Model
Whirlpool WHR43S1E
Rank #199 means 198 of the 1,000 refrigerator models we track cost less to run each year; the 27th efficiency percentile means it uses less energy for its size than 27% of those models.
What does the Whirlpool WHR43S1E cost to run per year?
The Whirlpool WHR43S1E costs about $42 a year to run and sits near the top of the cheapest-to-run leaderboard, rank #199 of 1,000. It uses 10% 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. Its 27th size-adjusted efficiency percentile is a step behind the class median, though not among the weakest results. At 4.2 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 Vissani HVR440HWEF at $42/yr runs a little cheaper and the Rca RFR464-B-BLACK-6COM at $43/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 Whirlpool WHR43S1E's $42/yr adds up to roughly $504 in electricity alone, before purchase price or repairs.
Also sold as: Vissani HVR43GBEF.
By the numbers
The Whirlpool WHR43S1E 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 Whirlpool WHR43S1E adds up to before purchase price, water, or repairs enter the math.
Left running for a decade at today's US average rate, the Whirlpool WHR43S1E 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 Whirlpool WHR43S1E 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 Whirlpool WHR43S1E uses 10% less energy.
What drives its running cost
At 4.2 cu ft, the Whirlpool WHR43S1E 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 Whirlpool WHR43S1E cheap to run?
Yes, relatively. At $42 a year it ranks #199 of 1,000 refrigerator models we track, in the cheaper part of its class to run.
How much does the Whirlpool WHR43S1E cost per month?
Roughly $3.53/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 228 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 Whirlpool WHR43S1E for its size?
27th 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 200 | Vissani HVR440HWEF4.4 cu ft | $42 |
| 199 | Vissani HVR43GBEF4.2 cu ft | $42 |
| 198 | Tcl TRM044S4AW4.4 cu ft | $42 |
| 197 | Magic Chef MCR44WEF4.4 cu ft | $42 |
| 196 | Magic Chef MCR44BEF4.4 cu ft | $42 |
Source
ES_1108549_WHR43S1E_12032020070711_80062974View certified refrigerator listingsENERGY STAR data as of July 2026Whirlpool and WHR43S1E 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.