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How many watts does a Refrigerator use?
Running watts
700 W
Starting watts
2,200 W
Startup surge
+1,500 W
A Refrigerator draws 700 watts continuously once it's running, but its motor needs a brief surge of up to 2,200 watts to start. A generator has to cover that starting surge, not just the running load, or the motor won't start.
Running it 24 hours/day costs roughly $85.68/month at the U.S. average residential rate (~$0.17/kWh, early 2026, per the EIA) — real rates vary a lot by state and utility. Use your own rate in the House calculator →
Generators that can run this
- Generac GP2200i1,700 W run · 2,200 W start · ~$550
- Honda EU2200i1,800 W run · 2,200 W start · ~$1,150
- WEN 56235i1,900 W run · 2,350 W start · ~$430
Prices as of July 2026 — check the current listing before buying.
Power stations that can run this
Nothing in our catalog — even combined — comfortably covers this appliance's 2,200 W surge and 16.8 kWh runtime. A generator is the more realistic option.
Add more appliances in the full calculator →