Appliance Cost Per Year

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What refrigerators cost to run each year

The median ENERGY STAR certified refrigerator uses 344 kWh a year on the standard federal test basis that ENERGY STAR reports. At the US average home electricity price that is $62 a year. The 4,554 certified models range from 42 to 805 kWh.

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    The starting kWh is the median for ENERGY STAR certified models in that category. Not certified? Use the kWh on the yellow EnergyGuide label.

    Yearly cost by type

    Median model of each type, at 18.04 cents per kWh. Number of certified models in brackets.

    Compact Cooler (104)$26
    Cooler (53)$32
    Compact Refrigerator (1715)$45
    Freezerless and Single Door (278)$52
    Top Freezer (751)$65
    Bottom Freezer (1526)$102
    Side-by-Side (123)$115

    The 25 lowest energy models

    Fisher & PaykelRS2435V2*Compact Cooler4.342$8
    Fisher & PaykelRS2435V2*T*Compact Cooler4.352$9
    ZephyrPRRFD24C2APCompact Cooler3.969$12
    ZephyrPRRFD24C2ASCompact Cooler3.969$12
    ZephyrPRRFD24C2AS-ODCompact Cooler3.969$12
    SMEG SpaCVIU121Compact Cooler2.088$16
    AVALLONAWC15PG1A2ACompact Cooler3.095$17
    AVALLONAWC15PS1A2ACompact Cooler3.095$17
    AVALLONAWC15SG1A2ACompact Cooler3.095$17
    DacorDRW24G7500**Compact Cooler4.795$17
    PerlickURA24W*1-5-****Compact Cooler4.599$18
    PerlickURC24W*1-5-****Compact Cooler5.099$18
    PerlickURD24W*1-5-****Compact Cooler3.199$18
    PerlickURS15W*1-5-****Compact Cooler2.899$18
    PerlickURS24W*1-5-****Compact Cooler5.099$18
    Kalamazoo Outdoor GourmetUKS15W*1-5-****Compact Cooler2.899$18
    Kalamazoo Outdoor GourmetUKS24W*1-5-****Compact Cooler5.099$18
    GaggenauRW204770Compact Cooler3.6100$18
    LiebherrUW3710Compact Cooler4.0100$18
    LiebherrUW3720Compact Cooler3.6100$18
    Signature Kitchen SuiteSKSUW2401*Compact Cooler4.1100$18
    SKSSKSUW2401*Compact Cooler4.1100$18
    AVALLONAWC24PG1A2ACompact Cooler5.4100$18
    AVALLONAWC24PS1A2ACompact Cooler5.4100$18
    AVALLONAWC24SG1A2ACompact Cooler5.4100$18

    Small models use the least energy, so compare within the size you need. Use the search above to find any certified model.

    A typical refrigerator in each state

    North Dakota$42
    Nebraska$44
    Idaho$44
    Louisiana$45
    Utah$46
    Nevada$46
    Arkansas$47
    Tennessee$47
    Oklahoma$48
    Kentucky$48
    Montana$48
    Missouri$48
    Wyoming$48
    Iowa$49
    Washington$49
    South Dakota$49
    North Carolina$51
    Mississippi$51
    Kansas$52
    Georgia$52
    New Mexico$53
    Arizona$53
    Florida$53
    Oregon$53
    West Virginia$53
    South Carolina$54
    Texas$55
    Minnesota$56
    Alabama$57
    Colorado$57
    Virginia$57
    Indiana$58
    Delaware$62
    Ohio$63
    Wisconsin$65
    Illinois$65
    Pennsylvania$72
    Maryland$73
    Michigan$73
    New Jersey$82
    Vermont$82
    District of Columbia$84
    Alaska$93
    New Hampshire$93
    Connecticut$94
    New York$98
    Rhode Island$101
    Maine$102
    Massachusetts$105
    California$111
    Hawaii$152

    Sources

    1. ENERGY STAR Certified Residential Refrigerators, US EPA, ENERGY STAR, checked 1 November 2026
    2. Form EIA-861M, monthly electric power sales and revenue by state (residential), US Energy Information Administration, checked 1 November 2026

    Model list as published by ENERGY STAR, checked 1 November 2026. Electricity prices are the average residential price for September 2025 to August 2026.