How Much Does It Cost to Run a Refrigerator? (2026)

ZacharyWilliamAugust 20, 202510 min read

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Last updated: June 22, 2026

Quick Answer

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Refrigerator?

At the March 2026 U.S. residential average electricity price of 18.56 cents per kilowatt-hour, a refrigerator that uses 300–800 kWh per year costs approximately $4.64–$12.37 per month, or $55.68–$148.48 per year.

A refrigerator rated at 400 kWh per year costs about $6.19 per month or $74.24 per year at the national average rate.

For the most accurate result, multiply the annual kWh shown on your refrigerator’s yellow EnergyGuide label by the electricity rate listed on your utility bill.

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Refrigerator

Typical monthly cost About $5–$12 for many household refrigerators

Typical annual cost About $56–$148 at 18.56¢ per kWh

Best number to use Estimated yearly electricity use from the EnergyGuide label

Refrigerator Cost Per Day, Month, and Year

The following table uses an electricity rate of 18.56 cents per kWh. Your actual cost may be higher or lower depending on your refrigerator’s annual energy use and local utility rate.

Annual Energy Use	Average Per Day	Daily Cost	Monthly Cost	Annual Cost
250 kWh/year	0.68 kWh	$0.13	$3.87	$46.40
300 kWh/year	0.82 kWh	$0.15	$4.64	$55.68
400 kWh/year	1.10 kWh	$0.20	$6.19	$74.24
500 kWh/year	1.37 kWh	$0.25	$7.73	$92.80
600 kWh/year	1.64 kWh	$0.31	$9.28	$111.36
700 kWh/year	1.92 kWh	$0.36	$10.83	$129.92
800 kWh/year	2.19 kWh	$0.41	$12.37	$148.48
900 kWh/year	2.47 kWh	$0.46	$13.92	$167.04

Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration electricity price data and U.S. Department of Energy appliance cost methodology.

Two refrigerators with the same capacity or door style can have very different annual energy use. Always compare the EnergyGuide label for the exact model instead of assuming that every French-door, top-freezer, or mini refrigerator costs the same to run.

How Electricity Rates Change Refrigerator Operating Cost

Electricity prices vary significantly across the United States. The same refrigerator can cost more than twice as much to operate in a high-electricity-cost state than in a lower-cost state.

Location	Residential Rate	Monthly Cost at 400 kWh/Year	Annual Cost at 400 kWh/Year
U.S. average	18.56¢/kWh	$6.19	$74.24
Florida	14.86¢/kWh	$4.95	$59.44
Texas	16.39¢/kWh	$5.46	$65.56
New York	28.55¢/kWh	$9.52	$114.20
Alaska	27.17¢/kWh	$9.06	$108.68
California	33.35¢/kWh	$11.12	$133.40
Hawaii	42.23¢/kWh	$14.08	$168.92

Source: EIA residential electricity price data. Rates are averages and may differ from an individual utility plan.

How to Find Your Effective Electricity Rate

Some utility bills separate supply charges, delivery charges, fuel adjustments, taxes, and fixed monthly account fees. For a practical appliance estimate, divide the usage-dependent portion of the bill by the number of billed kilowatt-hours.

Variable electricity charges ÷ billed kWh = effective electricity cost per kWh

Do not assign the entire fixed monthly utility fee to the refrigerator. You would normally pay that fixed fee even if the refrigerator used less electricity.

Should You Replace an Old Refrigerator?

Do not replace a working refrigerator based only on age. Compare the old refrigerator’s measured annual energy use with the EnergyGuide estimate for the new model.

Annual electricity savings = old refrigerator kWh − new refrigerator kWh × electricity rate

Simple payback period = net replacement cost ÷ annual electricity savings

Example: Replacing a 900 kWh Refrigerator With a 400 kWh Model

The new refrigerator would reduce electricity use by 500 kWh per year. The financial value depends on the local electricity rate.

Location	Annual Savings	Payback on $900 Net Cost
Florida	$74.30	About 12.1 years
Texas	$81.95	About 11.0 years
U.S. average	$92.80	About 9.7 years
New York	$142.75	About 6.3 years
California	$166.75	About 5.4 years
Hawaii	$211.15	About 4.3 years

Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration and ENERGY STAR refrigerator guidance.

An old second refrigerator in a garage may be a better efficiency target than the main kitchen refrigerator. Garage units are often older, exposed to higher temperatures, and used only for overflow storage.

What Size Portable Power Station Can Run a Refrigerator?

A refrigerator’s normal electricity cost is usually modest. During an outage, however, the main concern is preventing food spoilage and maintaining a safe cabinet temperature.

A refrigerator backup power station should provide:

Enough AC output for the compressor startup surge.
A pure sine wave inverter.
Enough battery capacity for the expected outage duration.
Additional capacity for lights, phones, routers, or medical devices.

Estimated runtime = battery capacity in Wh × 0.90 ÷ average refrigerator load in watts

UDPOWER S1200 portable power station for refrigerator backup

UDPOWER S1200: Refrigerator Backup for Short Outages

The S1200 is a practical option for one standard refrigerator during short outages or overnight backup.

Battery capacity: 1,190Wh
Rated AC output: 1,200W
Surge output: Up to 1,800W
Inverter: Pure sine wave
Battery chemistry: LiFePO4
Cycle life: 4,000+ cycles
Best for: One refrigerator and short outages

View UDPOWER S1200

UDPOWER S2400 portable power station for longer refrigerator backup

UDPOWER S2400: Longer Refrigerator Runtime

The S2400 is better suited to longer outages, high-use refrigerators, garage refrigerators, or homes that need to power additional essential electronics.

Battery capacity: 2,083Wh
Rated AC output: 2,400W
Surge output: Up to 3,000W
Inverter: Pure sine wave
Battery chemistry: LiFePO4
Cycle life: 4,000+ cycles
AC outlets: 6
Best for: Longer outages and multiple essential loads

View UDPOWER S2400

Estimated Refrigerator Runtime

Average Load	Possible Scenario	S1200 Runtime	S2400 Runtime
45W	Efficient portable refrigerator	About 23.8 hours	About 41.7 hours
60W	Efficient household refrigerator average	About 17.9 hours	About 31.2 hours
80W	Typical full-size refrigerator planning load	About 13.4 hours	About 23.4 hours
100W	Higher-use refrigerator	About 10.7 hours	About 18.7 hours
120W	Older garage refrigerator	About 8.9 hours	About 15.6 hours
150W	Refrigerator plus small essential devices	About 7.1 hours	About 12.5 hours

Runtime estimates use 90% usable conversion efficiency. Actual results depend on room temperature, refrigerator cycling, door openings, defrost cycles, battery condition, and other connected devices.

A portable power station does not normally make grid electricity cheaper. Its primary value is emergency backup, portability, quiet operation, and the ability to recharge from compatible solar panels.

How to Lower Refrigerator Electricity Cost

Check the Actual Temperature

Use an appliance thermometer. Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below and the freezer at 0°F without setting them unnecessarily colder.

Clean Accessible Condenser Coils

Dust and pet hair can restrict heat transfer. Follow the appliance manual and disconnect power before cleaning where instructed.

Inspect the Door Gasket

Close the door on a strip of paper. If the paper slides out easily in several areas, inspect the gasket for dirt, cracks, or poor alignment.

Keep Interior Vents Clear

Avoid packing food directly against internal vents. Cold air needs room to circulate throughout the cabinet.

Reduce Door-Open Time

Organize frequently used food so it is easy to find. Decide what you need before opening the door.

Measure Before Replacing

A plug-in energy meter can reveal whether an older refrigerator is genuinely expensive to operate before you spend money on a replacement.

Food Safety During a Refrigerator Power Outage

According to USDA guidance, an unopened refrigerator can generally keep food safely cold for about four hours. A full freezer can hold temperature for about 48 hours, while a half-full freezer may remain cold for about 24 hours.

Situation	General Time Window	Recommended Action
Unopened refrigerator	About 4 hours	Keep the door closed.
Full unopened freezer	About 48 hours	Keep closed and check food temperature later.
Half-full unopened freezer	About 24 hours	Group frozen items together.
Perishable food above 40°F too long	Discard according to official guidance	Do not taste food to decide whether it is safe.

Sources: USDA food safety guidance and FDA power outage guidance.

Start backup power before the refrigerator becomes warm. Maintaining an already-cold cabinet generally requires less energy than cooling a warm refrigerator and its contents again.

Related Refrigerator and Backup Power Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a refrigerator cost to run per month?

At 18.56 cents per kWh, a refrigerator using 300–800 kWh per year costs approximately $4.64–$12.37 per month.

How much does it cost to run a refrigerator for one day?

A refrigerator using 400 kWh per year costs about $0.20 per day at 18.56 cents per kWh.

How much does a refrigerator add to an electric bill?

Many household refrigerators add roughly $5–$12 per month, although older appliances and high local electricity rates can cost more.

Does a refrigerator run 24 hours a day?

It remains plugged in continuously, but the compressor usually cycles on and off rather than running for 24 hours without stopping.

How can I find my refrigerator’s exact cost?

Multiply the annual kWh on the EnergyGuide label by your electricity rate per kWh. An older refrigerator can be measured with a properly rated plug-in energy meter.

Are mini refrigerators cheaper to run?

Mini refrigerators often use less total electricity, but some compact models are inefficient for their size. Compare the exact annual kWh rating.

Does an old refrigerator use more electricity?

It often does, especially if the seals, insulation, fans, coils, or compressor have deteriorated.

Does a refrigerator use more electricity in summer?

It can. Higher surrounding temperatures force the refrigerator to remove more heat, particularly in a garage or unconditioned room.

Does opening the refrigerator door increase electricity use?

Yes. Warm and humid air enters when the door is open, increasing cooling and moisture-removal demand.

Can a portable power station run a refrigerator?

Yes, provided it has enough AC output for compressor startup and enough battery capacity for the required runtime.

How long can the UDPOWER S1200 run a refrigerator?

Using 90% usable conversion efficiency, the 1,190Wh S1200 can theoretically run a 60–100W average refrigerator load for about 10.7–17.9 hours.

How long can the UDPOWER S2400 run a refrigerator?

Using 90% usable conversion efficiency, the 2,083Wh S2400 can theoretically run a 60–100W average refrigerator load for about 18.7–31.2 hours.

Will a solar generator reduce my refrigerator bill?

Not automatically. Battery conversion introduces losses. A solar generator is primarily useful for outages, off-grid use, RV travel, and daytime solar-supported backup.

Sources and Calculation Method

Electricity costs and runtime figures are estimates rounded for readability. Actual refrigerator energy use and portable power station runtime vary by appliance, environment, load, battery condition, and operating habits.

Choose the Right Refrigerator Backup Power

Start with the refrigerator’s annual kWh or measured average load, then select enough battery capacity for the outage duration you want. Include every additional device you plan to operate.

View Portable Power Stations View Solar Generator Kits Get the Refrigerator Runtime Guide

Zachary is a hands-on reviewer and eCommerce operator focused on portable power stations, solar charging, and real-world backup power use cases. He tests equipment in practical scenarios—RV trips, home emergency readiness, and off-grid charging—then translates specs (Wh, W, surge wattage, input limits, and efficiency losses) into clear buying guidance and runtime expectations. His goal is to help readers choose the right power setup, avoid common wiring/charging mistakes, and get dependable performance when it matters most.