The short answer
A typical chest freezer needs about 100 W running and up to 400 W to start, averaging about 35 W over time. A full day needs roughly 988 Wh of battery.
The load and who can run it
| Item | Typical value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Running watts | 100 W | typical planning value |
| Starting watts | 400 W | typical planning value |
| Duty cycle | 35% | share of time drawing power |
| Average draw | 35 W | running watts × duty cycle |
Keep the lid closed during an outage; it holds cold for many hours.
Power stations that can run it (81)
Wattstanding calculationWattstanding calculation — runtime = capacity × 85% ÷ (running watts × duty cycle). Showing the 30 lowest-priced of 81 qualifying stations.
Generators that can run it (157)
Total your own list with the appliance load & runtime calculator.
Questions readers ask
How many watts does a chest freezer use?
A typical one runs on about 100 W and can need 400 W to start; averaged over time it draws about 35 W. Check your own nameplate.
How many watt-hours do I need to run it for a day?
About 988 Wh of battery capacity for 24 hours, by our calculation (average draw × 24 h ÷ 85% efficiency).
Figures marked as Wattstanding calculations show their working; product figures come from the sources on each product page. How we work