roughly 1314 kWh over a year on the default schedule. Cycles all day — modeled as an EFFECTIVE AVERAGE ~150 W over 24 h, not its compressor's peak draw. Multiply the kWh by your own $/kWh to get your cost.

How can I lower this cost?

The two levers are running it less (fewer hours or, for seasonal items, fewer days) and paying less per kWh. Using the appliance during off-peak hours can help if you're on a time-of-use plan, and a more efficient model lowers the wattage. The single most accurate thing you can do is enter your real wattage and your bill's $/kWh in the calculator above.

Indicative estimate only. The 150 W figure is a typical indicative value, not a spec for your specific refrigerator, and $0.17/kWh is an indicative US average, not your tariff. Real cost varies widely by model, efficiency, usage, and your local rate and plan. For an accurate figure, use the wattage on your appliance and the $/kWh on your electricity bill. Data as of 2026-06.