How much electricity does a fridge-freezer use a day, and what does it cost?

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Your fridge-freezer's energy label tells you how much electricity it uses in a year. Divide that by 365 for a daily figure. Multiply by your unit rate for the cost. That one number also tells you how big a battery you'd need to keep it running in a power cut.

Where is the kWh figure on the energy label?

The UK labelling rules for fridges and freezers say the label must show the annual energy consumption in kWh per year, rounded to a whole number, with the unit written as "kWh/annum" (legislation.gov.uk, Annex III). It sits under the A to G efficiency scale.

The same rules define that annual figure as the average daily energy consumption multiplied by 365 (legislation.gov.uk, Annex I). So dividing by 365 gives you back the daily average.

Two things to keep in mind:

• The label figure comes from a standard test set out in the rules. Your kitchen, how full the fridge is and how often you open it will make your real use a bit different.
• The label also has a QR code. The rules say it links to that model's information in a public product database (legislation.gov.uk, Annex I).

How much electricity does a fridge-freezer use a day?

Use this sum:

kWh per day = label kWh/annum ÷ 365

For example, a label figure of 250 kWh a year: 250 ÷ 365 = 0.68 kWh a day, or about 685 watt-hours (Wh).

There is no single "typical" figure, because size and age vary a lot. Jackery's UK guide says a modern, energy-efficient fridge typically uses between 100 and 250 kWh a year (Jackery UK). That is a manufacturer's figure, not an official one. Your own label is the number to trust.

What does it cost a day at the price cap?

Ofgem sets a cap on the unit rate and standing charge. For 1 October to 31 December 2026, the average electricity rates for Direct Debit are (Ofgem):

• Unit rate: 26.32p per kWh
• Standing charge: 54.83p per day

Ofgem says these figures are rounded to two decimal places, and that there is no VAT on electricity from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. Your own rate depends on where you live, how you pay and your meter (Ofgem). Check your bill if you want an exact answer.

The standing charge is fixed. You pay it whatever you use. So only the unit rate matters for the fridge-freezer's running cost.

Cost per day = kWh per day x unit rate

Worked examples (label figures, cap rate 26.32p/kWh)

These are examples to show the working, not claims about any model. Cost a year = label kWh x 26.32p. Ofgem sets the cap every 3 months (Ofgem), so the pence will move.

How do I check the cost for my own fridge-freezer?

• Find the kWh/annum figure on the energy label or product sheet.
• Divide it by 365 for kWh a day.
• Find your unit rate in p/kWh on your bill (or use the cap rate above).
• Multiply kWh a day by the unit rate for pence a day.
• Multiply kWh a day by 1,000 for watt-hours a day. You'll need this for battery sizing.
• Note the date. Ofgem sets the cap every 3 months.

Why does the daily figure matter in a power cut?

Because it tells you whether a battery can keep the fridge going, and for how long.

Portable power stations are sold by their capacity in watt-hours. Not all of that reaches the fridge: some is lost turning the battery's power into mains power. Jackery's UK guide uses capacity x 0.85 when it works out running time (Jackery UK).

So for our example of 250 kWh a year:

• Daily use = 685 Wh
• Battery needed for 24 hours = 685 ÷ 0.85 = about 806 Wh

That is a big battery for one appliance. The same Jackery guide also notes that a fridge's compressor needs a short burst of extra power when it starts, so the power station's surge rating matters too.

We go through the full sizing table, 12 and 24 hours, in can a power station run a fridge in a 24-hour power cut?

Do I even need to power the fridge in a short power cut?

Often not. The Food Standards Agency says a fridge should stay cold for up to 4 hours, and a full freezer should keep food frozen for up to 48 hours (24 hours if half full), as long as you keep the doors closed (FSA on GOV.UK). It says these are estimates and vary by make and model. GOV.UK Be Ready also says keeping the doors shut will keep them cold for several hours (Be Ready).

So for most cuts, the cheapest plan is: keep the doors shut, use a fridge thermometer, and follow the FSA's rules. A battery earns its place in longer cuts, or if you keep medicines that must stay cold.

Read more:

• Fridge and freezer in a power cut
• Fridge and freezer power cut timer
• Power station runtime calculator
• What size power station for a UK power cut?

Can I make my fridge-freezer cheaper to run?

The label gives you a way to compare. When you buy, the kWh/annum figure is the most direct guide to running cost: lower is cheaper. Multiply it by the cap rate to compare two models in pounds a year.

If you're thinking about backup power, a lower label figure also means a smaller, cheaper battery can cover it.

Limitations

This is general information, not professional advice. Price cap figures are averages for Direct Debit in England, Scotland and Wales, and Ofgem changes them every 3 months. In Northern Ireland, check your own supplier's rate. Label figures come from a standard test and real use varies. In an emergency, call 999.

Related guides

• Fridge and freezer in a power cut: how long is food safe?
• Do you need a portable power station for power cuts?
• Power cut kit: what to keep in one box, and how long power cuts last

Free tools

• Power station runtime calculator
• Fridge and freezer power cut timer

We're an independent UK site, not the government. We check guides against official sources and link to them. In an emergency call 999.

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