Refrigerator electricity cost calculator
In this example, a refrigerator at 150W and 35% duty cycle costs $0.010 per scheduled hour. At 24.00 hours per day, that is $6.97 per 30.44 use days, using the August 2026 US average of 18.16¢/kWh. Adjust the calculator for your appliance and electricity bill.
Refrigerator electricity cost calculator
Use watts and running time, or enter energy from a label, meter or completed load. Your inputs stay on this device.
Enter a number within each field’s limits to calculate your cost.
Your estimated energy cost
460 kWh across 365 use days per year
Power mode includes your selected duty cycle. The monthly figure assumes 30.44 use days; the annual total uses your selected use days. These are estimates at the entered rate.
Energy charges only. Fixed utility fees, purchase, installation and maintenance are excluded. See the calculation method and sources.
Running cost at different usage times
These examples hold 150W, 35% duty cycle and 18.16¢/kWh constant. They illustrate the arithmetic, not recommended schedules. Follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions.
| Hours per use day | kWh per day | Cost per day | 30.44 use days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0.210 kWh | $0.04 | $1.16 |
| 8 | 0.420 kWh | $0.08 | $2.32 |
| 12 | 0.630 kWh | $0.11 | $3.48 |
| 24 | 1.260 kWh | $0.23 | $6.97 |
How to estimate your refrigerator electricity use
Refrigerator consumption includes compressor operation and other loads such as fans and defrost. The appliance is plugged in all day, but its nameplate input is not a constant 24-hour draw.
An EnergyGuide dollar figure uses a test energy price. The annual kWh can be repriced locally, but your use may still differ from the test.
- Use annual EnergyGuide kWh or a representative measured kWh period when possible. Multiply energy by your own usage-based electricity price.
- Annual kWh multiplied by 1000 and divided by 8760 gives equivalent average watts. Use 24 hours/day, 100% duty and 365 annual-use days with that input.
- For a measured average covering the whole appliance, do not add a compressor duty factor or add defrost energy again.
- Size, ambient temperature, settings, door use and model features can change actual consumption. Compare the same measurement boundary and period.
Calculation and data sources
Daily kWh = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × duty cycle ÷ 100. Multiply kWh by your rate in dollars per kWh to get cost. The wattage, hours and duty cycle above are editable example assumptions, not EIA measurements of this appliance.
The US and state average prices come from the EIA for August 2026. A state average is a starting point; your bill is the better source for your tariff.
Electricity running cost by state
Sorted by average electricity price. These reference figures use 24.00 hours per day at 35% duty cycle, for 30.44 days per month and 365 days per year. Seasonal use will cost less than this year-round scenario. Click a state to load its rate.
| State | Rate /kWh | Per month | Per year | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 12.72¢ | $4.88 | $58.50 | |
| Louisiana | 12.87¢ | $4.94 | $59.19 | |
| Utah | 13.31¢ | $5.10 | $61.21 | |
| North Dakota | 13.31¢ | $5.10 | $61.21 | |
| Idaho | 13.37¢ | $5.13 | $61.49 | |
| Tennessee | 13.42¢ | $5.15 | $61.72 | |
| Nebraska | 13.54¢ | $5.19 | $62.27 | |
| Kentucky | 13.80¢ | $5.29 | $63.47 | |
| Arkansas | 14.37¢ | $5.51 | $66.09 | |
| Wyoming | 14.43¢ | $5.53 | $66.36 | |
| Mississippi | 14.43¢ | $5.53 | $66.36 | |
| Washington | 14.63¢ | $5.61 | $67.28 | |
| Oklahoma | 14.82¢ | $5.68 | $68.16 | |
| North Carolina | 14.95¢ | $5.73 | $68.76 | |
| Florida | 14.99¢ | $5.75 | $68.94 | |
| Arizona | 15.05¢ | $5.77 | $69.21 | |
| South Dakota | 15.15¢ | $5.81 | $69.67 | |
| Kansas | 15.47¢ | $5.93 | $71.15 | |
| Montana | 15.57¢ | $5.97 | $71.61 | |
| South Carolina | 15.76¢ | $6.04 | $72.48 | |
| Georgia | 15.90¢ | $6.10 | $73.12 | |
| Texas | 15.91¢ | $6.10 | $73.17 | |
| Oregon | 15.92¢ | $6.11 | $73.22 | |
| Missouri | 16.02¢ | $6.14 | $73.68 | |
| West Virginia | 16.31¢ | $6.26 | $75.01 | |
| Alabama | 16.33¢ | $6.26 | $75.10 | |
| New Mexico | 16.51¢ | $6.33 | $75.93 | |
| Indiana | 17.02¢ | $6.53 | $78.27 | |
| Iowa | 17.06¢ | $6.54 | $78.46 | |
| Colorado | 17.17¢ | $6.59 | $78.96 | |
| Minnesota | 17.20¢ | $6.60 | $79.10 | |
| Virginia | 17.64¢ | $6.77 | $81.13 | |
| Delaware | 18.70¢ | $7.17 | $86.00 | |
| Illinois | 19.32¢ | $7.41 | $88.85 | |
| Ohio | 19.38¢ | $7.43 | $89.13 | |
| Wisconsin | 19.41¢ | $7.44 | $89.27 | |
| Maryland | 21.40¢ | $8.21 | $98.42 | |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77¢ | $8.35 | $100 | |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $8.82 | $106 | |
| Vermont | 23.84¢ | $9.14 | $110 | |
| Connecticut | 24.51¢ | $9.40 | $113 | |
| New Jersey | 24.61¢ | $9.44 | $113 | |
| District of Columbia | 25.98¢ | $9.96 | $119 | |
| New Hampshire | 27.64¢ | $10.60 | $127 | |
| Rhode Island | 28.18¢ | $10.81 | $130 | |
| New York | 28.65¢ | $10.99 | $132 | |
| Alaska | 29.41¢ | $11.28 | $135 | |
| California | 29.75¢ | $11.41 | $137 | |
| Massachusetts | 30.48¢ | $11.69 | $140 | |
| Maine | 32.11¢ | $12.32 | $148 | |
| Hawaii | 47.18¢ | $18.10 | $217 |
Common questions
How much electricity does a refrigerator use?
In this example, 150 watts at a 35% duty cycle uses 0.053 kWh per scheduled hour. At 24.00 hours per day, that is 1.260 kWh per use day. Your model and operating conditions can differ.
How much does it cost to run a refrigerator for an hour?
The default example costs $0.010 per scheduled hour at the US average of 18.16¢/kWh for August 2026. This includes the selected duty cycle. Enter your watts, duty cycle and electricity price for your own estimate.
Does the annual cost assume I use it every day?
The reference tables use 365 days at the stated daily hours; monthly figures use 30.44 days. These are comparison scenarios, not forecasts. For a heater used on 90 days, enter 90 use days per year in the calculator.
Why does electricity running cost vary by state?
For August 2026, the EIA state averages range from 12.72¢/kWh in Nevada to 47.18¢/kWh in Hawaii. Equal electricity use costs more at a higher rate. Your utility tariff can differ from the state average.
How do I estimate my refrigerator cost from its label?
Find annual kWh on the EnergyGuide label and multiply by your electricity price in dollars per kWh. This adjusts the price while retaining the label test assumptions.
Why is multiplying rated watts by 24 hours misleading?
The compressor and other components do not necessarily draw maximum power continuously. That calculation assumes full rated input all day unless cycling is explicitly accounted for.
How should I use measured refrigerator energy?
Divide measured kWh by the number of representative days for daily energy, then multiply by your price. A period covering both normal operation and defrost is more representative than an instantaneous watt reading.