Most efficient · Refrigerators
Most Energy-Efficient Refrigerators in 2026
We ranked 398 ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators by percentage below the federal energy standard. The Honeywell H34WCB comes first: it is listed at 143 kWh a year, about $23.01 to run at the median U.S. state price, EIA July 2026.
Quick answer: the top 3
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Most efficient
Honeywell H34WCB
143 kWh/yr · Below std 45 · 3.3 ft³
$23.01 per year
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Rank 2
Liebherr MRB 3610
260 kWh/yr · Below std 32 · 18.9 ft³
$41.83 per year
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Rank 3
Liebherr MRB3600
260 kWh/yr · Below std 32 · 18.9 ft³
$41.83 per year
A refrigerator never switches off, and most last well over a decade, so a small difference in yearly energy use is paid for again every year you own it. ENERGY STAR lists each certified model with its estimated annual energy use and with how far it sits below the federal energy standard for its class. That second figure already allows for size, so it is the fair way to put a compact model and a large French-door model on one list, and it is how the ranking below is ordered.
Annual kWh still matters because it is what you pay for. A large refrigerator can be well below its standard and still use more electricity than a small one. The table shows both, with the yearly cost at your electricity price, and a separate row of leaders for each type so that top-freezer, bottom-freezer and side-by-side models are not judged against each other.
Enter your state or your own rate in the calculator, and add your current refrigerator's yearly kWh to see what switching would save.
Running cost calculator
Prices in the table use the median U.S. state price, EIA July 2026: 16.09 ¢/kWh.
Full replacement calculator with payback time · Cost to run a refrigerator in every state
How this is calculated
- Yearly cost = the model’s ENERGY STAR annual kWh × your rate. Ten-year cost keeps today’s rate; prices will change.
- Savings = (your current refrigerator’s yearly kWh − the new one’s) × your rate. Find yours on the yellow EnergyGuide label or measure it with a plug-in meter.
- Statewide averages are not your utility’s tariff. Use the rate on your bill for a closer number.
The 10 most efficient refrigerators
Showing 10 of 398 ranked models. See all refrigerators with these filters →
Best in each type
| Type | Top model | kWh/yr | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top Freezer | Honeywell H34WCB | 143 | $23.01 |
| Freezerless and Single Door | Liebherr MRB 3610 | 260 | $41.83 |
| Side-by-Side | Samsung RS27T5202** | 546 | $87.85 |
| Bottom Freezer | Miele KFFD 6867 obsw/matt | 488 | $78.52 |
| Compact Refrigerator | Comfee CERT31B0A** | 270 | $43.44 |
Models of different types and sizes are not like for like, so each type has its own leader.
Cost of the top 10 per year
All 398 ranked models by annual energy use; the top 10 are highlighted
How we ranked them
Models come from the ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators list published by the U.S. EPA. We keep only the current listing for each model, and only models that state an annual energy figure. They are ordered by percentage below the federal energy standard (higher is better), a figure ENERGY STAR already adjusts for size, with annual kWh as the tie-break.
Which is calculated with U.S. Department of Energy test procedures. Your use will differ with how often the door is opened, the room temperature and how full the refrigerator is kept. Prices are U.S. EIA statewide residential averages. We do not test products and we do not show retailer prices. See the methodology and data sources.
What to look for in refrigerators
Choose the size first
Efficiency ratings reward a model for doing better than other refrigerators of its own size and class. Decide how much space you need, then compare models of that size. Buying bigger than you need costs electricity every hour of every day.
Layout changes the energy use
Top-freezer models generally use less energy than side-by-side models of the same capacity, and through-the-door ice and water dispensers add energy. Check the type column in the table before you compare numbers.
Keep it efficient once it is home
Set the fresh-food compartment to about 37 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the freezer to about 0. Keep the door seals clean and tight, vacuum the coils if your model has them at the back or bottom, and do not leave a second, older refrigerator running in the garage: it is often the most expensive appliance in the house per year.
What the Honeywell H34WCB costs by state
143 kWh a year at each state’s average residential price.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most energy-efficient refrigerator?
Of the 398 ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators in our data, the Honeywell H34WCB ranks first by percentage below the federal energy standard, with below federal standard of 45 %. It is listed at 143 kWh a year.
How much does the most efficient refrigerator cost to run?
At the median U.S. state price, EIA July 2026 (16.09 cents per kWh), the Honeywell H34WCB costs about $23.01 a year, or $1.92 a month. It runs from about $18.19 a year in Louisiana to $68.64 in Hawaii. Enter your own state or rate in the calculator for a closer figure.
How are these refrigerators ranked?
Models are ordered by percentage below the federal energy standard from the ENERGY STAR certified product list, using only models that list an annual energy figure. Which is calculated with u.s. department of energy test procedures. your use will differ with how often the door is opened, the room temperature and how full the refrigerator is kept. We do not test products and we do not show retail prices.
What does adjusted volume mean?
ENERGY STAR's adjusted volume counts the freezer compartment more heavily than the fresh-food compartment, because freezers need more energy per cubic foot. It is the size measure behind the federal energy standards. This model lists 3.3 ft³ adjusted volume.
How does it compare with the federal standard?
ENERGY STAR lists this model as using 45% less energy than the federal standard for its product class. That percentage is published by ENERGY STAR and is not recalculated here.
Is it worth replacing an old refrigerator?
It can be, if the old one uses a lot more electricity. Enter its yearly kWh in the calculator above to see the saving per year and over ten years, or use the refrigerator replacement calculator for the full comparison.
Is a refrigerator with a lower annual kWh always the better buy?
Not always. A smaller refrigerator uses less electricity simply because it is smaller. Compare models of the capacity you need, and use the percentage below the federal standard to see which ones are efficient for their size.
Should I replace a working old refrigerator?
It depends on how much the old one uses. Find the kWh on its yellow EnergyGuide label or measure it with a plug-in meter, enter it in the calculator and compare the yearly saving with the price of a new one.