How much electricity does a fridge use?
A fridge-freezer uses about 268 kWh a year at the median in measured homes (ADEME), roughly 0.73 kWh a day: about $49 a year at the US average price or £71 under the UK price cap.
- Measured median for a fridge-freezer: 268 kWh a year (middle half 186–353 kWh), about 0.73 kWh a day.
- A fridge without a freezer compartment: 134 kWh a year at the median.
- Running cost of a median fridge-freezer: about $49 a year at 18.31¢/kWh (US average) or £71 at 26.32p/kWh (UK cap).
- A fridge's wattage rating is misleading: the compressor cycles on and off, so measure over at least 24 hours.
The short answer
In measurements carried out by ADEME in 100 French homes between July 2023 and July 2024, a fridge-freezer used 268 kWh a year at the median, about 0.73 kWh a day. That works out to:
- about $49 a year at the US average residential price of 18.31¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026);
- about £71 a year at the UK price cap unit rate of 26.32p/kWh (Ofgem, October–December 2026);
- about €54 a year at France’s regulated Base tariff (€0.2001/kWh).
Consumption by type
| Appliance type | Measured median (kWh/yr) | Middle half of units | US cost at 18.31¢ | UK cost at 26.32p |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fridge-freezer | 268 | 186–353 | $49 | £71 |
| Fridge only (no freezer) | 134 | 104–218 | $25 | £35 |
| Upright freezer | 242 | 185–356 | $44 | £64 |
| Chest freezer | 229 | 182–431 | $42 | £60 |
Source: ADEME open data (Panel Elecdom), Wisiko calculations. Sample sizes: 95 fridge-freezers, 24 fridges, 34 upright and 25 chest freezers.
These are European appliances, typically smaller than the large top-freezer and side-by-side models common in North America. Only 4 American-style side-by-side fridge-freezers were measured in the 2023–2024 panel, too few for a reliable median, but they used far more than standard models.
Why “how many watts” is the wrong question
A fridge’s rating plate shows the power the compressor draws while it runs, often 100 W or more. The compressor switches on and off throughout the day to hold the temperature, so the average power is much lower. A median fridge-freezer at 268 kWh a year averages only about 31 W.
To measure your own fridge, plug it into an energy monitor for at least 24 hours (a week is better), multiply the daily kWh by 365, and enter the result in our appliance running cost calculator under “known annual consumption”.
What makes one fridge use twice as much as another
- Age and efficiency class. Older units with worn door seals and thinner insulation use more. In the EU and UK, energy labels were rescaled in 2021 (classes A to G) and show annual kWh. In the US, the yellow EnergyGuide label shows estimated yearly kWh.
- Size and type: more volume to cool, through-the-door ice and water dispensers, side-by-side layouts.
- Location: next to an oven, a radiator or in direct sun, the fridge works harder. In a hot garage it can work much harder.
- Settings and habits: colder-than-needed settings, frequent door opening and frost build-up in the freezer.
Is it worth replacing an old fridge?
Do the maths. If your old fridge uses 450 kWh a year and a comparable new model is rated at 250 kWh, you save 200 kWh, about $37 a year in the US or £53 in the UK. On energy savings alone, replacing a working fridge rarely pays back quickly; it makes more sense when the old one is failing or unusually inefficient.
Simple habits that help
- Keep the fridge around 37–40 °F (3–4 °C) and the freezer around 0 °F (−18 °C), the settings commonly recommended by manufacturers.
- Defrost manual-defrost freezers when frost builds up.
- Leave a gap behind the fridge for air to flow over the condenser coils, and dust them occasionally.
- Let hot food cool before putting it away.
Compare with every other appliance in our page on how much electricity appliances really use.