PreparedStates

How long will a power station run a freezer?

A 1,000Wh power station runs a freezer on its own for about 9.5 to 23 hours, and a 2,000Wh one for about 19 to 46 hours. Starting it is the harder part: generator makers' charts allow up to about 2,600 watts for the moment it starts, and 16 of the 25 power stations we compare cover that, with 3 more worth checking against your own freezer's label.

300Wh3 to 7 hours
1,000Wh9.5 to 23 hours
2,000Wh19 to 46 hours

Every power station we compare

Running a freezer on its own from the AC outlet, smallest first.

Power stationRuns it forRuns it?
BLUETTI Elite 10 Mini128Wh · 200WSee price at BLUETTI–Noneeds 400W+
EcoFlow RIVER 3245Wh · 300WSee price on Amazon–Noneeds 400W+
Anker SOLIX C300288Wh · 300W · 600W surgeSee price on Amazon–Noneeds 400W+
BLUETTI Elite 30 V2288Wh · 600WSee price at BLUETTI2.5 to 6.5 hoursChecksurge rating not listed: check it
Jackery Explorer 300292Wh · 300W · 600W surgeSee price on Amazon–Noneeds 400W+
Goal Zero Yeti 700677Wh · 600W · 1,000W surgeSee price on Amazon6.5 to 16 hoursNomay not start it (surge 1,000W)
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro768Wh · 800W · 1,600W surgeSee price on Amazon7.5 to 18 hoursNomay not start it (surge 1,600W)
BLUETTI Elite 100 V21,024Wh · 1,800W · 2,700W surgeSee price at BLUETTI9.5 to 24 hoursYes
EcoFlow DELTA 31,024Wh · 1,800W · 3,600W surgeSee price on Amazon9.5 to 24 hoursYes
ALLPOWERS P18001,024Wh · 1,800W · 3,600W surgeSee price at ALLPOWERS9.5 to 24 hoursYes
Anker SOLIX C10001,056Wh · 1,800WSee price on Amazon10 to 24 hoursChecksurge rating not listed: check it
Jackery Explorer 1000 v21,070Wh · 1,500W · 3,000W surgeSee price on Amazon10 to 25 hoursYes
BLUETTI AC1801,152Wh · 1,800W · 2,700W surgeSee price at BLUETTI11 to 27 hoursYes
ALLPOWERS R15001,152Wh · 1,800W · 3,000W surgeSee price at ALLPOWERS11 to 27 hoursYes
Goal Zero Yeti 15001,505Wh · 2,000W · 3,600W surgeSee price on Amazon14 to 35 hoursYes
Jackery Explorer 1500 v21,536Wh · 2,000W · 4,000W surgeSee price on Amazon15 to 36 hoursYes
ALLPOWERS R2500 V21,920Wh · 2,500W · 5,000W surgeSee price at ALLPOWERS18 to 45 hoursYes
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max2,048Wh · 2,400W · 4,800W surgeSee price on Amazon19 to 47 hoursYes
BLUETTI Elite 200 V22,074Wh · 2,600WSee price at BLUETTI20 to 48 hoursYes
BLUETTI Apex 3002,765Wh · 3,840WSee price at BLUETTI26 to 64 hoursYes
BLUETTI Elite 3003,014Wh · 2,400WSee price at BLUETTI28 to 70 hoursChecksurge rating not listed: check it
Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus3,840Wh · 6,000WSee price on Amazon36 to 89 hoursYes
EcoFlow DELTA Pro 34,096Wh · 4,000W · 8,000W surgeSee price on Amazon39 to 95 hoursYes
Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus5,040Wh · 7,200W · 14,400W surgeSee price on Amazon48 to 117 hoursYes
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra6,144Wh · 7,200WSee price on Amazon2 to 5 daysYes

Runtime: capacity × 90% usable × 85% inverter efficiency ÷ (the appliance's average draw + about 10W the station uses itself), a range from the low and high average draw. "Runs it?" checks the station's output against 400–750W running and its surge rating against 2,250–2,600W to start, the cautious figures from generator makers' and DTE Energy's charts. Many modern appliances start with less, so "Check" means read your appliance's label (amps × 120 = watts). Plan on the low end of every runtime.

Where the figures come from

Generator charts treat a freezer like a refrigerator (DTE Energy lists them together at 750 running watts, starting factor 3). The day-long average is lower: Energy Star certified chest freezers start at about 200 kWh a year (23W), and upright freezers built to the federal maximum reach about 620 kWh (71W). A full freezer keeps food frozen for about 48 hours with the door shut, so it may not need power at all in a short outage: see food safety in a power outage.

Running more than one thing?

Tick everything you'd keep going and for how long, and see which power stations cover it.

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Questions

How long will a 1,000Wh power station run a freezer?

About 9.5 to 23 hours, running nothing else, on the figures behind this page. Plan on the low end.

What size power station do I need for a freezer?

For 12 hours, about 895Wh, or 1,271Wh for an older or larger one, with at least 750W of output and a surge rating of about 2,600W to start it.

Can a power station run a freezer in an outage?

Yes, if its output covers about 750W and its surge rating covers about 2,600W. A power station is safe to run indoors, unlike a generator.

Other appliances

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