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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Mini Fridge in the UK? (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 £0.021 per hour, or about £4.99 per month at 8 hours a day in United Kingdom. Average running cost
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (50 W) | £0.013 | £0.10 | £3.12 | £37.96 |
| Typical (80 W) | £0.021 | £0.17 | £4.99 | £60.74 |
| High (120 W) | £0.031 | £0.25 | £7.49 | £91.10 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 8 h/day ≈ 234 kWh per year.
In the UK, with electricity at £0.26 per kWh (source: Ofgem price cap 1 Jul–30 Sep 2026, 2026-07), a typical mini fridge costs £0.021 per hour and about £60.74 per year at 8 hours a day. Each £1.00 of electricity buys roughly 48.1 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
- United States (average)
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Florida
- Canada (average)
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
- Australia
- India