Refrigerator replacement: compare annual energy
Calculate with your own usage
Formula reviewed: 2026-09-19 · Inputs: your measurements or product labels, not an official tariff database.
A refrigerator can stay plugged in all day without its compressor drawing the same power continuously. Do not treat instantaneous power multiplied by 24 hours as measured annual consumption. Prefer annual kWh or measurements over a suitable period.
Annual and monthly kWh differ. In the buying calculator, divide an annual value by 12 for monthly energy and enter 12 months. The keep/repair/replace tool accepts annual energy directly.
Fictional example: 480 versus 320 kWh per year differs by 160 kWh. At 0.2 currency units/kWh, that is 32 per year and 160 over five years. If the extra purchase cost exceeds this, energy savings alone do not recover it within that period.
Do not rank refrigerators with different capacities or purposes on cost alone. Include continued use only if the current unit is functional and safe. This tool cannot assess cooling faults or food-storage safety.
Distinguish confirmed repair quotes from guesses. Do not add the original purchase price again when comparing future repair and replacement choices. Historical passport records and future cost comparisons serve different purposes.