What a refrigerator costs to run
A typical certified refrigerator uses 480 kWh a year, about $87.31 at the U.S. average rate.
Full-size models with a top freezer, bottom freezer or side-by-side doors. Based on 2,481 models on the ENERGY STAR certified list.
Cost by state
| Rank | State | Cents per kWh | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | 46.41 | $222.77 | $18.56 |
| 2 | California | 32.58 | $156.38 | $13.03 |
| 3 | Maine | 30.23 | $145.10 | $12.09 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 30.19 | $144.91 | $12.08 |
| 5 | New York | 29.26 | $140.45 | $11.70 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | 29.05 | $139.44 | $11.62 |
| 7 | Connecticut | 27.47 | $131.86 | $10.99 |
| 8 | Alaska | 27.32 | $131.14 | $10.93 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 26.91 | $129.17 | $10.76 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | 24.86 | $119.33 | $9.94 |
| 11 | New Jersey | 24.09 | $115.63 | $9.64 |
| 12 | Vermont | 23.93 | $114.86 | $9.57 |
| 13 | Michigan | 21.73 | $104.30 | $8.69 |
| 14 | Maryland | 21.31 | $102.29 | $8.52 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | 21.13 | $101.42 | $8.45 |
| 16 | Illinois | 19.23 | $92.30 | $7.69 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | 19.05 | $91.44 | $7.62 |
| 18 | Ohio | 18.81 | $90.29 | $7.52 |
| 19 | Delaware | 17.98 | $86.30 | $7.19 |
| 20 | Indiana | 17.04 | $81.79 | $6.82 |
| 21 | Virginia | 16.95 | $81.36 | $6.78 |
| 22 | Colorado | 16.80 | $80.64 | $6.72 |
| 23 | Alabama | 16.51 | $79.25 | $6.60 |
| 24 | Minnesota | 16.44 | $78.91 | $6.58 |
| 25 | Texas | 16.03 | $76.94 | $6.41 |
| 26 | South Carolina | 15.90 | $76.32 | $6.36 |
| 27 | West Virginia | 15.58 | $74.78 | $6.23 |
| 28 | Georgia | 15.48 | $74.30 | $6.19 |
| 29 | Oregon | 15.46 | $74.21 | $6.18 |
| 30 | Arizona | 15.36 | $73.73 | $6.14 |
| 31 | New Mexico | 15.34 | $73.63 | $6.14 |
| 32 | Florida | 15.32 | $73.54 | $6.13 |
| 33 | Kansas | 15.26 | $73.25 | $6.10 |
| 34 | Mississippi | 15.06 | $72.29 | $6.02 |
| 35 | North Carolina | 14.94 | $71.71 | $5.98 |
| 36 | South Dakota | 14.58 | $69.98 | $5.83 |
| 37 | Iowa | 14.55 | $69.84 | $5.82 |
| 38 | Washington | 14.42 | $69.22 | $5.77 |
| 39 | Missouri | 14.28 | $68.54 | $5.71 |
| 40 | Kentucky | 14.20 | $68.16 | $5.68 |
| 41 | Montana | 14.13 | $67.82 | $5.65 |
| 42 | Wyoming | 14.01 | $67.25 | $5.60 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | 13.81 | $66.29 | $5.52 |
| 44 | Tennessee | 13.80 | $66.24 | $5.52 |
| 45 | Arkansas | 13.74 | $65.95 | $5.50 |
| 46 | Nevada | 13.36 | $64.13 | $5.34 |
| 47 | Louisiana | 13.27 | $63.70 | $5.31 |
| 48 | Utah | 13.19 | $63.31 | $5.28 |
| 49 | Idaho | 13.02 | $62.50 | $5.21 |
| 50 | Nebraska | 12.92 | $62.02 | $5.17 |
| 51 | North Dakota | 12.46 | $59.81 | $4.98 |
Models that use the least electricity
| Model | Details | kWh per year | Cost per year, U.S. average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midea MRW14B2ABB | Top Freezer, 1.5 | 121 | $22.01 |
| Honeywell H34WCB | Top Freezer, 3.3 | 143 | $26.01 |
| Fisher & Paykel RB2470BRV2 | Bottom Freezer, 9.4 | 200 | $36.38 |
| Absocold ARD1033FB21R/L | Top Freezer, 10.0 | 263 | $47.84 |
| Absocold ARD1033FS21R/L | Top Freezer, 10.0 | 263 | $47.84 |
| Absocold ARD1033FW21R/L | Top Freezer, 10.0 | 263 | $47.84 |
| MicroFridge 10.0LMF4R | Top Freezer, 10.0 | 263 | $47.84 |
| MicroFridge 10.0LMF4RW | Top Freezer, 10.0 | 263 | $47.84 |
| MicroFridge 10.0RMF4R | Top Freezer, 10.0 | 263 | $47.84 |
| MicroFridge 10.0RMF4RW | Top Freezer, 10.0 | 263 | $47.84 |
| Insignia NS-RTM10SS2-C | Top Freezer, 10.1 | 283 | $51.48 |
| Insignia NS-RTM10WH2-C | Top Freezer, 10.1 | 283 | $51.48 |
| LG LB12S2000* | Bottom Freezer, 11.8 | 285 | $51.84 |
| Beko BFBF2414SS | Bottom Freezer, 11.4 | 286 | $52.02 |
| Beko BFBF2414WH | Bottom Freezer, 11.4 | 286 | $52.02 |
Brands with the most certified models
| Brand | Models | Typical kWh per year |
|---|---|---|
| Frigidaire | 137 | 458 |
| LG | 130 | 670 |
| Summit | 125 | 390 |
| Whirlpool | 108 | 615 |
| GE | 97 | 547 |
| Samsung | 96 | 643 |
| Midea | 75 | 466 |
| KitchenAid | 73 | 615 |
| VITARA | 71 | 499 |
| Hisense | 69 | 475 |
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a refrigerator use?
A typical ENERGY STAR certified refrigerator uses about 480 kWh a year. The most efficient 10% use 333 kWh or less. The 10% that use the most need 699 kWh or more.
How much does it cost to run a refrigerator for a year?
About $87.31 at the U.S. average rate of 18.19 cents per kWh. It ranges from $59.81 in North Dakota to $222.77 in Hawaii.
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.