How many watts does a refrigerator use?
A refrigerator uses 540–720 watts while running, which is 4.5–6 amps at 120 V.
Refrigerator watts, amps and circuit
| Running watts | 540–720 W |
|---|---|
| Voltage | 120 V |
| Running amps | 4.5–6 A |
| Circuit | 20 A breaker, dedicated circuit |
| Wire size (copper, NM-B cable) | 12 AWG |
| Energy per year | 305–799 kWh |
| Energy per day, average | 0.8–2.2 kWh |
| Cost per year at $0.18/kWh | $55–$144 |
Also called: fridge, refrigerator freezer, fridge freezer, full-size refrigerator, side-by-side refrigerator, standard refrigerator.
What size generator runs a refrigerator?
A refrigerator needs a generator that supplies at least 720 running watts. Starting a refrigerator takes a short surge of several times its running watts, and the surge is not listed here: size the generator from the locked-rotor amps (LRA) on the nameplate or the maker's generator guidance, not from the running watts.
How long a portable power station runs a refrigerator
| Battery capacity, Wh | At 720 W, h | At 540 W, h |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | 0.6 | 0.8 |
| 1,000 | 1.2 | 1.6 |
| 2,000 | 2.4 | 3.1 |
| 3,600 | 4.3 | 5.7 |
A 500 Wh portable power station runs a refrigerator drawing 720 W for about 0.6 hours at 85% inverter efficiency. Runtime = capacity × 85% ÷ watts; the 85% efficiency is an assumption. The power station's AC output must be at least 720 W.
What it costs to run a refrigerator
A refrigerator uses 305–799 kWh a year, which costs $55–$144 a year at $0.18 per kWh, the US average residential price for August 2026, or about $5–$12 a month.
Your bill's total ÷ kWh used. 0.18 is the US residential average.
- Per day
- $0.27
- Per year
- $99
- Energy per day
- 1.51 kWh
- Energy per month
- 46 kWh
How it is calculated
- kWh per day = 630 W × 2.4 h ÷ 1,000 = 1.512
- Per month = 1.512 kWh × 30.4 days × $0.18 = $8.28
What affects refrigerator power use
The watts are the connected load Frigidaire prints for its top-freezer models, a rating that includes the defrost heater. The compressor cycles on and off, so the average draw over a day is far lower, as the yearly energy of ENERGY STAR certified full-size models shows. GE and Frigidaire list a 15 or 20 A circuit, and GE asks for a dedicated one.
How the amps are calculated
Amps = watts ÷ volts. For 720 W at 120 V that is 6 A. The 540–720 W range covers typical models; the nameplate on a refrigerator gives the exact figure.