How Many Watts Does a Refrigerator Use?

By Staff WriterLast Updated December 12, 2023

A standard, frost-free, 16 cubic foot refrigerator uses 725 watts. Since most refrigerators have a range of settings, the total watts used vary depending on the setting.

The wattage for most appliances is located on the bottom or back of the appliance or stamped on its nameplate. If you cannot locate the wattage, calculate it by finding the current draw (in amperes) and multiplying that by the refrigerator’s voltage. In most cases, the amperes are stamped on the refrigerator in place of the wattage, and most refrigerators use 120-240 volts. It is important to keep in mind that even when a refrigerator is turned off, it continues to draw a small amount of power, called a “phantom load.”