How Much Electricity Does A Mini Fridge Use?
Typical mini fridge: 30 W for 24 h a day0.72 kWh/day · $4.07/month
Compact fridges average around 25–35 W across the day, roughly 220–300 kWh a year. Change the numbers below for your own mini fridge and electricity rate.
W
h
¢/kWh
Default rate: US average residential rate of 18.56¢/kWh (EIA, March 2026, via Jouleio). Your bill shows your own rate per kWh.
Result–
Mini Fridge running cost by hours
| Hours a day | kWh a month | Cost a month | Cost a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.9 | $0.17 | $2.03 |
| 2 | 1.8 | $0.34 | $4.06 |
| 4 | 3.7 | $0.68 | $8.13 |
| 6 | 5.5 | $1.02 | $12.19 |
| 8 | 7.3 | $1.36 | $16.26 |
| 12 | 11 | $2.03 | $24.39 |
| 24 | 21.9 | $4.07 | $48.78 |
At the US average residential rate of 18.56¢/kWh (EIA, March 2026, via Jouleio).
Other appliances
Questions
How much does it cost to run a mini fridge?
About $4.07 a month for 24 hours a day at 30 W and 18.56¢ per kWh.
How can I measure the real usage?
A plug-in energy meter shows the actual kWh an appliance uses over a few days, which is more accurate than the label rating.