U.S. residential electricity EIA data: July 2026 US average 18.3¢/kWh Updated
Appliances Rates by state Compare Calculators Reports Methodology About

Kitchen · Hawaii

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Refrigerator in Hawaii?

The short answer

A typical 150W refrigerator uses about 1.26 kWh a day, which costs $0.60 a day in Hawaii — about $18.40 a month or $221 a year.

The estimate uses Hawaii’s average residential electricity price of 48.0¢/kWh from EIA (July 2026) — 162% above the national average.

Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated

Refrigerator cost by size and efficiency in Hawaii

Cost at 48.0¢/kWh, the Hawaii average (EIA, Jul 2026)
ModelkWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
Efficient (100W) 25.6 $0.40 $12.27 $147
Typical (150W) 38.3 $0.60 $18.40 $221
Older / large (250W) 63.9 $1.01 $30.66 $368

Hawaii vs other states

Hawaii has the most expensive electricity in the country, so running a refrigerator here costs $162 more a year than in Louisiana at the same usage.

Hawaii has the most expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC. Hawaii price per kWh · all states ranked

Electricity price trend in Hawaii

48.0¢/kWh in July 2026 — ▲ +22.0% from a year earlier.

How to lower the cost of running a refrigerator

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.

  • 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 a refrigerator cost to run per year in Hawaii?

A typical 150W refrigerator uses about 460 kWh a year, which costs about $221 at Hawaii’s average rate of 48.0¢/kWh.

How many kWh does a refrigerator use per month?

At running 24/7, a typical refrigerator uses about 38.3 kWh a month. In Hawaii that costs $18.40.

Is it expensive to run a refrigerator in Hawaii?

Hawaii has the most expensive residential electricity of the 50 states and DC at 48.0¢/kWh — one of the most expensive. Running a refrigerator here costs about $221 a year at typical use, compared with $84.21 at the national average rate.

What is the electricity rate in Hawaii right now?

The average residential electricity rate in Hawaii was 48.0¢ per kWh in July 2026, according to the latest EIA data — up 22.0% from a year earlier.

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.

Refrigerator costs in nearby states

Cheapest and priciest states

Comparisons

Sources & method