How much does it cost to run a fridge (400–500 L frost-free)? (2026–27)
At typical draw · official state tariffs
Typical household use (running continuously (450 kWh/year)) runs $124–$189 a year depending on your state's tariff.
Wattage basis: Compressor-on draw 100–250 W; annual energy for a 400–500 L frost-free family fridge ~350–600 kWh/yr depending on age and star rating (efficient 5-star ~350).
| State | Model | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales33.1c/kWh · Ausgrid | Efficient (80 W) | $0.03 | $0.11 | $3.22 | $39 |
| Typical (150 W) | $0.05 | $0.20 | $6.04 | $73 | |
| High (250 W) | $0.08 | $0.33 | $10.07 | $121 | |
| Victoria27.5c/kWh · Jemena | Efficient (80 W) | $0.02 | $0.09 | $2.67 | $32 |
| Typical (150 W) | $0.04 | $0.16 | $5.01 | $60 | |
| High (250 W) | $0.07 | $0.27 | $8.35 | $100 | |
| Queensland28.0c/kWh · Energex | Efficient (80 W) | $0.02 | $0.09 | $2.72 | $33 |
| Typical (150 W) | $0.04 | $0.17 | $5.10 | $61 | |
| High (250 W) | $0.07 | $0.28 | $8.50 | $102 | |
| South Australia41.9c/kWh · SA Power Networks | Efficient (80 W) | $0.03 | $0.13 | $4.08 | $49 |
| Typical (150 W) | $0.06 | $0.25 | $7.64 | $92 | |
| High (250 W) | $0.10 | $0.42 | $12.74 | $153 | |
| Western Australia33.3c/kWh · Western Power (SWIS) | Efficient (80 W) | $0.03 | $0.11 | $3.24 | $39 |
| Typical (150 W) | $0.05 | $0.20 | $6.07 | $73 | |
| High (250 W) | $0.08 | $0.33 | $10.11 | $121 | |
| Tasmania28.0c/kWh · TasNetworks | Efficient (80 W) | $0.02 | $0.09 | $2.72 | $33 |
| Typical (150 W) | $0.04 | $0.17 | $5.10 | $61 | |
| High (250 W) | $0.07 | $0.28 | $8.50 | $102 | |
| Australian Capital Territory37.0c/kWh · Evoenergy | Efficient (80 W) | $0.03 | $0.12 | $3.59 | $43 |
| Typical (150 W) | $0.06 | $0.22 | $6.74 | $81 | |
| High (250 W) | $0.09 | $0.37 | $11.23 | $135 | |
| Northern Territory31.7c/kWh · Power and Water | Efficient (80 W) | $0.03 | $0.10 | $3.08 | $37 |
| Typical (150 W) | $0.05 | $0.19 | $5.78 | $69 | |
| High (250 W) | $0.08 | $0.32 | $9.63 | $116 |
This table costs a constant draw at 4 h a day. The typical-use yearly figures below use the appliance's measured energy per use (450 kWh per year) instead.
Where a fridge costs more
- South Australia is the dearest state to run one: $0.06 an hour at 150 W on its 41.9c/kWh rate, against $0.04 in Victoria. Over a year of typical use that gap is $65 (52.6% more).
- By yearly running cost at typical use it ranks 11th of the 26 appliances costed on this site (1st costs the most): $149 a year at the NSW rate.
- At the 1 July 2026 price reset, typical-use cost fell $10 in VIC (Jemena usage rate 29.7c to 27.5c/kWh) and rose $4 in WA (Western Power (SWIS) usage rate 32.4c to 33.3c/kWh).
| Rank | State | Usage rate | Typical year | Above the cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victoria | 27.5c | $124 | — |
| 2 | Tasmania | 28.0c | $126 | +$2 |
| 3 | Queensland | 28.0c | $126 | +$2 |
| 4 | Northern Territory | 31.7c | $143 | +$19 |
| 5 | New South Wales | 33.1c | $149 | +$26 |
| 6 | Western Australia | 33.3c | $150 | +$26 |
| 7 | Australian Capital Territory | 37.0c | $166 | +$43 |
| 8 | South Australia | 41.9c | $189 | +$65 |
Rates by state (each state's capital-city network): NSW: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8); VIC: ESC Victorian Default Offer 2026–27; QLD: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8); SA: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8); WA: WA Government Standard Electricity Prices 2026–27 (Synergy Home Plan A1); TAS: OTTER-approved Aurora Energy Standing Offer 2026–27 (approved 25 June 2026) — Tariff 31; ACT: ICRC retail electricity price recalibration 2026–27 (ActewAGL standing offer); NT: NT Electricity Pricing Order 2026–27 (Jacana Energy standard residential). All effective 1 July 2026.
Appliance running-cost calculator
NSWFridge: 80–250 W typical range.
Runs continuously; the compressor cycles at roughly one-third duty.
- Per day (4 h)
- $0.20
- Per month
- $6.04
- Per year (365 days)
- $72.57
Tariff: 33.1c/kWh — AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8) for the Ausgrid network, effective 1 July 2026. Wattage basis: Reduction Revolution — fridge power consumption. Full fridge costs in NSW →
Cutting the cost
Keep it out of direct sun and away from the oven, and leave a gap behind it so the coils can shed heat. A full fridge holds its temperature better than an empty one, but don't pack it so tightly that air can't move. Check the door seals close cleanly, and vacuum the rear coils now and then. A spare beer fridge in the garage is often the quietest money-drainer in the house.
Frequently asked questions
- How is the running cost calculated?
- Watts ÷ 1,000 × the electricity rate = cost per hour. A fridge drawing 150 W on NSW's 33.1c/kWh rate costs $0.05 an hour; the calculator below lets you change every input. For this appliance the yearly figure uses its measured energy per use rather than a constant draw.
- Does a higher star rating cut the cost?
- Yes. The star rating compresses the power draw or energy per use, which scales these figures directly. The low–high band in the table (80–250 W) roughly spans efficient to inefficient models.
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- Appliance calculator
- Reduction Revolution — fridge power consumption
- State reference tariffs (per-zone determinations)verified
Costs use each state's representative-zone reference usage rate, effective 1 July 2026. Runs continuously; the compressor cycles at roughly one-third duty.