What is the electricity consumption of refrigerators? (2023)

The electricity consumption of refrigerators is400-1.000 kWhper year (this applies to models in the 21 to 25 cubic foot range). The average energy consumption of modern refrigerators is 400-600 kWh per year. This equates to 33kWh-50kWh per month, or an average wattage of 46-69 watts (this equates to an average hourly power consumption of 46-69Wh).

Unsurprisingly, larger fridges (with some exceptions) use more energy, and that's because there's more air (and food) to cool. Below is the energy consumption data sorted by refrigerator size. The power consumption data on this page initially refers to modern refrigerators until further notice.

Power Consumption Calculator

Kompulsa hasa power consumption calculatorwith which you can calculate the energy consumption of refrigerators and many other devices. This will calculate your fridge's energy use per month and you can enter your electricity price to calculate how much your fridge is costing per month.

You can also usethe browser-based versionif you don't want to download the above app.

Introduction - Check the electricity consumption of the refrigerator yourself

You can find out how much electricity your fridge is using by connecting it to a kWh meter, also known as an energy meter. The most important metric is thecumulative power consumption, measured in kWh. Cumulative power consumption refers to energy consumption over a period of time.

In this case, the ideal period would be at least one year, as usage can vary greatly. However, this is not necessary to get a general idea of ​​how much it consumes. Leave it plugged in for at least a week to get a rough idea of ​​how much it's consuming, or rather a month.

For example:Visiting friends or family every weekend can result in your fridge using a lot more energy than usual over the weekends (due to frequent door openings). In this case, you would have to leave the refrigerator connected to the meter for at least a week.

If you check the refrigerator's current wattage on the meter from time to time, you will find that the refrigerator sometimes draws more and sometimes less electricity. For example, with a 25-cubic-foot refrigerator, you may find it varies between 115 and 130 watts (or over 200 watts if the refrigerator is warmed up due to a power outage).

This is because the power consumption of the compressor is directly affected by the temperature of the refrigerated cabin (even if it is not an inverter model). This is because higher cabin temperature results in higher refrigerant pressure, which in turn causes the compressor to work harder.

1 kWh = 1.000 Wh.

Cumulative power consumption:Power consumption over a period of time. Example: A refrigerator consumed 1.6 kWh over the course of a day.

The constant consumption of 100 watts over a period of 1 hour adds up to a cumulative power consumption of 100 Wh (0.1 kWh).

Note: All information on this page, including but not limited to estimates of electricity costs and refrigerator power consumption, is not intended for household purposes or to influence any financial decisions. All information on operating costs relates only to energy consumption. Use the information on this page at your own risk.

Using the US national average electricity tariff of $0.12/kWh, the running cost of modern refrigerators is$48 bis $72per year (estimate) or $4 to $6 per month. The annual running costs of older refrigerators can meet or exceed$120per year.

It's worth noting that refrigerator power consumption varies by climate, as some climates are hotter than others. The power consumption of refrigerators is higher in hotter environments because the compressor has to work harder to keep them cool. Conversely, the energy consumption of the refrigerator is lower in colder environments.

When buying a refrigerator from the store, look for a large yellow energy label that tells you how many kWh/year it uses:

The refrigerator power consumption data on this page was compiled from an analysis of numerous refrigerators found in stores, older models thatUS Energy Information Administration, and more. Also note that the information on this page does not necessarily apply to your geographic region. This data refers to refrigerators with a built-in freezer, unless otherwise stated.

The numbers in the subheadings below refer to modern refrigerators, not older models. This information can help you decide if it's worth buying a new refrigerator. The illustrations shown below are not applicable to inverter refrigerators unless otherwise noted.

If it is not specified whether it is a freezer, then it is a combined fridge and freezer model. For example, if it is only a standing refrigerator or a chest freezer: it is classified as such.

^ To the table of contents

The refrigerator's power consumption is equal to the time the refrigerator has been running (in hours) multiplied by its wattage.hours x watts. The result is inKilowatt hours (kWh).

How much it costs to run a refrigerator is your electricity price ($/kWh) multiplied by the resulting kWh figure. The wattage on the label of your fridge is not sufficient as fridges are off about half the time (depending on the model, this does not apply to inverter fridges).

In addition, the defroster must be switched on from time to time to prevent excessive frost build-up. Defrosters are usually in the 700 watt range. Without the defroster switched on, the operating power of most refrigerators is in the range of 100 to 200 watts, since the interior temperature has a significant influence on the refrigerant pressure and therefore affects the power consumption of the compressor.

The refrigerator electricity cost estimates on this page are based on the US national average electricity cost of $0.12/kWh.

Deciphering a fridge label

A Whirlpool refrigerator label detailing such as amperage, refrigerant, and required refrigerant charge.

The above label is that of a 25 cu ft Whirlpool refrigerator and gives some basic details on it such as electrical ratings, refrigerants, among others.

‘5.00 ounces of R134a': This means it must be filled with 5 ounces of the refrigerant called 'R134a', this is only relevant if you are doing a repair that requires a refrigerant replacement, otherwise you can ignore it.

‘115 VAC/60 Hz': This means that this refrigerator must be plugged into a 120 volt AC outlet (AC means alternating current) at 60 Hz. Ask an expert about the grid frequency in your area.

‘AMPS 7.10': This means that under normal circumstances this fridge can draw up to 7.10 amps of electricity. This is useful when determining the required current carrying capacity (current capacity) of a circuit. Electricians may need this information when installing an electrical circuit for your kitchen.

If you multiply the 115 VAC by 7.10, you get a wattage of 816 watts. Your refrigerator won't use as much electricity all the time because the defrost heater (typically several hundred watts) will turn on from time to time to thaw ice build-up and ease airflow through the evaporator.

The operating power of most household refrigerators is in the 100-200 watt range, with 120 watts being particularly common.

^ To the table of contents

The power consumption of 18 cubic foot refrigerators (up to 19 cubic feet included in this section) ranges from 404 kWh to 553 kWh per year. It's worth looking for the yellow energy guide label (usually in the fridges in the shop, sometimes in the drawers) and only buying fridges under 500 kWh/year. Go for less than 450kWh if you can! These models are widespread.

The top freezer models ranged from 404 to 472 kWh per year. The average power consumption of 18 cubic foot refrigerators is 458 kWh/year. This does not apply to freezer only or refrigerator only models such as the Frigidaire Pro Upright series.

Annual running costs of 18 cu ft to 19 cu ft refrigerators (electricity costs):

$48 bis $66.

$48 bis $56per year for top freezer models.

Power consumption of 21 cu ft (594 L) refrigerators

The electricity consumption of 21 cubic foot refrigerators averages 570 kWh/year. This includes models of the top freezer, bottom freezer and side-by-side configurations, so averages are broken down below.

The average energy consumption of the top freezer models was 491 kWh/year.

The energy consumption of the freezer models lagged behind at 539 kWh per year and the side-by-side models performed worst at 637 kWh/year. If a side-by-side refrigerator isn't an absolute must, you can save a lot of energy by purchasing a top-freezer or bottom-drawer refrigerator instead.

In general, for this capacity, I would try to buy refrigerators with an electricity consumption below 550 kWh/year. They're pretty easy to find.

Annual running costs of 21 cubic foot refrigerators (electricity costs):

$68

$58.92 for top freezer models.

$64.66 for bottom freezer models.

$76.44 for side-by-side models.

Please note that no 4-door models were used in this calculation. Some 4-door models tend to use more energy than those with bottom freezer and top freezer configurations.

Here are some examples of newer models on the market:

^ To the table of contents

The power consumption of 22-24 cubic foot refrigerators (a very common size) ranges from 584 kWh/year for a 22.1 cubic foot model with a bottom-mounted freezer to 683 kWh/year for a 23.7 cubic foot model (also with built-in freezer). Only the 23.7 cu-ft model had a through-door ice dispenser.

A counter depth bottom drawer freezer model (23.7 cubic feet) was found and its electricity consumption is estimated at 683 kWh/year.

Annual running costs of refrigerators (electricity costs, at 22-24 cubic feet capacity):

$70 bis $81

Here is a chart of the power consumption of 22 cu ft refrigerators:

22 Cubic Foot Refrigerators - Power Consumption

The power consumption of 22 cubic foot refrigerators.

Power consumption of the studied large kitchen refrigerators in the 24-28 cu ft range starts at 688 kWh/year for 24.2 cu ft to 722 kWh for 28.1 cu ft models (non-inverter models).

It's worth noting that some bottom drawer freezer models are more energy efficient than their side-by-side counterparts of the same/nearly the same size. A Kenmore 25.6 cu ft bottom drawer freezer model in the survey was rated at 681 kWh/year, while a 24.5 cu ft Kenmore side-by-side model was rated at 701 kWh/year.

Bottom drawer freezers (when the bottom of the drawer is completely closed) can minimize the amount of cold air that falls out when the drawer is opened, rather than letting it fall out straight like a side-by-side model.

Annual running costs of 24-28 cubic foot refrigerators (electricity costs):

$82 bis $86

Power consumption of 28 cubic foot refrigerators

The energy consumption of modern 28 cubic foot refrigerators averages 739 kWh per year. The top performers were the 4-door French door models (with two freezers with a bottom drawer) with an average electricity consumption of 722 kWh per year, followed by the 2-door freezer models with a single bottom drawer with an annual electricity consumption of 732 kWh per year.

Four-door (without drawers) and two-door side-by-side refrigerators performed the worst with a power consumption of 780 kWh and 739 kWh/a.

Annual energy costs of 28 cubic foot refrigerators:

88,68 $

Energy cost of 4-door French door models: $86.64.

Two-door freezer models with a bottom drawer: $87.84.

Side-by-Side-Modelle: 88,68 $.

Four-door (without drawers): $93.60.

No top freezer models were considered in this calculation. Top Freezer information will be added as it is discovered. Although top freezer models tend to be more energy efficient than their side-by-side and bottom freezer counterparts.

^ To the table of contents

Electricity consumption of mini fridges and small dorm fridges

How much does it cost to run a mini fridge?

The power consumption of mini fridges is typically less than 400 kWh. Mini fridges use 207-345 kWh per year. Please note that not all mini fridges have a built-in freezer. This also affects the electricity consumption of the refrigerator. Freezers consume more electricity than refrigerators.

Additional energy consumption data for mini fridges (these figures vary by model)

The following examples are taken from the energy guide labels of modern (individual) refrigerators and are estimated.

Midea. 1.6 cu ft: 207 kWh/year - $25/year (these numbers are electricity costs, not total costs).

Haier. 2.7 cu ft: 238 kWh/year - $29/year.

Midea. 3.1 cu ft: 270 kWh/year - $32/year.

Igloo. 3.2 cu ft: 219 kWh/year - $27/year.

Danby Designer. 4.4 cu ft: 226 kWh/year $27/year.

As the data above shows, some models are built to a higher standard of efficiency than others, which is why some smaller models use more energy than other larger ones.

It's important to note that mini fridges are sometimes thermoelectric, which can result in higher energy consumption. Compressor-powered refrigerators are significantly more energy efficient than thermoelectric refrigerators.

^ To the table of contents

Electricity consumption of inverter refrigerators compared to traditional models

Inverter refrigeratorsconsume up to 46.9% less energythan their conventional counterparts. Inverter fridges differ from traditional fridges in that they use inverter technology to vary the speed of their compressors. Traditional refrigerators use single-speed compressors that turn on at full speed to cool your fridge and then turn off when they're done.

Inverter devices tend to be more expensive than non-inverter devices, but in many cases a return on investment is achievable. This is usage dependent.

How inverter refrigerators work

Inverter refrigerators work by adjusting the speed of their compressors in conjunction with cooling demand. The warmer the refrigerated cabin, the more the compressor is turned on to cool it down.

Refrigerators are excellent at maintaining low temperatures due to thorough insulation and airtight door seals, allowing inverter compressors to operate at low speeds, resulting in quieter operation and relatively low energy consumption.

Energy efficiency tips: How to reduce the energy consumption of the refrigerator

The power consumption of the refrigerator can be significantly reduced by taking the following measures:

Do not leave the refrigerator door open for too long:When you open the door, a significant amount of cold air escapes, which is replaced by the warm air from your kitchen. This gives the refrigerator compressor more work as it has to turn back on and cool down.

Make sure your defroster is in good condition:If your refrigerator's evaporator or vents become clogged with ice, it will greatly affect its performance as air cannot circulate through the evaporator.

This results in increased power consumption as the compressor has to stay on longer to compensate for this reduction in performance. It also causes food spoilage. Removing frost build-up is one of the most effective ways to reduce refrigerator power consumption.

Airflow Check:Another great way to reduce refrigerator power consumption isClean your condenser(if it is clogged with dirt). Your condenser doesn't need to be sparkling clean, as it can gather dust very quickly. However, the air must be able to flow through unhindered, otherwise the refrigerator uses too much electricity.

A plugged condenser can cause overheating, and generally a hot condenser will result in abnormally high refrigerant pressures. Abnormally high pressures like this increase the power consumption of the compressor significantly.

Installation:Installing your refrigerator with the back too close to the wall can restrict airflow through the condenser, which can lead to overheating and higher power consumption. This is model dependent as some fridges have both vents in the front.

If your fridge has vents in the back, check the manual for the clearances required. Some kitchens have vents built into their refrigerator compartments to facilitate airflow.

Buying a new refrigerator:If your refrigerator is more than 20 years old, you may be able to recoup the cost of a new refrigerator through energy savings. Just don't buy a bigger model than you used to! (unless you really need more space)

Back to table of contents