How Many Watts Does A Refrigerator Use?

Last Updated on October 31, 2022 by E.Pery

Keeping food fresh in a refrigerator is a commodity that people cannot do without today. Most people don’t realize that a fridge could cost them more than it should if not well managed.

How Many Watts Does A Refrigerator Use?
How Many Watts Does A Refrigerator Use?

How much power does a fridge use?

According to the University of Florida, a domestic refrigerator uses 200-780 watts per hour on average.

Several factors influence refrigerator power usage. These factors include the type, size, condition, location, age, and use of the refrigerator. The refrigerator’s placement in the kitchen and the room temperature also influence a fridge’s energy consumption.

Recommended reading: How To Choose The Best Apartment-Size Refrigerator?
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Different types of refrigerators have different energy requirements. For example, small-mini fridges are more energy-efficient than full-sized kitchen refrigerators because they need less power to run.

Recommended reading: Mini Refrigerator Deals

Experts also say that the side-by-side fridge models need many watts and the top-mount refrigerators are more efficient than the side-by-side fridge models. The top-down model is, thus, more efficient than the side-by-side model.

Recommended reading: Best Side-By-Side Refrigerator [Top 5 Reviews]

When purchasing a new fridge, you should also consider the fridge’s model. The more recent the model, the more power-efficient it could be. For example, the new Energy-Star-certified refrigerator is 9% more efficient in energy usage compared to other models, especially the older ones.

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Power usage also varies with the refrigerator’s usage. A commercial display fridge could use 10 times more energy than a domestic fridge. Moreover, a frequently used fridge uses more power as the compressor works harder to keep things cool.

how many watts does a refrigerator use per day?

In the United States, the average refrigerator uses between 200 and 750 watts when it’s on.

A typical refrigerator for one day uses about 4 kWh of electricity

The exact wattage depends on several factors, including:

  • Age of your refrigerator. Newer refrigerators are more energy efficient than older ones.
  • Size of your refrigerator. The larger your refrigerator is, the more energy it will use.
  • Other appliances in your home. Appliances that draw power from the same circuit as your refrigerator may affect its energy usage.

how many watts does a fridge use per hour?

A typical refrigerator uses between 200 and 750 watt-hours per year, depending on its size and the amount of time it’s in use.

  • A full-size refrigerator generally uses about 300 watt-hours annually.
  • A half-size refrigerator uses about 250 watt-hours annually.
  • A small refrigerator uses about 200 watt-hours annually.
  • A mini fridge uses about 150 watt-hours annually.

How many watts does a fridge freezer use?

The answer to that question depends on the size of your fridge freezer and how much energy it uses.

In general, refrigerators use between 50 and 400 watts, while freezers use between 100 and 800 watts.

But what does that mean in practical terms?

This means that if you have a typical American-sized refrigerator (which uses about 150 watts) left running for one year, you’ll use about 2,400-kilowatt hours (kWh). This is enough electricity to power a 100-watt light bulb for almost three months.

Meanwhile, if you have a typical American-sized freezer (which uses about 300 watts) left running for one year, you’ll use about 6,000 kWh — enough electricity to power an older desktop computer continuously for two months.

Energy Efficiency Rating (EER)

The energy usage of a fridge or freezer depends on the type of appliance, its size, and whether it is full or empty.

Fridges and freezers are classified according to how much energy they consume. They have an Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) which shows how much power they use for every unit of cold produced. The higher the EER, the more efficient the appliance is. When buying a new fridge or freezer, look for one with an A rating or higher.

A one-star-rated appliance has around half the efficiency of a five-star-rated appliance, which means it uses twice as much electricity as a five-star-rated appliance would when running at full load.

Energy consumption can vary from model to model but generally speaking, larger refrigerators use more electricity than smaller ones and those with double doors tend to use more than single-door models.

It’s also important to note that having your refrigerator full increases its energy consumption by up to 30%. So if you could fit another few items into your fridge without overcrowding it then this would reduce its power consumption considerably!


How to calculate fridge power consumption?

You can determine the average wattage of your refrigerator by multiplying the Volts and amps figures referenced on a sticker at the back of the fridge. The reference figures can also be behind the front kick plate, on the inner wall of the refrigerator, or on the manufacturer’s nameplate below the door.

After obtaining the wattage of your refrigerator, you can calculate the cost of your refrigerator’s energy consumption using the formula: wattage P (w) X operating hours divided by 1000 (Refrigerator Power Consumption E(kWh) = P(W) x Hr / 1000).

The cost of your refrigerator’s energy consumption using the formula: wattage P (w) X operating hours divided by 1000 (Refrigerator Power Consumption E(kWh) = P(W) x Hr / 1000).

For example, if your refrigerator’s wattage is 350 watts and the estimated usage is 8 hours a day which is often equivalent to a 33% duty cycle, then the total energy used is 350w X 8h / 1000= 2.8 kilowatt-hours per day. The rate of power usage is $0.25 per day, then the cost of refrigerator energy use in a year is 2.8 kWh/day X 365 days X $0.25 = $255.50 per year.

You can go a mile further and get the actual wattage of your refrigerator using a power meter. A power meter measures the actual energy use rather than giving an estimate. To use it, plug it in your fridge for a day and then see the number of kWh it uses. Having an accurate figure could enable you to manage your energy consumption more efficiently.


9 tips for reducing fridge energy consumption

  1. Place your fridge in a cool dark location
  2. Keep fridge coils clean
  3. Keep the fridge door closed for as much time as possible
  4. Clean it regularly
  5. Willing to spend a little? Replace the gaskets
  6. Set the right temperature
  7. Cool food only, and lots of it
  8. Place it away from the heat
  9. Using a generator to run a refrigerator

1. Place your Fridge in a Cool Dark Location

Always position your refrigerator away from heat sources such as cookers, ovens, or large windows that let in a lot of sunlight. Placing a fridge in place with a high ambient temperature makes the compressor work harder to expel the hot air and keep the food cold. Placing the refrigerator in a cool place saves energy.

Recommended reading: What Temperature Should A Refrigerator Be?
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2. Keep Fridge Coils Clean

Condenser coils often collect dirt with refrigerator use. Cleaning them can reduce power consumption. A clean coil typically functions more efficiently than a dirty one, as no energy is used in dislodging the dirt.

Recommended reading: How To Clean Refrigerator Coils?

3. Keep the Fridge Door Closed for as Much Time as Possible

One of the best ways of reducing your refrigerator’s power usage is to avoid the habit of leaving the door open. The compressor begins to work as soon as the door is flung open, increasing the number of watts used to power the fridge. Moving with speed when grabbing things from the refrigerator prevents the entry of too much warm air.

4. Clean it Regularly

The refrigerator also needs a routine cleaning every three months. It needs to be pulled from the wall and thoroughly dusted, then cleaned. Clean the coil and the kick plate to ensure there is enough space for the appliance to breathe.

Recommended reading: How To Clean A Refrigerator? [12 Easy Steps]

5. Willing to spend a Little? Replace the Gaskets

Experts say that gaskets can keep the air cool. When the refrigerator’s rubber gaskets no longer keep the cold air out, you need to replace it as fast as possible or buy an appliance that saves on energy if you have extra money.

6. Set the Right Temperature

The factory settings keep the refrigerator cooler than is necessary. Hence, resetting the ideal temperature could save a little energy, especially if you live in a place that has a calm atmosphere. The optimal temperature for a domestic fridge is 37 degrees Fahrenheit (2.78 °C) and 0 degrees for a freezer.

Recommended reading: What Temperature Should A Refrigerator Be? Refrigerator Not Cooling? How To Fix It? 

7. Cool Food Only, and Lots of it

Before refrigerating leftovers or hot food, it is essential to take time to cool them. Putting room temperature or cool food in the fridge prevents your compressor from overworking. It is also necessary to fill the refrigerator and the freezer about three-quarters full to increase efficiency, as the appliances will not put extra effort to cool empty spaces.

8. Place it Away from the Heat

Avoid placing fridges near heat sources like gas stoves, ovens, or microwaves. If a fridge is positioned in a warm place, the warm temperature increases energy consumption because more power is required to replace the warm air with cool air. It also increases energy consumption by nearly 40% and so raises the electric bill.

9. Using a Generator to Run a Refrigerator

You could use a generator to power your refrigerators during a power outage or if you live in a place that often experiences outages. It reduces energy consumption by enabling the refrigerator to maintain a low temperature.


How much electricity does my refrigerator use?

A refrigerator is one of the home appliances that run 24/7. For this reason, most people believe that it uses a lot of wattage. However, you might be surprised how little power your refrigerator consumes compared to other appliances such as a water heater, air conditioner, or clothes dryer.

The refrigerator consumes about 15 to 20% of your electricity bill. To reduce your fridge’s energy consumption, you must understand how it works and how power is consumed. The refrigerator consists of an internal fan unit, a compressor, a control board, lighting circuits, etc. The compressor consumes 90% of the power, while the fan unit uses about 8 %. The remaining 2% is shared between the lighting circuit and the control board equally.

The refrigerator consumes about 15 to 20% of your electricity bill

So let’s say, for example, you have a 165- liter fridge that is rated at 200Watts within 24 hours of operation. Of 24 hours, 6 are compressor hours, while 18 are non-compressor hours. When a refrigerator runs with the compressor, it consumes total wattage and only 10% power without the compressor.

Hence, in a day, the electricity consumed would be (6h x wattage + 18 x 10% of the wattage)/ 1000. In our case, the average power usage per day is 6 × 200W + 18 x 10% of 200)/ 1000 = 1.56 kilowatt-hours. If the refrigerator’s compressor were running for 24 hours, the power consumption would be 24 x 200 / 1000= 4.8 kWh. This means that the refrigerator consumes less energy when it runs intermittently with and without a compressor.


4 ways to cut fridge power consumption

Experts say that certified fridges use about 20% less power than conventional fridges. However, if you have an older one, here are four tips you could use to reduce the power consumption of your refrigerator.

  1. Avoid jamming the fridge between cabinets because it prevents free air circulation. 
  2. Please place them in a cool place with adequate air circulation.
  3. You could also use it to make the bar and drinks fridges more efficient by using timers on them.
  4. Another tactic is resetting the factory settings to 4 degrees for a refrigerator, and -15 for a freezer is safe and efficient.

What size of generator do I need to run a refrigerator?

There are two figures that you should be aware of; starting watts and running watts. The starting watts show you the number of watts required to start the fridge or freezer, while the running watts indicate the power one needs to keep the refrigerator going.

On average, home refrigerators use about 1000 to 2000 watts when starting, although this greatly depends on the size of the fridge. A generator that can deliver at least 2000 starting watts is sufficient to run both a freezer and a refrigerator without any hitches.

A generator that can deliver at least 2000 starting watts is sufficient to run both a freezer and a refrigerator without any hitches.

However, it’s always good to get a generator with a slightly higher voltage to be on the safe side. The extra power allows the refrigerator to start if the fridge requires it and run other household appliances.

Calculate the Average Wattage for Refrigerators

To obtain the average wattage used for your fridge, you need to multiply the figures of the volts by the amps at the back of the fridge. Modern refrigerators have a starting wattage of between 800-1200 watts-hours per day, while older ones use about 805 watts. To obtain the average wattage for your fridge, divide the wattage by 30 days.


The monthly cost of a refrigerator

Let’s say that you are charged 12 cents per kilowatt hour for power, that the wattage of your refrigerator is 810 watts, and that the operating hours are 8. To determine the monthly cost of your refrigerator, multiply the wattage by the number of operating hours- 810 × 8= 6480. Then multiply this demand by 12 cents (6480w × 12)/ 1000= 77.76 cents a day.

To determine the monthly cost of your refrigerator, multiply the wattage by the number of operating hours- 810 × 8= 6480. Then multiply this demand by 12 cents (6480w × 12)/ 1000= 77.76 cents a day.