APPLIANCE RUNNING COSTS · OCT–DEC 2026

How much does a fridge freezer cost to run?

A fridge freezer runs all day, every day, so its energy label’s annual figure is the best guide to its cost. At the GB average price-cap electricity rate of 26.32p per kWh for October–December 2026, a fridge freezer costs about 17p a day, or £63 a year.

Last updated 11 October 2026GB average price-cap rate, October–December 2026, Direct Debit, 0% VAT

PER DAY

17prunning all day

PER YEAR

£63240 kWh on the energy label

Work out your own cost

Choose your region or type in your own unit rate, then change the energy per day and number of days to match your appliance and how you use it. It starts with one year at the energy label figure.

Estimated running cost£63.17

240 kWh over 1 year · about £63.17 per year

How much electricity it uses

Freestanding fridge freezers on the UK market are labelled at about 180 to 240 kWh a year: for example 180 kWh (Hotpoint HPKF 3243W, class D), 182 kWh (Hisense RB5P410SACCUK, class C) and 240 kWh (Indesit IB55 732 W, class E).
A large American-style model uses more: 333 kWh a year for the Hotpoint HPG2 6592 XP4UK (593 litres).
Older appliances use far more. Fridge freezers monitored in the Household Electricity Survey (2010–11) averaged 427 kWh a year.
The Energy Saving Trust says fridges and freezers account for around 13% of the average household’s energy bill, and the typical fridge freezer lasts 17 years.

**Fridge freezer: running cost by energy use**At 26.32p per kWh (GB average price-cap rate, October–December 2026, Direct Debit, 0% VAT). Energy label consumption, running all year.
Example	Energy a year	Per day	Per year
Lower	180 kWh a year	13p	£47
Typical	240 kWh a year	17p	£63
Higher	333 kWh a year	24p	£88

Usage assumption: Running all year, at the energy label’s annual consumption. This is our illustration, not a measured average; change it in the calculator.

What drives the cost

Energy class and size: the label figure already combines both.
Age: an old appliance can use much more than a new one.
Room temperature, door opening and frost build-up in manual-defrost freezers.

How it compares

**Cost per use compared**Typical figures from each appliance’s page, at 26.32p per kWh. For fridges and freezers, one use means one day.
Appliance	Typical use	Energy	Cost
Fridge freezer	1 day	0.66 kWh	17p
Chest freezer	1 day	0.55 kWh	14p
Television	1 day, 4 hours	0.34 kWh	8.8p

Ways to spend less

When replacing one, the Energy Saving Trust suggests choosing the smallest model that meets your needs and budget, with the highest energy-efficiency rating.

Unit rates vary by region: this period they run from 25.36p per kWh in East Midlands to 27.86p in Merseyside and Northern Wales. See every region’s rate →

Questions

How much does a fridge freezer cost to run per year?

At 26.32p per kWh (the GB average price-cap rate, October–December 2026, Direct Debit, 0% VAT), a fridge freezer using 240 kWh a year on its energy label costs about £63 a year, or 17p a day. The models we cite (180 to 333 kWh a year) cost £47 to £88.

Will a fridge freezer use what its energy label says?

The energy label figure assumes standard test conditions. Room temperature, how full it is and how often the door is opened change real use, so treat £63 as a guide rather than a bill.

Is it worth replacing an old fridge freezer?

Compare the annual kWh of your old model (if known) with the label of a new one. Using the figures above, the gap between a 2010–11 average of 427 kWh and a new 240 kWh model is about 187 kWh a year; multiply by your unit rate to see the saving.

Does the cost depend on where I live?

Yes, a little. Price-cap electricity unit rates for October–December 2026 range from 25.36p per kWh in East Midlands to 27.86p in Merseyside and Northern Wales. Pick your region in the calculator, or enter the unit rate from your bill if you are on a fixed or time-of-use tariff.

About these figures

Running costs are energy used × unit rate. They exclude the daily standing charge, which you pay whether or not the appliance runs. Annual energy comes from the energy label, measured under standard test conditions. Power ratings and energy figures are examples from the sources below, not a measured UK average.

Other appliances

Sources

EPREL product information sheet: Hotpoint HPKF 3243W W5UK fridge freezer ↗180 kWh a year, class D, 244 litres.
EPREL product information sheet: Hisense RB5P410SACCUK fridge freezer ↗182 kWh a year, class C, 413 litres.
EPREL product information sheet: Indesit IB55 732 W UK fridge freezer ↗240 kWh a year, class E, 286 litres.
EPREL product information sheet: Hotpoint HPG2 6592 XP4UK American-style fridge freezer ↗333 kWh a year, class E, 593 litres.
Household Electricity Survey final report (DEFRA, DECC and Energy Saving Trust, 2012, PDF) ↗Measured appliance use in 250 English homes, 2010–11: annual kWh by appliance, cycles per year and energy per cycle.
Energy Saving Trust: what appliances drive up electricity bills most ↗Fridge and freezer share of bills and lifespan; washing, dishwasher and microwave advice.
Ofgem: energy price cap unit rates and standing charges ↗GB average electricity unit rate and VAT basis, October–December 2026.

Last updated 11 October 2026. Figures are dated benchmarks taken from the sources above. How we use sources →