How much does it cost to run a refrigerator?
The same refrigerator costs $185 a year in Hawaii (40.59 ¢ per kWh) and $54 in North Dakota (11.81 ¢), a gap of $132 or 3.4 times. Model range at 17.30 ¢: $51.38 to $118.50 a year (2,980 listed).
Map
- $53.97 to $60.23
- $60.23 to $68.37
- $68.37 to $74.17
- $74.17 to $105
- $105 to $185
Darker = costlier to run refrigerator. Click a state for its hub.
Your numbers
All 51 states
| 1 | Hawaii | 40.59 | $185.50 | $120.55 | $278.04 | $15.46 | 287 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | California | 32.54 | $148.71 | $96.64 | $222.90 | $12.39 | 82 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 30.48 | $139.29 | $90.53 | $208.79 | $11.61 | 170 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 29.46 | $134.63 | $87.50 | $201.80 | $11.22 | 174 |
| 5 | Connecticut | 29.38 | $134.27 | $87.26 | $201.25 | $11.19 | 112 |
| 6 | Maine | 27.78 | $126.95 | $82.51 | $190.29 | $10.58 | 65 |
| 7 | New York | 26.39 | $120.60 | $78.38 | $180.77 | $10.05 | 96 |
| 8 | Alaska | 26.09 | $119.23 | $77.49 | $178.72 | $9.94 | 168 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 24.56 | $112.24 | $72.94 | $168.24 | $9.35 | 57 |
| 10 | Vermont | 22.92 | $104.74 | $68.07 | $157.00 | $8.73 | 9 |
| 11 | New Jersey | 22.63 | $103.42 | $67.21 | $155.02 | $8.62 | 97 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | 21.94 | $100.27 | $65.16 | $150.29 | $8.36 | 82 |
| 13 | Michigan | 20.01 | $91.45 | $59.43 | $137.07 | $7.62 | 164 |
| 14 | Maryland | 19.48 | $89.02 | $57.86 | $133.44 | $7.42 | 108 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | 19.30 | $88.20 | $57.32 | $132.21 | $7.35 | 134 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | 18.16 | $82.99 | $53.94 | $124.40 | $6.92 | 240 |
| 17 | Illinois | 17.69 | $80.84 | $52.54 | $121.18 | $6.74 | 98 |
| 18 | Delaware | 17.13 | $78.28 | $50.88 | $117.34 | $6.52 | 146 |
| 19 | Ohio | 16.96 | $77.51 | $50.37 | $116.18 | $6.46 | 221 |
| 20 | Indiana | 16.23 | $74.17 | $48.20 | $111.18 | $6.18 | 302 |
| 21 | Alabama | 16.10 | $73.58 | $47.82 | $110.29 | $6.13 | 147 |
| 22 | Colorado | 15.85 | $72.43 | $47.07 | $108.57 | $6.04 | 225 |
| 23 | Minnesota | 15.82 | $72.30 | $46.99 | $108.37 | $6.02 | 155 |
| 24 | Texas | 15.47 | $70.70 | $45.95 | $105.97 | $5.89 | 159 |
| 25 | West Virginia | 15.41 | $70.42 | $45.77 | $105.56 | $5.87 | 405 |
| 26 | Oregon | 15.37 | $70.24 | $45.65 | $105.28 | $5.85 | 75 |
| 27 | Arizona | 15.32 | $70.01 | $45.50 | $104.94 | $5.83 | 142 |
| 28 | Virginia | 15.28 | $69.83 | $45.38 | $104.67 | $5.82 | 111 |
| 29 | Florida | 15.24 | $69.65 | $45.26 | $104.39 | $5.80 | 163 |
| 30 | New Mexico | 15.08 | $68.92 | $44.79 | $103.30 | $5.74 | 160 |
| 31 | South Carolina | 14.96 | $68.37 | $44.43 | $102.48 | $5.70 | 115 |
| 32 | Georgia | 14.73 | $67.32 | $43.75 | $100.90 | $5.61 | 148 |
| 33 | Kansas | 14.56 | $66.54 | $43.24 | $99.74 | $5.54 | 151 |
| 34 | Mississippi | 14.03 | $64.12 | $41.67 | $96.11 | $5.34 | 171 |
| 35 | North Carolina | 14.02 | $64.07 | $41.64 | $96.04 | $5.34 | 129 |
| 36 | Iowa | 13.72 | $62.70 | $40.75 | $93.98 | $5.23 | 131 |
| 37 | Missouri | 13.49 | $61.65 | $40.07 | $92.41 | $5.14 | 299 |
| 38 | South Dakota | 13.38 | $61.15 | $39.74 | $91.65 | $5.10 | 69 |
| 39 | Wyoming | 13.38 | $61.15 | $39.74 | $91.65 | $5.10 | 377 |
| 40 | Kentucky | 13.24 | $60.51 | $39.32 | $90.69 | $5.04 | 360 |
| 41 | Tennessee | 13.18 | $60.23 | $39.14 | $90.28 | $5.02 | 136 |
| 42 | Nevada | 13.15 | $60.10 | $39.06 | $90.08 | $5.01 | 133 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | 13.12 | $59.96 | $38.97 | $89.87 | $5.00 | 134 |
| 44 | Washington | 13.11 | $59.91 | $38.94 | $89.80 | $4.99 | 55 |
| 45 | Utah | 13.07 | $59.73 | $38.82 | $89.53 | $4.98 | 293 |
| 46 | Montana | 12.98 | $59.32 | $38.55 | $88.91 | $4.94 | 219 |
| 47 | Arkansas | 12.84 | $58.68 | $38.13 | $87.95 | $4.89 | 206 |
| 48 | Louisiana | 12.57 | $57.44 | $37.33 | $86.10 | $4.79 | 158 |
| 49 | Nebraska | 12.34 | $56.39 | $36.65 | $84.53 | $4.70 | 211 |
| 50 | Idaho | 11.82 | $54.02 | $35.11 | $80.97 | $4.50 | 65 |
| 51 | North Dakota | 11.81 | $53.97 | $35.08 | $80.90 | $4.50 | 267 |
457 kWh a year times each state's 2025 home price (2980 models (full-size, not compact), ENERGY STAR data as of 2 Oct 2026).
CSVPay less
- Model spread: 10th percentile 297 kWh, 90th 685; the 388 kWh gap is $67.12 a year at 17.30 ¢ and $157.49 at 40.59 ¢ (Hawaii).
- Median certified model: 10% below the federal standard for its class.
- 901 models meet the Most Efficient 2025 criteria: median 363 kWh against 457, $16.26 a year at 17.30 ¢.
- Location: 3.4 times between Hawaii ($185.50) and North Dakota ($53.97); 100% of utilities in Hawaii list a time-of-use rate (EIA-861).
- A refrigerator runs 8,760 hours a year, so each 10 kWh a year of rating is worth money every year of its 10 to 20 years.
Where the kWh comes from
Runs all day, cycling on and off; ENERGY STAR lists tested annual energy for full-size models. Median 457 kWh, 10th to 90th percentile 297 to 685, range 114 to 805, 2,980 models (full-size, not compact). Certified models only. Method: appliance hub.
Sources
| Source | Retrieved |
|---|---|
| ENERGY STAR Certified products | 2 Oct 2026 |
| EIA retail sales | 1 Oct 2026 |
| EPA eGRID2023 | 2 Oct 2026 |
| DOE formula | 2 Oct 2026 |
More
a freezer, a window air conditioner, a dehumidifier, all appliances, EV charging, calculators.
Questions
Cost to run a refrigerator for a year?
$79.06 at 17.30 ¢ and 457 kWh; $53.97 in North Dakota to $185.50 in Hawaii.
Most expensive state for a refrigerator?
Hawaii: $185.50 at 40.59 ¢.
Cheapest state for a refrigerator?
North Dakota: $53.97 at 11.81 ¢.
kWh used by a refrigerator?
Median 457; 10th to 90th percentile 297 to 685; 2,980 models (full-size, not compact).
Does the model matter for a refrigerator?
Yes: 90th against 10th percentile is $67.12 a year at the U.S. price.
CO2 from a refrigerator?
159 kg a year at 0.348 kg per kWh (U.S.).
Why would my refrigerator bill differ?
Median 457 kWh is for new certified models; 17.30 ¢ is an average.
Fixed charges in the refrigerator cost?
Not included.