How much electricity does an ice maker use?

To help you calculate how much electricity an ice maker use, I compile a code to do your work. Just select the ice maker that you’re looking for, and you will see the result. Convenient, isn’t it?

Ice Maker Electricity Calculator

Select Ice Maker: Hours per day: Cost per kWh ($):

The most common type is certainly the residential countertop ice maker, that can be found in households across the U.S. These compact ice makers consume relatively modest amounts of electricity, with most models drawing between 100-200 watts during ice production cycles. As a result, the average daily electricity consumption ranges from 1.8-3.5 kWh, and average annual power consumption is about 657-1277 kWh. You need to pay about $210 each year, for the countertop ice maker.

*MOST IMPORTANT: However, the energy consumption of countertop ice makers is assumed when you leave the ice maker running all the time. Instead, the countertop ice maker runs in cycles—only while freezing a new batch of ice. I can only calculate for you base on math, resulting in 1.8-3.5 kWh. The truth is most countertop ice makers actually run for as low as 0.1-0.5 kWh. Read my article “What happens if you don’t turn off the ice maker?” to know why you should turn off the ice maker when unnecessary.

For the business owners who mostly use a commercial, undercounter ice maker, think of the appliance as another refrigerator. The undercounter ice maker typically draws between 300-650 watts when operating, and because of its huge storage, it’s always in operation mode. As a result, the average daily electricity consumption ranges from 5.0-15.6 kWh.

There are some factors that can influence the power consumption of your ice makers. One of these is the ambient temperature, as the ice maker needs to work harder in hotter environments. This factor mostly affect the outdoor commercial ice makers, which increases power needs by up to 30% on hot summer days. To avoid a high electricity bill, consider avoid direct sunlight to the ice maker, and use some sorts of cooler for the area where you installed the ice maker.

Some old ice makers will run on its own, without something to stop them when you don’t need it. Modern ice makers typically have a standby mode when the ice storage is full, or you can schedule when to not run the ice maker. In idle mode, the ice maker consumes very little energy.

One good advice is you should look for an ice maker with Energy Star rating. Ice makers marked with this certification usually have better energy and water consumption to produce the same amount of ice.

Conclusion

Knowing how much electricity does an ice maker use can help you make smarter decisions for your home or business. For lower electricity bills, look for Energy Star certified models, which use up to 25% less power. I also recommend you to know how to clean ice maker, and don’t forget to follow my guide on how to install an undercounter ice maker, which ensures you with better energy consumption.

So do ice makers use a lot of electricity? Yes, but most ice makers won’t significantly impact your energy bill when used normally. Even the commercial ice maker costs far less than a refrigerator, because ice makers aren’t freezers, and they don’t need to keep their storage cold.