What a refrigerator or mini fridge costs to run in every state
Last updated · Prices: U.S. EIA, August 2026
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The median ENERGY STAR top-freezer refrigerator costs $65.92 a year to run at the U.S. average electricity price, and the median mini fridge $44.67. The energy use is what ENERGY STAR lists for each certified model; the prices are the residential averages the U.S. Energy Information Administration published for August 2026.
Quick answers at the U.S. average of 18.16¢ per kWh
Median annual energy use of the ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators in each class, with the lowest and highest.
| Type | kWh/yr (range) | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top freezer (839 models, median 18 cu ft) | 363 (121–506) | $65.92 | $5.49 |
| Bottom freezer (1,675 models, median 19.6 cu ft) | 556 (200–799) | $100.97 | $8.41 |
| Side-by-side (123 models, median 24.8 cu ft) | 640 (420–805) | $116.22 | $9.69 |
| Compact (mini) fridge (1,771 models, median 3.3 cu ft) | 246 (106–470) | $44.67 | $3.72 |
Cost per year in every state
For the median top freezer (363 kWh/yr) and compact (mini) fridge (246 kWh/yr) refrigerator, most expensive state first.
| State | Price/kWh | Top freezer | Compact (mini) fridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| HawaiiHawaii electricity bill & rates | 47.18¢ | $171.26 | $116.06 |
| MaineMaine electricity bill & rates | 32.11¢ | $116.56 | $78.99 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48¢ | $110.64 | $74.98 |
| CaliforniaCalifornia electricity bill & rates | 29.75¢ | $107.99 | $73.19 |
| Alaska | 29.41¢ | $106.76 | $72.35 |
| New York | 28.65¢ | $104.00 | $70.48 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18¢ | $102.29 | $69.32 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64¢ | $100.33 | $67.99 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98¢ | $94.31 | $63.91 |
| New Jersey | 24.61¢ | $89.33 | $60.54 |
| Connecticut | 24.51¢ | $88.97 | $60.29 |
| Vermont | 23.84¢ | $86.54 | $58.65 |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $83.45 | $56.56 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77¢ | $79.03 | $53.55 |
| Maryland | 21.40¢ | $77.68 | $52.64 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41¢ | $70.46 | $47.75 |
| OhioOhio electricity bill & rates | 19.38¢ | $70.35 | $47.67 |
| Illinois | 19.32¢ | $70.13 | $47.53 |
| Delaware | 18.70¢ | $67.88 | $46.00 |
| Virginia | 17.64¢ | $64.03 | $43.39 |
| Minnesota | 17.20¢ | $62.44 | $42.31 |
| Colorado | 17.17¢ | $62.33 | $42.24 |
| Iowa | 17.06¢ | $61.93 | $41.97 |
| Indiana | 17.02¢ | $61.78 | $41.87 |
| New Mexico | 16.51¢ | $59.93 | $40.61 |
| Alabama | 16.33¢ | $59.28 | $40.17 |
| West Virginia | 16.31¢ | $59.21 | $40.12 |
| Missouri | 16.02¢ | $58.15 | $39.41 |
| Oregon | 15.92¢ | $57.79 | $39.16 |
| TexasTexas electricity bill & rates | 15.91¢ | $57.75 | $39.14 |
| Georgia | 15.90¢ | $57.72 | $39.11 |
| South Carolina | 15.76¢ | $57.21 | $38.77 |
| Montana | 15.57¢ | $56.52 | $38.30 |
| Kansas | 15.47¢ | $56.16 | $38.06 |
| South Dakota | 15.15¢ | $54.99 | $37.27 |
| Arizona | 15.05¢ | $54.63 | $37.02 |
| FloridaFlorida electricity bill & rates | 14.99¢ | $54.41 | $36.88 |
| North CarolinaNorth Carolina electricity bill & rates | 14.95¢ | $54.27 | $36.78 |
| OklahomaOklahoma electricity bill & rates | 14.82¢ | $53.80 | $36.46 |
| WashingtonWashington electricity bill & rates | 14.63¢ | $53.11 | $35.99 |
| Mississippi | 14.43¢ | $52.38 | $35.50 |
| WyomingWyoming electricity bill & rates | 14.43¢ | $52.38 | $35.50 |
| Arkansas | 14.37¢ | $52.16 | $35.35 |
| Kentucky | 13.80¢ | $50.09 | $33.95 |
| Nebraska | 13.54¢ | $49.15 | $33.31 |
| Tennessee | 13.42¢ | $48.71 | $33.01 |
| Idaho | 13.37¢ | $48.53 | $32.89 |
| North Dakota | 13.31¢ | $48.32 | $32.74 |
| Utah | 13.31¢ | $48.32 | $32.74 |
| Louisiana | 12.87¢ | $46.72 | $31.66 |
| Nevada | 12.72¢ | $46.17 | $31.29 |
Prices are EIA's average residential figures for August 2026; your utility's rate may differ.
How the numbers are worked out
- Energy: the median of the annual energy use, in kWh per year, that ENERGY STAR lists for every certified refrigerator of each type (data retrieved 2026-10-28).
- Cost: kWh per year times your state's average residential price; a month is a twelfth of that.
Starting from the yearly kWh ENERGY STAR lists, rather than a wattage, means there is no guess about how many hours a day the compressor runs. The list covers ENERGY STAR certified models only, so it says nothing about older or uncertified fridges. At the extremes, the same 363 kWh top-freezer fridge costs $171.26 a year in Hawaii and $46.17 in Nevada. For a separate freezer, see what a chest or upright freezer costs to run, and for the right setting, see what temperature a fridge and freezer should be.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does it cost to run a refrigerator per month?
- $5.49 a month for the median ENERGY STAR top-freezer fridge (363 kWh a year) at 18.16¢ per kWh, the August 2026 U.S. average. The median bottom-freezer model costs $8.41 and the median side-by-side $9.69.
- How much does a mini fridge cost to run?
- The median ENERGY STAR compact refrigerator is listed at 246 kWh a year: $44.67 a year, or $3.72 a month, at 18.16¢ per kWh, the August 2026 U.S. average. In Hawaii, the most expensive state, it is $116.06 a year; in Nevada, the cheapest, $31.29.
- Which type of refrigerator uses the least electricity?
- Among full-size ENERGY STAR models, top-freezer fridges have the lowest median (363 kWh a year), then bottom-freezer (556) and side-by-side (640). Size matters too: the median side-by-side holds 24.8 cubic feet against 18 for a top-freezer.
- How do I find what my own fridge costs to run?
- Look up its model number in ENERGY STAR’s certified refrigerator list, linked in Sources, which gives each model’s annual energy use in kWh. Multiply that by your price per kWh for the cost per year, and divide by 12 for a month.
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