Best energy efficient fridges for 2024

Your fridge is using electricity 24 hours a day, so it's a good idea to buy the best energy efficient model you can afford to help keep running costs down.

Refrigeration appliances notch up a staggering £2bn in electricity bills each year in the UK. You could choose a more efficient model by looking at the energy label, but we've found that even models with the same energy label can cost different amounts to run each year.

Our recommendations will help you pick out a fridge that won't drive up your energy bills.

To see all the very best fridges we've tested, see our guide to the best fridges.

Best energy efficient fridges

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The energy efficient fridges we've shortlisted here are cheap to run, but also performed well in our tough lab tests, which could mean you waste less food, too.

Table last updated March 2024

Looking for more efficient refrigeration appliances? See our guide to the best energy efficient fridge freezers and best energy efficient freezers. 

How much energy does a fridge use?

The amount of energy a fridge uses varies between sizes and types. We estimate that, on average, an under-counter fridge will use around 159kWh of energy per year, while a tall model uses around 118kWh on average. 

How much do fridges cost to run? 

Some energy-hungry models we’ve tested can cost £80 or more a year to run, while some of the most economical fridges will set you back only around £25 a year. 

The average tall fridge will cost around £54 a year to run, while smaller under-counter fridges cost around £48 a year on average. 

Visit our reviews to see the annual running costs of every fridge we've tested.

Search our fridge reviews for the model you're interested in.

Fridge energy label changes

While you may have previously seen fridges with energy ratings of A+ or A++, the energy efficiency ratings were rescaled in 2021. 

The colour scale still remains, but in an effort to push manufacturers to create more efficient appliances and make the system less confusing, appliances are now rated from A to G, rather than A+++ to D.

The new label for refrigeration (pictured above) states the capacity of chilled and/or frozen compartments in litres. There's also a new measure for noise emissions, as well as a QR code for more product information, which links to the product on the manufacturer’s website.

Head to our best energy efficient fridge freezers guide to read more about energy labels. 

Eco Buy fridges

If you want to make the most sustainable choice when you're buying your next fridge, a Which? Eco Buy is a good option, as it will have a lower impact on the environment over its lifetime than other fridges.

We calculate this in two ways: how reliable, and therefore long-lasting, it's likely to be, so you don't have to repair or replace it as often, and how energy efficient it is.

To become an Eco Buy, a fridge must have:

• a total test score of at least 70%
• five stars for energy efficiency
• four stars and above for cooling power
• come from a brand that gets a good longevity rating in our annual consumer surveys

Only 5-10% of fridges are sustainable enough to be Eco Buys.

To find out which fridges qualify, head to our fridge reviews and use the Eco Buy filter. 

Fridge energy efficiency tips

Running your fridge freezer as efficiently as possible will save you money and reduce your carbon footprint at the same time.

• Don’t leave the door open for longer than necessary or the fridge will be filled with warm air and have to work to cool down again.
• Defrost frozen food in your fridge - it acts like an ice pack to help cool the fridge, meaning that your fridge uses less electricity.
• Avoid putting warm food in your fridge - let it cool down first.
• Clean the condenser coils at the back or underneath your fridge - thick dust can reduce their efficiency by up to 25%. Read our guide on how to deep-clean your fridge. 
• Check the seal around your fridge door as they help to prevent warm air getting inside the fridge which can waste energy.