How much does it cost to run a French-door refrigerator?

Data checked October 2026

Short answer

The average new French-door refrigerator uses 557 kWh a year — about $101 a year or $8.44 a month at the U.S. average of 18.19¢/kWh.

That's the average of 1,674 ENERGY STAR certified french-door / bottom-freezer refrigerator models: 1.53 kWh and $0.28 a day, an average draw of about 64 W as the compressor cycles.
Its EnergyGuide label would say $77.98 a year — it prices electricity at 14¢/kWh, not today's 18.19¢.
It uses 191 kWh a year more than an average top-freezer model — $34.74 a year.
In North Dakota it costs $69.40 a year; in Hawaii $259.
An older unit can use much more than these new-model averages — a plug-in meter left on for 2–3 days tells you exactly.

Adjust it to your exact job

Your refrigerator or freezer

Type

Energy use from

Average of 1,674 ENERGY STAR certified models: 557 kWh a year. Older units often use more — measure yours to know.

How many?

A second fridge or freezer in the garage counts too.

Electricity rate

Where you live

Price per kWh

EIA's state average: total residential revenue ÷ kWh sold, so delivery and fixed monthly charges are spread over every kWh.

Typical new french door costs

$8.44a month

557 kWh a year · $101 a year · $0.28 a day

At 18.19¢/kWh — U.S. average, Jan–Aug 2026 (EIA).

Per year: $101557 kWh
Per day: $0.281.53 kWh
Average draw: 64Wcompressor cycles on and off
Label at 14¢: $77.98what the yellow tag would say

Cost by period
Period	kWh	Cost
Per hour (avg)	0.064	$0.01
Per day	1.53	$0.28
Per month	46.4	$8.44
Per year	557	$101

Other styles at this rate

Yearly cost of ENERGY STAR average models
Type	kWh/yr	Per year
French door	557	$101
Top freezer	366	$66.58
Side-by-side	636	$116
Freezerless	284	$51.66
Mini fridge	257	$46.75
Wine cooler	178	$32.38
Chest freezer	263	$47.84
Upright freezer	450	$81.86
Compact freezer	259	$47.11

How to cut it

Measure an old fridge with a plug-in meter (a Kill A Watt handles up to 15 A) before deciding to replace it.
Keep door gaskets clean and sealing, and vacuum the condenser coils if they're exposed.
A garage fridge works harder in summer heat; one you don't need is pure cost.

Energy budget

557 kWh French-door / bottom-freezer refrigerator — electricity per year18.19¢/kWh$101

Estimated total$101

Did this answer your question?

Compare

French door: yearly running cost in the cheapest and priciest states

State	¢/kWh	Per month	Per year
Hawaii	46.41	$21.54	$259
California	32.58	$15.12	$181
Maine	30.23	$14.03	$168
Massachusetts	30.19	$14.01	$168
U.S. average	18.19	$8.44	$101
Utah	13.19	$6.12	$73.47
Idaho	13.02	$6.04	$72.52
Nebraska	12.92	$6.00	$71.96
North Dakota	12.46	$5.78	$69.40

How this was worked out

557 kWh × 18.19¢ = $101 a year; ÷ 12 = $8.44 a month. The kWh figure comes from the federal test behind the EnergyGuide label, so it already includes the compressor cycling on and off.

Prices are EIA's U.S. average for Jan–Aug 2026; choose your state in the calculator.

The full method, material data and tips are on the main refrigerator cost calculator page.

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Other sizes people check

Sources

Data behind this answer

ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators and freezers (datasets) — average kWh/yr by configuration; freezers from dataset 8t9c-g3tn · checked October 2026
EIA Electric Power Monthly, Tables 5.6.A & 5.6.B — residential price by state (August 2026) — latest month and Jan–Aug 2026 year-to-date average for every state; preliminary, refreshed monthly · checked October 2026
Federal Register 2022-22036 — EnergyGuide label cost figures — labels since Jan 10, 2023 assume 14¢/kWh · checked October 2026
P3 International Kill A Watt P4400 — plug-in meter up to 15 A / 1,875 VA for measuring real kWh · checked October 2026
EIA Electric Power Monthly technical notes — average price = revenue ÷ sales, including fixed customer charges, fuel adjustments and surcharges · checked October 2026

Short answer

The average new French-door refrigerator uses 557 kWh a year — about $101 a year or $8.44 a month at the U.S. average of 18.19¢/kWh.

That's the average of 1,674 ENERGY STAR certified french-door / bottom-freezer refrigerator models: 1.53 kWh and $0.28 a day, an average draw of about 64 W as the compressor cycles.

Its EnergyGuide label would say $77.98 a year — it prices electricity at 14¢/kWh, not today's 18.19¢.

It uses 191 kWh a year more than an average top-freezer model — $34.74 a year.

In North Dakota it costs $69.40 a year; in Hawaii $259.

An older unit can use much more than these new-model averages — a plug-in meter left on for 2–3 days tells you exactly.

Adjust it to your exact job

Your refrigerator or freezer

Type

Energy use from

Average of 1,674 ENERGY STAR certified models: 557 kWh a year. Older units often use more — measure yours to know.

How many?

A second fridge or freezer in the garage counts too.

Electricity rate

Where you live

Price per kWh

EIA's state average: total residential revenue ÷ kWh sold, so delivery and fixed monthly charges are spread over every kWh.

Typical new french door costs

$8.44a month

557 kWh a year · $101 a year · $0.28 a day

At 18.19¢/kWh — U.S. average, Jan–Aug 2026 (EIA).

Per year: $101557 kWh
Per day: $0.281.53 kWh
Average draw: 64Wcompressor cycles on and off
Label at 14¢: $77.98what the yellow tag would say

Cost by period
Period	kWh	Cost
Per hour (avg)	0.064	$0.01
Per day	1.53	$0.28
Per month	46.4	$8.44
Per year	557	$101

Other styles at this rate

Yearly cost of ENERGY STAR average models
Type	kWh/yr	Per year
French door	557	$101
Top freezer	366	$66.58
Side-by-side	636	$116
Freezerless	284	$51.66
Mini fridge	257	$46.75
Wine cooler	178	$32.38
Chest freezer	263	$47.84
Upright freezer	450	$81.86
Compact freezer	259	$47.11

How to cut it

Measure an old fridge with a plug-in meter (a Kill A Watt handles up to 15 A) before deciding to replace it.
Keep door gaskets clean and sealing, and vacuum the condenser coils if they're exposed.
A garage fridge works harder in summer heat; one you don't need is pure cost.

Energy budget

557 kWh French-door / bottom-freezer refrigerator — electricity per year18.19¢/kWh$101

Estimated total$101

State

¢/kWh

Per month

Per year

Hawaii

46.41

$21.54

$259

California

32.58

$15.12

$181

Maine

30.23

$14.03

$168

Massachusetts

30.19

$14.01

$168

U.S. average

18.19

$8.44

$101

Utah

13.19

$6.12

$73.47

Idaho

13.02

$6.04

$72.52

Nebraska

12.92

$6.00

$71.96

North Dakota

12.46

$5.78

$69.40

How this was worked out

557 kWh × 18.19¢ = $101 a year; ÷ 12 = $8.44 a month. The kWh figure comes from the federal test behind the EnergyGuide label, so it already includes the compressor cycling on and off.

Prices are EIA's U.S. average for Jan–Aug 2026; choose your state in the calculator.

The full method, material data and tips are on the main refrigerator cost calculator page.