How many watts of power does a refrigerator use?

Are you curious about how much energy your refrigerator consumes? While many of us don’t even think about the units of power refrigerators consume throughout the day or in a month, it sure is a great way to keep track of whether your refrigerator is performing efficiently or not. Modern refrigerators, with advanced technology and better insulation, are not only bigger but also more efficient than ever before.

A refrigerator is one of the hardest-working appliances in your home, running 24/7 and because of that, its energy use can add up quickly. In this article, we’ll explain how much energy a refrigerator typically uses and why it matters to your wallet and the planet.

How many watts does a refrigerator use?

On average, a home refrigerator can use between 300W and 800W of electricity, or between 3 and 6 amps at around 120 volts. Some refrigerators are more energy efficient than others, so you’ll want to check the label on yours to see how much power it consumes. The main factor that determines how much electricity your fridge uses is its size and age—the older your fridge is, the more power it may require to keep everything cool inside. 

ALSO READ: Here’s how to beat the heat with the right AC temperatures

The other key factor in determining how much electricity is used by fridges is its size and whether they have an ice dispenser and/or water filter. If there’s no ice and/or water filter, then those components won’t require any additional electricity beyond what’s needed just to keep everything cool inside.

Importantly, refrigerators generally have a much lower “running” wattage than their stated average wattage – this is because they cycle on and off throughout the day. As a rule of thumb, you can divide your refrigerator’s wattage by 3 to estimate its actual energy usage. So, a 500W refrigerator will use about 167 running watts. However, the exact amount of power your refrigerator uses will depend on how old it is, its make and model, as well as its energy rating.

How to calculate the wattage of your refrigerator

To calculate the wattage of your refrigerator, you just need two things – The voltage (how much power it needs to run) and amperage (how much current it pulls). Here is how to calculate the wattage of your refrigerator:

1. Check the label on the back, bottom of the fridge, or in the manual for the voltage rating (usually 120V or 240V) and amperage rating (given in amps (A) or milliamps (mA)). If the rating is in milliamps, simply divide it by 1000 to convert it to amps. 

ALSO READ: Refrigerator star ratings: Are they worth it?

2. Now that you have both numbers, you can calculate the wattage by multiplying voltage by amperage. Here’s the formula: Voltage (V) x Amperage (A) = Wattage (W).

For example, let’s say a refrigerator has a voltage rating of 120V and an amperage rating of 5A.  Now, to find out the exact refrigerator watts, you simply need to multiply 120V by 5A, giving you a wattage of 600 Watts. Equipped with this knowledge, you can keep an eye on the energy label when looking to buy your next refrigerator and choose one that is more energy efficient.