How long will a portable power station run a refrigerator?

Updated Oct 3, 2026

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Keeping the fridge cold is the number-one reason people buy a power station for outages. The short answer: a 1,000 Wh station keeps a typical full-size fridge running for about 15–17 hours, and a 2,000 Wh station for well over a day. An efficient newer fridge can run noticeably longer. Whether a station can start the fridge at all is a separate question, and it catches many buyers out.

Two numbers decide it: surge and capacity

Surge (peak) output decides whether the station can start the fridge. When the compressor kicks on it briefly pulls several times its running power, often 800–1,500 W. If that's more than the station's peak rating, the station shuts off. That's why small 300 W units can't run a full-size fridge even when the battery is full.

Capacity (Wh) decides how long it lasts. A fridge doesn't run constantly. The compressor cycles on and off, typically running about a third of the time. A fridge drawing 150 W while running uses roughly 1.2–1.5 kWh a day.

Runtime on every station we cover

Estimates assume a typical full-size fridge (150 W running, 1,200 W startup, ~35% duty cycle) and 85% usable battery capacity.

Full-size refrigerator: 150 W running, 1,200 W start-up, ~35% duty cycle. Current models; “Borderline” means within 10% of the station’s rating.
Power stationCapacityRuntime
EcoFlow DELTA Pro3,600 Wh2.4 days
BLUETTI Elite 200 V22,074 Wh33.6 h
EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max2,048 Wh33.2 h
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max2,048 Wh33.2 h
Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus2,042 Wh33.1 h
Anker SOLIX S20002,010 Wh32.5 h
BLUETTI AC1801,152 Wh18.7 h
Jackery Explorer 1000 v21,070 Wh17.3 h
Anker SOLIX C10001,056 Wh17.1 h
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus1,024 Wh16.6 h
Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 21,024 Wh16.6 h
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus286 WhBorderline
Jackery Explorer 300293 WhCan’t run it

Mini fridges and freezers

A mini fridge has a smaller compressor and a lower startup surge, so compact stations with 600 W or more can often run one:

Mini fridge: 80 W running, 400 W start-up, ~40% duty cycle. Current models; “Borderline” means within 10% of the station’s rating.
Power stationCapacityRuntime
EcoFlow DELTA Pro3,600 Wh4.0 days
BLUETTI Elite 200 V22,074 Wh2.3 days
EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max2,048 Wh2.3 days
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max2,048 Wh2.3 days
Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus2,042 Wh2.3 days
Anker SOLIX S20002,010 Wh2.2 days
BLUETTI AC1801,152 Wh30.6 h
Jackery Explorer 1000 v21,070 Wh28.4 h
Anker SOLIX C10001,056 Wh28.1 h
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus1,024 Wh27.2 h
Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 21,024 Wh27.2 h
Jackery Explorer 300293 Wh7.8 h
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus286 Wh7.6 h

How to make the battery last longer

  • Keep the door shut. A closed fridge stays cold for hours without power, so the compressor runs less.
  • Check your fridge's real draw. The energy guide label lists kWh per year; divide by 365 for a daily figure. Many newer fridges use under 1 kWh a day.
  • Add solar. A few hundred watts of panels can replace much of a day's use in good sun. See our solar charging guide.
  • Plug it in directly. Use a heavy-gauge extension cord if you need one, not a long thin cord.

Our picks for running a fridge

Anker · Mid-size

SOLIX C1000 Gen 2

  • 1,024Wh
  • 2,000W out
  • 24.9lb

The fastest-charging 1 kWh station here (49 minutes from the wall), with 2,000 W output, 4,000 cycles and a 10 ms UPS, at under 25 lb.

Maker’s list price: $300–$699
View on AmazonDetails

EcoFlow · Mid-size

DELTA 3 Plus

  • 1,024Wh
  • 1,800W out
  • 27.6lb

The DELTA 2’s successor: same 1 kWh size, but 4,000 cycles, double the solar input (1,000 W), 140 W USB-C and expansion to 5 kWh.

Maker’s list price: $700–$1,499
View on AmazonDetails

EcoFlow · Large

DELTA 3 Max

  • 2,048Wh
  • 2,400W out
  • 44.8lb

2 kWh and 2,400 W in a lighter body than the DELTA 2 Max (44.8 lb), with 0–80% wall charging in about 68 minutes. It isn’t expandable; the Max Plus version is.

Maker’s list price: $700–$1,499
View on AmazonDetails

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