How Much Electricity Does a Refrigerator Use?

Short answer: most full-size refrigerators sold today are rated at about 400 to 600 kWh a year, which is roughly 1.1 to 1.6 kWh a day. At the 2026 US average electricity price that is about $75 to $110 a year. Older, larger or side-by-side models with ice makers often use more.

To cost your own fridge alongside other appliances, use the electricity cost calculator.

Watts vs kWh: why the label wattage misleads

A fridge's compressor switches on and off all day. While it runs it typically draws around 100 to 250 W, and for a moment when it starts it draws several times that. But it might run only a third to half of the time. So a fridge that draws 150 W while running does not use 150 W × 24 hours; averaged over the day it uses something closer to 50 to 70 W.

That is why the most reliable figure is the yearly kWh on the yellow EnergyGuide label (US) or the energy label (UK, EU, Australia). Divide it by 365 for a daily figure.

What a typical fridge costs to run

For a fridge rated at 526 kWh a year (1.44 kWh a day, close to the middle of the range for new full-size models):

How to find your own fridge's use

1. Check the energy label or the model number online for the rated kWh per year.
2. Measure it: a plug-in energy meter between the fridge and the wall shows real use. Leave it for at least 24 hours (a week is better) because use varies with door openings and room temperature.
3. Estimate from watts only as a last resort: the running watts on the back panel × hours the compressor runs (often 8 to 12 a day) ÷ 1,000.

What makes a fridge use more

• Age: efficiency standards have tightened over the decades, so an old fridge in the garage can cost more to run than the one in your kitchen.
• Size and style: side-by-side models and through-the-door ice and water dispensers use more than top-freezer models of the same size.
• Location: a fridge next to an oven, in direct sun or in a hot garage works harder.
• Settings and seals: colder than needed, or a door seal that no longer closes tightly, means more running time.

Cutting the cost

• Set the fridge to about 37°F (3°C) and the freezer to 0°F (−18°C).
• Leave a few inches of space behind and above it, and vacuum the condenser coils once or twice a year.
• Check the door seal: if a sheet of paper slides out easily when the door is shut, the seal needs replacing.
• Swap any remaining old bulbs for LEDs while you are at it (LED savings calculator).
• Consider retiring an old second fridge: if it is rarely full, it may cost more a year than the food it saves.

Running a fridge in a power outage

Because a fridge uses about 1.5 kWh a day, a 1,000 Wh portable power station keeps one running for roughly 13 to 14 hours after inverter losses, and a 2,000 Wh unit for about a day. A fridge kept closed stays safely cold for about 4 hours without power, so you can also cycle it on for an hour at a time to stretch a battery further. For generators, size for the compressor's start-up surge; the generator size calculator includes it.

Frequently asked questions

How many watts does a refrigerator use?

Typically 100 to 250 W while the compressor runs, with a short start-up surge several times higher. Averaged across a day, most modern fridges use 50 to 70 W.

How many kWh does a fridge use per day?

About 1.1 to 1.6 kWh for most new full-size models; check your energy label (yearly kWh ÷ 365).

Does a fridge use more electricity in summer?

Yes. A warmer kitchen and more door openings make the compressor run longer.

Sources

• EnergyGuide labels for current full-size models (for example 495 and 599 kWh a year), via Lowe's EnergyGuide archive.
• US Department of Energy, estimating appliance energy use.
• Electricity prices: EIA 2026 forecast (US), Ofgem cap October–December 2026 (UK), Canada Energy Regulator (Canada), 2026 retailer data (Australia).

Checked October 22, 2026.