Every model comes from the U.S. EPA's ENERGY STAR certified product datasets: ENERGY STAR Certified Residential Refrigerators (refreshed Oct 24, 2026). ENERGY STAR Certified Residential Clothes Washers (refreshed Oct 24, 2026). ENERGY STAR Certified Residential Clothes Dryers (refreshed Oct 24, 2026). Figures are as each maker certified them. We keep models listed for the U.S. market, merge repeat certifications of the same model (showing the latest figures and the certification history), and tidy obvious brand-name variants.
EPA-tested kWh per year × electricity price. The default is the U.S. average residential price, 18.16¢ per kWh (EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, August 2026). Every dollar figure shows the rate it uses, and you can set your own rate with the slider; it is saved only in your browser.
The EPA's yearly energy figure for a washer covers the machine itself, the electricity to heat the wash water with an electric water heater, and the energy to remove the remaining moisture in the dryer, at 295 loads a year (the federal test procedure). We multiply it by your electric rate. If you heat water with gas, your electric cost will be lower than shown. Water use is shown in gallons a year from the EPA test. We do not turn water into dollars, because water and sewer rates vary too much by town for a fair national figure. All-in-one washer-dryers are ranked with washers on their washing energy, because the EPA dryer data gives them no yearly energy figure.
For gas dryers the EPA reports one yearly figure, in kWh equivalent, that adds up the gas burned and the electricity used for the drum and controls, at 283 loads a year. The EPA does not split the two. We price the whole figure as natural gas:
therms = kWh equivalent × 3,412 Btu per kWh ÷ 100,000 Btu per therm
yearly cost = therms × $1.4807 per therm
The gas price is the U.S. average residential natural gas price for 2025, $15.34 per thousand cubic feet (EIA, released Sep 30, 2026), converted with the EIA average heat content of 1,036 Btu per cubic foot for 2025 (EIA), which is 10.36 therms per thousand cubic feet. We use the annual average because residential gas prices swing a lot by season; summer months run far higher per unit than winter. Because the small electric part is priced as gas, the real cost of a gas dryer may be a few dollars a year higher. Gas dryer costs do not change with the electric rate slider, and gas dryers are only ranked against other gas dryers.
EPA estimated kWh per year at 283 loads × your electric rate. The EPA's combined energy factor (CEF, pounds of clothes dried per kWh) is shown on each model page; higher is better.
"Typical" is the median of certified models of the same type within a size window: 2 cu ft for fridges (1 cu ft under 10 cu ft) and 0.5 cu ft for washers and dryers. We only show the comparison when there are at least 5 such models.
We rank each model by what it costs to run in a year, cheapest first, against models of the same type and a similar size. A 30 cu ft French-door fridge is never compared with a 2 cu ft mini fridge, and a compact dryer is never compared with a full-size one. We merge a size band into its neighbor when it has fewer than 25 models. Models with the same yearly cost share a rank. Picks are the number one in each size band. No manufacturer pays for a place.
Refrigerators size bands: Compact Refrigerator: under 2 cu ft (259), 2–3 cu ft (170), 3–4 cu ft (526), 4–5 cu ft (362), 5+ cu ft (372); Bottom Freezer: under 18 cu ft (499), 18–22 cu ft (432), 22–26 cu ft (300), 26–30 cu ft (235), 30+ cu ft (50); Top Freezer: under 18 cu ft (349), 18+ cu ft (393); Freezerless and Single Door: under 18 cu ft (187), 18+ cu ft (90); Side-by-Side: under 22 cu ft (33), 22–26 cu ft (56), 26+ cu ft (30); Compact Cooler: under 4.5 cu ft (44), 4.5+ cu ft (56); Cooler: all sizes (53); Upright Freezer: all sizes (4).
Clothes Washers size bands: Front Load: under 3 cu ft (83), 3–5 cu ft (84), 5+ cu ft (41); Top Load: under 5.2 cu ft (47), 5.2+ cu ft (69); Laundry Center: all sizes (29); All-in-One Washer-Dryer: all sizes (12).
Clothes Dryers size bands: Electric Vented: under 8 cu ft (214), 8+ cu ft (30); Gas: under 8 cu ft (161), 8+ cu ft (26); Compact Electric: all sizes (60); Electric Ventless: all sizes (42).
Same type, within the size window above, other brands only, cheapest to run first.
Shown only when the EPA record says the model meets the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient criteria.
We search CPSC recall titles and product names for refrigerators, fridges and freezers, clothes washers and washing machines, clothes dryers, and match brand names. Checked Oct 24, 2026. A match means the brand had a recall in that category, not necessarily this model, so check the model numbers in the notice. Always confirm at cpsc.gov.
Rebates change by ZIP code and store, so we do not show amounts. Each model page links to the ENERGY STAR rebate finder.
Use Report an error on any page. Fixes are logged on our corrections page.