How Long Will a Power Station Run a Refrigerator?

By Hicham M. · Updated October 11, 2026 · How we calculate

A modern full-size fridge doesn’t run all the time. The compressor kicks on at about 150 W, cools things down, then rests, so over a day it averages about 58 W (1.4 kWh). On that figure a 1,000 Wh power station keeps it going for about 15 hours, and a 2,000 Wh one for about 29 hours.

The harder part is starting it. For a split second the compressor wants around 1,200 W, and a station with a weak surge rating will cut out every time it tries. Those models are listed under the main table.

Running150 Wtypical range 130–200 W

Starting (surge)1,200 Wfor a split second

Average58 Wincluding on/off cycling

Per day1.4 kWhat 24 h/day

Calculate with your model Find the right size

Runtime by power station

Nonstop runtime for one refrigerator at 58 W average, with 85% inverter efficiency. Models that can't supply its running or starting power are listed separately below.

How long each power station runs a refrigerator: longest 10
Power station	Battery	Runtime
Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus	5,040 Wh	3.1 days
EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3	4,096 Wh	2.5 days
Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000	3,994 Wh	2.4 days
Anker SOLIX F3800	3,840 Wh	2.3 days
Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus	3,840 Wh	2.3 days
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Older	3,600 Wh	2.2 days
Anker SOLIX F3000	3,072 Wh	45 hours
BLUETTI Elite 300	3,014 Wh	44 hours
BLUETTI Apex 300	2,765 Wh	41 hours
BLUETTI Elite 200 V2	2,074 Wh	30 hours

Show the other 35 models that can run it

How long each power station runs a refrigerator: the rest
Power station	Battery	Runtime
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max	2,048 Wh	30 hours
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus	2,048 Wh	30 hours
EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max Older	2,048 Wh	30 hours
BLUETTI AC200L	2,048 Wh	30 hours
BLUETTI AC200MAX Older	2,048 Wh	30 hours
Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2	2,048 Wh	30 hours
Anker SOLIX F2000 (767) Older	2,048 Wh	30 hours
DJI Power 2000	2,048 Wh	30 hours
Jackery Explorer 2000 v2	2,042 Wh	30 hours
Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Older	2,042 Wh	30 hours
BLUETTI AC200P Older	2,000 Wh	29 hours
Jackery Explorer 1500 v2	1,536 Wh	23 hours
Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra	1,536 Wh	23 hours
Goal Zero Yeti 1500X Older	1,516 Wh	22 hours
Goal Zero Yeti 1500	1,505 Wh	22 hours
Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus	1,264 Wh	19 hours
Anker SOLIX F1200 (757) Older	1,229 Wh	18 hours
BLUETTI AC180	1,152 Wh	17 hours
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2	1,070 Wh	16 hours
Anker SOLIX C1000	1,056 Wh	15 hours
EcoFlow DELTA 3	1,024 Wh	15 hours
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus	1,024 Wh	15 hours
EcoFlow DELTA 2 Older	1,024 Wh	15 hours
BLUETTI Elite 100 V2	1,024 Wh	15 hours
Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2	1,024 Wh	15 hours
DJI Power 1000	1,024 Wh	15 hours
Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro Older	1,002 Wh	15 hours
Jackery Explorer 1000 Older	1,002 Wh	15 hours
Goal Zero Yeti 1000	998 Wh	15 hours
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro Older	768 Wh	11 hours
Anker SOLIX C800 Plus	768 Wh	11 hours
BLUETTI EB70S Older	716 Wh	10 hours
DJI Power 500 May not start it: surge not published	512 Wh	7.5 hours
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus	286 Wh	4.2 hours
BLUETTI EB3A Older	269 Wh	3.9 hours

Models that can't run it

Power station	Output	Surge	Why
Goal Zero Yeti 700	600 W	1,000 W	Can’t start it
Jackery Explorer 500	500 W	1,000 W	Can’t start it
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max	500 W	1,000 W	Can’t start it
Jackery Explorer 300	300 W	500 W	Can’t start it
Jackery Explorer 300 v2	300 W	600 W	Can’t start it
Anker SOLIX C300	300 W	600 W	Can’t start it
Jackery Explorer 240 v2	300 W	600 W	Can’t start it
EcoFlow RIVER 3	300 W	600 W	Can’t start it
Jackery Explorer 240	200 W	400 W	Can’t start it

We may earn a commission if you buy through these links. It never changes our numbers, and every model in our database is included whether or not it pays us. Learn more.

It depends a lot on the type of fridge

We ran the numbers on the roughly 2,900 full-size refrigerators certified by ENERGY STAR. The layout matters more than the brand: the middle side-by-side model uses about 75% more electricity than the middle top-freezer model. Here is what that means on a power station.

Runtime by refrigerator type
Type (median model)	Per year	Average draw	On 1,000 Wh	On 2,000 Wh
Freezerless or single-door	288 kWh	33 W	26 hours	2.2 days
Top freezer	363 kWh	41 W	21 hours	41 hours
Bottom freezer	556 kWh	63 W	13 hours	27 hours
Side-by-side	640 kWh	73 W	12 hours	23 hours

Our calculation from ENERGY STAR certified-product data (October 2026), models of 7.75 cu ft and up. Beverage coolers in the list don’t change the medians much. Your own fridge’s figure is on its yellow EnergyGuide label, in kWh per year.

When the power is off: what to keep and what to throw out

USDA says an unopened refrigerator keeps food cold for about 4 hours. After that the test is temperature, not time: perishables that sat above 40°F for more than 2 hours should go. An appliance thermometer in the fridge (a few dollars) settles the question.

Throw out after more than 2 hours above 40°F: meat, poultry and seafood, lunch meat and hot dogs, milk, yogurt and soft cheeses, eggs, cooked pasta, rice and potatoes, leftovers, and cut fruit.
Usually fine: hard cheeses such as cheddar and Parmesan, butter and margarine, and dried fruit.

That’s why even a small power station helps. You don’t need to run the fridge nonstop, only often enough that it never sits above 40°F for long.

Getting more hours out of the battery

Run it in shifts. An hour or two of power every few hours keeps a closed fridge cold and can stretch a 1,000 Wh battery across a day or more. Set the station’s AC outlet timeout to “never” first, or it may switch off while the compressor is resting.
Use your fridge’s real number: divide the kWh per year on its EnergyGuide label by 365, then enter it in the runtime calculator.
Fridges with variable-speed (inverter) compressors, sold by brands such as Samsung and LG, ramp up instead of starting abruptly. That is easier on a power station, but makers rarely publish start-up watts, so test yours before an outage.
Keep the door shut and the shelves full. Cold food holds the temperature between compressor cycles; an empty fridge warms up faster.
An old fridge costs more to back up. ENERGY STAR says an older model uses about 20% more energy than a certified one; our figure for an older full-size fridge (about 2.5 kWh a day) is on the high side.

Questions

What size power station do I need for a refrigerator?

For a full day of a typical modern fridge, plan on at least 1,600–2,000 Wh of battery and at least 1,200 W of surge. If you only need to keep it cold in shifts, 1,000 Wh goes a long way. Add anything else you want to run in the size finder.

Can a 500 Wh power station run a fridge?

Often for a few hours, if its surge rating can start the compressor. A 500 Wh unit gives roughly 7 hours of an average modern fridge, more if you run it in shifts.

How long does food stay safe in a fridge without power?

About 4 hours if the door stays closed, according to USDA. A full freezer holds a safe temperature for about 48 hours, or 24 hours if half full.

What temperature should the fridge stay below?

40°F (4°C) or colder, per the FDA. The freezer should be at 0°F (-18°C).

Sources

Wattage figures are typical values from the sources below. Your appliance may differ, so check its label or measure it with a plug-in watt meter.