🍳 Kitchen
How Much Does a Mini Fridge Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.8¢/kWh (April 2026), a mini fridge costs about $8.23 per month at typical usage — 24 hours/day (always on).
Per hour
1.1¢
at 40–100 W
Per day
$0.27
24 hours/day (always on)
Per month
$8.23
44 kWh
Per year
$98.81
526 kWh
Mini fridges average 40–100 watts of continuous draw. Per cubic foot they're actually less efficient than full-size refrigerators, so a dorm fridge kept for a few sodas can be a surprisingly poor deal.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
1.1¢
Per day
$0.27
Per month
$8.23
Per year
$98.81
Uses 44 kWh/month at 18.8¢ per kWh.
Cheapest and most expensive states
Monthly cost at typical usage, using each state's current average residential rate.
Cost in every state
| State | Rate (¢/kWh) | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.4 | 0.7¢ | $5.43 | $65.17 |
| Idaho | 12.7 | 0.8¢ | $5.56 | $66.75 |
| Nebraska | 13.3 | 0.8¢ | $5.82 | $69.90 |
| Oklahoma | 13.3 | 0.8¢ | $5.82 | $69.90 |
| Utah | 13.3 | 0.8¢ | $5.82 | $69.90 |
| Iowa | 13.9 | 0.8¢ | $6.08 | $73.06 |
| Montana | 13.9 | 0.8¢ | $6.08 | $73.06 |
| Missouri | 14.0 | 0.8¢ | $6.13 | $73.58 |
| Arkansas | 14.2 | 0.9¢ | $6.22 | $74.64 |
| Nevada | 14.3 | 0.9¢ | $6.26 | $75.16 |
| Louisiana | 14.4 | 0.9¢ | $6.30 | $75.69 |
| Washington | 14.4 | 0.9¢ | $6.30 | $75.69 |
| South Dakota | 14.5 | 0.9¢ | $6.35 | $76.21 |
| Wyoming | 14.7 | 0.9¢ | $6.44 | $77.26 |
| Tennessee | 14.9 | 0.9¢ | $6.52 | $78.31 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | 0.9¢ | $6.57 | $78.84 |
| New Mexico | 15.2 | 0.9¢ | $6.65 | $79.89 |
| Florida | 15.4 | 0.9¢ | $6.74 | $80.94 |
| Georgia | 15.4 | 0.9¢ | $6.74 | $80.94 |
| Arizona | 15.5 | 0.9¢ | $6.79 | $81.47 |
| Kansas | 15.8 | 0.9¢ | $6.92 | $83.04 |
| Oregon | 15.8 | 0.9¢ | $6.92 | $83.04 |
| West Virginia | 16.1 | 1.0¢ | $7.05 | $84.62 |
| North Carolina | 16.3 | 1.0¢ | $7.14 | $85.67 |
| Minnesota | 16.4 | 1.0¢ | $7.18 | $86.20 |
| Colorado | 16.5 | 1.0¢ | $7.22 | $86.72 |
| Mississippi | 16.8 | 1.0¢ | $7.35 | $88.30 |
| Texas | 17.0 | 1.0¢ | $7.44 | $89.35 |
| South Carolina | 17.1 | 1.0¢ | $7.49 | $89.88 |
| Alabama | 17.4 | 1.0¢ | $7.62 | $91.45 |
| Virginia | 17.4 | 1.0¢ | $7.62 | $91.45 |
| Indiana | 17.9 | 1.1¢ | $7.84 | $94.08 |
| Delaware | 18.8 | 1.1¢ | $8.23 | $98.81 |
| Wisconsin | 19.2 | 1.2¢ | $8.40 | $101 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 1.2¢ | $8.54 | $102 |
| Illinois | 20.5 | 1.2¢ | $8.97 | $108 |
| Michigan | 21.4 | 1.3¢ | $9.37 | $112 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.5 | 1.3¢ | $9.41 | $113 |
| Maryland | 22.1 | 1.3¢ | $9.67 | $116 |
| New Jersey | 23.5 | 1.4¢ | $10.29 | $124 |
| Vermont | 24.6 | 1.5¢ | $10.77 | $129 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | 1.5¢ | $11.12 | $134 |
| New Hampshire | 27.2 | 1.6¢ | $11.91 | $143 |
| Alaska | 27.4 | 1.6¢ | $11.99 | $144 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | 1.7¢ | $12.39 | $149 |
| Maine | 28.4 | 1.7¢ | $12.43 | $149 |
| Massachusetts | 29.5 | 1.8¢ | $12.91 | $155 |
| New York | 29.5 | 1.8¢ | $12.91 | $155 |
| Connecticut | 32.2 | 1.9¢ | $14.10 | $169 |
| California | 35.3 | 2.1¢ | $15.45 | $186 |
| Hawaii | 46.6 | 2.8¢ | $20.40 | $245 |
How to lower the cost
- Match the appliance to the portion: microwave and air fryer beat the big oven for anything small.
- Keep refrigerator coils clean and gaskets tight — it runs 24/7, so small inefficiencies compound.
- Run the dishwasher full and skip heated dry.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a mini fridge use?
A typical mini fridge draws about 60 watts in use. At 24 hours/day (always on), that works out to roughly 1.4 kWh per day, or 44 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a mini fridge for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.8¢/kWh, one hour costs about 1.1¢. In North Dakota (12.4¢/kWh) it's 0.7¢, while in Hawaii (46.6¢/kWh) it's 2.8¢.
How much does a mini fridge cost to run per month?
With typical usage (24 hours/day (always on)), expect about $8.23 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $5.43 in North Dakota up to $20.40 in Hawaii. Rates are as of April 2026.
Does a mini fridge use a lot of electricity?
It's a moderate load: roughly 5% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption at typical usage. Noticeable, but not a bill-driver on its own.