How many watts does a refrigerator use?

By Roof & Router Team. Updated October 11, 2026.

A kitchen with white cabinets and stainless steel appliances — Photo: Unsplash

Short answer: Most full-size refrigerators draw about 100 to 250 watts while the compressor runs, but they cycle off much of the day, averaging roughly 40 to 80 watts, or 1 to 2 kWh a day. Starting the compressor briefly takes several times the running watts. The yellow EnergyGuide label lists your model's exact yearly kWh.

Running vs. average vs. starting watts

People mean three different things when they ask how many watts a fridge uses. Each one answers a different question:

Number	Typical modern full-size fridge	What it tells you
Running watts (compressor on)	Roughly 100 to 250 W; higher for a few minutes while the defrost heater runs	What it draws at any moment while cooling
Average watts over a day	Roughly 40 to 80 W (1 to 2 kWh a day)	What actually drives your bill
Starting (surge) watts	Several times the running watts, for a second or two	What a generator or power station must handle

The gap between running and average watts is because the compressor cycles. It runs until the inside is cold, shuts off, and starts again when the temperature creeps up. Most of the day it is off.

How many kWh does a refrigerator use per day, month and year?

The most reliable number is on the yellow EnergyGuide label that comes with every new fridge sold in the U.S. It lists the estimated yearly electricity use in kWh. If the label is gone, search the model number (on a sticker inside the fridge) along with “EnergyGuide” or look it up in the ENERGY STAR product finder.

Then:

kWh per day = yearly kWh ÷ 365
kWh per month = yearly kWh ÷ 12 (most modern full-size fridges land somewhere around 30 to 60 kWh a month)
Average watts = yearly kWh × 1,000 ÷ 8,760 hours
Yearly cost = yearly kWh × your price per kWh

Two real examples from ENERGY STAR’s certified product list:

Model	Type and size	Rated use	Per day	Average draw	Cost per month at 18¢/kWh	Cost per year
Frigidaire FRSN2610A*	Side-by-side, 26.4 cu ft	524 kWh/yr	1.44 kWh	about 60 W	about $7.86	about $94
Frigidaire FFUV2126AN	Single-door, no freezer, 21.1 cu ft	306 kWh/yr	0.84 kWh	about 35 W	about $4.59	about $55

The second model has no freezer section, so it uses less than a typical fridge-freezer.

The first model’s federal efficiency limit is 583 kWh a year, so it beats the minimum by about 10%. ENERGY STAR says certified fridges are about 9% more efficient than the federal standard on average.

Measure it yourself: plug the fridge into a plug-in electricity usage monitor for a full week, then divide the kWh by 7. Usage changes with room temperature, how often the door opens and how full the fridge is, so a week gives a fair average.

How many amps does a refrigerator use?

The rating plate inside the fridge or on the back lists amps. That is the rated current, roughly the most the fridge should draw, for example when the defrost heater runs. Multiplying it by 120 volts gives an upper limit in watts, not what the fridge usually uses. While simply running, a modern full-size fridge typically draws about 1 to 2 amps. Do not use it to estimate your bill.

Do older refrigerators use more electricity?

ENERGY STAR says an old refrigerator uses about 20% more energy on average than a new certified model. Worn door gaskets, dusty condenser coils and older compressors all add to it. A second fridge in the garage is often one of the most expensive appliances in the house to run for what it does.

Ways to cut a fridge’s use:

Set the right temperature. ENERGY STAR recommends 35 to 38°F for the fresh-food section. Colder than that wastes energy. Keep the freezer at 0°F, the temperature food safety agencies recommend.
Clean the condenser coils once or twice a year. They are behind the kick plate at the bottom or on the back. Unplug the fridge first.
Check the door seal. Close the door on a dollar bill. If it slides out easily, the gasket may need cleaning or replacing.
Leave space for air around the back and sides so heat can escape.
Let hot food cool briefly before putting it in, and do not leave the door open while you decide.

Start-up watts: why they matter in an outage

A compressor needs a large burst of power for a moment to start. A common rule of thumb for motor-driven appliances is that starting watts are about three times the running watts, and older fridges can need more. Fridges with variable-speed (inverter) compressors usually start much more gently.

Generator sizing charts often list a refrigerator at 600 to 800 running watts. That is a deliberately safe figure that covers older models and start-up; most modern fridges run far lower.

This is why a power station or generator can have plenty of total watts and still fail to start a fridge: its surge rating is too low. Check the surge spec, not just the continuous rating.

How long can a power station run a fridge?

Divide the battery’s usable energy by the fridge’s daily use. About 85% of a power station’s rated capacity reaches the fridge after inverter losses.

Power station capacity	Fridge using 1.0 kWh/day	Fridge using 1.5 kWh/day	Fridge using 2.0 kWh/day
1,000 Wh	about 20 hours	about 14 hours	about 10 hours
2,000 Wh	about 41 hours	about 27 hours	about 20 hours
3,000 Wh	about 61 hours	about 41 hours	about 31 hours

On a generator, add the fridge’s running watts to everything else that will be on, then make sure the generator’s starting (surge) watts cover that total plus the fridge’s start-up jump. Run the generator outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, and connect the fridge with a heavy-duty outdoor extension cord. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet.

Use our power station size calculator to add the other things you want to run. For the trade-offs between batteries and fuel, see power station vs. generator.

How long food stays safe without power

According to FoodSafety.gov, a closed refrigerator keeps food safe for about 4 hours. A full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours, a half-full one about 24 hours, if the door stays closed. Perishable food kept at 40°F or above for more than 2 hours should generally be thrown out; an appliance thermometer in the fridge and freezer tells you for sure. Keep the doors shut, and you can often run a fridge on battery for a few hours at a time rather than nonstop.

Quick answers

How much does it cost to run a refrigerator per month? At 18 cents per kWh, a fridge using 1 to 2 kWh a day costs about $5.50 to $11 a month.

Does a refrigerator need a dedicated circuit? The electrical code allows a fridge on a kitchen small-appliance circuit, but many manufacturers recommend a dedicated circuit so other appliances do not trip the breaker. Check your fridge’s installation instructions and local code.

How many watts does a mini fridge use? Small fridges have smaller compressors, but they are often less efficient per cubic foot. Check the EnergyGuide label for its yearly kWh.

Do French door fridges use more than top-freezer models? Generally, for the same size, top-freezer models are the most efficient, and side-by-side and French door models with through-the-door ice and water use more. Compare the yearly kWh on the EnergyGuide labels of the exact models you are considering.

Can a 1,000-watt generator run a refrigerator? Sometimes. It has enough running watts for most modern fridges, but its surge capacity may not start the compressor. Check the generator’s starting watts and the fridge maker’s guidance.