How much does a fridge freezer cost to run?

At the current price cap, a fridge freezer costs about 19p per day, or around £69.17 a year with typical use.

  • By Steven Stewart
  • Checked 20 October 2026
  • Ofgem price cap, October to December 2026
  • Source: Ofgem

Picking one fills in typical figures. Change any of them to match yours.

watts

On the rating plate or in the manual. 1 kW = 1,000 W.

hours

15 minutes = 0.25, 30 minutes = 0.5.

days
p per kWh

Price cap default for October to December 2026. Your bill shows your own rate.

Fridge freezer

Running cost a year£69.17
An hour
0.8p
A day used
19p
A week
£1.33
A month
£5.76
Energy a year
263 kWh

30 W for 24 hours a day, every day, at 26.32p per kWh.

Excludes the daily standing charge, which you pay whatever you use.

How it compares

Yearly cost with typical use, at your unit rate.

  • Tumble dryer (vented)£148.22
  • Electric shower£136.90
  • Electric oven£109.79
  • Fridge freezer (yours)£69.17
  • TV (55-inch LED)£38.43
  • Kettle£28.82

Fridge freezer running costs

At 26.32p per kWh, with typical use of 24 hours a day, every day.

PeriodEnergyCost
Per day0.72 kWh19p
Per hour in use0.03 kWh0.8p
Per week5.04 kWh£1.33
Per month21.9 kWh£5.76
Per year263 kWh£69.17

How the cost varies

Efficient models using 150 kWh a year to older ones using 350 kWh a year.

Energy usePer dayPer year (typical use)
Lower10.8p£39.39
Typical19p£69.17
Higher25.3p£92.23

Kitchen appliances compared

Yearly cost with typical use, at 26.32p per kWh.

AppliancePer hourPer year
Fridge freezer (this page)0.8p£69.17
Dishwasher13.2p£54.90
Kettle79p£28.82
Bean-to-cup coffee machine38.2p£13.93
Toaster23.7p£4.32

Ways to spend less

  • Check the energy label: the kWh-a-year figure tells you the running cost better than the letter rating.
  • Keep it away from ovens and radiators, and leave a gap at the back for air to flow.
  • Defrost the freezer when ice builds up, and check the door seals by closing them on a sheet of paper.

How we calculate this

We take a typical fridge freezer at 30 watts (an average, as it switches on and off while running), used 24 hours a day, every day, and multiply the energy it uses by the Ofgem price cap unit rate of 26.32p per kWh.

One day uses about 0.72 kWh. Use the calculator above with your own appliance’s power and how you use it for a closer figure.

kWh per day = (watts ÷ 1,000) × hours per dayCost per day = kWh per day × unit rateCost per year = cost per day × days per week × 52.14

Questions people ask

How much does a fridge freezer cost to run a year?

With typical use (24 hours a day, every day), about £69.17 a year at the current price cap, or £5.76 a month.

How much does a fridge freezer cost to run a year?

A typical model uses around 260 kWh a year. Efficient new models can use half that, while older ones can use much more.

Is it worth replacing an old fridge freezer?

If it is 10 or more years old, a new efficient model could save a noticeable amount each year. Compare the kWh-a-year on the energy labels to see the difference.

Does this include the standing charge?

No. The standing charge (54.83p a day under the current cap, about £200.13 a year) is a fixed daily cost for being connected. It does not change with how much you use any appliance.

About this page

Who made it

Written and checked by Steven Stewart, founder and editor of Numwise. Last checked 20 October 2026 using the Ofgem price cap, October to December 2026. We update prices every time they change.

How we check our figures · All updates

Recent changes

  • Added a meter reading cost calculator, a price per unit calculator, a working days calculator with UK bank holidays from GOV.UK, a bill splitter, and a tax year and paydays calculator.
  • Added a radiator BTU calculator, an immersion heater cost calculator and running cost pages for 8 more appliances.
  • Added running cost pages for 20 common appliances, from kettles to tumble dryers.

Spotted a mistake?

Tell us and we'll check it against the source, usually within a few days. Email [email protected]