How Many Watts does a Refrigerator Use? Complete Answer

A typical fridge uses 100 to 250 watts when running, with a brief startup surge of 300 to 800 watts when the compressor first kicks in. Over a year, most UK fridge freezers use around 150 to 300 kWh of electricity, which works out to roughly £40 to £79 a year on current UK electricity prices. Read on for the full breakdown by fridge size, how to work out your own running costs, and simple ways to cut the bill.

How Many Watts Does a Refrigerator Use?

The exact answer depends on the type and size of your fridge, but here are the typical figures for the models sold in the UK:

• Small under-counter fridge: 80 to 120 watts running, roughly 100 to 150 kWh per year
• Standard tall fridge (150 litres): 100 to 150 watts running, roughly 120 to 180 kWh per year
• Standard fridge freezer (250-350 litres): 120 to 200 watts running, roughly 150 to 300 kWh per year
• Large American-style side-by-side: 200 to 400 watts running, roughly 350 to 600 kWh per year

That running wattage is not the whole story, though. A fridge does not run flat-out all day. The compressor switches on and off, so it typically draws power for about a third of the time. When the compressor first starts up, there is a short surge of 300 to 800 watts, but this lasts only a few seconds and barely affects your bill.

Why Does My Fridge Keep Running All the Time?

If your fridge never seems to switch off, it will use far more electricity than the figures above. The usual reasons are simple. A fridge in a warm kitchen works harder. Opening the door often lets cold air out and warm air in. Frost build-up acts like a blanket over the cooling parts, forcing the compressor to work longer.

Check the thermostat setting too. The ideal fridge temperature is 3 to 4°C. Every degree colder than this adds around 5% to running costs for no real benefit. If you have a thermometer in the fridge, check it today, as many people keep their fridges colder than they need to.

A door seal that does not close properly lets cold air leak out. Try the banknote test: close a banknote in the door and pull it out. If it slides out easily, the seal is weak and warm air is getting in.

How to Work Out Your Fridge’s Running Cost in £

Working out what your fridge costs to run takes two numbers: how many kWh it uses per year, and what you pay per kWh.

First, find the annual kWh. Most modern fridges sold in the UK carry an energy label that states the yearly energy use in kWh. You can also find it on the manufacturer’s website or the retailer’s product page, such as the Currys refrigeration buying guide, which explains energy ratings in plain English. If you have an older fridge with no label, use the rough figures from the table above.

Second, find your electricity price. Look at your energy bill for the price per kWh in pence. As a rough guide, the Ofgem price cap for October to December 2026 sets the average electricity rate at 26.32 pence per kWh for direct debit customers, though your actual rate varies by region and tariff. This plain-English guide to the Ofgem price cap explains how it works.

Then do the simple maths:

• Annual kWh × price per kWh (in pounds) = yearly cost
• Example: 200 kWh × £0.2632 = £53 a year

A large American-style fridge freezer can easily cost £92 to £158 a year to run, so the size of your fridge matters more than most people realise.

How to Measure Your Fridge’s Real Power Use

The figures on energy labels are estimates based on standard test conditions. To find out what your fridge actually uses, buy a plug-in energy monitor. These cost around £10 to £20 from Currys, AO.com, or Amazon, and you simply plug the fridge into the monitor, then plug the monitor into the wall socket.

Leave it plugged in for a full 24 hours, or better still a week, to get a fair average that includes the on-off cycling of the compressor. The meter will show total kWh used, which you can multiply by your price per kWh to get a true running cost. This is the most reliable way to answer “how many watts does a refrigerator use” for your own home.

Some smart meters and energy apps, like the Energy Saving Trust’s quick tips to save energy at home, can also help you spot appliances that run more than they should.

UK Energy Ratings: What A-G Means for Fridges

Since March 2021, the UK has used a simple A to G energy label for fridges. An A-rated fridge freezer is the most efficient and typically uses 150 to 250 kWh a year. A G-rated model could use double that for the same size.

When buying a new fridge, the label matters more than the price tag suggests. A £50 saving on the purchase price can be wiped out in a year or two by higher running costs. For a 300-litre fridge freezer, moving from F to B on the label can save around £25 to £40 a year, every year it runs.

How to Cut Your Fridge’s Electricity Use

You do not need a new fridge to lower the bill. Small changes add up:

• Defrost regularly. More than a few millimetres of frost makes the freezer work much harder. Defrost when the ice is about 5mm thick, and always check that food stays frozen while you do it.
• Leave space around the fridge. The coils at the back release heat, and they need air flow. A fridge pushed tight against the wall runs hotter and uses more power.
• Vacuum the back coils once a year. Dust on the condenser coils acts like insulation. A quick clean with a soft brush can cut running costs by a few percent.
• Let food cool before storing it. Putting a hot curry straight in the fridge forces the compressor to work extra hard. Let dishes cool on the counter first, but not for more than two hours.
• Keep it reasonably full. A well-stocked fridge holds its temperature better than an empty one, though you still need air to circulate between items.

Top Tips

• Set the fridge to 3 to 4°C and the freezer to -18°C. Any colder just wastes money.
• Use a plug-in energy monitor for a week to learn your fridge’s real kWh, not the label estimate.
• Test the door seal with a banknote once a year. A weak seal can add £20 or more to your yearly bill.
• Defrost manual-defrost freezers before the ice reaches 5mm thick.
• When replacing a fridge, check the yearly kWh on the A-G label, not just the purchase price.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Judging a fridge by its running watts alone, without counting the on-off cycling that brings average use down.
• Leaving the thermostat at the coldest setting year-round, which can add 5% to costs per degree.
• Pushing the fridge flush against the wall with no room for the coils to breathe.
• Buying a huge fridge freezer for a small household, then paying to cool empty space.

How many watts does a fridge use per hour?

A standard UK fridge freezer draws 100 to 200 watts while the compressor is running, but the compressor only runs part of the time. Over a full hour, average use is roughly 30 to 60 watts, or about 0.03 to 0.06 kWh, which costs around 1 to 2 pence at current prices.

How much does it cost to run a fridge freezer per year in the UK?

Most UK fridge freezers cost £40 to £79 a year to run at typical electricity prices of around 26 pence per kWh. Large American-style models can cost £100 to £150 a year. Check your fridge’s annual kWh figure on its energy label and multiply by your price per kWh for your exact cost.

Does an old fridge use more electricity than a new one?

Yes, often a lot more. A fridge that is 15 or 20 years old can use twice the electricity of a modern A or B-rated model, and worn door seals make it worse. If your old fridge has a thick layer of frost and a humming compressor that never stops, replacing it could save you £40 or more a year.

Do fridges use more electricity in summer?

Yes. When your kitchen is warmer, the fridge has to work harder to stay cold. Moving the fridge away from the cooker, oven, or a sunny wall can lower summer electricity use noticeably.

Your fridge is one of the few appliances that never truly switches off, so it is worth getting its running costs right. Spend a minute checking the thermostat, the door seal, and the frost level today, and you could take £20 or more off your yearly bill without spending a penny.