Know exactly watt your fridge needs
Most standard-size fridges use between 3 and 6 amps but can go up to 15 amps.
Plug your fridge into a 20-amp dedicated circuit.
Look at the manufacturer’s details for amperage info or calculate it from the wattage.
Use a power meter to accurately measure the amps used.
Have a licensed electrician add a dedicated circuit if you don't have one.
A refrigerator is a major appliance that consumes a high amount of power. Knowing how many amps a fridge uses ensures you put it on the right circuit or use the proper generator. You can also better manage your electric bill if you know what your fridge requires. Learn how many amps a fridge uses and how to calculate amps for your fridge.
A full-size fridge and freezer combination uses 3 to 6 amps on average, but some refrigerators go as high as 15 amps. The amps depend on the fridge’s model, make, year, and size. Most modern standard-size refrigerators should be on a 20-amp 120-volt dedicated circuit.
The National Electrical Code (NEC) requires a dedicated circuit for refrigerators, meaning it's the only appliance or device running on that circuit breaker. A dedicated circuit prevents the fridge from overloading or tripping the breaker and reduces the risk of an electrical fire. Allow a new fridge to sit for 12 to 24 hours before plugging it in to let the fluids settle.
Newer appliances and fridges are typically more efficient than older models. Purchasing an updated, energy-efficient model can often pay off in the long run due to energy savings and the lower cost of repairs. You can also reduce your power consumption by staying up on refrigerator maintenance, such as regularly cleaning the condenser coils.
A mini refrigerator or beverage fridge uses anywhere from under 1 amp to 2 amps. Of course, it depends on the model, make, year, and size of the fridge. The energy requirements are much lower than a standard-size fridge. It’s best to plug a small fridge into a 15-amp dedicated circuit or on a circuit that only has a few devices or appliances running on it.
Amps refer to the strength of the electrical current that passes through the power supply unit of an appliance. Amperage tells you how much electricity your refrigerator or other appliance is consuming. In a refrigerator, the compressor is what keeps the fridge cool, but it isn't running all the time. It cycles on and off. When the compressor is running, the amperage of the fridge is at its highest. When it's not, your fridge isn't using as many amps.
On the other hand, wattage refers to the amount of power an electrical appliance uses to run. The wattage is a factory setting and is usually listed on the fridge label or in the manufacturer's manual. For reference, typical homes have a wattage of 1,083 to 1,375W. The higher wattage of the fridge, the higher the power consumption. Full-size refrigerators range from using 400 watts to 1300 watts, with 725 watts being the average.
Unsure of how many amps your fridge uses? Determine the amps of your fridge in a few cool ways.
Look up how many amps your fridge uses in your fridge’s owner manual or on the manufacturer’s website. Not all manuals and websites have this information, so you may need to calculate the amps a different way. If that’s the case, move onto our next suggested step.
You can calculate amps using the following formula:
Daily Watt Hours/Volts = Amps
You can find the voltage and typical energy usage (watts) on the fridge’s Energy Guide rating sheet, the owner’s manual, or the manufacturer’s website. Look for the watts or energy consumption measured in kWh. This measurement tells you how many watts the fridge uses in a year. Divide the watts by 365 to calculate the daily use. Most refrigerators in the United States and Canada run on 120 volts.
Here’s an example:
Your refrigerator uses 300 kWh per year, or 300,000 watt hours. Divide 300,000 watts by 365 to get 821.91 daily watt hours.
821.91 daily watt hours / 120 volts = 6.8 amps.
You can measure your fridge’s power consumption with a portable power meter. Plug it into the wall then plug your refrigerator into the meter to get an accurate measurement. Over time, you'll know exactly how much power your fridge uses.
If you don’t have a dedicated 20-amp circuit for your refrigerator, you should have a local licensed electrician add one to your home. Electrical work, especially adding a new circuit, can pose dangerous risks to you and your home. The cost to add a dedicated circuit averages $700, but can be as low as $570 and as high as $1,100.
A professional electrician can assess your electrical system and determine if you need an upgrade, especially if your home was built before 1975. Choose a licensed professional with the experience, tools, and knowledge to ensure your home is as safe as possible.
You can run a small or basic standard-size refrigerator on a 15-amp circuit. But you should plug a modern, standard-size refrigerator into a 20-amp dedicated circuit. The refrigerator needs to be on a dedicated circuit, meaning it is the only appliance and outlet on that circuit breaker. This method prevents tripping the breaker and reduces the chance of an electrical fire.
No, you should not run two refrigerators on the same circuit as it is likely to overload the circuit and cause the breaker to trip or worse—cause an electrical fire. Each standard-size refrigerator should be on a dedicated 20-amp circuit. You should never plug a refrigerator into an extension cord or power strip as it can cause serious safety hazards. Refrigerators have built-in surge protection that safeguards them from the damage of power surges.
