Have you ever wondered how many watts to run a refrigerator in 2024? Refrigerators have made our lives so much easier with keeping our groceries fresh and allowing us to store food safely. Unfortunately, with the benefits of a fridge, there is also a hefty cost with its usage. Many people do not know the power it takes to run a refrigerator and the refrigerator wattage use
Your fridge is constantly plugged in and pulling power, racking up your energy bill every month! How much power does a fridge use exactly? On average, you can expect refrigerator wattage to be anywhere between 100 and 600 watts for a full sized fridge. With that being said, there are features of certain fridges, like a water dispenser, which could cause the wattage to be much more.
In this article, we are going to talk about how to understand your refrigerators usage and breakdown the cost to run it each month. We are also going to talk about ways to reduce your refrigerator wattage to save you some cash!
We hope you find this post helpful and if you are looking for different ways to become more energy efficient be sure to check out our energy savings calculator!
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How Many Watts Do You Need to Run a Refrigerator?
We are going to start with the main reason most of you are here and that is, how many watts does it take to run a refrigerator in 2024? The average refrigerator wattage in 2024 is somewhere between 300 and 800 watts per day. It’s worth noting that this is an average estimate, and individual refrigerator models may deviate from this range. Compact refrigerators typically have lower power requirements, consuming around 150 to 200 watts per day. On the other hand, larger models or those equipped with additional features like ice makers or water dispensers might require higher power, reaching up to 800 watts per day or even more.
How Many Watts for Refrigerator 2024?
- Between 300 and 800 Watts per day!
That range is so large because many different factors will affect your standard fridge wattage. A refrigerator’s actual energy use is typically much less than 800 Watts because refrigerators cycle on and off throughout the day. Let’s discuss those factors that may impact your refrigerator wattage.
What Factors Impact Wattage for Refrigerators?
- Age – The older your refrigerator, the less energy efficient is is. Typically the condition of older fridges causes seals to be more worn, allowing more cool air to escape. That can drive energy usage up.
- Average Usage – Every time you open your fridge, it has to use power to cool it back to the set temperature. That can help answer how much watts does a refrigerator uses.
- Type – A large commercial fridge is going use more power than a mini fridge watt draw. Size is a big factor in the amount of power used, especially fridges with gadgets, water dispensers, and more.
- House Location – If your fridge is in the warmest part of your house, it is going to take more power to keep the inside cool every time you open it.
- Preferred Temperature – If you like your orange juice icy, it is going to cost you more money to power your fridge. The lower the factory setting, the more power your fridge will use.
How many watts your refrigerator uses depends on many things, as you can see. If you feel like your refrigerator is draining more power than it should, you might want to look into the factors listed above. Next, let’s talk about how to find wattage of a refrigerator.
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Calculating the Wattage of a Refrigerator 2024
To know how many watts does a fridge use, you have to use a simple calculation. With some quick math, we can calculate an estimate of your average fridge power consumption. Every fridge should have a sticker on the inside of it with essential numbers. The most important number to find is the wattage.
Keep in mind, that this calculation is for refrigerator wattage average, and not the exact number. Once you’ve found your wattage, it is time to do the calculations of energy use. This is how to calculate refrigerator energy consumption.
2024 Calculation of a Normal Refrigerator Wattage
- Fridge Wattage x Hours Per Day = Watt-hours per day
- Watt-hours / 1000 = kWh per day
Let’s try an example.
The wattage on my fridge is 150 watts. The US Department of Energy stated that they assume most fridges run for 8 hours a day through their normal cycle.
Fridge wattage: 150 watts
Hours per day: 8 hours
Fridge wattage x Hours per day = Watt-hours per day
150 watts x 8 hours per day = 1200 watt-hours per day
Watt-hours per day / 1000 = kWh per day 1200 watt-hours per day / 1000 = 1.2 kWh per day
To know the total cost, you must know the rate that you pay kWh. For this purpose, assume that kWh hour rate is $0.15.
Daily cost = 1.2 kWh per day x $0.15 kWh rate = $0.18 a day total cost
Per year = $0.18 x 365 = $65.7 for the entire year.
This simple calculation should help you understand how many watts does it take to run a refrigerator. While this exercise is great to see how your total yearly refrigerator cost could add up, how many watts to power a fridge can vary extremely. There are many variables, especially when it comes to usage. It’s important to note that the cost calculation is based on the assumed kWh rate of $0.15, which may vary depending on your location and electricity provider. Additionally, as mentioned before, actual fridge wattage and usage patterns can vary, which will affect the overall cost.
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How Many Watts Does a Mini Fridge Use?
Another popular question we receive is, how many watts does a mini refrigerator use? Mini fridges have become popular due to the ability to cool quite a bit of food or drink in a small space. Especially if you are going to college in a dorm room and are looking to save money. Mini fridge watt usage can be somewhere between 50 and 100 watts. You can find this information the same way we found what is the wattage of a your home refrigerator.
What is the Average Watt Usage of a Mini Fridge 2024?
- The common mini fridge will use around 50 – 60 watts. But like most full-sized refrigerators, this varies by make and model. Some mini fridges can use up to 100 watts!
From our previous calculations, we can see that the average mini fridge wattage is about half of a normal fridge. Some mini fridge users only use it to keep drinks cool and can unplug the fridge when it is not needed. The wattage of mini fridge is still high, thus it is important to unplug when not in use to save on your electric bill. Therefore, your annual savings using mini fridge power consumption wattage will be significant if you choose one over a regular-sized fridge for your cooling needs.
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How Many Watts Does a Freezer Use?
Many homeowners want to know “how many watts do freezers use?” The freezer wattage will be the same as the wattage of refrigerator average if they are one unit. However, stand-alone freezers that provide homeowners with more freezer space will require energy use. On average, a typical household freezer in the United States consumes around 100 to 800 watts. Smaller compact freezers may use around 100 to 200 watts, while larger upright or chest freezers may consume up to 800 watts or more.
How many watts do freezers use?
Similar to a refrigerator, freezer wattage use will depend on make and model. A modern stand-alone freezer that is Energy Star rated will use between 30 and 100 watts of power depending on size, indoor temperature & efficiency. There are other freezers that could potentially use a lot more electricity than that, so make sure to check your exact model to calculate how many watts your freezer uses.
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2024 Refrigerator Watts Saving Tips For Your Fridge
When looking at how many watts a standard refrigerator uses, it is important to note that there are some tricks you can do to save yourself money. While cutting corners on your energy bill is difficult, we have found some really great steps you can take to help! Some are more attainable than others, but take what’s best for your situation and see if it improves your energy bill.
Ways to Save on Your Energy Bill With Your Refrigerator 2024
- Keep the Door Closed – Fridge running watts largely come from letting out cool air while you decide on what to snack on. While the door of your fridge is open, the compressor kicks on to cool it down, which increases wattage significantly.
- Control the Food Inside – The fuller your fridge is, the more cold air is retained when opening the door. Putting hot food leftovers in your fridge also draws energy, which will make your compressor stay on longer to reach set temperature.
- Check the Model – Your outdated fridge could be costing you a lot of money. While the upfront cost is hefty, Energy-Star-certified appliances are the most efficient way to keep refrigerator wattage down.
- Keep it Clean – Dust, dander, and pet hair can build up in your fridge’s condenser coils and cause your fridge to not work as efficiently as possible.
- Check the Placement – If your fridge is placed directly in the sun in the hottest part of your kitchen, your fridge will have to work twice as hard to keep your items cool. If you are able, place in the coolest part of your kitchen and you’ll probably see some savings on your next bill.
- Temperature Control – A lot of fridge owners set their inside temperature much too cold, and are wasting energy. When wondering how many watts does a refrigerator draw, make sure to check your temperature setting!
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Energy Efficient Refrigerator Wattage 2024
So, how much wattage does your refrigerator draw? Between 150 and 180 Watts per day! After reading this article, you may be more conscious of the energy usage of your current fridge and might be looking for a more efficient appliance. We’ve put together a short list of Energy Star’s most efficient fridges to help you save some money and find brand-new cutting-edge technology.
What are the Top Energy Efficient Fridges 2024?
- Frigidaire FFET1222U – This average Frigidaire watt usage is 310 kWh annually.
- GE GTE22JSN – Annual energy use at 489 kWh
- LG LRMXC1813 – Annual energy use at 576 kWh
When deciding on your next fridge, make sure to check the size. How many watts does a small refrigerator use versus how many watts a larger refrigerator can vary significantly?
What is Energy Star?
- Energy Star is a government-approved symbol for appliances that have been deemed energy efficient.
This seal is considered to be credible and unbiased for consumers to make choices when purchasing appliances. This effort is partnered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions that help protect the climate and improve quality of life overall.
In conclusion, when understanding how much power does a fridge use, there are a lot of components to consider. Most importantly, understanding your current fridge and usage can help you calculate how much money you’re going to spend each month. Check your current fridge, what year it was made and how many watts does a refrigerator take to rack up your energy bill.
Is Refrigeration Power Usage Even an Issue?
Refrigeration is only responsible for 10% of energy use in your home but if your refrigerator uses a lot of power, it can be a great place to start. To do this, we recommend
- Upgrading all lights to LED – particularly those tube lights inside of your refrigerator
- Installing a wireless energy monitor to see your entire home or business power usage in real-time
- Switch to more sensible forms of heating and cooling
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How Many Watts Does it Take to Run a Refrigerator FAQ 2024
Q: How Many Watts Does it Take to Run a Refrigerator 2024?
A: Between 300 – 800 watts per day
Q: What Factors Impact How Many Watts it Takes to Run a Refrigerator?
A: There are a lot of factors that can impact the watts used to run your refrigerator. The most common we have found are age, average usage, type, location, and your preferred temperature.
Q: How do You Calculate How Many Watts My Refrigerator Uses?
A: Take the Fridge Wattage Hours X the hours per day it runs. That will leave you with the Watt-Hours per day. Then take the W-H p/d and divide it by 1000. This will lead you to the kWh per day used to run your refrigerator.
Q: How Many Watts Does a Mini Fridge Use?
A: The common wattage for mini fridge will be around 50 – 60 watts. But like most full-sized refrigerators, this varies by make and model. Some mini fridges can use up to 100 watts!
Q: What are the Top Energy Efficient Fridges 2024?
- Frigidaire FFET1222U – This average Frigidaire watt usage is 310 kWh annually.
- GE GTE22JSN – Annual energy use at 489 kWh
- LG LRMXC1813 – Annual energy use at 576 kWh
Q: What is Energy Star?
A: Energy Star is a government-approved symbol for appliances that have been deemed energy efficient.
Do you Need Cheaper Electricity?
If you’ve taken the time to understand the information on your bill and discovered you’re paying more than you’d like for your electricity, have you looked around for a cheaper deal? The Energy Professor has a wealth of information on ways to save on your utilities, including details of top deals that could significantly reduce your monthly or quarterly electricity bills.
We hope you found this article helpful! If you are looking for ways to increase the energy efficiency and sustainability in your home be sure to take a look at all of the latest renewable energy options in your area. The Energy Professor helps residential and small business owners find qualified energy suppliers in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Ohio, Maryland, Illinois, and Massachusetts