Refrigerator Electricity Cost Calculator: Per Month and Per Year
Duty-cycle based, so old and new fridges compare fairly. Adjust the wattage, runtime and your own electricity rate below — every figure updates instantly in your browser, and nothing you type is sent anywhere.
Your inputs
Common presets
How this cost is calculated
The formula is kWh = watts ÷ 1000 × hours, then cost = kWh × your rate per kWh. Standing charges and tiered or time-of-use pricing are billed separately by your supplier, so treat these numbers as the marginal cost of running this appliance rather than a full bill.
For the full breakdown with regional price tables, read the detailed guide, or estimate your whole household on the home electricity bill calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I enter 8 hours for a fridge that never switches off?
The compressor only runs part of the time. A typical duty cycle is 30-40%, which is about 8 hours of full-power running per day.
Does a full fridge use less electricity?
Slightly. Cold mass holds temperature during door openings, but the saving is small compared with door seals and coil cleanliness.
Is it worth replacing a 15-year-old refrigerator?
Often yes: saving 300 kWh a year is about $48 in the US, so a $700 replacement pays back in energy terms over roughly 12-15 years but usually sooner in the UK.