Is it worth replacing your old fridge?

A fridge runs around the clock all year: an old model can use two or three times as much as an efficient new one. But a new fridge costs money, and the saving on the bill has to pay it back. This calculator compares the old and new consumption, works out the annual saving, how many years the new fridge takes to pay off and how much you gain over its whole life.

It works in any currency: enter the real prices.

How the calculation works

• Annual saving: the difference between the old and new kWh per year, times the energy price.
• Net cost: the price of the new fridge minus any incentives or trade-in value.
• Years to pay off: net cost divided by the annual saving.
• Gain over life: the saving over all expected years of life minus the net cost.

How to find the consumption

For the new fridge, annual kWh consumption is shown on the energy label. For the old one, the original label figure means little: over the years seals wear and consumption rises. The most reliable way is to measure it with a plug-in energy meter for at least a week and multiply by 52.

How much the old fridge uses makes all the difference

A new fridge using 200 kWh a year, price 600, 15 years of life, energy at 0.30 per kWh:

If the old fridge uses only a little more than the new one, replacing it just to save energy does not pay: better to wait until it breaks. If it uses twice as much or more, the switch pays off well before the end of its life.

How much the energy price matters

Old fridge using 450 kWh a year, same data:

With expensive energy the saving grows and the payback shortens; with cheap energy the same replacement may not pay off.

The reading bands

• No saving: the new fridge does not use less than the old one.
• Does not pay off: over the new fridge's life the saving does not cover the cost.
• Slowly: it pays off in more than half its life.
• Worth it: it pays off in a quarter to half of its life.
• Clearly worth it: it pays off in a quarter of its life or less.

Limits of the calculator

The calculation considers energy only. If the old fridge has broken or is about to, the question changes: you will have to buy one anyway, so compare new models with each other. It does not include disposal of the old fridge, changes in energy prices over time, or the fact that a bigger fridge or one with more features uses more. Take the old fridge to a proper collection point: it contains refrigerant gases that must not escape.

Frequently asked questions

Is it worth replacing an old fridge?

It depends on how much it uses. With an old fridge at 450 kWh a year and a new one at 200 kWh costing 600, with energy at 0.30, you save 75 a year and the new fridge pays off in about 8 years.

How much does an old fridge use?

It varies a lot: models from 15-20 years ago can use 400-800 kWh a year, especially with worn seals. Measure it with a plug-in energy meter.

Where do I find the new fridge's consumption?

On the energy label, in kWh per year.

How do I measure the old fridge's use?

Plug it into an energy meter for at least a week and multiply the kWh by 52. Avoid unusual weeks, such as ones with lots of door opening.

How long does a fridge last?

Often 10-20 years. The longer it lasts, the more years of saving add up.

Do incentives change the result?

Yes: they lower the net cost and shorten the payback. Enter them in their field.

What if the old fridge is broken?

Then the comparison with the old one does not matter: you have to buy one anyway. Compare the consumption of new models instead.

Does the calculator work for freezers?

Yes, the calculation is the same for any always-on appliance: enter the old and new kWh per year.

Does it work in any currency?

Yes. Enter all prices in the same currency.