What size power station for an older refrigerator (1990s to 2010)?

It needs a station with at least 275 W of continuous output and a surge rating of at least 1,000 W to start it. At the default 85% efficiency it takes about 698 Wh of rated capacity for 8 hours of running, and 2,094 Wh for 24 hours of running. 49 of the 54 power stations in the Enough Watts data set can power it. The smallest one that keeps it going for 24 hours of running is the Anker SOLIX F2600 (2,560 Wh).

Updated October 6, 2026

275W
Continuous output
1,000W
Surge to start it
698Wh
Capacity for 8 hours of running
2,094Wh
Capacity for 24 hours of running
49 of 54
Stations that power it

Watts

Typical figures for this type, from the sources at the foot of this page. Watts vary by model and age. Check the label on your own appliance and enter it for an exact answer.

Running, typical: 275 W
Running, low to high: 150 W to 400 W
Starting: 1,000 W800 W to 1,200 W, 3.6 times running
Energy per day: 1.78 kWh1.68 to 2.82 kWh; the compressor cycles on and off
Typical use a day: 24 hthe calculator starts from this, and you can change it
Average draw while on: 74.2 W
Voltage: 120 V

Explained in: Watts vs watt hours, explained, How to read an appliance label for watts, Starting watts explained and Can a power station run a refrigerator?.

The math

Worked with the typical figure, as the calculator does it.

Output275 W running, so the station's continuous output must be at least 275 W.
Surge1,000 W to start, so its surge rating must be at least 1,000 W.
Average draw1.78 kWh a day × 1,000 ÷ 24 h = 74.2 W, because it cycles on and off.
A typical day74.2 W × 24 h = 1,780 Wh a day.
8 hours of running74.2 W × 8 h = 593 Wh usable, ÷ 0.85 = 698 Wh of rated capacity.
24 hours of running74.2 W × 24 h = 1,780 Wh usable, ÷ 0.85 = 2,094 Wh of rated capacity.
On the Anker SOLIX F26002,560 Wh × 0.85 = 2,176 Wh usable, ÷ 74.2 W = 29.3 h.

Stations that run it

Every power station in the data with this appliance alone plugged in, at 85% efficiency. Type the running watts from your own label and the table works it out again.

Running watts

Typical 275 W, from 150 W to 400 W. Watts vary by model and age. Check the label on your own appliance and enter it for an exact answer.

49 of 54 power stations run it at 275 W and 1,000 W to start.

Power stations for a refrigerator (older, 1990s to 2010) at 275 W
Power station	Can it power it	Running time	Output	Start surge
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus	Runs it	3.3 h	600 W	1,200 W
Goal Zero Yeti 500	Runs it	5.7 h	500 W	1,000 W
DJI Power 500	Runs it	5.9 h	1,000 W	not published
Jackery Explorer 600 v2	Runs it	7.3 h	500 W	1,000 W
Goal Zero Yeti 700	Runs it	7.8 h	600 W	1,000 W
BLUETTI Elite 100 mini	Runs it	11.5 h	700 W	1,050 W
BLUETTI Elite 100 V2	Runs it	11.7 h	1,800 W	3,600 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic	Runs it	11.7 h	1,800 W	3,600 W
Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2	Runs it	11.7 h	2,000 W	3,000 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3	Runs it	11.7 h	1,800 W	3,600 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus	Runs it	11.7 h	1,800 W	3,600 W
Pecron E1000LFP	Runs it	11.7 h	1,800 W	3,000 W
DJI Power 1000	Runs it	11.7 h	2,200 W	4,400 W
Anker SOLIX C1000	Runs it	12.1 h	1,800 W	2,400 W
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2	Runs it	12.3 h	1,500 W	3,000 W
BLUETTI AC180	Runs it	13.2 h	1,800 W	2,700 W
ALLPOWERS R1500	Runs it	13.2 h	1,800 W	3,000 W
Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus	Runs it	14.5 h	2,000 W	4,000 W
Goal Zero Yeti 1500	Runs it	17.2 h	2,000 W	3,600 W
Jackery Explorer 1500 v2	Runs it	17.6 h	2,000 W	4,000 W
Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra	Runs it	17.6 h	1,800 W	3,600 W
ALLPOWERS R2500 V2	Runs it	22.0 h	2,500 W	4,000 W
Jackery Explorer 2000 v2	Runs it	23.4 h	2,200 W	4,400 W
Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2	Runs it	23.5 h	2,400 W	4,800 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max	Runs it	23.5 h	2,400 W	4,800 W
Pecron E2400LFP	Runs it	23.5 h	2,400 W	4,000 W
Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2	Runs it	23.5 h	2,400 W	4,000 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus	Runs it	23.5 h	3,000 W	6,000 W
OUPES Mega 2 Pro	Runs it	23.5 h	2,500 W	not published
DJI Power 2000	Runs it	23.5 h	3,000 W	not published
BLUETTI Elite 200 V2	Runs it	23.8 h	2,600 W	not published
Anker SOLIX F2600	Runs it	29.3 h	2,400 W	2,800 W
BLUETTI Apex 300	Runs it	31.7 h	3,840 W	not published
BLUETTI Elite 300	Runs it	34.5 h	2,400 W	4,800 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra	Runs it	35.2 h	3,600 W	7,200 W
Anker SOLIX F3000	Runs it	35.2 h	3,600 W	7,200 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Plus	Runs it	35.2 h	3,600 W	7,200 W
Pecron E3600LFP	Runs it	35.2 h	3,600 W	7,000 W
ALLPOWERS R3500	Runs it	36.3 h	3,200 W	6,000 W
ALLPOWERS R4000	Runs it	39.6 h	3,600 W	6,000 W
BLUETTI Elite 400	Runs it	44.0 h	2,600 W	5,200 W
Anker SOLIX F3800	Runs it	44.0 h	6,000 W	9,000 W
Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus	Runs it	44.0 h	6,000 W	9,000 W
Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000	Runs it	45.8 h	3,600 W	7,200 W
EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3	Runs it	46.9 h	4,000 W	8,000 W
OUPES Guardian 6000 V2	Runs it	2.2 days	6,000 W	9,000 W
Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus	Runs it	2.4 days	7,200 W	14,400 W
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra	Runs it	2.9 days	7,200 W	10,800 W
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra X	Runs it	5.9 days	12,000 W	not published
BLUETTI Elite 10 Mini	Cannot power itNeeds 275 W running at once; this station gives 200 W. Needs 1,000 W to start; this station peaks at 300 W.	none	200 W	300 W
Jackery Explorer 240 v2	Cannot power itNeeds 1,000 W to start; this station peaks at 600 W.	none	300 W	600 W
BLUETTI Elite 30 V2	Cannot power itNeeds 1,000 W to start. Its surge rating is not published, and its 600 W continuous rating is lower.	none	600 W	not published
Jackery Explorer 300 v2	Cannot power itNeeds 1,000 W to start; this station peaks at 600 W.	none	300 W	600 W
Goal Zero Yeti 300	Cannot power itNeeds 1,000 W to start; this station peaks at 600 W.	none	350 W	600 W

Add it to the runtime calculator with the rest of your list

What moves the number

Age moves the daily energy most. A top freezer model from 2001 to 2010 uses about 1.78 kWh a day, one from the 1990s up to 2.82 kWh, and models from before 1993 more still. The compressor start is the same 1,000 W as a new fridge in our data.

ENERGY STAR's Flip Your Fridge calculator estimates the yearly use of an older model from its type, size and age. Divide that by 365 for the daily figure.

Questions

How many watts does an older refrigerator (1990s to 2010) use?

About 275 W while running, from 150 W to 400 W across the models in our sources. It needs about 1,000 W for a moment at start. Over a day it uses about 1.78 kWh, because it cycles on and off. Watts vary by model and age. Check the label on your own appliance and enter it for an exact answer.

Can a portable power station run an older refrigerator (1990s to 2010)?

Yes. 49 of the 54 power stations in the Enough Watts data set can power it on its own. It takes at least 275 W of continuous output and a surge rating of 1,000 W.

How long will a power station run an older refrigerator (1990s to 2010)?

It depends on the battery. At 85% efficiency the smallest station that powers it, the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus (286 Wh), gives about 3.3 h. The largest, the EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra X (12,288 Wh), gives about 5.9 days.

Why does an older refrigerator (1990s to 2010) need a high surge rating?

Its motor draws about 1,000 W for a moment at start, 3.6 times its 275 W running figure. A station whose surge rating is below that cannot start it, even when the continuous output is enough. 49 of the 54 stations pass that check.

Sources

Researched from these pages, then checked against them a second time.

ENERGY STAR Flip Your Fridge Calculator data script (Use of Existing kWh/year by configuration, age and size) government, checked October 6, 2026
ENERGY STAR Flip Your Fridge Calculator government, checked October 6, 2026
Generator Wattage Chart: Common Appliances & Tools - Champion Power Equipment generator maker guide, checked October 6, 2026

We read published figures and do the math; we do not measure appliances. The methodology states every formula on this page. Capacities are rated watt hours: 1,000 Wh rated gives 850 Wh usable at the default.