🍳 Kitchen
How Much Does a Mini Fridge Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a mini fridge costs about $8.05 per month at typical usage — 24 hours/day (always on).
Per hour
1.1¢
at 40–100 W
Per day
$0.26
24 hours/day (always on)
Per month
$8.05
44 kWh
Per year
$96.71
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
$0.26
Per month
$8.05
Per year
$96.71
Uses 44 kWh/month at 18.4¢ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 12.4 | 0.7¢ | $5.43 | $65.17 |
| Utah | 13.0 | 0.8¢ | $5.69 | $68.33 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | 0.8¢ | $5.87 | $70.43 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | 0.8¢ | $5.95 | $71.48 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | 0.8¢ | $5.95 | $71.48 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | 0.8¢ | $5.95 | $71.48 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | 0.8¢ | $6.00 | $72.01 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | 0.8¢ | $6.17 | $74.11 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | 0.8¢ | $6.17 | $74.11 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | 0.9¢ | $6.22 | $74.64 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | 0.9¢ | $6.30 | $75.69 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | 0.9¢ | $6.35 | $76.21 |
| Montana | 14.7 | 0.9¢ | $6.44 | $77.26 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | 0.9¢ | $6.48 | $77.79 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | 0.9¢ | $6.57 | $78.84 |
| Washington | 15.0 | 0.9¢ | $6.57 | $78.84 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | 0.9¢ | $6.61 | $79.37 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | 0.9¢ | $6.61 | $79.37 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | 0.9¢ | $6.65 | $79.89 |
| Florida | 15.2 | 0.9¢ | $6.65 | $79.89 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | 0.9¢ | $6.87 | $82.52 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | 0.9¢ | $6.92 | $83.04 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | 1.0¢ | $7.09 | $85.15 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | 1.0¢ | $7.09 | $85.15 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | 1.0¢ | $7.09 | $85.15 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | 1.0¢ | $7.14 | $85.67 |
| Texas | 16.4 | 1.0¢ | $7.18 | $86.20 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | 1.0¢ | $7.35 | $88.30 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | 1.0¢ | $7.35 | $88.30 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | 1.0¢ | $7.44 | $89.35 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 1.1¢ | $7.70 | $92.51 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | 1.1¢ | $7.97 | $95.66 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | 1.2¢ | $8.49 | $102 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 1.2¢ | $8.54 | $102 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | 1.2¢ | $8.62 | $104 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | 1.3¢ | $9.46 | $114 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | 1.3¢ | $9.54 | $115 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | 1.3¢ | $9.63 | $116 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | 1.4¢ | $10.20 | $122 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | 1.4¢ | $10.46 | $126 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | 1.5¢ | $10.90 | $131 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | 1.5¢ | $11.12 | $134 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | 1.6¢ | $11.95 | $143 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | 1.6¢ | $11.99 | $144 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | 1.7¢ | $12.34 | $148 |
| Maine | 28.6 | 1.7¢ | $12.52 | $150 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | 1.7¢ | $12.61 | $151 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | 1.8¢ | $12.91 | $155 |
| New York | 29.9 | 1.8¢ | $13.09 | $157 |
| California | 33.3 | 2.0¢ | $14.58 | $175 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | 3.1¢ | $22.76 | $273 |
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 18.4¢/kWh, one hour costs about 1.1¢. In Idaho (12.4¢/kWh) it's 0.7¢, while in Hawaii (52¢/kWh) it's 3.1¢.
How much does a mini fridge cost to run per month?
With typical usage (24 hours/day (always on)), expect about $8.05 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $5.43 in Idaho up to $22.76 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 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.