Model
Arctic King ARM44S5ABB
Rank #174 means 173 of the 1,000 refrigerator models we track cost less to run each year; the 30th efficiency percentile means it uses less energy for its size than 30% of those models.
What does the Arctic King ARM44S5ABB cost to run per year?
Do the math and the Arctic King ARM44S5ABB's $42/yr puts it at rank #174 of 1,000, one of the more affordable refrigerator models we track to keep running. It uses 11% less energy than the U.S. federal standard model in its class, which would cost about $47/yr to run, a saving of roughly $5 a year. Adjusted for size, it is only more efficient than 30% of refrigerator models we track, so part of its running cost comes from its capacity rather than efficiency alone. At 4.4 cu ft, it is a small refrigerator for the class, which runs 1.2 to 31.7 cu ft; size and efficiency are the two levers behind the figure above, and this dataset does not carry a separate efficiency-factor column for this class.
Immediately around it on the leaderboard, the Frigidaire EFRF7009-WHITE at $42/yr runs a little cheaper and the Danby Designer DCR044A2* at $42/yr runs a little more, a sense of how tightly models are packed at this point in the ranking. A refrigerator typically stays in service for somewhere around 12 years; over that span, the Arctic King ARM44S5ABB's $42/yr adds up to roughly $504 in electricity alone, before purchase price or repairs.
Also sold as: Danby Designer DCR044A2*, Genuine Comfort GCCF-S45LA0-1, Magic Chef HMAR45HCSE, Midea WHS-160RSS1.
By the numbers
The Arctic King ARM44S5ABB normalized against its whole class, so each figure means something.
What it costs you over time
Running cost is an every-year number, so it compounds. At $42/yr, here is what the Arctic King ARM44S5ABB adds up to before purchase price, water, or repairs enter the math.
Left running for a decade at today's US average rate, the Arctic King ARM44S5ABB costs about $420. That is roughly $50 less than a standard model in its class, which would run closer to $470 over the same ten years.
How the Arctic King ARM44S5ABB compares
The refrigerator class we track runs from $8 to $149 a year. At $42/yr, it runs about $22 a year cheaper than the class median of $64, and it is about $34 a year more than the cheapest refrigerator to run at $8. Against the US federal standard model for its class at about $47/yr, the Arctic King ARM44S5ABB uses 11% less energy.
What drives its running cost
At 4.4 cu ft, the Arctic King ARM44S5ABB is a small refrigerator for its class, which spans 1.2 to 31.7 cu ft with a median of 12.6 cu ft, and smaller refrigerator models generally cost less to run for the same job, all else being equal.
- Interior volume. Cubic feet of interior volume is the first thing that scales a fridge's running cost up or down, before compressor quality even enters the picture.
- Counter depth vs standard depth. Counter-depth models sit flush with cabinets but usually hold less interior volume than a standard-depth model of the same width, which can nudge the per-cubic-foot running cost either way.
- Compressor technology. Newer variable-speed (inverter) compressors modulate output instead of cycling fully on and off, which tends to use less energy for the same cooling job than an older fixed-speed compressor.
- Placement and ventilation. A fridge pushed tight against a wall or cabinet, or standing next to an oven or in direct sun, works harder to shed the heat its compressor produces, which can push real-world cost above the published figure.
Common questions
Is the Arctic King ARM44S5ABB cheap to run?
Yes, relatively. At $42 a year it ranks #174 of 1,000 refrigerator models we track, in the cheaper part of its class to run.
How much does the Arctic King ARM44S5ABB cost per month?
Roughly $3.5/mo, spreading the $42/yr estimate evenly across twelve months at $0.1856/kWh. Actual monthly bills swing with your rate and usage pattern.
How is this running-cost figure calculated?
We take the model's published annual energy use of 226 kWh from ENERGY STAR and multiply it by the US average residential electricity rate of $0.1856/kWh, giving about $42 a year. It is an electricity-only estimate and does not include purchase price, water, or installation.
How efficient is the Arctic King ARM44S5ABB for its size?
30th percentile once size is factored in. That means its size-adjusted efficiency is not the main reason for the running-cost figure above; its capacity plays a large role too.
Cheaper to run in the same class
| Rank | Model | Cost/yr |
|---|---|---|
| 173 | Frigidaire EFRF7009-WHITE7 cu ft | $42 |
| 172 | Microfridge 2.3MF4RW2.3 cu ft | $41 |
| 171 | Roomwell REFNFR17001.7 cu ft | $41 |
| 170 | Whirlpool WH35**E3.4 cu ft | $41 |
| 169 | Newair NRF033BK003.3 cu ft | $41 |
Source
ES_1030337_ARM44S5ABB_03232020052017_0817940View certified refrigerator listingsENERGY STAR data as of July 2026Arctic King and ARM44S5ABB are used here for identification only and are not endorsements. Figures are computed by WattWise Labs from public ENERGY STAR data, not measured in our own lab.