Kitchen · US average
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Refrigerator?
The short answer
A typical 150W refrigerator uses about 1.26 kWh a day, which costs about $7.02 a month ($84.21 a year) at the US average electricity rate.
Based on the US average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026). Costs range from $4.88/month in Louisiana to $18.40/month in Hawaii — pick your state below for an exact figure.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Refrigerator running cost at the US average rate
| Model | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Efficient (100W) | 25.6 | $0.15 | $4.68 | $56.14 |
| Typical (150W) | 38.3 | $0.23 | $7.02 | $84.21 |
| Older / large (250W) | 63.9 | $0.38 | $11.70 | $140 |
Cost to run a refrigerator in every state
At running 24/7 and each state’s average residential rate. Select a state for its full breakdown.
| Alabama | 16.4¢ | $0.21 | $6.29 | $75.42 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 28.8¢ | $0.36 | $11.05 | $133 |
| Arizona | 15.4¢ | $0.19 | $5.90 | $70.73 |
| Arkansas | 14.3¢ | $0.18 | $5.49 | $65.90 |
| California | 33.6¢ | $0.42 | $12.88 | $155 |
| Colorado | 17.0¢ | $0.21 | $6.52 | $78.18 |
| Connecticut | 24.2¢ | $0.30 | $9.26 | $111 |
| Delaware | 18.5¢ | $0.23 | $7.08 | $84.99 |
| District of Columbia | 25.2¢ | $0.32 | $9.66 | $116 |
| Florida | 15.0¢ | $0.19 | $5.76 | $69.12 |
| Georgia | 16.3¢ | $0.21 | $6.24 | $74.83 |
| Hawaii | 48.0¢ | $0.60 | $18.40 | $221 |
| Idaho | 13.7¢ | $0.17 | $5.26 | $63.14 |
| Illinois | 19.2¢ | $0.24 | $7.37 | $88.39 |
| Indiana | 16.7¢ | $0.21 | $6.41 | $76.94 |
| Iowa | 16.0¢ | $0.20 | $6.13 | $73.54 |
| Kansas | 15.3¢ | $0.19 | $5.85 | $70.23 |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢ | $0.17 | $5.29 | $63.51 |
| Louisiana | 12.7¢ | $0.16 | $4.88 | $58.50 |
| Maine | 32.4¢ | $0.41 | $12.42 | $149 |
| Maryland | 21.4¢ | $0.27 | $8.21 | $98.46 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢ | $0.38 | $11.69 | $140 |
| Michigan | 23.1¢ | $0.29 | $8.83 | $106 |
| Minnesota | 17.5¢ | $0.22 | $6.69 | $80.25 |
| Mississippi | 14.5¢ | $0.18 | $5.57 | $66.87 |
| Missouri | 16.1¢ | $0.20 | $6.17 | $74.00 |
| Montana | 15.0¢ | $0.19 | $5.75 | $68.94 |
| Nebraska | 13.8¢ | $0.17 | $5.28 | $63.37 |
| Nevada | 12.8¢ | $0.16 | $4.89 | $58.73 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6¢ | $0.34 | $10.20 | $122 |
| New Jersey | 25.2¢ | $0.32 | $9.66 | $116 |
| New Mexico | 16.1¢ | $0.20 | $6.17 | $74.00 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.38 | $11.46 | $138 |
| North Carolina | 15.2¢ | $0.19 | $5.81 | $69.72 |
| North Dakota | 13.4¢ | $0.17 | $5.14 | $61.67 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.25 | $7.46 | $89.45 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4¢ | $0.18 | $5.50 | $66.00 |
| Oregon | 16.0¢ | $0.20 | $6.12 | $73.45 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7¢ | $0.27 | $8.33 | $99.89 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3¢ | $0.36 | $10.84 | $130 |
| South Carolina | 15.5¢ | $0.19 | $5.93 | $71.15 |
| South Dakota | 15.4¢ | $0.19 | $5.89 | $70.69 |
| Tennessee | 13.7¢ | $0.17 | $5.25 | $63.05 |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | $0.20 | $6.09 | $73.03 |
| Utah | 13.1¢ | $0.17 | $5.03 | $60.34 |
| Vermont | 23.8¢ | $0.30 | $9.10 | $109 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.22 | $6.73 | $80.71 |
| Washington | 14.7¢ | $0.19 | $5.64 | $67.65 |
| West Virginia | 15.8¢ | $0.20 | $6.05 | $72.57 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1¢ | $0.24 | $7.31 | $87.66 |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢ | $0.18 | $5.50 | $66.04 |
How much electricity does a refrigerator use?
A refrigerator runs 24/7, but its compressor is only on about a third of the time — a modern fridge uses roughly 400–600 kWh a year.
Your refrigerator is one of the few appliances that never turns off, but it doesn't draw its rated wattage all day. The compressor cycles on and off to hold temperature, running roughly 30–40% of the time in a typical kitchen. That is why we apply a duty cycle: a 150W fridge at 35% uses about 1.26 kWh a day. Older refrigerators (pre-2001) and second fridges in hot garages can use two to three times more.
Ways to cut the cost
- Set the fridge to 37–40°F and the freezer to 0°F — colder settings waste energy.
- Vacuum the condenser coils once or twice a year.
- Retire an old second fridge in the garage — it can cost more per year than a new one.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a refrigerator per month?
At running 24/7, a typical refrigerator costs about $7.02 a month at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh. Depending on your state, the same usage costs between $4.88 and $18.40.
How many watts does a refrigerator use?
Refrigerators typically draw 100W–250W, with 150W a common figure. A refrigerator runs 24/7, but its compressor is only on about a third of the time — a modern fridge uses roughly 400–600 kWh a year.
Which state is cheapest to run a refrigerator in?
Louisiana is currently the cheapest at about $58.50 a year for typical use, and Hawaii the most expensive at about $221 a year.
How many kWh does a refrigerator use per day?
A modern full-size refrigerator typically uses 1–1.7 kWh per day (about 400–600 kWh per year). Older models can use 3 kWh or more per day.
Related appliances
Comparisons
Sources & method
- Electricity rates: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly — average residential retail price, July 2026 (latest available). Retrieved .
- CO₂: EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 emissions rate of in-state power generation.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).