How Long Will a Power Station Run a Fridge?
Most fridges use 1 to 2.5 kWh a day. A 2 kWh power station runs a typical one for about 18 hours, and a 5 kWh station for nearly two days.
hours ≈ battery Wh × 0.85 ÷ fridge average watts
The 0.85 allows for losses in the station's inverter. Use your fridge's average draw, not the number on the label, because the compressor switches on and off all day.
How much power does a fridge use?
A fridge does not run constantly. The compressor runs for a while, then rests. The label shows the running watts, often 100 to 250 W, but averaged over a day most fridges draw far less.
- Newer, efficient fridge: about 1.2 kWh a day, or 50 W on average.
- Typical full-size fridge: about 2.4 kWh a day, or 100 W on average.
- Older fridge or fridge plus a chest freezer: about 4 kWh a day, or 170 W on average.
To find your own number, check the yellow EnergyGuide label, which lists yearly kWh (divide by 365 for daily use), or plug the fridge into an inexpensive plug-in power meter for 24 hours.
Runtime by power station
| Power station | Capacity | Efficient fridge (50 W) | Typical fridge (100 W) | Fridge + freezer (170 W) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 | 1,024 Wh | 17 hours | 9 hours | 5 hours |
| Bluetti Elite 200 V2 | 2,073 Wh | 35 hours | 18 hours | 10 hours |
| Bluetti Apex 300 | 2,765 Wh | 47 hours | 24 hours | 14 hours |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Plus | 3,072 Wh | 2.2 days | 26 hours | 15 hours |
| Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus | 3,840 Wh | 2.7 days | 33 hours | 19 hours |
| EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 | 4,096 Wh | 2.9 days | 35 hours | 20 hours |
| Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus | 5,040 Wh | 3.6 days | 43 hours | 25 hours |
| EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra | 6,144 Wh | 4.4 days | 2.2 days | 31 hours |
These times assume the fridge is the only thing plugged in. Add a router (about 20 W) and a few LED bulbs (about 100 W) and runtimes drop by roughly half for a typical fridge.
Don't forget startup surge
When the compressor kicks on it can pull 3 to 6 times its running watts for a moment, often around 1,000 to 1,500 W. Every station on our list can handle a single fridge's surge. Problems start when the fridge and a freezer, sump pump or microwave all start at once on a small station. Check the station's surge rating against your biggest motor plus everything else running.
Tips to stretch runtime
- Keep the doors shut. A closed fridge stays cold for hours without power, so the compressor runs less.
- Set the fridge one or two degrees warmer during the outage, but keep it at 40°F or below for food safety.
- Run the fridge from the station and skip extras like ice makers and door heaters if your model lets you.
- Recharge with solar panels during the day. Even 400 W of panels can replace a typical fridge's daily use on a sunny day.
Which size should you buy?
- Just the fridge, overnight: a 1 kWh station such as the Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2.
- Fridge, internet and lights for a day: a 2 to 3 kWh station such as the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Plus or Bluetti Elite 200 V2.
- Fridge, freezer and more for several days, or a well pump: a 240V system such as the Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus.
Want a number for your exact setup? Try the outage load calculator.
Specs and prices come from manufacturer listings and published reviews. We have not lab-tested these units. Prices change often, so check the current price before you buy.