🍷 Wine cooler

How much electricity does a wine cooler use? kWh per year and cost

Yearly electricity use of compressor and thermoelectric wine coolers by bottle capacity, with the running cost.

Typical use

150 kWh/year

Per month

$2.25 · £3.25

Per year · 150 kWh

$27 · £39

With normal use all year, electricity at $0.18/kWh and £0.26/kWh all-in.

A wine cooler typically uses 100–250 kWh a year: the exact figure is on the energy label. It keeps wine at 10–14 °C, so it works less than a fridge.

Small thermoelectric coolers (no compressor) are quiet but inefficient: in a warm room they run almost constantly and can use more than a bigger compressor model.

Consumption compared

TypeUsagekWh/yearCost/year
Thermoelectric, 12 bottles200 kWh/year200$36 · £52
Compressor, 20 bottles120 kWh/year120$22 · £31
Compressor, 50 bottles160 kWh/year160$29 · £42
Dual zone, over 100 bottles250 kWh/year250$45 · £65

Yearly cost with normal use all year.

Work out your cost

Per month
$2.25
Per year
$27
Energy per year
150 kWh

The price is a typical all-in figure for your country: replace it with yours (bill total ÷ kWh).

How to use less

  • Place it somewhere cool, away from the oven and windows, with space behind for heat to escape.
  • Set 12 °C: colder doesn’t help storage.
  • Keep it full: the bottles hold the cold when you open the door.
Lower-energy modelsCompare prices and energy labels on AmazonAmazon ↗

FAQ

How much electricity does a wine cooler use?
On average about 150 kWh a year, from 60 to 400 kWh depending on model, energy class and age.
How much does it cost per year?
With normal use all year it uses about 150 kWh a year: about $27 · £39 at $0.18/kWh and £0.26/kWh.
How can I reduce it?
Place it somewhere cool, away from the oven and windows, with space behind for heat to escape. Set 12 °C: colder doesn’t help storage.

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