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What does your fridge really cost to run?

Refrigerators run 24 hours a day, every day, so small differences in efficiency add up. Estimate the electricity your current fridge uses, compare it with a new model and find out whether replacing it pays for itself – and how fast.

A refrigerator from the 1990s can use two to three times the electricity of a comparable new ENERGY STAR® model.Typical values based on published appliance efficiency standards; your results depend on your fridge and tariff.

Your current fridge

From the EnergyGuide label or a plug-in energy meter (kWh per year).
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A new refrigerator

Use the number on the model’s EnergyGuide label.
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US average ≈ 0.81 lb

Your result

–current fridge per year
–new fridge per year
–saved per year
–payback time
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How refrigerator energy use is estimated

The most reliable number is the one measured for your fridge. In the US and Canada every new refrigerator carries a yellow EnergyGuide label that shows its estimated yearly electricity use in kWh, and a plug-in energy meter can measure an older fridge over a few days (multiply the daily kWh by 365). If you know either value, enter it and the calculator will use it directly.

If you don’t, FridgeWatt estimates consumption from the size, the configuration and the period the fridge was made. Federal efficiency standards were tightened several times – notably in 1993, 2001 and 2014 – so the age of a refrigerator is a strong predictor of its energy use. Side-by-side and French-door layouts, ice and water dispensers, a hot garage location, worn door seals and dusty condenser coils all increase consumption.

The formula

Yearly kWh ≈ size (cu ft) × kWh per cu ft for its era × layout factor × location factor × options

Yearly cost = yearly kWh × electricity price, and the payback time is the net purchase price (price minus rebates) divided by the yearly savings. Over longer periods the calculator also raises the electricity price by the yearly increase you choose, which makes efficient appliances more valuable over time.

Typical yearly use of a 20 cu ft refrigerator

Made inTop-freezerSide-by-sideCost per year at $0.17/kWh
Before 1993≈ 1,500 kWh≈ 2,000 kWh$255–$345
1993–2000≈ 880 kWh≈ 1,190 kWh$150–$200
2001–2010≈ 620 kWh≈ 840 kWh$105–$145
2011–2016≈ 480 kWh≈ 650 kWh$80–$110
2017 or newer≈ 420 kWh≈ 570 kWh$70–$95

These are typical values for estimation; actual models vary. Always compare the kWh on the EnergyGuide labels of the models you are considering.

When replacing makes sense

  • The fridge is more than 15 years old, especially if it was made before 2001.
  • It needs an expensive repair (compressor, sealed system) anyway.
  • It runs constantly, frosts up, or the door seals no longer close tightly.
  • You can get a utility rebate or a free recycling pick-up.

The hidden cost of a second fridge

Moving the old fridge to the garage feels thrifty, but an older second fridge can cost more per year than your new kitchen fridge, and garages are hot in summer. If the second fridge holds only drinks, a small new model or simply unplugging it is usually cheaper. Many utilities pay a bonus for recycling old refrigerators so that they don’t stay in use.

Free ways to cut your fridge’s energy use

  • Set the fridge to about 37 °F (3 °C) and the freezer to 0 °F (−18 °C). Colder settings waste energy without improving food safety.
  • Vacuum the condenser coils at the back or bottom once or twice a year.
  • Check the door seals: a sheet of paper closed in the door should be hard to pull out.
  • Leave a few inches of space around the fridge for air flow, and keep it away from the oven, dishwasher and direct sun.
  • Let hot food cool before putting it in, and avoid holding the door open.

FAQ

How much electricity does a refrigerator use per day?

A modern 20 cu ft refrigerator typically uses 1–1.6 kWh per day (about 350–600 kWh per year). Older models from the 1990s often use 2.5–3.5 kWh per day.

How much does it cost to run a fridge per month?

Divide the yearly kWh by 12 and multiply by your electricity price. A new 450 kWh/year fridge at $0.17/kWh costs about $6.40 per month; an old 1,200 kWh/year fridge costs about $17 per month.

Is it worth replacing a 20-year-old refrigerator?

Often yes. A refrigerator from around 2000 can use 400–1,000 kWh per year more than a new efficient model, depending on its size and layout. At typical electricity prices that saves roughly $70–$170 a year, so the energy savings alone can pay back a large part of a new fridge over its 12–15 year life.

Do French-door refrigerators use more energy?

Generally yes. French-door and side-by-side models, and fridges with through-the-door ice and water, use more electricity than top- or bottom-freezer models of the same size.

How can I measure my fridge’s actual consumption?

Use a plug-in energy meter for at least 48 hours, ideally a week, with normal door openings. Multiply the average daily kWh by 365 for the yearly figure.

How long does a refrigerator last?

Most refrigerators last about 10–15 years, and many keep running longer. Efficiency usually declines with age as door seals wear and compressors lose performance.