How Many Amps Does a Refrigerator Pull?

Knowing how many amps a refrigerator uses is key to ensuring it fits your electrical setup. You need to know the energy consumption specs to ensure your circuit can handle your new refrigerator.

Wattage Rating for Common Household Appliances

Unless specified (e.g., 240V), wattage and amp values assume a 120V household voltage, standard in the U.S. Check your region's voltage for accurate calculations.

Refrigerators are among the highest energy-consuming kitchen appliances, especially if they're older models with poor efficiency.

Are you looking for a battery backup to supply your refrigerator, or want to reduce power consumption? Read on. In this blog, we will highlight ways you can supply your refrigerators and keep the electricity bills within your budget simultaneously.

What are Refrigerator Amps?

Refrigerator amps are a count of the current that your refrigerator pulls to keep the compressor working. The compressor keeps working to maintain the optimal temperature in both compartments of your refrigerator. Generally, the amperage for most household refrigerators ranges between 2 and 6 Amperes when the outlet voltage is 120V.

For refrigerators with a 2A to 6A current requirement, a circuit of 15-20 amperes should be dedicated. This is because the rush-in amperage requirement of a refrigerator can vary greatly. Their requirements can sometimes be higher than ordinary devices. At startup, refrigerators experience an inrush current, often 2–3 times the running amps ( e.g., 6–18A for a 2–6A fridge), requiring a dedicated 15–20A circuit to handle the surge safely.

However, the average daily ampere needs of a refrigerator are comparatively less because the compressor isn't working all the time. Refrigerators typically run their compressors 30–50% of the time, depending on usage and ambient temperature, significantly lowering average daily amp draw.

When the refrigerator is idle or on standby, the ampere requirement is minimal. It is maximum during the initial freezing hours, whereas the ampere count plummets at the active cooling phase.

What Factors Affect the Refrigerator Amperage?

The ampere consumption by your refrigerator can vary with several factors, like size, type, and model of the refrigerator. Refrigerators of smaller sizes consume less electricity than massive ones. While those with advanced features pull more amperes than the simpler refrigerators. Here is a deeper dig into such factors:

Size

Mini Refrigerators: Mini-fridges consume fewer amperes because they have less storage. They also come with a smaller compressor that needs fewer amperes to function.

Moderate or Standard-sized Refrigerators: They use slightly more amperes than the mini-refrigerators but less than the large size or multiple-featured refrigerators. On average, their ampere consumption ranges between 3A to 5A.

Large, double-door refrigerator: These double-door refrigerators have larger compressors and consume more amperes than medium-sized fridges. The ampere usage of these refrigerators may draw 6–8A, though some high-end models with advanced features can approach 10A.

Type

Top-Freezer Refrigerators: Such refrigerators are energy-efficient appliances, and they can use amperes between 2 and 6A.

Bottom Freezer Refrigerators: Such refrigerators usually draw more current compared to top-freezer refrigerators.

French door refrigerators: They may use more electricity than the simpler refrigerators.

Model

Older Model: The refrigerators of older models are less energy efficient because they are technology-deprived. The new refrigerators come with better insulation, advanced compressors, and design improvements.

Energy Star Rated Model: The energy efficiency certified refrigerators consume less energy than the non-certified ones with similar storage volume. Energy Star-rated refrigerators use 10–20% less energy than non-certified models of similar size, saving on both amps and electricity costs.

How Many Amps Does a Refrigerator Pull?

Do you want an answer to how many amps a refrigerator pulls? Using the formula, you can calculate the amount of amperes your refrigerator draws from your main circuit. Here are the simple steps you can follow to calculate the amperage:

Get the Power Rating:

Get the power ratings of your refrigerator from the manual of your refrigerator. The power rating is mentioned in watts in the refrigerator manual or on the label.

Determine Voltage:

In the US, the power voltage of a household is, by standard, 120 Volts, whereas it can range between 220V and 240V in other geographical areas. Determine the exact voltage of your area.

Calculate the Amperage:

Once you have noted the wattage from the manual, you can now calculate the amperage of your refrigerator using the formula:

I=Watts/Voltage.

If your refrigerator uses 600 watts at an outlet source of 120V, the ampere count will be:

I= 600/120 = 5A

This calculation shows how many amps your refrigerator uses. In regions with 220–240V, divide wattage by the local voltage to calculate amps (e.g., a 600W fridge at 240V uses 2.5A).

Tips to Reduce Ampere Consumption

1. Choose Energy-Efficient Models

In order to reduce ampere consumption in your household, try to purchase energy-efficient appliances. Go for refrigerators that are labeled Energy Star.

2. Optimal Refrigerator Placement:

You must keep your refrigerator in an area with optimal room temperature. Keep the refrigerator away from sunlight, microwave oven, and other kitchen appliances that are hot.

Furthermore, your fridge should be kept in a spatial area. It should have free space behind and beside it for proper ventilation.

3. Using Renewable Sources of Energy:

You can use products that generate solar energy and reduce your electricity bills. For instance, you can use the BLUETTI PV200W solar panel. These monocrystalline solar panels have the highest efficiency of 23.4%. It means these solar panels can convert 23.4% of the solar energy into electrical energy. These are long-lasting panels with ETFE coating and are easily foldable.

Equip your home with a BLUETTI portable power station or home backup to store electricity generated by solar panels. Below are two highly recommended devices for your consideration:

BLUETTI Elite 200 V2+2*200W Solar Generator

The BLUETTI Elite 200 V2 is a next-generation portable power station built for reliability, speed, and durability. With upgraded LiFePO₄ battery cells, ultra-fast charging, and robust output, it's designed for camping, RVs, off-grid cabins, and home backup.

2,600W AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter (5,200W Peak / 3,900W Power Lifting): This power station delivers a steady 2,600W output, enough for high-demand appliances like kettles, heaters, or coffee machines. With 5,200W peak surge and Power Lifting Mode up to 3,900W, it easily handles resistive loads such as hair dryers and toasters. Pure sine wave ensures stable, safe power just like your main grid.

2,073.6Wh Capacity (Non-expandable): With 2,073.6Wh of storage, the Elite 200 V2 keeps essentials like fridges, laptops, or lights running for hours. For example, a 100W device can run for over 20 hours on a single charge. It can power a 600W refrigerator for approximately 3–4 hours, ideal for short outages. Pair it with two PV200W solar panels to recharge during the day, ensuring your food stays fresh off-grid.

LiFePO₄ Battery with 6,000+ Life Cycles (to 80%): Unlike standard Li-ion, this automotive-grade LiFePO₄ battery offers more than 6,000 cycles, lasting up to 17 years of daily use. That's 4–6x longer than conventional portable stations, cutting replacement costs over time.

9 Output Ports (Including 2×100W USB-C): Charge or run up to 9 devices at once, from phones and laptops to refrigerators and power tools. The dual 100W USB-C ports can even power high-performance laptops.

TurboBoost Fast Charging – 80% in 1 Hour: Recharge at lightning speed with 1,800W AC TurboBoost, reaching 80% in 1 hour and a full charge in just over an hour. Solar input (up to 1,000W) recharges in ~2.4 hours, while in-car charging is also supported.

UPS Backup (15ms Response): With a 15ms UPS switchover, the Elite 200 V2 instantly protects sensitive electronics like PCs and medical equipment during outages.

Smart App Control (WiFi + Bluetooth): Monitor power usage, switch modes, or schedule charging directly from the BLUETTI app. Stay in control, whether you're at home or outdoors.

Durability & Safety: Built with an AI-powered Battery Management System (BMS) and CNAS-certified LiFePO₄ design, the Elite 200 V2 provides 12x higher durability than standard models, ensuring safety in extreme conditions.

BLUETTI Apex 300 Versatile Power Station

This BLUETTI Apex 300 can supply your refrigerators during the time of power outage or when you are in an off-grid region.

3,840W AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter (7,680W Surge/Power Lifting Mode): This device can supply you with a smooth flow of electricity because of the pure AC sine wave. It has the capacity to continuously supply 3,840 watts of power to your appliances. In cases where you need an electrical surge to start up the device, it can give a surge of as much as 7,680 watts, making it ideal for resistive loads.

2,764.8Wh Capacity (Expandable up to 58,000Wh): This BLUETTI battery has the capacity to store 2,764.8 Wh of energy for later use. You can charge the battery through solar panels and even store the energy for the night when solar energy production is impossible.

Furthermore, you can also expand this device's storage capacity by adding extra battery modules (B300K). It will make it capable of storing almost 58,000 Wh of energy.

Automotive-Grade LiFePO₄ Battery with 6,000+ Life Cycles to 80%: The BLUETTI Apex300 uses an automotive-grade LiFePO₄ battery, which ensures longer service life and reliability. Even after 6,000+ cycles, it will still retain 80% capacity, delivering safe performance for up to 17 years of daily use.

Dual 120V/240V Output with 0ms UPS Switching: Unlike traditional systems, this power station provides native 120V & 240V dual voltage output, supporting heavy-duty appliances like EV chargers, dryers, air conditioners, and water heaters. Plus, the 0ms UPS switchover ensures seamless backup for sensitive devices like refrigerators and medical equipment.

24/7 UPS Home Backup + Smart Energy Saving: If you want an energy source that can back up all your household devices, this one is a future-ready solution. It offers 50A grid bypass, 20W ultra-low standby consumption, and smart app control for peak-load shifting (charge off-peak, discharge peak). It has the capacity to provide continuous energy during power outages while helping reduce electricity bills.

Wrapping Up

When buying a new refrigerator, calculate its amperage to ensure your power supply meets its requirements. To determine your refrigerator's amperage, follow these steps.

These include reading out the power specifications on the product label or the manual. Next, use the formula and find out how many amps a refrigerator pulls. You can further follow certain tips to reduce electricity consumption at home. By using energy-productive power stations, you can reduce your amperage consumption and hence your electricity bills.

FAQs

How Many Amps Does a Refrigerator Use Daily?

Most fridges pull 2–4 amps, but since the compressor cycles on and off, the average daily draw is much lower than the peak.

Why Does the Amp Draw a Spike at Startup?

When the compressor kicks in, it needs extra power for a few seconds, often 2–3 times the running amps. This is normal and not a sign of high energy use.

How Can I Lower My Refrigerator's Power Use?

Keep coils clean, don't block airflow, and check door seals. These small steps reduce amp draw, bills, and wear on the appliance.