How Many Watts Does a Mini Fridge Use?

Considered one of the basic household appliances, the refrigerator, also known as a fridge, is a machine used to keep things cold. It also keeps perishable items from going bad for a longer period.

Much has been tackled about the regular refrigerators that are usually found in the kitchen, so in this article, we will talk about their smaller and more compact variant, the mini refrigerator. Or let’s just say mini fridge, to keep it short and simple.

Mini Fridge - Small but Extremely Helpful

Some may say that a mini fridge is so tiny that you can barely fit anything inside it. While it is true that its size is much smaller compared to the usual refrigerators we find in our kitchen, this design is actually made for a specific and very important purpose - to keep things within reach.

You will usually find a mini fridge in the bedroom or home office or even in an outdoor event such as camping. This compact electric appliance provides easy access to your food, drinks, and even medicine or skincare items that require cold storage.

What it lacks in capacity, makes up in the convenience it brings. Now, the next question is, how many watts does a mini fridge consume? What is the average mini fridge wattage usage? Keep reading to find the answer.

Are Mini Fridges Energy Guzzler or Energy Saver?

Mini fridge wattage ranges from as low as 20W to as high as 100W, with 60W being the most common rating.

Mini fridge wattage refers to the manufacturer’s maximum expected power draw from the mini fridge under normal operating conditions.

It is a good idea to take note that mini fridges do not operate at their listed wattage continuously. Changes in the cycle, such as active cooling and idle time, affect the actual amount of power a mini fridge uses.

Based on a study conducted by Eco Cost Savings, they powered up and compared the actual power consumption of about 1,494 mini fridges to find out just how accurate the power ratings of this electric appliance were.

During the study, they were able to capture figures in almost all possible scenarios, including power surges as well as all cooling cycles, including idle.

The summary of results can be seen below in terms of how many watts a mini fridge uses using an AC power supply.

Based on the figures above, we can conclude that mini fridges consume an average of 28.5 watts with 25.1 watts as its most common rating. Using the same table, interestingly enough, the lowest watt usage recorded for a mini fridge is 12.1 watts, half of the most common watt usage in this type of appliance. And if we take a look at the highest rating of 53.7 watts, it is twice as much as the most common rating. 

Another result generated by the study is the typical mini fridge wattages by size and storage capacity. An overview of this can be seen in the table below.

Generally speaking and looking at the results above, it can be said that the amount of power a mini fridge consumes increases as it gets bigger.

Now for the question that begs to be answered - Is a mini fridge an energy guzzler or an energy saver? This will greatly depend on the unit a mini fridge owner has chosen. There are many options in the market these days that do not only provide the cooling needs of the user but also have energy efficient features that help keep the mini fridge wattage usage low and save on energy cost.

Saving Energy with Your Mini Fridge

From the get go, a mini fridge consumes less power than a regular one. If you want to maximize the capability of your mini fridge whilst keeping its power consumption to its lowest possible rating, feel free to follow the tips we gathered for you.

Keep The Fridge Door Shut As Much As Possible

Of course you will open the fridge door when you need to take something out or put something in. Just make sure to plan your trip to the fridge so you will only need to open it the least amount of times in a day because opening the door often will let the cool air out causing a rise in temperature inside the fridge. When this happens, the mini fridge’s compressor will need to work on lowering the temperature again which requires a lot of power.

Opt for a Mini-Fridge with an Energy-Star Rating

Whether you are looking to buy your first mini fridge or an upgrade from the old one that you have at home, it is a great idea to get a unit that has an ENERGY-STAR rating. Electric appliances that have energy-star ratings mean they are designed to be energy efficient. The higher the score, the better the energy performance of the unit which ultimately means more savings for you.

Keep Your Mini Fridge in a Cool Location

Where you place your mini fridge (or even your regular fridge for that matter) in your house plays a big role in its energy consumption. Make sure to put it in a cool place and where air flow is good. A heat-free environment will allow the mini fridge to cool the items inside faster and it will not work as hard than when placed in a hot location.

Use a Solar Generator to Power Your Mini Fridge

If you are located in an area where outage happens often, it is a good idea to invest on a portable solar generator that can power your home appliances including your mini fridge.

Nature’s Generator Elite is the perfect example of a reliable backup power source that is not only powerful but also portable. Armed with a maximum output power of 3600W (2880W continuous), it can power up a lot of household appliances including your mini fridge for up to 30 hours, depending on the power requirements of your appliance of course. With three AC outlets and two USB ports, you can plug in more than one item that needs powering up during a blackout and you can also bring it with you on your camping. Best of all? You can hook this generator up to the solar panel to recharge while powering your electric gadgets and appliances at the same time. No one would say no to free electricity, right?

Final Thoughts

A mini fridge is a great companion at home especially in your bedroom or in your home office. It can easily provide you your favorite cold drink or keep your favorite ice cream within reach. If your don’t want to worry about your mini fridge wattage usage and in order to maximize its full potential, it is important to understand how much power it consumes and how you should use it to keep its energy consumption at minimum.

* We want to give credit where credit is due. Professional writer, Ann Matthew, contributed research and content to this blog titled: How Many Watts Does a Mini Fridge Use? Thank you, Ann, for your contributions!