What Does It Cost to Run a Refrigerator in Illinois?
Running a refrigerator in Illinois costs about $8.84 a month — $107.59 a year — at the state's average rate of 20.47 ¢/kWh. That's roughly $6.04 a year more than a household paying the national average pays for the exact same refrigerator. The estimate assumes a typical 60-watt refrigerator running 24 hours/day, at the all-in average rate (delivery, fixed charges, and utility fees already included; locally billed taxes vary by area).
Key metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average wattage assumption | 60 W |
| Typical usage assumption | 24 hours/day |
| Estimated monthly electricity use | 43.2 kWh |
| Estimated monthly cost | $8.84 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $107.59 |
Refrigerator cost vs U.S. average
At the state average rate, a refrigerator in Illinois costs $0.50 more a month than it would at the U.S. average rate.
How much electricity does a refrigerator use?
A refrigerator draws roughly 40-100 W; we use 60 watts running 24 hours/day. That comes to 1.44 kWh a day — 43.2 kWh a month, or 525.6 kWh over a year — using kWh = watts × hours ÷ 1000.
Refrigerators are always plugged in. The compressor only runs part of the time and cycles on and off based on internal temperature, so the 24-hour average power draw is much lower than the peak running wattage. Modern refrigerators typically average about 40–100 watts over a full day. Illinois prices that energy at 20.47 ¢/kWh, against a 19.32 ¢/kWh national average.
Refrigerator operating cost estimate in Illinois
| Time period | Energy use | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Per hour | 0.06 kWh | $0.01 |
| Per day | 1.44 kWh | $0.29 |
| Per month | 43.2 kWh | $8.84 |
| Per year | 525.6 kWh | $107.59 |
These figures use the all-in average rate. Your actual bill can run higher when separately billed taxes, seasonal pricing, and fixed monthly fees apply.
What changes the cost the most?
Two things move this number: your state's rate, which you can't change, and how hard the appliance works, which you often can. For a refrigerator, that mostly comes down to appliance age, door-opening frequency, garage vs indoor placement.
Using yours more lightly or heavily than our assumption? The state calculator and usage-cost pages below model your exact scenario at the same rate.
For calculator-style comparisons, use the Refrigerator calculator in Illinois to compare light, typical, and heavy usage profiles.
Comparison entry points
Browse related comparisons from the energy comparison hub:
City pages for selected metros in Illinois
These city pages add local rate context for the same appliance assumptions. City values are estimates.
| City | City rate | Monthly estimate | Yearly estimate | More detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 21.29 ¢/kWh | $9.20 | $110.36 | City electricity context |
| Aurora | 20.47 ¢/kWh | $8.84 | $106.12 | City electricity context |
City electricity pages focus on local rate context. The table above uses the statewide average rate.
Related appliance cost pages for Illinois
- Dishwasher cost in Illinois — Typical 1,200-1,800 W estimate with state-specific pricing
- Electric Oven cost in Illinois — Typical 2,000-5,000 W estimate with state-specific pricing
- Microwave cost in Illinois — Typical 600-1,500 W estimate with state-specific pricing
- Toaster Oven cost in Illinois — Typical 1,200-1,800 W estimate with state-specific pricing
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a refrigerator in Illinois?
At 24 hours/day and the state average rate of 20.47 ¢/kWh, you'd pay about $8.84 a month.
Does this estimate include delivery fees and taxes?
Yes — the all-in average rate already includes delivery, fixed charges, and utility fees; locally billed taxes vary by area.
Where else can I compare this appliance?
See the appliance comparison guide, or the Illinois bill estimator for whole-household profiles.
State cost and bill pathways for Illinois
- Illinois electricity price per kWh — What a kWh of electricity costs in Illinois
- Illinois electricity rates & prices — Core authority page with statewide pricing context
- Illinois electricity cost analysis — State-level cost, affordability, and value overview
- Chicago electricity estimate (Illinois) — City electricity page with methodology notes where city coverage is available
- Average electricity bill in Illinois — What a typical monthly bill looks like
- Illinois household bill estimator — Estimate your bill from your monthly usage
Historical and trend pages
- Illinois electricity price history — Historical context and trend interpretation
- Electricity inflation in Illinois — State electricity inflation analysis
- Illinois electricity price volatility — Volatility and rate movement profile
Fixed-usage and calculator pathways
- Electricity cost for 100 kWh in Illinois — Cost for this usage amount in the same state
- Electricity cost for 300 kWh in Illinois — Cost for this usage amount in the same state
- Electricity cost for 500 kWh in Illinois — Cost for this usage amount in the same state
- Illinois electricity cost calculator — Custom kWh and scenario cost calculation
Appliance and estimator pathways
- Refrigerator cost in Illinois — Appliance operating-cost page for this state
- Refrigerator calculator in Illinois — Calculator page for adjusting wattage and usage for this appliance
- Space Heater cost in Illinois — Appliance operating-cost page for this state
- Space Heater calculator in Illinois — Calculator page for adjusting wattage and usage for this appliance
- Window Ac cost in Illinois — Appliance operating-cost page for this state
- Window Ac calculator in Illinois — Calculator page for adjusting wattage and usage for this appliance
State comparison pathways for Illinois
- Illinois electricity comparisons — State-to-state comparison hub
- Illinois vs California electricity cost — Head-to-head comparison page
- Illinois vs Florida electricity cost — Head-to-head comparison page
Discovery and navigation hubs
- Illinois electricity hub — Guide to this state's electricity rate, usage, comparison, and tool pages
- Electricity cost scenario hub — Entry point for residential and industry scenario pages
- Illinois electricity cost overview — State-level electricity cost page with rates and typical bill context
- Illinois average electricity bill benchmark — Typical monthly bill estimate using a standard household usage assumption
- Illinois electricity bill estimator — Household profile bill scenarios for this state
- Electricity usage hubs — Browse cost pages by common household usage tiers
Consumer electricity drivers
- Price drivers in Illinois — Understand what influences state electricity prices
Source & Method
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Retail Sales of Electricity. Updated: April 2026. Estimates use the EIA all-in average residential rate — energy, delivery, fixed charges, and utility fees together, not just the electricity itself. Fees are inside the rate, not an extra on top; how your own bill splits fixed versus per-kWh charges varies by utility. For what's inside the all-in rate, see hidden electricity fees; for how rates and estimates are defined, see the methodology hub.