Cost to run a mini fridge
A mini fridge typically uses 246 kWh a year, which costs £64.75 at 26.32p/kWh: about £5.40 a month.
A year of running costs
£64.75 a year
That is 246 kWh. Used as set, it comes to £5.40 a month and £64.75 a year.
On the energy label as kWh/annum or kWh a year.
| Period | Cost | Energy | CO2e |
|---|---|---|---|
| A day | 17.7p | 0.67 kWh | 147 g |
| A month | £5.40 | 20.5 kWh | 4.5 kg |
| A year | £64.75 | 246 kWh | 53.5 kg |
How we calculated this
246 kWh a year is how an energy label rates it: measured over normal running, with the compressor switching on and off as it does. That is far more reliable than its wattage, which it only draws part of the time.
The figures are for ENERGY STAR certified models sold in the US and Canada. Certified models are more efficient than the average model on sale, and many are larger than the ones sold in Europe, so an older or less efficient one will use more. The power shown is the average over every hour of the year, worked out from the annual figure: a compressor draws more than that while it runs and nothing while it is off.
The starting use for a mini fridge, all year round, is where the calculator starts, not a measurement of your home: change it to how you use yours. A day is the average across the week, and a month is a twelfth of a 365-day year.
Electricity costs 26.32p/kWh. That is the published figure for the United Kingdom, 1 Oct – 31 Dec 2026, from Ofgem. Average for England, Scotland and Wales, paying by Direct Debit. No VAT on electricity from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027.
Standing charges are left out: you pay them whether or not the appliance runs.
Emissions use 0.217 kg CO2e per kWh, the lifecycle intensity of electricity generated in the United Kingdom in 2025, from Ember, via Our World in Data. Lifecycle means building the power stations and supplying their fuel are counted too. It is the grid’s average, not the particular power station an extra appliance brings on.
What drives the cost
A mini fridge is small, but it runs every hour of the year, and a small fridge is not proportionally cheaper: across 1,741 certified models the median uses 246 kWh a year, which costs £64.75 at 26.32p/kWh. That is a lot for the space it holds.
Also called: compact fridge, compact refrigerator, dorm fridge, bar fridge, small fridge.
What it costs in the UK, Europe and the US
For a mini fridge used as typical (all year round), at each country’s published average electricity price.
| Country | Electricity price | A year |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 26.32p/kWh | £64.75 |
| United States (average) | 18.19¢/kWh | $44.75 |
| Ireland | €0.4042/kWh | €99.43 |
| Germany | 0,3869 €/kWh | 95,18 € |
| France | 0,2561 €/kWh | 63,00 € |
| Spain | 0,2669 €/kWh | 65,66 € |
| Italy | 0,2966 €/kWh | 72,96 € |
| Netherlands | € 0,2558/kWh | € 62,93 |
Compared with similar appliances
| Appliance | Typical power | An hour | A year, typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini fridge | 28.1 W | — | £64.75 |
| Fridge | 32.9 W | — | £75.80 |
| Fridge freezer | 54 W | — | £124.49 |
| Drinks cooler | 16.3 W | — | £37.64 |
How to spend less on it
- Do not run a spare mini fridge you do not need: it costs its whole year’s energy even if it holds a few drinks.
- Keep it away from heat and leave room behind it, and keep it reasonably full so the cold does not escape when the door opens.
Questions
How much does a mini fridge cost to run a year?
A typical one uses 246 kWh a year, which costs £64.75 at 26.32p/kWh, about £5.40 a month.
How many watts does a mini fridge use?
Most draw between 23.5 W and 38 W while running, and 28.1 W is typical. The rating is on the label or in the manual.
Is it worth keeping a mini fridge running?
If it holds only drinks, the median certified one still costs £64.75 a year at 26.32p/kWh. Turn it off if you are not using it.
Sources
- ENERGY STAR Certified Residential Refrigerators (open data), ENERGY STAR, US Environmental Protection Agency, 26 September 2026. “ENERGY STAR certified compact refrigerators, annual energy: median 246 kWh a year across 1,741 certified models, 10th to 90th percentile 206 kWh a year to 333 kWh a year (models where type='Compact Refrigerator').”
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