In homes that have one, a refrigerator uses about 618 kWh of electricity a year (EIA's 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey). At the U.S. average of 18.31¢ per kWh that is $113 a year. Compressors cycle on and off, so the yearly kWh on the yellow EnergyGuide label is a better guide than the nameplate watts.
Calculate what your refrigerator costs
How much do new ENERGY STAR refrigerators use?
The median full-size ENERGY STAR certified fridge-freezer uses 541 kWh a year ($99 at the U.S. average price), compared with 618 kWh for the average fridge in U.S. homes. These are the most efficient certified models of at least 15 cubic feet:
| Brand and model | Type | Size (ft³) | kWh/yr | Cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liebherr C7620 | Bottom Freezer | 15 | 305 | $56 |
| Miele KFN 4776 ED edt/cs | Bottom Freezer | 15 | 305 | $56 |
| Samsung RT18DG6300** | Top Freezer | 17.5 | 333 | $61 |
| Hisense BCD-418WP4NA1/HC1(H) | Top Freezer | 15 | 338 | $62 |
| Hisense RT15A2CCE | Top Freezer | 15 | 338 | $62 |
| Hisense RT15A2CSE | Top Freezer | 15 | 338 | $62 |
| Hisense RT15A2CWE | Top Freezer | 15 | 338 | $62 |
| Samsung RT18DG6500** | Top Freezer | 17.5 | 343 | $63 |
| Samsung RT70F18LR** | Top Freezer | 17.5 | 343 | $63 |
| LG LT18S1100* | Top Freezer | 17.5 | 344 | $63 |
| LG LT18S1100* | Top Freezer | 17.5 | 344 | $63 |
| LG LT18S2100* | Top Freezer | 17.5 | 344 | $63 |
| LG LT18S2100* | Top Freezer | 17.5 | 344 | $63 |
| GE GTE16DTN**** | Top Freezer | 15.6 | 345 | $63 |
| GE GTE16GTN**** | Top Freezer | 15.6 | 345 | $63 |
| Hotpoint HPE16BTN**** | Top Freezer | 15.6 | 345 | $63 |
| Samsung RT16A6105** | Top Freezer | 15.6 | 345 | $63 |
| Samsung RT16A6195** | Top Freezer | 15.6 | 345 | $63 |
| ELEMENT ERT16CGD* | Top Freezer | 16 | 347 | $64 |
| ELEMENT ERT16CGD*-CA | Top Freezer | 16 | 347 | $64 |
From 4,888 ENERGY STAR certified refrigerator listings (data.energystar.gov). Listed by yearly energy use only; not a recommendation.
Cost to run a refrigerator in every state
| # | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana | 12.72¢ | $79 |
| 2 | Nevada | 12.77¢ | $79 |
| 3 | Utah | 13.12¢ | $81 |
| 4 | North Dakota | 13.41¢ | $83 |
| 5 | Tennessee | 13.71¢ | $85 |
| 6 | Idaho | 13.73¢ | $85 |
| 7 | Nebraska | 13.78¢ | $85 |
| 8 | Kentucky | 13.81¢ | $85 |
| 9 | Arkansas | 14.33¢ | $89 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 14.35¢ | $89 |
| 11 | Wyoming | 14.36¢ | $89 |
| 12 | Mississippi | 14.54¢ | $90 |
| 13 | Washington | 14.71¢ | $91 |
| 14 | Montana | 14.99¢ | $93 |
| 15 | Florida | 15.03¢ | $93 |
| 16 | North Carolina | 15.16¢ | $94 |
| 17 | Kansas | 15.27¢ | $94 |
| 18 | South Dakota | 15.37¢ | $95 |
| 19 | Arizona | 15.38¢ | $95 |
| 20 | South Carolina | 15.47¢ | $96 |
| 21 | West Virginia | 15.78¢ | $98 |
| 22 | Texas | 15.88¢ | $98 |
| 23 | Oregon | 15.97¢ | $99 |
| 24 | Iowa | 15.99¢ | $99 |
| 25 | Missouri | 16.09¢ | $99 |
| 26 | New Mexico | 16.09¢ | $99 |
| 27 | Georgia | 16.27¢ | $101 |
| 28 | Alabama | 16.40¢ | $101 |
| 29 | Indiana | 16.73¢ | $103 |
| 30 | Colorado | 17.00¢ | $105 |
| 31 | Minnesota | 17.45¢ | $108 |
| 32 | Virginia | 17.55¢ | $108 |
| 33 | Delaware | 18.48¢ | $114 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | 19.06¢ | $118 |
| 35 | Illinois | 19.22¢ | $119 |
| 36 | Ohio | 19.45¢ | $120 |
| 37 | Maryland | 21.41¢ | $132 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania | 21.72¢ | $134 |
| 39 | Michigan | 23.05¢ | $142 |
| 40 | Vermont | 23.75¢ | $147 |
| 41 | Connecticut | 24.16¢ | $149 |
| 42 | New Jersey | 25.19¢ | $156 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | 25.21¢ | $156 |
| 44 | New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | $164 |
| 45 | Rhode Island | 28.29¢ | $175 |
| 46 | Alaska | 28.83¢ | $178 |
| 47 | New York | 29.90¢ | $185 |
| 48 | Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | $188 |
| 49 | Maine | 32.41¢ | $200 |
| 50 | California | 33.61¢ | $208 |
| 51 | Hawaii | 48.00¢ | $297 |
Refrigerator energy use FAQ
How much electricity does a refrigerator use?
In homes that have one, a refrigerator uses about 618 kWh a year on average, according to EIA's 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey. Compressors cycle on and off, so the yearly kWh on the yellow EnergyGuide label is a better guide than the nameplate watts.
How much does it cost to run a refrigerator?
At the U.S. average of 18.31¢ per kWh (July 2026), 618 kWh a year costs $113 a year, or $9.43 a month.
Where is it cheapest to run a refrigerator?
With electricity at 12.72¢ per kWh, Louisiana is the cheapest state: $79 a year for 618 kWh a year. The same use costs $297 in Hawaii.
Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey; ENERGY STAR certified product data; electricity prices: EIA retail sales data (July 2026). Last updated 2026-10-20.