Real figures, model by model
Commercial fridge running cost calculator
See what 530 commercial fridges, freezers and ice makers in our range cost to run, from each maker's own energy figure. Pick a type, put in your electricity rate, and compare the cost for a year and for five.
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Every figure is the maker's own test figure. Real use varies: your kitchen, your stock and how often the door opens all change it, so use these to compare models, not as a bill.
Running costs by type
The lowest, middle and highest daily use in each type, from the 530 models in the calculator. The yearly cost is the middle model's, at 30c per kWh.
| Type | Models | Lowest a day | Middle a day | Highest a day | Middle, a year | Lowest-use model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fridges | 159 | 0.6398 kWh | 2.57 kWh | 10.38 kWh | $281 | FED-X Stainless Steel Upright Static Fridge - XR200SS |
| Display fridges | 148 | 0.95 kWh | 5.14 kWh | 29.5 kWh | $563 | SKOPE Serene 1 Glass Door Compact Display Fridge - HB85 |
| Bar and drinks fridges | 80 | 0.635 kWh | 2.6 kWh | 31.2 kWh | $285 | True Refrigeration "Pass-Thru" Bar Refrigerator - Black Ext - 1 Solid Swing Door Front - 1 Solid Swing Door Rear - TBR36-PTSZ1-L-B-S-S-2 |
| Freezers | 118 | 1.298 kWh | 8.06 kWh | 38.1 kWh | $883 | Bromic Display Chest Freezer - 176L - Curved Glass Top - CF0200ATCG-NR |
| Fridge-freezers | 5 | 5.04 kWh | 5.39 kWh | 9.36 kWh | $590 | True Refrigeration Upright Foodservice "Dual Temperature" Cabinet - 2 Half Solid Swing Doors - T-23DT-HC |
| Prep fridges | 8 | 2.67 kWh | 5.12 kWh | 5.83 kWh | $561 | SKOPE ReFlex 2 Solid Door GN Compatible Salad Preparation Fridge - RF7.PPS.2.SD |
| Ice makers | 12 | 4.9 kWh | 11.3 kWh | 16.3 kWh | $1237 | Bromic Self Contained Ice Machine - Hollow Cube - 18kg/24h - 4kg cap - IM0018HC-NR |
How the sum works
Makers rate each fridge in kWh (kilowatt hours) per 24 hours. Multiply that by 365 for a year, then by your rate per kWh. Five years is the yearly cost times five, at today's rate.
Glass doors, open fronts, a hot room and a busy door all push the real figure up, so compare models side by side rather than reading one figure as your bill.
- kWh a daythe maker's figure
- x 365days in a year
- x 30cyour rate per kWh
- = $ a yearx 5 for five years
Compare sizes and prices
Every model in the calculator is in our range. Each product page has its size, power and delivery details.
Running cost questions
Not sure which one suits?
Our AI assistant can compare sizes, power and running costs with you. It's an AI, and it's the quickest place to start.
Ask our AI assistantEmail usCall 07 3376 7630How do you work out a commercial fridge's running cost?
Take the maker's energy figure in kWh per 24 hours, multiply it by 365 for a year, then by your electricity rate. A fridge rated at 2.6 kWh a day uses about 949 kWh a year: roughly $285 at 30c per kWh, or $1,424 over five years. The calculator above does that sum for every model, at your rate.
Where do the kWh figures come from?
From each product's own specifications: the energy use per 24 hours the maker states for that model. A model is listed only when it states a clear daily figure; models without one are left out, never guessed. A few makers list "Total Energy Consumption" with no unit, and we use it only when the maker's own efficiency or five-year cost figures show it is per 24 hours.
Will my fridge use exactly this much power?
Probably not exactly. These are the makers' test figures, taken under set conditions. A hot kitchen, a door that opens all day, warm stock going in, blocked vents or a dusty condenser all push real use up. The figures are best for comparing one model with another.
Do glass door fridges cost more to run than solid door fridges?
Often, yes: a glass door lets more heat through than an insulated solid door, and glass door models usually have lights inside. To see it in real figures, set Door type to Glass and then Solid, at the same width and number of doors.
What electricity rate should I use?
The rate per kWh on your power bill. If your plan has peak and off-peak rates, use a figure between the two: a fridge runs day and night. We start at 30c, the rate SKOPE uses for the running costs it publishes; Polar's figures use 34c. The calculator remembers the rate you type, on your device only.