How do I work out what my fridge-freezer costs?

Find the kWh a year on its energy label and multiply by your unit rate. At the Great Britain average of 26.32p a kWh, every 100 kWh a year costs £26.

Does it cost more in some parts of the country?

Slightly. The electricity unit rate under the cap runs from 25.36p a kWh in East Midlands to 27.86p in Merseyside and North Wales, so the same use costs about 10% more in the dearest region. Pick yours in the calculator.

Running costs

How much does it cost to run a fridge-freezer?

About £68 a year, or 19p a day, for a fridge-freezer using 260 kWh a year, at the price cap for 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026.

Your fridge-freezer’s energy label gives its yearly use in kWh. Labels we checked on current models run from 222 to 265 kWh: 260 kWh for an integrated 70:30 fridge-freezer, and 265 kWh on the example label in the Irish energy agency’s guide. Older and larger models use more.

Verified: 23 October 2026 from Ofgem price cap rates

Work out yours

Your electricity price

Energy label figure

kWh a year

A day

19p

A week

£1.31

A month

£5.70

A year

£68

260 kWh a year. Unit rate only: the standing charge is paid whether or not anything is switched on.

A fridge-freezer’s compressor runs on and off all day, so the useful figure is how much it uses in a year, which is printed on its energy label in kWh. The power on the rating plate, often 100 W to 300 W, is only what it draws while the compressor is running.

Because it runs all year, a fridge-freezer is one of the bigger items on a bill even though it costs very little per hour. An old one can use more than its label says once its door seals wear.

Ways to spend less

Check the door seals: a sheet of paper closed in the door should be held firmly.
Leave a gap behind it so the coils at the back can lose heat.
Defrost the freezer when ice builds up.

Compared with

Appliance	Typical cost	A year, used as shown
Fridge-freezer	£68 a year	£68 (running all year)
Kettle	4p a boil	£66 (five boils a day)
Washing machine	20p a wash	£51 (five washes a week)

At the Great Britain average electricity rate of 26.32p a kWh.

Common questions

How much does it cost to run a fridge-freezer?: About £68 a year, or 19p a day, for a fridge-freezer using 260 kWh a year, at the price cap for 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026. Your fridge-freezer’s energy label gives its yearly use in kWh. Labels we checked on current models run from 222 to 265 kWh: 260 kWh for an integrated 70:30 fridge-freezer, and 265 kWh on the example label in the Irish energy agency’s guide. Older and larger models use more.
How do I work out what my fridge-freezer costs?: Find the kWh a year on its energy label and multiply by your unit rate. At the Great Britain average of 26.32p a kWh, every 100 kWh a year costs £26.
Does it cost more in some parts of the country?: Slightly. The electricity unit rate under the cap runs from 25.36p a kWh in East Midlands to 27.86p in Merseyside and North Wales, so the same use costs about 10% more in the dearest region. Pick yours in the calculator.

Other appliances

Add up several appliances in the electricity cost calculator, or see what your own home uses with the smart meter analyser.