Refrigerator and dishwasher EnergyGuide labels: what the yellow tag assumes about your power bill

New refrigerators, freezers and dishwashers carry a yellow EnergyGuide label under the Federal Trade Commission's Energy Labeling Rule. Its headline figure is an estimated yearly energy cost, set against the range for similar models. That makes it a fair way to compare two models side by side. As a forecast of your own bill, it is out of date: the cost is worked out at 14 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), and the rule says that figure is based on information the Department of Energy (DOE) published in 2022.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) puts the average residential electricity price at 18.16 cents per kWh in August 2026, a preliminary figure, up from 17.57 cents in August 2025. At that price, the real electricity cost is about 30% higher than the label says.

What the label shows

• Estimated yearly energy cost in dollars, placed on a scale between the lowest and highest costs for comparable models.
• Estimated yearly electricity use in kWh. This is the most useful number, because it does not depend on a price.
• On refrigerators, the total refrigerated volume, and two cost ranges: one for models with similar features and one for all models of similar size.
• On dishwashers, costs for both electricity and natural gas, worked out for four wash loads a week.
• On certified models, the manufacturer may add the ENERGY STAR logo in the bottom right corner.

Refrigerator labels also carry the lines “Compare ONLY to other labels with yellow numbers. Labels with yellow numbers are based on the same test procedures.” and “Your cost will depend on your utility rates and use.”

The refrigerator layout changes the cost

The rule groups refrigerator-freezers by layout and by whether they dispense ice through the door, and each group has its own range. The table shows the ranges for one size band, and what they come to at the August 2026 US average price.

ENERGY STAR's buying advice points the same way. It says models with the freezer on top tend to use the least energy, compared with bottom freezers and side-by-sides, that fewer doors mean less air leakage, and that the most energy-efficient models are typically 16 to 20 cubic feet. Larger refrigerators generally use more energy.

Correct the estimate for your own price

Take the kWh figure from the label and multiply it by your price per kWh, which is on your electricity bill. If you only have the dollar figure, divide it by 14 and multiply by your price in cents. A label showing $70 a year stands for 500 kWh. Prices vary widely by state:

These are averages for a single month, and the price you pay depends on your utility and plan. ENERGY STAR says certified refrigerators are about 9% more energy efficient than models that meet the federal minimum standard, and that recycling an old refrigerator and replacing it with a certified one can save about $150 over the new model's 12-year lifetime.

Dishwashers

Dishwasher labels split models into compact ones, with fewer than eight place settings, and standard ones, with eight or more. The label range is $14 to $32 a year for compact models and $28 to $43 for standard ones. Those costs assume 14 cents per kWh, natural gas at $1.21 per therm and four wash loads a week. If you run the dishwasher every day, your cost will be higher than the label's.

What the label does not tell you

The current refrigerator ranges were set in October 2022, and one was amended in January 2023. The rule says the FTC will publish revised ranges and cost figures in 2027. A model whose cost falls outside the current range is generally left off the scale and carries the line: “The estimated yearly energy cost of this model was not available at the time the range was published.”

The label covers energy use only. It says nothing about reliability, noise, repairs or safety. Before you buy, check the model number against recalls and the warranty terms: our guides to kitchen appliance recalls and running costs and to product warranties explain how. TVs carry their own version of the label, covered in our TV spec sheet guide.