How Many Solar Panels Do I Need to Run a Refrigerator?

Posted on by Solar Genie


If you’re building an off-grid solar system or want to keep food cold during power outages, you’ve probably asked: “How many solar panels do I need to run a fridge?” The answer depends on the size of the fridge, how efficient it is, and how much sunlight you get per day.

In this guide, we’ll break down the exact steps to figure it out—whether you’re powering a full-size fridge or a small 12V unit in a cabin, RV, or tiny house.

🔌 Step 1: Know Your Refrigerator’s Power Consumption

Check the back of the fridge, the user manual, or the energy label for power usage. You’re usually looking for either:

  • Running Watts (W) – The average power the fridge uses while operating
  • kWh/day – How much energy the fridge uses in 24 hours

📊 Example Fridge Power Ratings

  • Mini Fridge: 100W, ~0.8 kWh/day
  • Energy-Efficient Full-Size: 150W, ~1.2 kWh/day
  • Standard Full-Size: 200W–300W, ~1.5–2 kWh/day

Let’s assume a mid-sized fridge uses 1.5 kWh per day (1500 Wh).

☀️ Step 2: Factor in Your Peak Sun Hours

Your solar panel output depends on how much sunlight your location gets per day, called peak sun hours.

Estimated Peak Sun Hours by Region:

  • California, Arizona, Nevada: 5–6 hours/day
  • Texas, Georgia, Florida: ~5 hours/day
  • Northeast US: ~4 hours/day
  • Cloudy climates: 2–3 hours/day

For this example, let’s use 5 peak sun hours per day.

📐 Step 3: Calculate Solar Panel Wattage Needed

Use this formula:

Solar Panel Watts Needed = Daily Energy Use (Wh) ÷ Peak Sun Hours

1500 Wh ÷ 5 hours = 300W

With a 20% buffer for inefficiencies, battery losses, and cloudy days:

300W × 1.2 = 360W of solar panel capacity

✅ Recommended Setup Examples

🔹 Option 1: Portable or Cabin Use

  • 1x 400W solar panel
  • 1x 12V 100Ah LiFePO₄ battery
  • 20A MPPT charge controller
  • 600W pure sine wave inverter

🔹 Option 2: Full-Size Fridge + Additional Loads

  • 2x 300W solar panels (600W total)
  • 2x 12V 100Ah batteries (or 1x 24V 100Ah)
  • 40A MPPT charge controller
  • 1000W+ inverter

🧠 Tips for Running a Fridge on Solar

  • Use an energy-efficient fridge with an inverter compressor
  • Keep your fridge full to maintain cold temps
  • Avoid opening the door often in off-grid setups
  • Use LiFePO₄ batteries for deep discharge and longer life

📊 Summary Table

Fridge TypeDaily Usage (kWh)Recommended Solar Panel (W) Mini Fridge0.8200–250W Efficient Full-Size1.2300–350W Standard Full-Size1.5–2.0400–600W

📦 Final Thoughts

You can absolutely run a refrigerator on solar—but the key is to match your panel output to your fridge’s daily usage and plan for battery storage. For most full-size fridges, a 400–600W solar setup with a reliable battery bank will do the trick.

Looking to power more than just your fridge? Consider reading our post: How to Size a Complete Solar System for Your Home.

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Still unsure? Drop your fridge model in the comments and we’ll help you calculate your exact setup!

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