How much does it cost to run a fridge freezer?

The answer starts from the official energy figure on the energy label. This page uses the median of every fridge freezer registered for sale in the UK in our dataset, then scales it to your usage and your electricity price. Change the assumptions to match your home.

Short answer. The median fridge freezer registered for sale in the UK has 216 kWh a year on its label. At the label figure and 26.32p/kWh, that is about £57 a year. Half of the models on the market fall between £37 and £66 at the same usage.

Where to find the numbers

The annual kWh is on the energy label and the product information sheet. Your electricity price is the unit rate on your bill (p/kWh).

What the figure is based on

A fridge runs all the time, so the label figure is the whole year at the standard test conditions (25 °C ambient). A hot kitchen, frequent door opening or a warm garage push real use above the label; a cool room pulls it below.

What changes the cost

• Room temperature: a fridge in a hot kitchen, a sunny spot or an uninsulated garage uses more; every degree of ambient temperature matters.
• Thermostat setting: colder than needed (below about 3–4 °C fridge, −18 °C freezer) costs more for no benefit.
• Door seals and door opening: a damaged seal or a door held open lets cold air out continuously.
• How full it is: a well-stocked fridge holds temperature better than an empty one; an overfilled one blocks airflow.
• Age and frost: older models and iced-up freezers use more than their original label figure.

Compare fridge freezers by energy use and running cost to see every model behind this figure, or find the cheapest fridge freezer to run for your size.

For a specific model or any other appliance, use the electricity cost calculator.