How many watts does a mini fridge use?
A mini fridge uses 50–100 W while the compressor runs, but averages about 45 W around the clock because the compressor cycles on and off. Running 24 hours/day, that is about 1.08 kWh a day and 32.4 kWh a month — roughly $5.94 a month at the U.S. average rate of 18.34 ¢/kWh.
This is the mini fridge electricity usage reference: watts, amps on a 120 V circuit, the kWh math, and links to what that usage costs in each state.
Watts, amps, and kWh for a mini fridge
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Running wattage (compressor on) | 50–100 W |
| Averaged draw over 24 hours | 45 W |
| Amps at 120 V | 0.4–0.8 A running, 0.4 A averaged |
| kWh per hour | 0.04 kWh |
| kWh per day at 24 hours/day | 1.08 kWh |
| kWh per month | 32.4 kWh |
| Cost per month at the U.S. average (18.34 ¢/kWh) | $5.94 |
The math is kWh = watts × hours ÷ 1000 and amps = watts ÷ volts. A standard 120 V household circuit on a 15 A breaker carries about 1,800 W. Because the compressor cycles on and off, the running wattage is several times the 24-hour average, and the average is what drives the monthly kWh and cost. For the dollars in your state, open cost to run a mini fridge in Texas and switch states from there.
Mini Fridge electricity usage profile
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| kWh per hour | 0.04 kWh |
| kWh per day (typical) | 1.08 kWh |
| kWh per month (typical) | 32.4 kWh |
| kWh per year (typical) | 394.2 kWh |
| Low runtime scenario | 24 hours/day |
| High runtime scenario | 24 hours/day |
Connect usage to cost tools
Related appliance usage pages
Source & Method
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Retail Sales of Electricity. Last dataset period: June 2026. Usage calculations use fixed appliance wattage and runtime assumptions so results stay comparable across pages.
Frequently asked questions
How many watts does a mini fridge use?
A mini fridge uses 50–100 W while the compressor runs, but averages about 45 W around the clock because the compressor cycles on and off. Our usage and cost math uses 45 watts running 24 hours/day.
How many amps does a mini fridge draw?
On a 120 V circuit, 50–100 W works out to about 0.4–0.8 A while the compressor runs, and about 0.4 A averaged over the day because it cycles on and off. Compressors also draw more for a moment at startup.
How much electricity does a mini fridge use per month?
About 32.4 kWh a month. It runs around the clock, so month-to-month differences come from how hard the compressor works — room temperature, how often the door opens, and the unit's age — rather than hours of use.
How much does it cost to run a mini fridge?
About $5.94 a month at the U.S. average rate of 18.34 ¢/kWh — from roughly $4.25 in Nevada to $17.08 in Hawaii at the same usage. The state cost-to-run pages price it at every state's rate.