Electricity cost · refrigerator
A 150 W refrigerator used about 24 hours a day costs roughly $0.68 per day, $20.80 a month, or $249.66 a year at the $0.19/kWh US average rate — and uses about 3.6 kWh a day. These are indicative figures; adjust the wattage, hours, and your $/kWh below for your own home.
Typical wattages & rates indicative, as of — use your bill's $/kWh
Running a typical 150 W refrigerator about 24 hours a day costs roughly $0.68 a day, $20.80 a month, and $249.66 a year at the $0.19/kWh US average — about 3.6 kWh a day. A refrigerator runs around the clock but cycles its compressor, so it's modeled as an effective average of about 150 W over 24 hours rather than its peak draw.
These are indicative figures, not a bill. Your real cost depends on the unit's actual wattage, how long you run it, and your local rate. Enter your own watts and the $/kWh from your bill in the calculator above for an accurate estimate. Cycling appliances don't run at full power continuously.
Indicative: typical 150 W × 24 h/day at the $0.19/kWh US residential benchmark published for 2026-04. Appliance preset reviewed 2026-06. Use your bill for accuracy.
A single default cannot represent every home. These three profiles keep the same $0.19/kWh planning rate while changing the usage pattern that matters for this appliance.
| Profile | Assumption | Average month | Annual cost | Annual energy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Efficient smaller unit Low effective average across compressor cycles | 80 W × 24 h/day × 365 days/year | $11.10 | $133.15 | 700.8 kWh |
| Planning baseline The page's representative effective average | 150 W × 24 h/day × 365 days/year | $20.80 | $249.66 | 1,314 kWh |
| Older or larger unit Higher effective average, not compressor peak | 250 W × 24 h/day × 365 days/year | $34.67 | $416.10 | 2,190 kWh |
Do not multiply compressor peak watts by 24 hours. Measure the refrigerator for at least several days with a plug-in meter, or use the EnergyGuide annual kWh, so compressor cycling and defrost heaters are included.
The annual spread can support a replace-or-keep comparison. Subtract the measured annual cost of a new candidate from the existing refrigerator, then compare that saving with purchase price rather than assuming every old unit should be replaced.
Indicatively, a typical 150 W refrigerator run about 24 hours a day costs roughly $0.68 per day, $20.80 per month, and $249.66 per year at the US-average rate of $0.19/kWh, using about 3.6 kWh a day (1314 kWh a year). A refrigerator runs around the clock but cycles its compressor, so it's modeled as an effective average of about 150 W over 24 hours rather than its peak draw. These are indicative figures — your real cost depends on the unit's actual wattage, how long you run it, and your own electricity rate.
At a typical 150 W and 24 hours of use a day, it draws about 3.6 kWh per day — roughly 1314 kWh over a year on the default schedule. Cycles all day — modeled as an EFFECTIVE AVERAGE ~150 W over 24 h, not its compressor's peak draw. Multiply the kWh by your own $/kWh to get your cost.
The two levers are running it less (fewer hours or, for seasonal items, fewer days) and paying less per kWh. Using the appliance during off-peak hours can help if you're on a time-of-use plan, and a more efficient model lowers the wattage. The single most accurate thing you can do is enter your real wattage and your bill's $/kWh in the calculator above.
Source links and page assumptions reviewed .
Indicative estimate only. The 150 W figure is a typical indicative value, not a spec for your specific refrigerator, and $0.19/kWh is an indicative US average, not your tariff. Real cost varies widely by model, efficiency, usage, and your local rate and plan. For an accurate figure, use the wattage on your appliance and the $/kWh on your electricity bill. Appliance presets reviewed 2026-06; rate benchmark published for 2026-04.