🍳 Kitchen
How Much Does a Mini Fridge Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a mini fridge costs about $8.01 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
$8.01
44 kWh
Per year
$96.18
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
$8.01
Per year
$96.18
Uses 44 kWh/month at 18.3¢ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 12.7 | 0.8¢ | $5.56 | $66.75 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | 0.8¢ | $5.60 | $67.28 |
| Utah | 13.1 | 0.8¢ | $5.73 | $68.85 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | 0.8¢ | $5.87 | $70.43 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | 0.8¢ | $6.00 | $72.01 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | 0.8¢ | $6.00 | $72.01 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | 0.8¢ | $6.04 | $72.53 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | 0.8¢ | $6.04 | $72.53 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | 0.9¢ | $6.26 | $75.16 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | 0.9¢ | $6.30 | $75.69 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | 0.9¢ | $6.30 | $75.69 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | 0.9¢ | $6.35 | $76.21 |
| Washington | 14.7 | 0.9¢ | $6.44 | $77.26 |
| Florida | 15.0 | 0.9¢ | $6.57 | $78.84 |
| Montana | 15.0 | 0.9¢ | $6.57 | $78.84 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | 0.9¢ | $6.65 | $79.89 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | 0.9¢ | $6.70 | $80.42 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | 0.9¢ | $6.74 | $80.94 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | 0.9¢ | $6.74 | $80.94 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | 0.9¢ | $6.79 | $81.47 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | 0.9¢ | $6.92 | $83.04 |
| Texas | 15.9 | 1.0¢ | $6.96 | $83.57 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | 1.0¢ | $7.00 | $84.10 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | 1.0¢ | $7.00 | $84.10 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | 1.0¢ | $7.05 | $84.62 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | 1.0¢ | $7.05 | $84.62 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | 1.0¢ | $7.14 | $85.67 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | 1.0¢ | $7.18 | $86.20 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | 1.0¢ | $7.31 | $87.78 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | 1.0¢ | $7.44 | $89.35 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | 1.0¢ | $7.66 | $91.98 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 1.1¢ | $7.70 | $92.51 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | 1.1¢ | $8.10 | $97.24 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | 1.1¢ | $8.36 | $100 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | 1.2¢ | $8.40 | $101 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 1.2¢ | $8.54 | $102 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | 1.3¢ | $9.37 | $112 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | 1.3¢ | $9.50 | $114 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | 1.4¢ | $10.11 | $121 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | 1.4¢ | $10.42 | $125 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | 1.5¢ | $10.59 | $127 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | 1.5¢ | $11.03 | $132 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | 1.5¢ | $11.03 | $132 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | 1.6¢ | $11.64 | $140 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | 1.7¢ | $12.39 | $149 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | 1.7¢ | $12.61 | $151 |
| New York | 29.9 | 1.8¢ | $13.09 | $157 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | 1.8¢ | $13.35 | $160 |
| Maine | 32.4 | 1.9¢ | $14.18 | $170 |
| California | 33.6 | 2.0¢ | $14.71 | $177 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | 2.9¢ | $21.01 | $252 |
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 18.3¢/kWh, one hour costs about 1.1¢. In Louisiana (12.7¢/kWh) it's 0.8¢, while in Hawaii (48¢/kWh) it's 2.9¢.
How much does a mini fridge cost to run per month?
With typical usage (24 hours/day (always on)), expect about $8.01 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $5.56 in Louisiana up to $21.01 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 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.