Energy
How Many Watts Does a Refrigerator Use?
Published · By Convert & Calculate Everything
A refrigerator’s average power is its yearly kWh, from the EnergyGuide label, times 1,000 divided by 8,760 hours. A 600 kWh-a-year fridge averages about 68 watts and costs about $102 a year at 17 cents per kWh. Running watts are higher, and start-up surges are several times higher.
A refrigerator draws its full power only while the compressor runs, and the compressor cycles on and off all day. So the most useful number is its yearly energy use, printed in kilowatt-hours (kWh) on the yellow EnergyGuide label. Divide it by 8,760, the hours in a year, to get the average power: a fridge rated at 600 kWh a year draws about 68 watts on average.
Running power is higher than that average, and the compressor briefly draws several times its running power each time it starts, which matters when you size a generator or an inverter. To turn any wattage into kWh and cost, use the watts to kWh calculator.
Refrigerator watts, kWh and cost by label rating
Average draw and running cost at 17 cents per kWh, from the yearly figure on the EnergyGuide label:
| Label (kWh per year) | Average watts | kWh per month | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400 kWh | 45.7 W | 33.3 kWh | $68 |
| 500 kWh | 57.1 W | 41.7 kWh | $85 |
| 600 kWh | 68.5 W | 50 kWh | $102 |
| 700 kWh | 79.9 W | 58.3 kWh | $119 |
| 800 kWh | 91.3 W | 66.7 kWh | $136 |
How to work out your refrigerator’s power use
- Find the yearly kWh on the EnergyGuide label, or the model page. Older fridges without a label can be measured with a plug-in energy meter over a full day.
- Average watts = kWh per year × 1,000 ÷ 8,760. For 600 kWh: 600,000 ÷ 8,760 = 68.5 W.
- Monthly kWh = kWh per year ÷ 12. For 600 kWh: 50 kWh a month.
- Yearly cost = kWh per year × your price per kWh. At $0.17: 600 × 0.17 = $102.
How many amps does a refrigerator use?
Amps = watts ÷ volts. On a US 120-volt outlet, a compressor running at 150 W draws 150 ÷ 120 = 1.25 amps, and one running at 300 W draws 2.5 amps. The start-up surge is much higher for a moment, which is why many manufacturers recommend a refrigerator has its own circuit rather than sharing one with other large appliances.
How to make a refrigerator use less electricity
According to ENERGY STAR, certified refrigerators are about 9 percent more energy efficient than models that meet the federal minimum standard, and refrigerators over 15 years old could be costing about $95 more per year to run. ENERGY STAR also notes that the most efficient models are typically 16 to 20 cubic feet.
Day to day, keep the door closed, leave space behind the fridge for air to flow, keep the door seals clean and tight, and do not set the temperature colder than you need. A whole house uses far more: the average US home uses about 10,791 kWh a year, as explained in how many kWh a house uses.
CHECK YOUR OWN NUMBERS
Use the free Watts to kWh Calculator
Skip the manual work: the Watts to kWh Calculator applies the method above instantly, with a clear formula and example, and shows your result right away.
Open the Watts to kWh Calculator →In short
Step by step: How Many Watts Does a Refrigerator Use Watts, Amps, kWh
- Find the yearly kWh on the refrigerator’s EnergyGuide label.
- Multiply by 1,000 and divide by 8,760 to get the average watts.
- Divide the yearly kWh by 12 for the monthly use.
- Multiply the yearly kWh by your electricity price to get the yearly cost.
Quick reference
Worked examples
| Power | Hours used per day | Number of days | Electricity price | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 watts | 8 hours | 30 days | 0.17 per kWh | 24 kWh |
| 1000 watts | 1 hours | 30 days | 0.17 per kWh | 30 kWh |
| 3500 watts | 2 hours | 30 days | 0.17 per kWh | 210 kWh |
| 10 watts | 24 hours | 365 days | 0.17 per kWh | 87.6 kWh |
Accuracy
How we checked this
We compared 4 results from this calculator with values we worked out independently, using exact decimal arithmetic and the published definitions, on October 26, 2026. 4 of 4 matched to the precision shown.
| Input | Independent value | This page | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 watts · 3 hours · 30 days | 135 | 135 kWh | Yes |
| 60 watts · 5 hours · 30 days | 9 | 9 kWh | Yes |
| 150 watts · 24 hours · 1 days | 3.6 | 3.6 kWh | Yes |
| 2000 watts · 0.5 hours · 7 days | 7 | 7 kWh | Yes |
From the source
ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators are about 9 percent more energy efficient than models that meet the federal minimum energy efficiency standard.
Sources
GOOD TO KNOW
Frequently asked questions
How many watts does a refrigerator use per hour?
Watts are a rate, so a fridge does not use watts per hour. It uses energy in watt-hours: a fridge averaging 68 W uses about 68 watt-hours each hour, or 1.64 kWh a day.
How many kWh does a refrigerator use per day?
Divide the label’s yearly kWh by 365. A 600 kWh fridge uses about 1.64 kWh a day.
Can a generator run a refrigerator?
Usually, yes. Size the generator for the compressor’s start-up surge, which is several times its running watts, not just the average draw. The fridge’s manual or label lists its rated current.
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