Chest freezer: how much battery you need
Chest freezer draws about 100 W (60–150 W range), runs 30% of the time and uses 720 Wh per day. Start-up surge: 500 W.
Keep it closed and it holds temperature for 24–48 h even unpowered; powering it 6–8 h a day in bursts is enough to save the food.
Battery needed
| Hours | Wh | Battery (Wh) | Inverter (W) |
|---|---|---|---|
| For 8 hours | 240 | 364 | 111 / 500 |
| For 24 hours | 720 | 1091 | 111 / 500 |
| For 72 hours | 2160 | 3273 | 111 / 500 |
Open in calculator with this appliance →
Stations that fit (24 h)
Shop links are affiliate links: if you buy, we earn a small commission at no cost to you. Picks are based on your numbers, not on commission.
FAQ
How many watts does a Chest freezer use?
Typically 100 W while running, with a range of 60–150 W depending on model and age. Start-up surge can reach 500 W.
How long will a 1000 Wh power station run a Chest freezer?
About 22 hours on the clock, allowing for the 30% duty cycle, inverter losses and a 20% reserve.
What size power station do I need for a Chest freezer overnight (8 h)?
About 364 Wh of battery and an inverter rated at least 111 W continuous with 500 W surge.
Can I run a Chest freezer on solar during an outage?
You need roughly 480 W of panels in winter to replace a day's use (720 Wh), charging through a station with a big enough MPPT input.
Other sizes
Other appliances
1 Approximate values: estimated from motor or heater power and typical figures published online, not from a manufacturer chart. Check your appliance label.
Inverter efficiency 88%, usable depth of discharge 90%, reserve 20%. Full method: How we calculate. source