How Much Does It Cost to Run a Refrigerator in Australia? (2026)
A refrigerator is plugged in all day, but the compressor only runs about a third of the time. The wattage figures here are the compressor draw, and the hours figure reflects typical compressor run time, not 24 hours.
A typical refrigerator (150 W) costs A$0.052 per hour, or about A$12.60 per month at 8 hours a day in Australia. Average running cost
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low 100 W | A$0.035 | A$0.28 | A$8.40 | A$102.20 |
| Typical 150 W | A$0.052 | A$0.42 | A$12.60 | A$153.30 |
| High 250 W | A$0.087 | A$0.70 | A$21.00 | A$255.50 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 8 h/day ≈ 438 kWh per year.
One hour of a refrigerator (0.15 kWh) is the same electricity as
- 3.3hours of a laptop
- 10phone charges
- 15hours of Wi-Fi
- 17hours of an LED bulb
In Australia, with electricity at 35.0¢ per kWh (source: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27, 2026-07), a typical refrigerator costs A$0.052 per hour and about A$153.30 per year at 8 hours a day. Each A$1.00 of electricity buys roughly 19.0 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a refrigerator
- Set the fridge to 37 to 40 F (3 to 4 C) and the freezer to 0 F (-18 C). Colder settings waste power.
- Vacuum the coils at the back or underneath once a year. Dust makes the compressor work harder.
- Leave a gap for airflow behind and above the unit.
- A fridge from before 2000 can use twice the electricity of a new one. Replacement often pays for itself within a few years.
Is an efficient refrigerator worth it?
10 to 15 year old fridge-freezer (EU class F, or pre-2010 US model): about 650 kWh a year. Current A-rated or ENERGY STAR fridge-freezer: about 220 kWh. The difference is worth A$150.50 a year in Australia.
- Replacing one that still works pays back in 6.0 years.
- When yours needs replacing anyway, the extra cost of the efficient model pays back in 1.3 years.
Usage assumed: always on; the figures depend on the model, not on how you use it. Typical prices: A$900.00 for the efficient model, A$200.00 more than a basic one. Work it out with your own prices
Frequently asked questions
How many watts does a refrigerator use?
Most modern household fridges draw 100 to 250 watts while the compressor runs, averaging 1 to 2 kWh per day.
Does an empty fridge use more electricity?
Slightly. Food and drinks hold cold, so a full fridge recovers faster after the door opens.
Should I unplug my fridge when on vacation?
Only for trips longer than a month, and only if you empty and clean it first.
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
Use the generic electricity cost calculator · Which uses more? Take the quiz