🍳 Kitchen
How Much Does a Refrigerator Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a refrigerator costs about $20.03 per month at typical usage — 24 hours/day (always on).
Per hour
2.7¢
at 100–250 W
Per day
$0.66
24 hours/day (always on)
Per month
$20.03
109 kWh
Per year
$240
1,314 kWh
A refrigerator's compressor cycles on and off, so its effective draw averages 100–250 watts around the clock. It's rarely the biggest item on a bill, but because it never turns off, an inefficient or failing fridge quietly costs more than most people expect.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
2.7¢
Per day
$0.66
Per month
$20.03
Per year
$240
Uses 109 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 | 1.9¢ | $13.90 | $167 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | 1.9¢ | $14.01 | $168 |
| Utah | 13.1 | 2.0¢ | $14.34 | $172 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | 2.0¢ | $14.66 | $176 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | 2.1¢ | $14.99 | $180 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | 2.1¢ | $14.99 | $180 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | 2.1¢ | $15.10 | $181 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | 2.1¢ | $15.10 | $181 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | 2.1¢ | $15.65 | $188 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | 2.2¢ | $15.76 | $189 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | 2.2¢ | $15.76 | $189 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | 2.2¢ | $15.87 | $191 |
| Washington | 14.7 | 2.2¢ | $16.09 | $193 |
| Florida | 15.0 | 2.3¢ | $16.42 | $197 |
| Montana | 15.0 | 2.3¢ | $16.42 | $197 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | 2.3¢ | $16.63 | $200 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | 2.3¢ | $16.74 | $201 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | 2.3¢ | $16.85 | $202 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | 2.3¢ | $16.85 | $202 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | 2.3¢ | $16.96 | $204 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | 2.4¢ | $17.29 | $208 |
| Texas | 15.9 | 2.4¢ | $17.40 | $209 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | 2.4¢ | $17.51 | $210 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | 2.4¢ | $17.51 | $210 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | 2.4¢ | $17.62 | $212 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | 2.4¢ | $17.62 | $212 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | 2.4¢ | $17.84 | $214 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | 2.5¢ | $17.95 | $215 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | 2.5¢ | $18.28 | $219 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | 2.6¢ | $18.60 | $223 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | 2.6¢ | $19.15 | $230 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 2.6¢ | $19.26 | $231 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | 2.8¢ | $20.25 | $243 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | 2.9¢ | $20.90 | $251 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | 2.9¢ | $21.01 | $252 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 2.9¢ | $21.34 | $256 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | 3.2¢ | $23.42 | $281 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | 3.3¢ | $23.75 | $285 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | 3.5¢ | $25.28 | $304 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | 3.6¢ | $26.05 | $313 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | 3.6¢ | $26.48 | $318 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | 3.8¢ | $27.58 | $331 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | 3.8¢ | $27.58 | $331 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | 4.0¢ | $29.11 | $350 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | 4.2¢ | $30.97 | $372 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | 4.3¢ | $31.52 | $378 |
| New York | 29.9 | 4.5¢ | $32.72 | $393 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | 4.6¢ | $33.38 | $401 |
| Maine | 32.4 | 4.9¢ | $35.46 | $426 |
| California | 33.6 | 5.0¢ | $36.77 | $442 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | 7.2¢ | $52.53 | $631 |
How to lower the cost
- Vacuum the condenser coils yearly — dusty coils can add 10–25% to running cost.
- Check the door gasket with a dollar bill; if it slides out easily, cold air is leaking constantly.
- A second fridge in a hot garage can cost more than the kitchen one — consolidate if it's mostly empty.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a refrigerator use?
A typical refrigerator draws about 150 watts in use. At 24 hours/day (always on), that works out to roughly 3.6 kWh per day, or 109 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a refrigerator for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh, one hour costs about 2.7¢. In Louisiana (12.7¢/kWh) it's 1.9¢, while in Hawaii (48¢/kWh) it's 7.2¢.
How much does a refrigerator cost to run per month?
With typical usage (24 hours/day (always on)), expect about $20.03 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $13.90 in Louisiana up to $52.53 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 2026.
Does a refrigerator use a lot of electricity?
Yes — at typical usage it accounts for roughly 12% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption (885 kWh), which makes it one of the larger loads in the house.