How much does a refrigerator cost to run in Virginia?
$5.70 a month
- A day
- $0.19
- An hour, averaged
- $0.01
- A year
- $68.36
397 kWh a year (ENERGY STAR typical model), at Virginia’s average rate of 17.2¢ per kWh (EIA, June 2026). How we calculate this
Change the watts, hours or rate
What it costs if yours uses more or less
| Consumption | A day | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 199 kWh a year | $0.09 | $2.85 | $34.18 |
| 298 kWh a year | $0.14 | $4.27 | $51.27 |
| 397 kWh a year typical | $0.19 | $5.70 | $68.36 |
| 596 kWh a year | $0.28 | $8.55 | $102.55 |
| 794 kWh a year | $0.37 | $11.39 | $136.73 |
A typical model uses about 397 kWh a year (Virginia Cooperative Extension). Its rated power of 725 W is only drawn while the compressor runs, which is why we use annual consumption rather than watts.
Virginia compared with other states
Virginia’s residential rate is the 22nd most expensive of 51 states and DC, 1.1¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−6%). Virginia’s rate is up 2.0¢ from June 2025 (15.2¢, +13.1%).
Ways to spend less
- Use the temperature settings your manual recommends; colder than that just uses more power.
- Vacuum the condenser coils once or twice a year.
- Check the door seal: a dollar bill should be hard to pull out when the door is shut.
- Unplugging a second, older fridge in the garage is often the single biggest saving in a kitchen.
Questions
How much does it cost to run a refrigerator per year in Virginia?
About $68.36 a year at Virginia’s average of 17.2¢ per kWh, assuming it uses 397 kWh a year like a typical ENERGY STAR model. That is $5.70 a month or $0.19 a day.
How much electricity does a refrigerator use per month?
About 33.1 kWh a month (397 kWh a year ÷ 12), which costs $5.70 in Virginia. 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 refrigerator per day?
About $0.19 a day: 1.09 kWh at 17.2¢ per kWh.
How many watts does a refrigerator use?
Its rated power is around 725 W, but the compressor cycles on and off. Averaged over the year, 397 kWh works out to about 45 W of continuous draw.
Why does a refrigerator cost more or less to run in Virginia than elsewhere?
Virginia’s residential rate is the 22nd most expensive of 51 states and DC, 1.1¢ below the US average of 18.3¢ (−6%). Virginia’s rate is up 2.0¢ from June 2025 (15.2¢, +13.1%). The appliance uses the same energy everywhere; only the price per kWh changes.
Sources
- Virginia Cooperative Extension: Estimating appliance and home electronic energy use (reproduces U.S. Department of Energy sample wattages)
- Penn State EGEE 102: Typical range of power consumption (wattage)
- ENERGY STAR: Draft 1 Version 5.0 residential refrigerator and freezer specification
- U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Saver
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: average price of electricity to ultimate customers, residential, June 2026 Figures transcribed from republications of this table on September 26, 2026; pending direct verification from the EIA API.
- Carrier page: June 2026 residential average price, citing EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A
Usage assumptions (hours a day, season) are ours and listed on the methodology page. Found an error? Tell us.