Is an efficient appliance worth the higher price?

It depends on three things: the gap in kWh, your state rate and how long you keep it.

By Felipe Guilherme de Oliveira Bueno. Updated November 11, 2026.

An efficient model usually costs more up front and less every month. Whether that trade pays off is simple arithmetic, and the answer changes a lot by state.

The payback formula

Extra purchase price / yearly savings = years to break even

Yearly savings are the difference in kWh between the two models, multiplied by your price per kWh.

An example with refrigerators

Among 2,481 full-size refrigerators on the ENERGY STAR list, the most efficient 10% use 333 kWh a year or less, and the 10% that use the most need 699 kWh or more. That gap of 366 kWh a year is worth:

$45.60 a year in North Dakota, the cheapest state.
$66.58 a year at the U.S. average rate.
$169.86 a year in Hawaii, the most expensive state.

So a $150 premium pays for itself in about 0.9 years in Hawaii and about 3.3 years in North Dakota. Part of that gap also comes from size and features, so compare models of the size you actually need.

Where efficiency matters most

Appliances that run all year, such as refrigerators, freezers and dehumidifiers.
Appliances that turn electricity into heat, such as electric dryers.
States with high rates. Check where yours ranks.

Where it matters least

If the yearly difference is a few dollars, as it is between most certified dishwashers, buy on price, reliability and features instead.

How we get these numbers: yearly electricity use comes from the ENERGY STAR certified product lists, measured with the federal test procedure. The rate is the average residential price the U.S. Energy Information Administration reports for each state, January to August 2026. Your own bill depends on your utility, your plan and how you use the appliance. See sources.