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What size generator do you need for a refrigerator and a freezer?
Updated
Using the typical figures in our calculator, a refrigerator alone needs about 700 running watts and 2,200 starting watts. Add a chest freezer and you need 1,200 running and 2,700 starting watts. With headroom, look for about 1,500 running watts or more for the pair.
Why the starting number matters here
A refrigerator is a motor that cycles on and off all day. Each time the compressor kicks on, it pulls a short burst far above what it uses once it is going. In our figures that burst is 1,500 extra watts for a refrigerator and 1,000 for a chest freezer. A generator that covers the running watts but not the burst will trip its overload every time the compressor starts.
We count all the running watts plus the single largest burst, because two motors rarely start at the same moment. That is the same math the wattage calculator uses.
- Refrigerator alone2,200 starting watts
- Refrigerator and chest freezer2,700 starting watts
- Both plus lights and TV and router3,000 starting watts
| What you run | Running watts | Starting watts | Look for at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 700 | 2,200 | 900 running |
| Refrigerator and chest freezer | 1,200 | 2,700 | 1,500 running |
| Both, plus LED lights, TV and router | 1,500 | 3,000 | 1,900 running |
Which picks fit
- Refrigerator only: the WEN 56235i has 1,900 running and 2,350 surge watts, so 2,200 starting watts fits on paper. It weighs 39 pounds. The caveat: it is gasoline only, and owners are mixed on how well it holds large loads.
- Refrigerator and freezer: 2,700 starting watts is past the WEN's 2,350. Step up to the Champion 4000-Watt Dual Fuel with 3,000 running and 4,000 starting watts on gas. It has a CO shutoff. The caveat: on propane it drops to 2,700 running watts, and the listing names no electric start.
- Both plus a furnace blower or a window air conditioner: look at the Westinghouse iGen5000DF at 3,900 running watts. The caveat is weight, about 105 pounds.
Your own refrigerator may differ from our typical figure. Check the label inside the door or on the back. Look for watts, or multiply volts by amps. See all five picks on the roundup page.
How to hook it up
A refrigerator and a freezer both plug into a normal outlet, so you do not need a transfer switch for them. Run a heavy-duty, outdoor-rated extension cord from the generator to each one. The Red Cross says the cord should be rated for at least the total load you put on it. The generator stays outside, at least 20 feet from the house.
Safety first, every time
- Carbon monoxide kills. Never run a generator indoors, in a garage, in a shed or on a porch, even with the door open. Keep it at least 20 feet from the house. Point the exhaust away from windows, doors and vents. Put battery CO alarms inside your home.
- Never backfeed. Do not plug a generator into a wall outlet or dryer outlet. It can kill a utility worker or a neighbor and can start a fire. To power home circuits you need a transfer switch or an interlock kit, installed by a licensed electrician.
- Without that, run heavy-duty outdoor extension cords from the generator straight to each appliance.
- Let the engine cool before you refuel. Store fuel outside the house.