The Most Energy Efficient Refrigerator 2025: Top 7

Introduction – Refrigerators Rank 7th In Biggest Home Electricity Use

[Update May 14th 2025: We re-examined the EnergyStar data and updated the table].

We recently reanalyzed our data and found that we have two new contenders. First we have a new top most efficient winner from Kenmore, and second we many new winners that beat out the top 7 in the previous year. It’s not surprising that refrigerators and freezers, combined, are the 7th most electricity hungry appliances in a home. Here we take a look at the most energy efficient refrigerator.

7 Most Energy Efficient Refrigerator 2024

Here we introduce the top 7 most energy-efficient refrigerators. See our table below if you’re interested in a side-by-side comparison.

1. Kenmore 896.6136

Ranked #1, the Kenmore 896.6136 is a spacious 25 cu ft top-freezer refrigerator that consumes just 425 kWh per year (14.21 kWh/cu ft), making it our most efficient.

Its classic top-freezer layout offers a roomy fresh-food compartment and ample shelving for effortless organization, while the clean exterior and pocket-handle design fit seamlessly into most kitchen styles.

Top-freezer configurations like this model tend to be the most energy-efficient choice, often outperforming bottom-freezers and side-by-sides in kWh/cu ft metrics. As an ENERGY STAR certified appliance, it helps homeowners save on utility bills while reducing their carbon footprint.

2. Avanti AVFF24DLJM#**

The Avanti AVFF24DLJM#** claims the #2 spot with a 24.0 cu ft capacity and an annual draw of 422 kWh (14.45 kWh/cu ft). Designed for apartment-size versatility, it employs a frost-free defrost system and reversible two-door construction for flexible installation in tight spaces.

Adjustable leveling legs minimize temperature fluctuations, and full-range temperature control lets you dial in the perfect setting for both fresh and frozen foods. This model meets ENERGY STAR requirements, reflecting its compliance with rigorous efficiency standards for residential refrigerators.

3. Elisii DERTM240WW1

Coming in at #3, the Elisii DERTM240WW1 is a 24.0 cu ft top-freezer refrigerator consuming 422 kWh annually (14.45 kWh/cu ft). It features automatic defrost operation, eliminating the need for manual maintenance, and foregoes built-in ice makers or water dispensers in favor of a streamlined interior layout.

Certified under ENERGY STAR Version 5.1, it surpasses federal energy performance standards by approximately 10%, making it a solid choice for those seeking both simplicity and efficiency.

4. VITARA VTFR2400EWE

Ranked #4, the VITARA VTFR2400EWE offers 24.0 cu ft of storage while drawing 422 kWh annually (14.45 kWh/cu ft). This stainless-steel top-mount model boasts a frost-free defrost system, LED interior lighting, and electronic temperature controls for precise operation.

Inside, two adjustable glass shelves, two crisper drawers, and a recessed-handle design maximize usability, and reversible doors ensure easy installation in any kitchen layout. ENERGY STAR Most Efficient qualified, it meets the highest tier of energy conservation standards.

5. West Bend WBFF24VDLJM#**

With ENERGY STAR certification, it ensures up to a 10% improvement over federal minimum energy requirements, making it a reliable, budget-friendly option for efficient refrigeration

6. BLACK DECKER BR2400JB

The Black and Decker BR2400JB ranks #6 with a 24.0 cu ft total volume and 422 kWh/year energy use (14.45 kWh/cu ft). Fueled by an inverter compressor, it runs quietly and efficiently, earning ENERGY STAR Most Efficient status for its class.

Key conveniences include frost-free defrost, adjustable temperature control, and bright interior LED lighting. Storage is versatile with two full-width glass shelves, two crisper drawers, multiple door bins, and reversible doors that adapt to any kitchen layout.

7. LG LRTLS2403*

Rounding out the list at #7, the LG LRTLS2403* offers 23.8 cu ft capacity and an annual energy use of 417 kWh (14.63 kWh/cu ft). As a top-freezer design, it features automatic defrost, no built-in dispenser, and R-600a refrigerant for lower environmental impact.

The model is packed with convenience: an internal water dispenser, optional ice-maker readiness, humidity-controlled crispers, contoured doors with pocket handles, and LED lighting ensure both functionality and style. ENERGY STAR certified, it represents a balanced blend of performance and energy savings.

Methodology: We Analyzed 3,929 Refrigerators

We showed the top 7 from analyzing Energy Star certified home refrigerators. All are “top freezer” types with the freezer arranged to be on top. Here is a handy table that summarizes the above.

Rank	Brand	Model	Type	Capacity (Volume (ft3)	Annual Energy Use (kWh/yr)	kWh / year (per Cu ft)
1	Kenmore	896.6136	Top Freezer	25	425	14.2
2	Avanti	AVFF24DLJM#**	Top Freezer	24	422	14.4
3	Elisii	DERTM240WW1	Top Freezer	24	422	14.4
4	VITARA	VTFR2400EWE	Top Freezer	24	422	14.4
5	West Bend	WBFF24VDLJM#**	Top Freezer	24	422	14.4
6	BLACK DECKER	BR2400JB	Top Freezer	24	422	14.4
7	LG	LRTLS2403*	Top Freezer	23.8	417	14.6

The key here is the energy usage per cubic foot in the last column, which should be as low as possible. One reader pointed out below in comments that we should be using Watts (though not per time as he suggests).

However, most refrigerators are rated in terms of kWh over a year of use including EnergyStar the government accreditation system. We guess that this is because fridges stay on all the time not intermittently using electricity so a cost estimate based on a year usage is most reasonable.

Efficiency Of 215 Refrigerator Brands

In our analysis of 3,929 refrigerators, we came across 215 brands. The efficiency in kWh per Cubic Foot varied wildly, over a factor of 8 from lowest to highest. The distribution of efficiencies is given above.

You can see the Kenmore and Avanti models on the far left, using about 14 kWh per cubic foot. Whereas on the far right are brands and models that use up over 120 kWh per cubic foot.

Note that the top 100 or so are all very similar, with good efficiencies of under 30 kWh used to cool per cubic foot and then there’s a rise of more inefficient refrigerators after that.

One of us owns a Bosch refrigerator at home and wondered where it lies – it’s at 26 kWh per cubic foot which puts it in the top 100. That makes it efficient, but not as efficient as the best LG and GE models! In fact, the LG and GE are 30% more efficient than the Bosch.

Efficiency Of The Top 25 Refrigerator Brands Are Very Similar

To give you a better sense of the top refrigerators, we plotted out the efficiencies of the top 25 which includes the top 7 we reviewed. One thing you’ll notice is that the efficiency isn’t much different from 1 to 25!

They are all similar. In terms of savings, you’ll save just a few percent comparing the first to the twentieth. This was hard to see in the table, that the differences are actually quite small. [Updated: May 14th 2025, we updated our analysis]

Refrigerators That Use The Least Energy – For Fun Only

We list here also the top refrigerators that use the least energy. If you take a look at them, they’re really not suitable for family use because they are really small and they’re incredibly inefficient even if they use little energy. It means that what little energy they use, they don’t do a good job of cooling down the space inside.

Rank	Brand	Model	Type	Capacity (Total Volume) (ft3)	Annual Energy Use (kWh/yr)	kWh/year per Cu ft
1	Arctic King	AU83ETWBR1RCM	Compact Refrigerator	8.3	167	20.12048
2	Goldstar	GKIM08121*	Compact Refrigerator	7.6	169	22.23684
3	Montgomery Ward	FR336-W-B-SSBLACK	Compact Refrigerator	3.2	193	60.3125
4	Danby One Plug	3.1SM6R	Compact Refrigerator	3.1	195	51.31579
5	FRIGIAIRE	EFR331	Compact Refrigerator	3.2	197	61.5625
6	Char-Broil	A107-7000-9000	Compact Refrigerator	2.7	198	73.33333
7	Marvel	MPDR424-SS71A	Compact Refrigerator	5	199	39.8
8	Lynx	LN24DW*	Compact Refrigerator	5	199	39.8
9	MicroChill	MCH4G16	Compact Refrigerator	3.2	199	52.36842
10	EcoMax	EF-32199-B-2	Compact Refrigerator	3.2	199	51.02564

In fact all of them are compact refrigerators. Their efficiency in terms of the electricity in kWh used to cool every cubic foot is pretty high, as much as 4 times higher.

Methodology: Problems With Electricity Usage To Measure Efficiency

Now that you’ve looked at the results, you might be interested with our methodology.

For clarity of analysis, we excluded appliances that were “coolers” or “freezer-only” and included only mixed refrigerator and freezer units (including top freezers, bottom freezers, side-by-side units or compact refrigerators.)

A simple way to look for an efficient refrigerator is to look for the amount of energy used, which is recorded as kilowatt hours per year. This is the electricity consumption to keep the refrigerator running for one year. This is the wrong way to do it.

Imagine you had a tiny fridge that has only one cubic foot of space and it costs 100 kWh per year to run. Would you consider that efficient compared to a fridge that’s 20 times larger and costs 4 times more energy? Maybe.

The point is that if you want a tiny energy usage, then its possible to achieve it by making a fridge that’s all but impossibly small to use for home. The numbers above are from two real fridges in our database!

Instead We Defined Efficiency As kWh Used To Cool Per Cubic Foot

Therefore we analyzed the efficiency of the refrigerator by calculating the energy used to cool each cubit foot of volume.

To account for the volume correctly, we used the reported “adjusted capacity”, which is slightly larger than the true capacity because each refrigerator was a combination of a regular fridge and a freezer section.

Since freezers require more energy to cool to lower temperatures, they are given a multiplicative factor to account for the increased requirements.

The less energy needed to cool down the volume the better. The results of the analysis yielded refrigerators that were big enough for home use.

We also included only one model from each brand to highlight the breadth of options. Many times very similar models of the same brand had exactly the same efficiency.

Here are the top ten. They include very well known brands such as LG, GE, Whirlpool, and also less well-known manufacturers Midea, Insignia, Appliance Basics, Sankey.

The ones that didn’t make our top 7 but are here in the top list were Avanti, Smad, and Arctic Wind.

The Thing To Consider Before Buying An Energy-Efficient Refrigerator

But just because a refrigerator has an EnergyStar label doesn’t mean it is energy efficient. You must research and compare different models to determine which is the most energy-efficient for your needs.

Some factors you should look at when comparing refrigerators include their size, how often they are opened, how well-insulated they are, and whether or not they have features like automatic defrosting or a cooling feature that allows you to adjust the temperature inside.

When shopping for an energy-efficient refrigerator, consider where you will place it in your home. If possible, choose a model with adjustable shelving so that you can customize the interior space to suit your needs.

When looking for an energy-efficient refrigerator, it is important to consider various factors. First and foremost, you should look at the size and capacity of the unit, as well as the available storage options.

In addition, you should pay attention to the cooling and freezing capabilities of the fridge, as well as any additional features or technology that may help to reduce your energy costs over time.

You should also consider whether the refrigerator is portable or built-in, as well as its overall design and aesthetics.

Finally, it is important to read reviews from other users to understand how reliable and durable each model is over time.

Conclusions On The Most Energy Efficient Refrigerator

In conclusion, energy-efficient refrigerators are a great choice for anyone looking to save on their monthly energy costs while still enjoying the reliable cooling performance.

Whether you’re looking for a small, portable unit or a spacious built-in model, there is an energy-efficient fridge that will meet your needs and budget.

Choosing the right refrigerator requires careful consideration of your needs and the various features available in different models.

With so many choices available today, it can be difficult to know where to start. By researching and considering all the factors involved, you can find the perfect energy-efficient refrigerator for your home or office.