Refrigerator Electricity Cost Calculator
A refrigerator runs every hour of every day, which makes it one of the largest year-round electricity users in most homes — but not for the reason its wattage suggests. A fridge rated at 150 watts doesn't draw 150 watts continuously; its compressor cycles on and off, typically running about a third of the time, so the real average is closer to 50 watts. This calculator handles that duty cycle for you and shows what your refrigerator actually costs to run per day, month, and year at your state's electricity rate.
watts × hours × duty ÷ 1000
at your state rate
this appliance
Results update live as you type. For planning and field-check estimates — always verify against applicable standards and equipment ratings.
Why refrigerators cost less than their label suggests
A refrigerator's nameplate wattage is its peak draw when the compressor starts, not what it averages across the day. Because the compressor cycles — running roughly 30–40% of the time in a modern unit — a 150 W fridge actually averages about 50 W. That means roughly 1.2 kWh per day, or about $75 a year at the U.S. average rate.
Older refrigerators (pre-2000) can use 2–3× more energy than modern ENERGY STAR models. If you have an old second fridge in the garage, it may cost more to run annually than a new primary fridge. Unplugging or replacing an old spare unit is often the single highest-yield kitchen energy action available.
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