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How much does a mini fridge cost to run?

Use the annual kWh on your label. The starting example is a 4.4 cu ft Danby at 268 kWh/year.

A mini fridge using the example 268 kWh a year costs

$4.09 a month

Model example: Danby DAR044A5BSLDD, a 4.4 cu ft all-refrigerator with automatic defrost and no freezer. Its manufacturer EnergyGuide lists 268 kWh/year. Annual energy includes the label test cycle; no compressor wattage or duty multiplier is applied.

Rate source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, July 2026 data, last confirmed with the EIA on October 5, 2026. All sources

A day
$0.13
An hour, averaged
$0.01
A year
$49.07

Evidence: a named model record from a primary source (manufacturer or certification listing). It is one example, not a market average.

At the US average of 18.3¢ per kWh (EIA, July 2026). How we calculate this

Change annual energy or rate

Find the variable rate on your bill

Annual mode uses the label’s yearly kWh without another hours or duty multiplier. In watts mode, use measured average watts at 100% duty, or nameplate watts with your measured duty cycle; seasonal months can be entered as 11,12,1,2,3. The EIA benchmark includes fixed charges averaged across electricity sold; do not add fixed fees to it.

Reset

Compact fridge sizes and annual energy

These are three named records, not a market average or an equal-storage comparison. Capacity, defrost method and freezer needs matter as well as annual kWh. Match the full model and label revision on your unit: similar names can have different energy figures.

Primary records checked September 27, 2026. Costs use 18.31¢/kWh; a month is annual energy divided by 12.
Model / recordCapacity / typekWh/yearA monthA yearSource / estimate
Danby DAR044A5BSLDDManufacturer EnergyGuide for DAR044A5BSLDD 4.4 cu ftAll-refrigerator; automatic defrost; no freezer 268 $4.09 $49.07 Primary record · Use 268 kWh/year
Frigidaire EFR180ENERGY STAR 2362096; certified 2020-06-16 1.6 cu ftCompact refrigerator; manual defrost 158 $2.41 $28.93 Primary record · Use 158 kWh/year
Danby DCR044B1BMENERGY STAR 2338885; certified 2019-05-14 4.4 cu ftCompact refrigerator; manual defrost 228 $3.48 $41.75 Primary record · Use 228 kWh/year

Label annual kWh already reflects the test cycle. Do not multiply it by compressor wattage, operating hours or a second duty factor. EnergyGuide dollar estimates use the label’s own electricity price; the costs above recalculate the energy at the displayed benchmark. These older records identify installed-model examples and do not establish current availability.

What does adding a second fridge cost?

Keeping your existing fridge and adding the 268 kWh/year example adds about $49.07 a year, or $4.09 a month, at the the US benchmark. This is additional energy; it does not replace the existing fridge’s use.

For your added bill charge, multiply your exact model’s annual kWh by the variable price per kWh on your tariff. Existing fixed service charges usually remain the same. The state benchmark is an average bill rate, so it may differ from your marginal price. A garage, warm room, frequent door opening or different thermostat setting can change actual consumption.

Add this mini fridge to a household inventory. The link starts with this one appliance; add your existing fridge and other loads separately, once each.

What it costs if yours uses more or less

Mini fridge at 18.3¢ per kWh
ConsumptionA dayA monthA year
134 kWh a year$0.07$2.04$24.54
201 kWh a year$0.10$3.07$36.80
268 kWh a year example$0.13$4.09$49.07
402 kWh a year$0.20$6.13$73.61
536 kWh a year$0.27$8.18$98.14
Monthly cost of a mini fridge by usage at the US average rate134 kWh a year: $2.04; 201 kWh a year: $3.07; 268 kWh a year: $4.09; 402 kWh a year: $6.13; 536 kWh a year: $8.18134 kWh a year$2.04201 kWh a year$3.07268 kWh a year$4.09402 kWh a year$6.13536 kWh a year$8.18
A month at each level of use, at the US average rate.

Ways to spend less

  • Use the annual kWh on your exact model label or a representative measured estimate; do not multiply compressor watts by every hour of the year.
  • Compare usable storage, temperature requirements and freezer needs before interpreting a lower annual energy figure as a substitute.
  • Allow the installation clearances and ambient temperature range in the model instructions; a garage or cabinet may not match the label test conditions.
  • An additional fridge adds energy use; count it once in the household inventory and use your own variable tariff for the added bill charge.

What a mini fridge costs to run in every state

Same usage, each state’s latest EIA residential rate, cheapest first
RankStateRateA monthA year
1Louisiana12.7¢$2.84$34.09
2Nevada12.8¢$2.85$34.22
3Utah13.1¢$2.93$35.16
4North Dakota13.4¢$2.99$35.94
5Tennessee13.7¢$3.06$36.74
6Idaho13.7¢$3.07$36.80
7Nebraska13.8¢$3.08$36.93
8Kentucky13.8¢$3.08$37.01
9Arkansas14.3¢$3.20$38.40
10Oklahoma14.4¢$3.20$38.46
11Wyoming14.4¢$3.21$38.48
12Mississippi14.5¢$3.25$38.97
13Washington14.7¢$3.29$39.42
14Montana15.0¢$3.35$40.17
15Florida15.0¢$3.36$40.28
16North Carolina15.2¢$3.39$40.63
17Kansas15.3¢$3.41$40.92
18South Dakota15.4¢$3.43$41.19
19Arizona15.4¢$3.43$41.22
20South Carolina15.5¢$3.45$41.46
21West Virginia15.8¢$3.52$42.29
22Texas15.9¢$3.55$42.56
23Oregon16.0¢$3.57$42.80
24Iowa16.0¢$3.57$42.85
25Missouri16.1¢$3.59$43.12
26New Mexico16.1¢$3.59$43.12
27Georgia16.3¢$3.63$43.60
28Alabama16.4¢$3.66$43.95
29Indiana16.7¢$3.74$44.84
30Colorado17.0¢$3.80$45.56
31Minnesota17.5¢$3.90$46.77
32Virginia17.6¢$3.92$47.03
33Delaware18.5¢$4.13$49.53
34Wisconsin19.1¢$4.26$51.08
35Illinois19.2¢$4.29$51.51
36Ohio19.5¢$4.34$52.13
37Maryland21.4¢$4.78$57.38
38Pennsylvania21.7¢$4.85$58.21
39Michigan23.1¢$5.15$61.77
40Vermont23.8¢$5.30$63.65
41Connecticut24.2¢$5.40$64.75
42New Jersey25.2¢$5.63$67.51
43District of Columbia25.2¢$5.63$67.56
44New Hampshire26.6¢$5.94$71.29
45Rhode Island28.3¢$6.32$75.82
46Alaska28.8¢$6.44$77.26
47New York29.9¢$6.68$80.13
48Massachusetts30.5¢$6.81$81.71
49Maine32.4¢$7.24$86.86
50California33.6¢$7.51$90.07
51Hawaii48.0¢$10.72$128.64

Questions

How much does it cost to run a mini fridge per year?

About $49.07 a year at the US average of 18.3¢ per kWh, assuming it uses 268 kWh a year in this named model example. That is $4.09 a month or $0.13 a day.

How much electricity does a mini fridge use per month?

About 22.3 kWh a month (268 kWh a year ÷ 12), which costs $4.09. Your model may use more or less: the yellow EnergyGuide label on it shows its own annual kWh.

How much does it cost to run a mini fridge per day?

About $0.13 a day: 0.734 kWh at 18.3¢ per kWh.

Which state is cheapest to run a mini fridge in?

Louisiana, at 12.7¢ per kWh: $2.84 a month. The most expensive is Hawaii at 48.0¢ per kWh: $10.72 a month. Same appliance, same hours; only the rate differs.

Sources

Usage assumptions (hours a day, season) are ours and listed on the methodology page. Found an error? Tell us.