How much does it cost to run a refrigerator?
The same refrigerator costs $185 a year in Hawaii (40.40 ¢ per kWh) and $54 in North Dakota (11.82 ¢), a gap of $131 or 3.4 times. Model range at 17.23 ¢: $51.17 to $118.03 a year (2,980 listed).
Map
- $54.02 to $60.42
- $60.42 to $67.86
- $67.86 to $73.53
- $73.53 to $104
- $104 to $185
Darker = costlier to run refrigerator. Click a state for its hub.
Your numbers
All 51 states
| 1 | Hawaii | 40.40 | $184.63 | $119.99 | $276.74 | $15.39 | 287 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | California | 31.35 | $143.27 | $93.11 | $214.75 | $11.94 | 82 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 30.41 | $138.97 | $90.32 | $208.31 | $11.58 | 170 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 29.48 | $134.72 | $87.56 | $201.94 | $11.23 | 174 |
| 5 | Connecticut | 29.31 | $133.95 | $87.05 | $200.77 | $11.16 | 112 |
| 6 | Maine | 27.69 | $126.54 | $82.24 | $189.68 | $10.55 | 65 |
| 7 | New York | 26.39 | $120.60 | $78.38 | $180.77 | $10.05 | 96 |
| 8 | Alaska | 26.11 | $119.32 | $77.55 | $178.85 | $9.94 | 168 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 24.53 | $112.10 | $72.85 | $168.03 | $9.34 | 57 |
| 10 | Vermont | 22.79 | $104.15 | $67.69 | $156.11 | $8.68 | 9 |
| 11 | New Jersey | 22.48 | $102.73 | $66.77 | $153.99 | $8.56 | 97 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | 21.92 | $100.17 | $65.10 | $150.15 | $8.35 | 82 |
| 13 | Michigan | 20.03 | $91.54 | $59.49 | $137.21 | $7.63 | 164 |
| 14 | Maryland | 19.53 | $89.25 | $58.00 | $133.78 | $7.44 | 108 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | 19.29 | $88.16 | $57.29 | $132.14 | $7.35 | 134 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | 18.08 | $82.63 | $53.70 | $123.85 | $6.89 | 240 |
| 17 | Illinois | 17.67 | $80.75 | $52.48 | $121.04 | $6.73 | 98 |
| 18 | Delaware | 17.15 | $78.38 | $50.94 | $117.48 | $6.53 | 146 |
| 19 | Ohio | 16.90 | $77.23 | $50.19 | $115.76 | $6.44 | 221 |
| 20 | Alabama | 16.09 | $73.53 | $47.79 | $110.22 | $6.13 | 147 |
| 21 | Indiana | 15.96 | $72.94 | $47.40 | $109.33 | $6.08 | 302 |
| 22 | Minnesota | 15.83 | $72.34 | $47.02 | $108.44 | $6.03 | 155 |
| 23 | Colorado | 15.69 | $71.70 | $46.60 | $107.48 | $5.98 | 225 |
| 24 | Oregon | 15.46 | $70.65 | $45.92 | $105.90 | $5.89 | 75 |
| 25 | Texas | 15.40 | $70.38 | $45.74 | $105.49 | $5.86 | 159 |
| 26 | West Virginia | 15.39 | $70.33 | $45.71 | $105.42 | $5.86 | 405 |
| 27 | Virginia | 15.28 | $69.83 | $45.38 | $104.67 | $5.82 | 111 |
| 28 | Arizona | 15.26 | $69.74 | $45.32 | $104.53 | $5.81 | 142 |
| 29 | Florida | 15.21 | $69.51 | $45.17 | $104.19 | $5.79 | 163 |
| 30 | South Carolina | 15.12 | $69.10 | $44.91 | $103.57 | $5.76 | 115 |
| 31 | New Mexico | 14.85 | $67.86 | $44.10 | $101.72 | $5.66 | 160 |
| 32 | Georgia | 14.74 | $67.36 | $43.78 | $100.97 | $5.61 | 148 |
| 33 | Kansas | 14.44 | $65.99 | $42.89 | $98.91 | $5.50 | 151 |
| 34 | Mississippi | 14.03 | $64.12 | $41.67 | $96.11 | $5.34 | 171 |
| 35 | North Carolina | 14.00 | $63.98 | $41.58 | $95.90 | $5.33 | 129 |
| 36 | Iowa | 13.62 | $62.24 | $40.45 | $93.30 | $5.19 | 131 |
| 37 | Wyoming | 13.37 | $61.10 | $39.71 | $91.58 | $5.09 | 377 |
| 38 | South Dakota | 13.32 | $60.87 | $39.56 | $91.24 | $5.07 | 69 |
| 39 | Missouri | 13.30 | $60.78 | $39.50 | $91.11 | $5.07 | 299 |
| 40 | Nevada | 13.26 | $60.60 | $39.38 | $90.83 | $5.05 | 133 |
| 41 | Tennessee | 13.22 | $60.42 | $39.26 | $90.56 | $5.03 | 136 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | 13.21 | $60.37 | $39.23 | $90.49 | $5.03 | 134 |
| 43 | Washington | 13.17 | $60.19 | $39.11 | $90.21 | $5.02 | 55 |
| 44 | Kentucky | 13.13 | $60.00 | $39.00 | $89.94 | $5.00 | 360 |
| 45 | Utah | 13.02 | $59.50 | $38.67 | $89.19 | $4.96 | 293 |
| 46 | Montana | 12.99 | $59.36 | $38.58 | $88.98 | $4.95 | 219 |
| 47 | Arkansas | 12.87 | $58.82 | $38.22 | $88.16 | $4.90 | 206 |
| 48 | Louisiana | 12.52 | $57.22 | $37.18 | $85.76 | $4.77 | 158 |
| 49 | Nebraska | 12.05 | $55.07 | $35.79 | $82.54 | $4.59 | 211 |
| 50 | Idaho | 11.83 | $54.06 | $35.14 | $81.04 | $4.51 | 65 |
| 51 | North Dakota | 11.82 | $54.02 | $35.11 | $80.97 | $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 $66.85 a year at 17.23 ¢ and $156.75 at 40.40 ¢ (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, $16.20 a year at 17.23 ¢.
- Location: 3.4 times between Hawaii ($184.63) and North Dakota ($54.02); 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 | 26 Oct 2026 |
| EPA eGRID2023 | 2 Oct 2026 |
| DOE formula | 2 Oct 2026 |
More
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Questions
Cost to run a refrigerator for a year?
$78.74 at 17.23 ¢ and 457 kWh; $54.02 in North Dakota to $184.63 in Hawaii.
Most expensive state for a refrigerator?
Hawaii: $184.63 at 40.40 ¢.
Cheapest state for a refrigerator?
North Dakota: $54.02 at 11.82 ¢.
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 $66.85 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; 17.23 ¢ is an average.
Fixed charges in the refrigerator cost?
Not included.