How much does it cost to run a fridge freezer? (2026 price cap)
At the GB-average Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, a fridge freezer rated at 46W costs 1.2p an hour to run and around £106 a year assuming runs continuously, cycling its compressor on and off.
Per hour
1.2p
Per typical use
29p
Per day
29p
Per week
£2.04
Per year
£106
Typical rating and how we worked this out
This page uses a typical rating of 46W for a fridge freezer; published figures for this appliance range from 35W to 60W. A fridge freezer's compressor cycles on and off, so the wattage on its rating plate is a peak figure, not an average. The 46W used here is a time-averaged draw equivalent to roughly 400kWh a year — typical for a modern A-rated combined fridge freezer. The running cost follows the same formula used across this site: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × unit rate. Typical use is modelled as runs continuously, cycling its compressor on and off, which is how the per-day, per-week and per-year figures above were calculated — see the cost-to-run calculator to change the wattage, hours or region yourself.
Rate used: Ofgem price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026, GB average electricity — 26.32p/kWh (excl. VAT, removed 1 Oct 2026–31 Mar 2027).
Cost by region
Same appliance, same use — ranked most to least expensive by region under the price cap:
| Region | Elec p/kWh | Cost per hour | Typical annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merseyside and Northern Wales | 27.86 | 1.3p | £112 |
| South Eastern England | 26.88 | 1.2p | £108 |
| Eastern England | 26.61 | 1.2p | £107 |
| London | 26.60 | 1.2p | £107 |
| South Western England | 26.58 | 1.2p | £107 |
| Southern Wales | 26.55 | 1.2p | £107 |
| North Western England | 26.49 | 1.2p | £107 |
| Southern England | 26.47 | 1.2p | £107 |
| Northern Scotland | 26.35 | 1.2p | £106 |
| Southern Scotland | 26.11 | 1.2p | £105 |
| West Midlands | 25.60 | 1.2p | £103 |
| Yorkshire | 25.60 | 1.2p | £103 |
| North Eastern England | 25.46 | 1.2p | £103 |
| East Midlands | 25.36 | 1.2p | £102 |
| Great Britain average | 26.32 | 1.2p | £106 |
East Midlands is cheapest at £102 a year; Merseyside and Northern Wales is most expensive at £112 a year — a gap of £10.07 for identical use.
How a fridge freezer compares with similar appliances
Ranked by typical annual cost in kitchen, GB average:
- fridge freezer — £106 a year (this page)
- electric (ceramic) hob — £106 a year
- induction hob — £96.07 a year
- wine cooler — £92.23 a year
- gas hob — £27.64 a year
- kettle — £72.05 a year
Three practical ways to cut the cost
- Keep it away from the oven, radiator or direct sun — extra ambient heat makes the compressor work harder
- Don't set colder than needed — 3–5°C fridge and -18°C freezer is enough
- Check the door seals — a poor seal lets cold air leak out constantly
FAQs
- How much does it cost to run a fridge freezer for an hour?
- 1.2p at the GB-average rate (26.32p/kWh, 46W). One typical use — runs continuously, cycling its compressor on and off — costs closer to 29p.
- How much does a fridge freezer cost to run per year?
- Around £106 a year at the GB-average rate, assuming runs continuously, cycling its compressor on and off — about £2.04 a week.
- Which UK region is cheapest to run a fridge freezer in?
- East Midlands, at £102 a year, against £112 in Merseyside and Northern Wales — £10.07 apart for identical use, purely from the regional rate.
- Does the exact wattage of my fridge freezer change the cost much?
- Yes — ratings range 35W–60W, so the top of that range costs about 1.7x the bottom. This page uses 46W; check your own rating plate.
- Does the October 2026 price cap affect this figure?
- Yes — figures use the Ofgem cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026. Electricity excludes VAT (removed 1 Oct 2026–31 Mar 2027); gas includes 5%. See the price cap page for the full breakdown.
Sources
- Fridge.com — fridge freezer wattage — wattage and usage figures for this appliance.
- Ofgem — Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (regional tables, read 12 September 2026).
Related
- Cost-to-run calculator and full A–Z — check any appliance or enter a custom wattage.
- Energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 — every region, every payment method.
- Back-billing calculator — if a bill for this or any appliance looks like it covers too many months.
- Free bill audit — if your overall energy costs look high regardless of any one appliance.
Send us one bill. We'll send back every overcharge — and the cheapest legitimate replacement.
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