Off-grid, RV & cabin
Enter your fridge wattage and propane costs. See the solar cost an electric fridge adds against the propane fridge's running cost, and your breakeven year.
How it works
Step 1
This sets how much solar and battery capacity going electric would require.
Step 2
Propane fridges use a fairly predictable amount of fuel per month.
Step 3
Know how many years of propane cost equals the solar cost you'd avoid.
For a typical 150-watt electric fridge, going propane instead avoids about $408 in solar panel and battery cost, while the propane fridge itself costs around $100.80 a year to run. That means roughly 4 years of propane cost equals the avoided solar system cost, after which propane becomes the more expensive option over the long run. Pair this with the battery lifespan estimator to see the full picture before you commit.
A typical 150-watt electric fridge needs about 300 watts of solar panel plus roughly 250Ah of battery capacity for 2 days of autonomy, adding meaningfully to both panel and battery costs compared to a system without a fridge load at all. A fridge runs continuously all day, making it one of the larger single-appliance contributors to system size in most cabin setups. Add it to your full load list with the off grid load list builder to see the effect on your total system size. The DOE's overview of refrigeration product efficiency standards has the current version, so check there before you rely on a summary.
If you plan to use the cabin for many years beyond the breakeven point, electric may work out cheaper in the long run since the solar system is a one-time cost while propane keeps accumulating, while propane makes more sense for shorter ownership horizons or if you value not depending on propane deliveries at all. Consider your actual expected years of use, not just the raw breakeven number, when weighing this decision. Propane and electricity prices don't move in lockstep, and EIA's breakdown of what drives electricity prices is a useful companion when that breakeven math depends on future price trends you can't fully predict.
Propane requires periodic tank refills or deliveries, which can be inconvenient or difficult to arrange for genuinely remote locations, while an electric fridge depends entirely on your solar system staying charged, which can be a real concern during extended cloudy stretches without backup power. Both options have genuine tradeoffs beyond the pure cost comparison, so weigh convenience and reliability alongside the dollar figures. If you're weighing more than one propane appliance rather than just the fridge, the solar plus propane hybrid planning tool handles that broader comparison. Your inverter has to handle the biggest load you will run at once. The hybrid inverter sizing calculator in our Inverters & Equipment section can help you size it for your actual appliances.
If electric wins out for your numbers, the battery size for refrigerator backup in our battery storage tools sizes the bank specifically for a fridge's continuous draw, and the battery lifespan estimator in our maintenance and lifespan tools estimates how long that bank will hold up under daily cycling. DOE's overview of refrigeration product efficiency standards is a good next read on fridge efficiency more generally. A second sizing method is worth the check. The solar panel calculator in our System Sizing section can help you confirm the panel count from your daily load.
Questions
For a typical 150-watt electric fridge, going propane instead avoids about $408 in solar panel and battery cost, while the propane fridge itself costs around $100.80 a year to run. That means roughly 4 years of propane cost equals the avoided solar system cost, after which propane becomes the more expensive option.
A typical 150-watt electric fridge needs about 300 watts of solar panel plus roughly 250Ah of battery capacity for 2 days of autonomy, adding meaningfully to both panel and battery costs compared to a system without a fridge load at all.
Not necessarily. If you plan to use the cabin for many years, electric may work out cheaper in the long run past the breakeven point, while propane makes more sense for shorter ownership horizons or if you value not depending on propane deliveries.
Propane requires periodic tank refills or deliveries, which can be inconvenient for remote locations, while an electric fridge depends entirely on your solar system staying charged, which can be a concern during extended cloudy stretches. Both have genuine tradeoffs beyond the pure cost comparison.