calculator and piles of coins

When you buy commercial refrigeration or catering equipment, the outlay doesn't stop at the initial expense. Many businesses only consider the up front price and not the ongoing cost of operating the equipment on a daily or yearly basis. How efficient a commercial fridge or commercial freezer is will determine the cost of running the unit; the more efficient the product the lower the running cost.

While looking at the energy labelling awarded to commercial refrigeration (A being the most efficient for commercial display fridges, freezer displays and multideck display fridges, A+++ the most efficient for catering fridges and commercial kitchen freezers for storage) is a good indication of the equipment that performs most efficiently in test conditions, it doesn't give an idea of what you can actually expect to pay in ongoing running costs. 

To help you develop an idea of potential ongoing running costs of different commercial refrigeration, we've put together a handy estimated energy use calculator.

Using the UK Average Energy Cost Calculator 

  • When on a product page the calculator displays the running costs of that particular equipment as supplied by the manufacturer. This calculation is based on the average UK restaurant by default.
  • You can change the kWh/annum.
  • The price per kWh can also be changed to reflect your local rate and give a more personalised figure.
  • Alternatively, use the calculator below and manually input the kWh/annum figure given by the manufacturer, for the equipment you are considering. 

How do we calculate estimated energy use?

When on a specific product page our calculator pulls in the kWh/annum figure that is provided by the manufacturer for the equipment in question. 

When using the calculator below, the energy usage requires manual input. 

For an annual kWh consumption of and price per kWh of the equipment would cost £ per year.

We have also calculated the cost using average UK business type's rates.

Business Avg. Price per kWh Annual Cost
Restaurant £
Hotel £
Cafe £
Home Bar £
Annual cost of equipment based on average UK business rates (April 2025)

We have researched average power consumption for different types and sizes of business as of April 2025. 

We show the average total power consumption per annum for different size/types of business, the average price per kWh that the business can expect to be charged, plus the average daily standing charge as a guide in the table below. 

Data valid as of April 2025. Average energy consumption & cost in the UK.
Type of Business Average Annum Usage (kWh) Average Price per kWh (p) Average Daily Standing Charge (p) Total Yearly Cost (£)
Restaurant 37,500 18.5 81.4 7,234.61
Hotel 60,000 14 53.8 8,596.37
Cafe 10,000 22 50 2,382.50
Home Bar 2,700 27 54 926.10

The boring (but essential) bit 

This energy use calculator is intended as a guide only and will vary for individual businesses and in line with energy prices. Yearly overall usage estimates include typical standing charges while equipment running costs are solely for the energy the unit uses.

Why is Energy Efficiency So Important for Businesses?

Understanding how much equipment will cost on an ongoing basis is critical to predicting weekly, monthly and yearly budgets and outgoings for businesses. The more energy efficient commercial refrigeration is, the lower the running costs throughout the lifetime of the equipment when it is working optimally. This energy use calculator aims to help businesses estimate potential ongoing costs to determine what they can expect to spend for standard operation, during the lifespan of the equipment. 

Generally, the better the equipment, the more energy efficient it is. While this is a key factor and definitely something to be taken into consideration when choosing the best commercial refrigeration to buy, there are other factors that should also be taken into account. For example, some budget friendly bottle coolers such as Ecomatic bottle coolers, while offering slightly lower efficiency than expensive counterparts, can still prove a cost effective alternative if the funds to finance premium brands aren't available.

Read our What To Look For When Buying Energy Efficient Commercial Refrigeration post to help you determine the main areas to consider when looking for energy efficient commercial fridges.

There are other factors that can contribute to energy efficiency, including quality insulation (keeps the cold in), good door seals (keeps the cold in and the warm out), good practice (e.g. keep door opening to a minimum) and regular cleaning and maintenance (keeps refrigeration components performing at their best). Read our Top 5 Tips to Promote Commercial Refrigeration Efficiency to see how you can further enhance the energy efficiency of commercial refrigeration.