How Many Amps Does a Refrigerator Use?

A refrigerator uses about 5.8 running amps at 120 volts (roughly 700 watts). Because it is a motor load, it surges to several times that for a moment at startup. To get your unit's exact draw, divide the nameplate watts by 120: amps = watts / volts. A household refrigerator draws about 6 running amps (roughly 700 watts) but its compressor motor surges to 12-15 amps for a moment at startup, which is why it is best on its own circuit. A dedicated 15A circuit is code-compliant; 20A is common for headroom. Under the 2023 NEC a kitchen refrigerator receptacle requires GFCI protection (210.8(A)).

A refrigerator belongs on a dedicated 20A / 120V circuit (NEC 210.52(B), 210.8(A)). At 5.8 running amps it stays within the 80% continuous limit of that breaker, with headroom for the startup surge. Do not put it on a shared circuit with other large loads.

Divide the wattage on the nameplate by the voltage: amps = watts / volts. A refrigerator at about 700 watts on 120V works out to 700 / 120 = 5.8 amps. Add a startup surge of several times that for a fraction of a second on the motor. The nameplate always governs over a typical value.

Same answer: fridge is another name for a refrigerator. It draws about 5.8 amps at 120V on a dedicated 20A circuit. A household refrigerator draws about 6 running amps (roughly 700 watts) but its compressor motor surges to 12-15 amps for a moment at startup, which is why it is best on its own circuit. A dedicated 15A circuit is code-compliant; 20A is common for headroom. Under the 2023 NEC a kitchen refrigerator receptacle requires GFCI protection (210.8(A)).