How much does it cost to run a top-freezer refrigerator?

Data checked October 2026

Short answer

The average new top-freezer refrigerator uses 366 kWh a year — about $66.58 a year or $5.55 a month at the U.S. average of 18.19¢/kWh.

That's the average of 839 ENERGY STAR certified top-freezer refrigerator models: 1 kWh and $0.18 a day, an average draw of about 42 W as the compressor cycles.
Its EnergyGuide label would say $51.24 a year — it prices electricity at 14¢/kWh, not today's 18.19¢.
Top-freezer models are the most efficient full-size style in the ENERGY STAR list.
In North Dakota it costs $45.60 a year; in Hawaii $170.
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 839 ENERGY STAR certified models: 366 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 top freezer costs

$5.55a month

366 kWh a year · $66.58 a year · $0.18 a day

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

Per year: $66.58366 kWh
Per day: $0.181 kWh
Average draw: 42Wcompressor cycles on and off
Label at 14¢: $51.24what the yellow tag would say

Cost by period
Period	kWh	Cost
Per hour (avg)	0.042	$0.008
Per day	1	$0.18
Per month	30.5	$5.55
Per year	366	$66.58

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

366 kWh Top-freezer refrigerator — electricity per year18.19¢/kWh$66.58

Estimated total$66.58

Did this answer your question?

Compare

Top freezer: yearly running cost in the cheapest and priciest states

State	¢/kWh	Per month	Per year
Hawaii	46.41	$14.16	$170
California	32.58	$9.94	$119
Maine	30.23	$9.22	$111
Massachusetts	30.19	$9.21	$110
U.S. average	18.19	$5.55	$66.58
Utah	13.19	$4.02	$48.28
Idaho	13.02	$3.97	$47.65
Nebraska	12.92	$3.94	$47.29
North Dakota	12.46	$3.80	$45.60

How this was worked out

366 kWh × 18.19¢ = $66.58 a year; ÷ 12 = $5.55 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.

Similar jobs

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 top-freezer refrigerator uses 366 kWh a year — about $66.58 a year or $5.55 a month at the U.S. average of 18.19¢/kWh.

That's the average of 839 ENERGY STAR certified top-freezer refrigerator models: 1 kWh and $0.18 a day, an average draw of about 42 W as the compressor cycles.

Its EnergyGuide label would say $51.24 a year — it prices electricity at 14¢/kWh, not today's 18.19¢.

Top-freezer models are the most efficient full-size style in the ENERGY STAR list.

In North Dakota it costs $45.60 a year; in Hawaii $170.

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 839 ENERGY STAR certified models: 366 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 top freezer costs

$5.55a month

366 kWh a year · $66.58 a year · $0.18 a day

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

Per year: $66.58366 kWh
Per day: $0.181 kWh
Average draw: 42Wcompressor cycles on and off
Label at 14¢: $51.24what the yellow tag would say

Cost by period
Period	kWh	Cost
Per hour (avg)	0.042	$0.008
Per day	1	$0.18
Per month	30.5	$5.55
Per year	366	$66.58

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

366 kWh Top-freezer refrigerator — electricity per year18.19¢/kWh$66.58

Estimated total$66.58

State

¢/kWh

Per month

Per year

Hawaii

46.41

$14.16

$170

California

32.58

$9.94

$119

Maine

30.23

$9.22

$111

Massachusetts

30.19

$9.21

$110

U.S. average

18.19

$5.55

$66.58

Utah

13.19

$4.02

$48.28

Idaho

13.02

$3.97

$47.65

Nebraska

12.92

$3.94

$47.29

North Dakota

12.46

$3.80

$45.60

How this was worked out

366 kWh × 18.19¢ = $66.58 a year; ÷ 12 = $5.55 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.