A refrigerator consumes 100-300 kWh per year, that is 25-75 euros. Here are the consumption rates by class, what really makes a difference and how to spend less without replacing it.
A modern domestic refrigerator consumes between 100 and 300 kWh per year, which is an expense of about 25-75 euros on your bill. The range is wide because it depends on three things: energy class, capacity, and how and where you keep it in your home. Unlike washing machines and dishwashers, the refrigerator is the only major appliance that is always on, 24 hours a day, all year round. This is why we think in terms of annual consumption and why, over the long term, small differences become important.
The good news is that much of that consumption can be reduced without spending a euro, with a few tips on placement and use. Let's look at the real numbers, how to read them and what really makes a difference in your bill.
In brief: what you'll find in this guide
The short answer
A good-class refrigerator with average capacity (about 300-350 litres) consumes roughly 150-200 kWh per year, which is 40-50 euros at a reference price of 0.25 euros per kWh. An old and inefficient model can exceed 300 kWh and cost over 75 euros a year. The difference between one appliance and another, added up over ten years of life, is worth several hundred euros: this is why energy class really matters on a refrigerator.
How much it consumes by energy class
Energy class is the first indicator. With the updated scale in 2021 (A to G, no longer with the old A+, A++ and A+++), the differences between letters are clear. For the same size, here are the indicative orders of magnitude.
| Energy class | Estimated annual consumption | Annual cost at 0.25 euro/kWh |
|---|---|---|
| A - B | about 100-150 kWh | about 25-38 euros |
| C - D | about 150-220 kWh | about 38-55 euros |
| E - F | about 220-300 kWh | about 55-75 euros |
| G | over 300 kWh | over 75 euros |
The jump between extreme classes is concrete: switching from an old model in F or G range to an efficient one can save 60-70 euros a year, with a consumption reduction of over 60 percent. On an appliance that lasts ten years or more, this is a case where the more efficient appliance pays for itself.
Where to read the declared annual consumption
The most reliable data is not a generic estimate, but what is written on the energy label of the specific model. Below the class letter, the label shows the energy consumption in kWh per year, calculated using a standard method. This is the number to compare between two refrigerators you are interested in, because it already takes capacity into account. To understand every item on the label, from the color scale to the QR code that links to the European EPREL database, we have written a dedicated guide on how to read the energy label.
Pay attention to one point: the declared consumption is obtained under laboratory conditions, with a defined ambient temperature and no openings. In a real home, consumption can be higher. It is designed to compare models with each other correctly, not to predict your bill to the cent.
What determines actual consumption
Two identical refrigerators can consume differently depending on how they are used. Here are the factors that really matter.
Capacity and type
More litres, more consumption: a large refrigerator cools a greater volume. The type also matters. Ventilated models (No Frost) prevent ice formation but have a fan that uses energy; static models are simpler but require manual defrosting, and a thick layer of frost consumes more. We have compared the two technologies in No Frost or static refrigerator.
Position in the kitchen
This is the most underestimated factor. A refrigerator next to the oven, dishwasher or exposed to the sun works against a source of heat and consumes significantly more. You also need space behind and above it, because the rear grille (the condenser) needs to dissipate heat: fitting it in without ventilation makes it struggle.
The temperature setting
Unnecessarily low adjustments waste energy. For the refrigerator, 4-5 degrees is sufficient, for the freezer -18 degrees. Every degree lower than these values increases consumption without real storage benefits.
Maintenance and seals
A dusty condenser dissipates heat poorly; damaged door seals let in hot air and force the compressor to work continuously. These are simple checks that affect energy consumption all year round.
How much it costs in a year
Putting the factors together, the typical bill is this. An efficient combined refrigerator, well positioned, with correct temperatures, stays around 40-50 euros a year. The same appliance installed poorly, next to the oven and set too cold, can reach 70-80 euros. An older model in a low energy class starts higher and worsens with age, because seals and compressor lose efficiency.
The cost of energy has a direct impact: with the price in 2026 averaging between 0.25 and 0.28 euros per kWh according to ARERA, every 100 kWh saved is worth around 25 euros a year.
How to consume less without changing your refrigerator
Keep it away from heat sources (oven, cooktop, direct light) and leave space behind for air circulation.
Set 4-5 degrees in the fridge and -18 in the freezer: colder than that is just waste.
Don't put hot food inside: let it cool first, otherwise the compressor works much harder.
Open the door as little as possible and close it properly: each opening lets in hot air.
Clean the rear condenser from dust once or twice a year and check the seals.
Defrost a manual freezer when frost exceeds a few millimeters: ice insulates and causes more consumption.
When it's worth replacing
If the refrigerator is more than ten or twelve years old and is in a low energy class, the calculation is quick: the annual savings from an efficient model can repay a good part of the expense over its useful life. If instead the appliance is recent and well maintained, replacing it just for the energy class rarely makes sense: it's better to act on position, temperatures and maintenance. Before deciding, it's worth starting from the general selection criteria you can find in how to choose a refrigerator.
The Portos choice
The refrigerator is the appliance where energy class matters most, because it works all the time. But actual consumption happens at home: a good model placed poorly can cost as much as a mediocre one placed well. The sensible strategy is twofold: at the next replacement choose a high energy class with the right capacity for your family, and in the meantime take care of position, temperatures and seals. That's how you keep the bill close to 40 euros a year instead of close to 80.
Frequently asked questions
The answers to the most common questions about consumption, ideal temperature and differences between energy classes can be found in the dedicated section at the bottom of the page.
A concrete case, based on declared data: a 305-liter combined model that declares 239 kWh per year costs up to 756 euros in energy over ten years, more than it costs to buy it. The complete account, with two energy prices compared, is in the analysis of the Bosch KGN36NLEA.
The maintenance items that weigh on your bill: the manufacturer's instructions indicate to defrost the freezer regularly, not to obstruct the ventilation openings and to periodically clean the motor area specifically to avoid increased energy consumption. The details, with the frequencies indicated by official sources, are in how often to defrost and clean the refrigerator.
Sources
European Commission, energy label for refrigeration appliances (A-G scale from 1 March 2021, annual consumption in kWh, EPREL register).
ENEA, Department for Energy Efficiency, Energy label for refrigerators, fridge-freezers, freezers and wine coolers.
ARERA, reference values for the price of electricity for the domestic market, 2026.
Also read: size affects consumption. Find out how to choose capacity in refrigerator from 300, 400 or 500 liters.
