How Much Does It Cost to Run a Mini Fridge in Australia? (2026)
Mini fridges are surprisingly inefficient for their size. Many use half as much electricity as a full-size fridge while holding a tenth of the food, because small compressors and thin insulation work hard in warm rooms.
A typical mini fridge (80 W) costs A$0.028 per hour, or about A$6.72 per month at 8 hours a day in Australia. Average running cost
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low 50 W | A$0.017 | A$0.14 | A$4.20 | A$51.10 |
| Typical 80 W | A$0.028 | A$0.22 | A$6.72 | A$81.76 |
| High 120 W | A$0.042 | A$0.34 | A$10.08 | A$122.64 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 8 h/day ≈ 234 kWh per year.
One day of a mini fridge (1.9 kWh) is the same electricity as
- 11km in an electric car
- 19hours of TV
- 43hours of a laptop
- 213hours of an LED bulb
In Australia, with electricity at 35.0¢ per kWh (source: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27, 2026-07), a typical mini fridge costs A$0.028 per hour and about A$81.76 per year at 8 hours a day. Each A$1.00 of electricity buys roughly 35.7 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a mini fridge
- Keep it out of direct sun and away from heaters or computers.
- Set it to the warmest setting that keeps drinks cold enough.
- Consider whether the main fridge could do the job. Two fridges cost more than one bigger one.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mini fridge cost to run per month?
Typically 15 to 25 kWh a month. Select your region above for the figure.
Do mini fridges use a lot of electricity?
Relative to their size, yes. A dorm fridge can use 200 to 300 kWh a year.
Are thermoelectric mini fridges cheaper to run?
No. They run constantly and are usually less efficient than compressor models despite their small size.
Compare with
Cost by region
US states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Canadian provinces
Related appliances
- Chest Freezer100 W typical
- Air Fryer1,500 W typical
- Slow Cooker200 W typical
- Coffee Maker (Drip)1,000 W typical
Use the generic electricity cost calculator · Which uses more? Take the quiz