How much electricity does a freezer use?
ENERGY STAR upright freezers use a median 438 kWh a year ($5.48 a month at 15¢), compact freezers 244 kWh ($3.05). Per day, month, year.
How much electricity does a mini fridge use?
A mini fridge is small, but it runs all day and all night. ENERGY STAR calls a refrigerator with a total volume under 7.75 cubic feet and a height of 36 inches or less a compact refrigerator. That is the group closest to what shoppers call a mini fridge.
This guide uses the 1,714 certified compact refrigerators in the ENERGY STAR dataset, as it stood in October 2026. It gives the energy and cost per day, per month and per year, shows how size changes the result and explains how to estimate the cost at your own electricity price.
The short answer
The median certified compact refrigerator uses 246 kWh per year. The median is taken over 1,714 models, so half of them use less and half use more. Half of the models use between 218 and 278 kWh a year, and the full range is 106 to 470 kWh.
Spread over time, 246 kWh a year is about 0.67 kWh a day (every 24 hours) and 20.5 kWh a month. Cost then follows from the price per kWh.
| Period | Cost at 15 cents per kWh | Cost at 25 cents per kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Per day | $0.10 | $0.17 |
| Per month | $3.08 | $5.13 |
| Per year | $36.90 | $61.50 |
Mini fridge energy use per day, per month and per year
ENERGY STAR publishes one annual figure per model. Dividing it by 365 gives the energy per day, and dividing it by 12 gives the energy per month. Multiplying by a price per kWh gives the cost. The table does this for the median model in each size band.
A mini fridge costs little per day and a visible amount per year. The two sections below show the energy and the cost by size and the spread inside each size.
The tables use the median model of each group.
Energy and cost by size
Larger mini fridges use more electricity. The table groups the certified compact refrigerators by total interior volume and shows the median model of each group.
| Total volume (median model) | kWh per year | kWh per day | kWh per month | Cost per day at 15¢ | Cost per month at 15¢ | Cost per year at 15¢ | Cost per month at 25¢ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 2 ft³ | 208 | 0.57 | 17.3 | $0.09 | $2.60 | $31.20 | $4.33 |
| 2 to under 3 ft³ | 215 | 0.59 | 17.9 | $0.09 | $2.69 | $32.25 | $4.48 |
| 3 to under 4 ft³ | 230 | 0.63 | 19.2 | $0.09 | $2.88 | $34.50 | $4.79 |
| 4 to under 5 ft³ | 269 | 0.74 | 22.4 | $0.11 | $3.36 | $40.35 | $5.60 |
| 5 to 7.75 ft³ | 276 | 0.76 | 23.0 | $0.11 | $3.45 | $41.40 | $5.75 |
The step from the smallest to the largest band is modest: 208 kWh against 276 kWh a year at the median. Size matters, but it does not decide the result alone.
How wide the spread is inside one size
Inside every size band the models differ a lot. The table shows how many models each band holds and the lowest and highest annual figure in it.
| Total volume | Models | Range kWh/yr |
|---|---|---|
| Under 2 ft³ | 258 | 106 to 247 |
| 2 to under 3 ft³ | 173 | 191 to 321 |
| 3 to under 4 ft³ | 532 | 150 to 323 |
| 4 to under 5 ft³ | 377 | 106 to 470 |
| 5 to 7.75 ft³ | 373 | 159 to 458 |
Two mini fridges of the same size can differ by a factor of two or more in yearly energy use. For that reason the annual kWh of the exact model matters more than its size class. You can compare models in the refrigerator list, filtered to the compact type.
Why per-day and per-month figures are averages
The yearly figure is the one ENERGY STAR publishes. The day and month figures are that number divided by 365 and by 12, so they are averages over the year, not measurements of one day.
The distinction matters because people often compare a daily figure with a measurement of a single day. The two are different kinds of number: one is an average over a year, and the other is a sample.
The next two sections explain what moves a mini fridge away from the average.
What moves a mini fridge above or below the average
ENERGY STAR states that your use varies with how often the door is opened, the room temperature around the unit and how full it is kept. A mini fridge in a hot garage or a hot dorm room has to work harder than one in a cool room. A unit that is opened often loses cold air each time.
The same unit can therefore sit above the average in summer and below it in winter. Over a full year these differences even out toward the published figure.
What a flat monthly figure hides
A monthly cost of $3.08 at 15 cents per kWh is a flat average. Your bill will move a little from month to month even when the mini fridge sits in the same place. Treat the monthly figure as a fair size of the cost, not as a prediction for a specific month.
If you want a figure for a particular month, measure the unit with a plug-in meter in that month. The reading will show the effect of the season and of your use.
The flat figure remains useful for comparing models.
Mini fridge watts and cost per hour
ENERGY STAR does not publish a wattage for compact refrigerators, and the compressor switches on and off, so a single wattage would mislead. This site therefore does not state one.
A cost per hour is a natural question for a small appliance. It needs a wattage, and ENERGY STAR does not publish one for compact refrigerators.
The next sections explain the reason and show how to get a figure by measurement.
Why one wattage does not describe a mini fridge
A label may show the power the compressor draws while it runs. A mini fridge runs only part of the time, so the average power is lower than the label value and changes with the room. The yearly kWh already includes this cycling, which is why it is the number to use for cost.
Think of the compressor as a switch that is on for part of each hour. The wattage on the label is the power while it is on. The average is the power multiplied by the share of time.
The share changes with the room and the use, so no single wattage fits.
How to measure your own mini fridge
A plug-in energy meter gives a direct measurement for a specific unit. Run the mini fridge on the meter for at least 24 hours with normal use.
- Read the kWh after 24 hours.
- Multiply by 365 for a yearly estimate.
- Multiply the yearly kWh by your price per kWh.
Measure with the unit in its normal place and with normal use. If you keep drinks in it and open it often, the reading includes that.
For a year's estimate, measure again in another season.
Mini fridge or beverage cooler
Beverage coolers and wine coolers are listed separately by ENERGY STAR and are not included in these numbers. A cooler is built to hold drinks at a fixed temperature, and its energy figures are not comparable with those of a compact refrigerator.
If your unit is only for drinks, look for the cooler listing of the model instead. If it keeps food, the compact refrigerator figures in this guide apply. The rule of thumb is simple: the figures here describe food refrigerators with a total volume under 7.75 cubic feet.
How to check the cost at your own electricity price
Cost equals annual kWh multiplied by your price per kWh. The median mini fridge costs about $36.90 a year at 15 cents and $61.50 a year at 25 cents. The only part that changes from one household to another is the price.
The estimates in this guide use 15 and 25 cents per kWh. Your own price may be different. The following sections show two ways to set it.
The cost of a mini fridge changes in proportion to the price.
Use a state average or your own rate
On each model page you can pick your state or enter your own rate in cents per kWh. The state option uses the latest EIA residential average, and your own rate replaces it. The refrigerator cost by state page lists every state.
The state option uses the EIA residential average for your state, and the own-rate option uses the price you enter. The second is more exact.
Both appear on every model page.
Compare with a full-size refrigerator
A mini fridge costs less than a full-size one. The median full-size ENERGY STAR refrigerator uses 347 kWh a year against 246 kWh for the median compact model, a difference of about 100 kWh a year. See how much electricity a refrigerator uses.
A mini fridge is smaller and also uses less energy, but it is not always the cheaper choice for storage. If you need the space, compare the cost per cubic foot.
For a full-size model the figures by type and size are in the other guide.
How to keep a mini fridge's running cost low
The biggest lever is the choice of model, because the spread inside a size band is wide. After that, simple habits keep a unit close to its rated figure.
- Place the mini fridge where it is cool and away from direct sun and heat sources.
- Leave space around it so heat can leave through the back and sides.
- Open the door less often and keep it open for as short a time as possible.
- Let warm items cool before you put them in.
These points follow ENERGY STAR's statement that door openings and the room temperature change the energy use.
Frequently asked questions
These answers use the ENERGY STAR figures for compact refrigerators. They describe the median certified model, so a particular unit can differ.
Each answer stands on its own, so you can jump to the one you need. The figures come from the tables above, and the method is described at the end of the guide.
Does a mini fridge use a lot of electricity?
A mini fridge uses less than a full-size refrigerator, but it runs all year. The median certified model uses 20.5 kWh a month, which costs $3.08 at 15 cents per kWh. Over a year that is $36.90.
Because the unit runs all year, its yearly total is larger than that of many small appliances that run only for a few hours a day.
The cost depends on your price per kWh.
How much does it cost to run a mini fridge for 24 hours?
For the median certified compact refrigerator the energy in 24 hours is about 0.67 kWh on average. At 15 cents per kWh that costs $0.10, and at 25 cents per kWh it costs $0.17.
The figure is an average over a year. On a hot day the mini fridge uses more, and on a cool day it uses less.
For a figure for your own unit, measure it for 24 hours.
Is a freezer compartment in a mini fridge more costly?
A freezer compartment needs more energy per cubic foot than a fresh-food compartment. This is why ENERGY STAR weights the freezer volume more heavily in adjusted volume. If you want a unit with a freezer, compare the annual kWh of the exact model.
A compact unit with a freezer compartment can use more than one without it, because the freezer needs more energy per cubic foot. The effect depends on the model.
Compare the annual kWh of the exact models instead of assuming.
Method
The data comes from the ENERGY STAR Certified Residential Refrigerators dataset (EPA), imported in October 2026. For each brand and model number only the newest listing is used. The guide covers the compact refrigerators, 1,714 current listings.
Sizes use the total interior volume as published. Medians, quartiles and ranges are computed from the annual energy values as published, with nothing estimated. Per-day and per-month figures are the annual figure divided by 365 and by 12, and costs are those kWh multiplied by the price shown.
Sources
Related guides
Each guide below uses the same official ENERGY STAR and EIA data, so the numbers agree from page to page.
Swipe, scroll or use the arrows to see more.
Reading refrigerator ratings: kWh, adjusted volume and the standard
What annual kWh, adjusted volume and the percent below the federal standard mean on an ENERGY STAR refrigerator listing, and how to compare fairly.
How much electricity does a refrigerator use?
A typical ENERGY STAR refrigerator uses about 0.95 kWh a day and 28.9 kWh a month: $4.34 a month at 15¢. Tables by type and size.
Why electricity prices differ so much from state to state
Residential prices run from 12.72 to 48.00 cents per kWh across US states. What EIA says drives the gap, and why a price is not a bill.
How much electricity does a dehumidifier use?
A typical ENERGY STAR portable dehumidifier uses about 0.86 kWh a day and 26.3 kWh a month: $3.94 a month at 15¢. 560 models by capacity.
Reading ENERGY STAR dehumidifier ratings: kWh, IEF and pints per day
What the annual kWh, integrated energy factor and capacity numbers on an ENERGY STAR dehumidifier mean, and how to compare models fairly.
Your electricity rate vs. the state average: which price to use
What the EIA state average price really is, how it differs from your bill, and how to find the per-kWh price that fits an appliance estimate.
How to calculate what an appliance costs to run
Work out an appliance's electricity cost from watts, hours and your price per kWh, with worked examples and common mistakes.