Which is bigger, air conditioner or refrigerator?

Refrigerator is 3.7× air conditioner on weight. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.

How do air conditioners and refrigerators compare on typical lifespan?

Air conditioner: 8–20 yr. Refrigerator: 10–17 yr. Refrigerator is somewhat greater than air conditioner on typical lifespan — about 1.1×.

How do air conditioners and refrigerators compare on typical cost?

Air conditioner: 180–1,200 $. Refrigerator: 500–3,500 $. Refrigerator is 2.7× air conditioner on typical cost.

Air conditioner vs Refrigerator

Air conditioner vs refrigerator

Refrigerator is larger on weight

Refrigerator is 3.7× air conditioner on weight.

An air conditioner and a refrigerator can be compared on 4 measures. The figures below are typical adult or full-size values, with the larger of the two in bold.

Side by side

Larger value in bold. Ranges reflect genuine variation, not uncertainty.
	Air conditioner	Refrigerator
Weight	15–60 kg	70–170 kg
Typical lifespan	8–20 yr	10–17 yr
Typical cost	180–1,200 $	500–3,500 $
Power draw	400–1,800 W	35–90 W

What the numbers say

Refrigerator is 3.7× air conditioner on weight.
Refrigerator is somewhat greater than air conditioner on typical lifespan — about 1.1×.
Refrigerator is 2.7× air conditioner on typical cost.
Air conditioner is 16× refrigerator on power draw.

Weight compared.

Refrigerator 70–170 kg

Air conditioner 15–60 kg

Air conditioner

A refrigeration circuit that moves heat out of a room, in a window box, a split system or ducted central plant.

Refrigerator

An insulated cabinet that keeps food cold, normally with a separate freezer compartment.

This is a comparison of published measurements, nothing more. It describes how two things differ on measures that have been recorded; it does not predict how they would fare against each other in any situation.

Common questions

Which is bigger, air conditioner or refrigerator?: Refrigerator is 3.7× air conditioner on weight. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.
How do air conditioners and refrigerators compare on typical lifespan?: Air conditioner: 8–20 yr. Refrigerator: 10–17 yr. Refrigerator is somewhat greater than air conditioner on typical lifespan — about 1.1×.
How do air conditioners and refrigerators compare on typical cost?: Air conditioner: 180–1,200 $. Refrigerator: 500–3,500 $. Refrigerator is 2.7× air conditioner on typical cost.

Sources

Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place
ENERGY STAR Product Specifications — US Environmental Protection Agency (Public domain (US Government))

How these figures are compiled and checked