What size solar generator do I need to run a refrigerator and freezer?
To run a full-size refrigerator and a chest freezer through 24 hours you need about 2,174 Wh of battery, at least 1,425 W of rated output and about 3,625 W of surge. A 3,000 Wh class station such as the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra or Anker SOLIX F3000 covers a full day (about 33 hours); a 2,048 Wh station covers about 22 hours.
| Station | Battery | Rated output | Surge | Fridge and freezer runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus [2][36][37][38][39][40] | 1,264 Wh | 2,000 W | 4,000 W | about 13 h |
| Jackery Explorer 1500 v2 [3][36][37][38][39][40] | 1,536 Wh | 2,000 W | 4,000 W | about 16 h |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max [4][36][37][38][39][40] | 2,048 Wh | 2,400 W | 4,800 W | about 22 h |
| BLUETTI Apex 300 [5][6][36][37][38][39][40] | 2,764.8 Wh | 3,840 W | not published | about 32 h |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra [1][36][37][38][39][40] | 3,072 Wh | 3,600 W | 7,200 W | about 33 h |
| Anker SOLIX F3800 [7][36][37][38][39][40] | 3,840 Wh | 6,000 W | 9,000 W | about 42 h |
Runtimes assume 85% of the battery reaches the outlet (90% for the BLUETTI Apex 300, which BLUETTI publishes). Runtimes are rounded down the same way the calculator rounds them. Try your own pair in the runtime calculator.
How much energy do a fridge and freezer use in a day?
About 1,848 Wh together, at their median ENERGY STAR averages. Both cycle their compressors on and off, so their average draw is much lower than their running watts.
- Fridge: 52 W average. The median of 2,986 ENERGY STAR certified full-size refrigerators is 457 kWh a year; 457 / 8.76 is about 52 W (ENERGY STAR refrigerator data).
- Chest freezer: 25 W average. The median of the 9 certified full-size chest freezers is 218 kWh a year; 218 / 8.76 is about 25 W (ENERGY STAR freezer data).
Together: 52 + 25 = 77 W, and 77 W x 24 hours = 1,848 Wh at the outlet.
How big a battery does that take?
About 2,174 Wh. Some energy is lost in the inverter, so divide by the efficiency: 1,848 / 0.85 = 2,174 Wh.
The runtime formula is runtime = Wh x efficiency / load W. For the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra: 3,072 x 0.85 / 77 = 2,611 / 77, about 33.9 hours. For a 2,048 Wh station like the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max: 2,048 x 0.85 / 77, about 22.6 hours, just short of a day. How we got these numbers.
How much output and surge do they need?
At least 1,425 W of rated output and about 3,625 W of surge. Energy decides how long; output and surge decide whether the station can run both at all.
Running watts: generator wattage charts give a fridge 700 to 725 W running (Champion, Generac and Virginia Cooperative Extension) and list 700 W for a "Refrigerator/Freezer" (Generac). If both compressors run at the same time, that is 725 + 700 = 1,425 W.
Starting watts: Generac lists 2,200 additional starting watts for a refrigerator or freezer, a total of 2,900 W. Our method assumes one compressor starts while the other is already running, so the peak is 1,425 W plus the biggest starting jump: 1,425 + 2,200 = 3,625 W. If both start at the same moment the peak is higher. The methods page explains the surge check.
Which stations fall just short on surge?
Several popular 1,000 to 1,500 Wh stations have a 3,600 W surge rating, 25 W under the 3,625 W peak on paper. That includes the EcoFlow DELTA 3 and DELTA 3 Plus, Goal Zero Yeti 1000 and Yeti 1500, BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 and Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra.
Each of them runs either appliance alone; check the fridge article for single-fridge runtimes. With both plugged in, the margin depends on your appliances. Generac's chart is written for sizing generators and leans high, so your pair may start lower, but we don't count on it.
Which stations pass every check?
In our data, these stations pass the output and surge checks for a fridge and chest freezer together:
- Under a full day: DJI Power 1000 (about 11 h), Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus (about 13 h), Jackery Explorer 1500 v2 (about 16 h), Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 (about 22 h), and the 2,048 Wh Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2, EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max and DELTA 3 Max Plus (about 22 h each)
- A full day or more: BLUETTI Apex 300 (about 32 h), Anker SOLIX F3000 and EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra (about 33 h), Anker SOLIX F3800 and F3800 Plus (about 42 h), Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000 (about 44 h), EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 (about 45 h) and Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus (about 55 h)
The BLUETTI Apex 300 doesn't publish a surge figure, but its 3,840 W rated output is above the 3,625 W peak on its own. The DJI Power 2000 and the BLUETTI Elite 200 V2, Elite 300 and Elite 400 hold enough energy but publish no surge rating, and their rated outputs sit below 3,625 W, so we can't confirm the start. The full list with each station's specs is on the stations page.
What size Jackery do I need to run a refrigerator and freezer?
The Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus is the smallest Jackery that passes the checks for both, with about 13 hours (1,264 x 0.85 / 77 = 13.95, rounded down). For a full day, only the Explorer 5000 Plus clears 24 hours on its own, at about 55 hours.
| Jackery model | Battery | Surge | Both together |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer 1000 v2 [35][36][37][38][39][40] | 1,070 Wh | 3,000 W | surge too low |
| Explorer 1000 Plus [2][36][37][38][39][40] | 1,264 Wh | 4,000 W | about 13 h |
| Explorer 1500 Ultra [16][36][37][38][39][40] | 1,536 Wh | 3,600 W | 25 W short on surge |
| Explorer 1500 v2 [3][36][37][38][39][40] | 1,536 Wh | 4,000 W | about 16 h |
| Explorer 2000 v2 [18][36][37][38][39][40] | 2,042 Wh | 4,400 W | about 22 h |
| Explorer 5000 Plus [25][36][37][38][39][40] | 5,040 Wh | 14,400 W | about 55 h |
The Explorer 1000 v2 still runs a fridge alone for about 17 hours; see its fridge check.
How fast can solar panels refill a day of use?
A day of fridge and freezer use takes about 2,174 Wh out of the battery. At a station's full rated solar input, refilling that takes 2,174 / input watts hours:
- EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra, 800 W solar input: about 2.7 hours
- Anker SOLIX F3000, 2,400 W solar input: about 54 minutes
- Jackery Explorer 2000 v2, 400 W solar input: about 5.4 hours
Those are best cases. Panels rarely deliver their full rating for long, so plan for more panel watts or more hours than the math shows. A "solar generator" is a power station plus panels, so the station's solar input rating sets the ceiling on how fast panels can refill it.
How can I make the battery last longer?
Keep both doors shut and recharge during the day. Every door opening lets cold air out and makes a compressor run more. Expandable stations like the Anker SOLIX F3000 (up to 12,288 Wh with Anker's add-on batteries) can also add stored energy. Batteries hold less as they age and in the cold, so leave some margin.
What should I read next?
Quick answers
What size solar generator runs a refrigerator and a freezer for a day?
About 2,174 Wh of battery. The median ENERGY STAR full-size fridge averages 52 W and the median full-size chest freezer 25 W, so the pair uses 77 W x 24 hours = 1,848 Wh, and 1,848 / 0.85 is about 2,174 Wh.
How much surge does a fridge and freezer need?
About 3,625 W if one starts while the other runs. Both compressors running is 725 W + 700 W = 1,425 W, and the biggest starting jump in our sources is 2,200 W (Generac's chart for a fridge or freezer), so 1,425 + 2,200 = 3,625 W.
What size Jackery do I need to run a refrigerator and freezer?
The Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus is the smallest Jackery in our data that passes the output and surge checks for both, at about 13 hours. The Explorer 1500 v2 runs them about 16 hours, the 2000 v2 about 22 hours and the 5000 Plus about 55 hours.
How long do solar panels take to recharge a day of fridge and freezer use?
A day of use takes about 2,174 Wh out of the battery. At a station's full rated solar input that is 2,174 / input W hours, for example about 2.7 hours at the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra's 800 W. Real panels rarely hold their full rating, so expect longer.