Refrigerator Comparison Tool
Two fridges, one honest verdict.
Drop in price, annual kWh, and capacity for each unit. We'll roll it up into 10-year total cost — the only number that actually matters when you're choosing between two refrigerators.
Compare on 10-year total cost, not sticker price. A $300 cheaper fridge that uses 100 more kWh/yr costs you more over its life.
| Spec | Fridge A | Fridge B | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | $1,200 | $1,500 | A |
| Annual energy use | 520 kWh/yr | 420 kWh/yr | B |
| Total capacity | 21 cu ft | 23 cu ft | B |
| Cost per cu ft | $57.14 | $65.22 | A |
| 10-yr energy cost | $858 | $693 | B |
| 10-yr total cost | $2,058 | $2,193 | A |
Score weights 10-yr total cost double — that's the line that captures both upfront price and long-run energy. Capacity per dollar and headline kWh score single weight.
Lower-price vs higher-efficiency
- Less cash out the door
- Easier to absorb if it fails outside warranty
- Often simpler — fewer electronic failure points
- Often higher kWh — pays back over 10 yrs of operation
- Sometimes lower capacity per dollar over the long run
- Shorter warranty terms common at the entry tier
- Lower kWh — pays itself back over a 10-yr life
- Larger usable capacity at most price points
- Longer sealed-system warranty terms common
- More cash up front
- More complex electronics — more eventual failure points
- Loss-of-value if you replace before payoff window
Six scenarios, six verdicts
Renting and moving in 2 years
Lifetime energy savings haven't paid back — minimize cash out the door.
Forever home, 10+ year horizon
Higher-efficiency model recovers its premium in lower kWh over a typical fridge lifespan.
Cash-tight household
Energy savings are real but they're spread over years. Cash today often beats $30/yr of savings.
Energy-cost focused (15¢+/kWh)
At above-average electricity rates, the 10-yr energy gap on a low-efficiency model is large.
Family of 5+
Higher capacity per dollar usually lives at the upper tiers — less wasted-trip grocery shopping.
Single or couple
Lower capacity is fine; the premium-tier feature set rarely earns its keep.
Methodology
10-year horizon. ENERGY STAR uses a 12-year average refrigerator lifespan in savings calculations; we use 10 years for a conservative comparison. Adjust upward if your fridge typically lives longer.
Energy cost. Annual cost = annual kWh × (rate ÷ 100). Default rate is 16.5¢/kWh — the recent US residential average per the US Energy Information Administration. Use your actual local rate from your utility bill for a real number.
Annual kWh source. Required by FTC rule on the yellow EnergyGuide label of every full-size refrigerator. Also published in the ENERGY STAR product database and on most manufacturer spec pages.
Scoring. Single weight on price, energy, capacity, cost-per-cu-ft, and 10-yr energy cost. Double weight on 10-yr total cost — the closest single number to "what this fridge actually costs you."
What's not modeled. Repair frequency, sealed-system warranty terms, sound rating, ice/water dispenser failure rates, and feature value. Treat those as separate decision inputs once cost is in range.
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