What size generator do I need to run a refrigerator and freezer?

Read the nameplate on each appliance, then add both loads in the calculator. Manufacturer rows for this pair are on the sourced page linked below.

Quick sizing question: what size generator for a refrigerator and freezer.

Where the watts are

Running watts are the continuous draw. Starting watts are the compressor surge. If both compressors start together after power returns, the generator's surge rating has to cover that combined start on top of whatever else is already running. Those figures belong on the nameplate or on a page that cites the manufacturer. The Honda and Champion rows are on the refrigerator and freezer sizing page and the generator sizing chart.

Why people look at inverter generators

Compressor motors are inductive loads. A conventional generator can run them and still put a rougher waveform on a control board. An inverter generator is the type sold for electronics-sensitive loads, and it can throttle down when the fridge cycles off. Compare total harmonic distortion on the current spec sheet. This page does not state a THD percent.

You do not have to run it continuously

Keep the doors closed. A closed refrigerator and a full freezer hold temperature longer than an open door, so the generator can run in sessions instead of all the time. Food-temperature limits belong on a food-safety page that cites them; this page does not reprint those figures. Fuel for the sessions is whatever the calculator prints from your nameplate list.

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Where a battery bank fits

A fridge and freezer are a small, cycling load, which is why some houses cover them with a battery bank overnight and a generator for longer outages. Size that bank on the battery bank sizer, or add both appliances plus a well pump in the generator size calculator.

A food-service list that pairs a fridge with Honda's microwave row is on best generator for a food truck. A battery-tab case set next to the generator tab is on generator vs battery backup.

FAQ

Can I run my fridge off an extension cord?

Yes, with an outdoor cord rated for the load, kept as short as practical. Never back-feed the house through a dryer or wall outlet; that is a transfer-switch job and a code and safety violation.

What about the ice maker and defrost cycle?

An auto-defrost heater is a second load on top of the compressor. If it cycles while the freezer compressor starts, the combined surge can trip the breaker. Some fridges let you disable the defrost timer during an outage. Read the nameplate rather than guessing the heater watts.

Does the freezer need its own generator?

No. A full freezer is already at temperature and cycles less than an empty one. One generator sized for both nameplates can protect both. Keep the doors closed between runs.