Old refrigerator vs. garage refrigerator: running cost
A garage refrigerator is cheaper to run: about $144 a year versus $180 for an old refrigerator at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $36 difference.
| Old refrigerator | Garage refrigerator | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 250 W | 200 W |
| Watt range | 180–400 W | 130–350 W |
| Typical use | 1,000 kWh a year | 800 kWh a year |
| Energy per year | 1,000 kWh | 800 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 2.1¢ | 1.6¢ |
| Cost per day | 49¢ | 39¢ |
| Cost per month | $14.99 | $11.99 |
| Cost per year | $180 | $144 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $435 | $348 |
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What drives the difference
- Old refrigerator: Refrigerators built before about 2001 (pre-federal 2001 standard) commonly use 900-1,400 kWh a year, roughly double a new ENERGY STAR model, and worn gaskets push that higher.
- Garage refrigerator: Garage fridges are often older units and work harder in hot garages; 700-1,200 kWh a year is common. A garage that hits 95°F can nearly double a fridge's summer use.
Ways to cut either cost
Built to operate efficiently in 38-110°F garages, and new units use roughly half of a 15-year-old fridge.
See options on AmazonIf you mainly store frozen food, a chest freezer uses about a third of what an old garage fridge-freezer does.
See options on AmazonA new ENERGY STAR top-freezer uses about 350-450 kWh a year, often half or less of a 20-year-old fridge.
See options on AmazonWe may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. It never changes the numbers we show. Disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, an old refrigerator or a garage refrigerator?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), an old refrigerator costs about $180 a year versus $144 for a garage refrigerator. That's $36 more, or 1.3× as much.
How many watts do old refrigerator and garage refrigerator use?
An old refrigerator typically draws 250 W (range 180–400 W). A garage refrigerator draws 200 W (range 130–350 W). Watts alone don't decide cost. Hours of use, cycling and standby matter just as much.
Rates: EIA, 12 months ending 2026-07. Methodology.