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Quick pick
Our picks in 30 seconds
A written rule, not the commission: for each need, the cheapest 12V fridge in our price check that meets the condition.
1Cheapest 40 qt or more with published watts
BougeRV CRS 42 qt
The cheapest compressor fridge of 40 qt or more whose page publishes its rated watts.
- Capacity
- 42.1 qt
- Power data
- 60 W rated
- Affiliate program
- Awin 52765 (not joined yet)
- 60 W rated (published)
- real use depends on heat, settings and how often you open it
$239.99 $329.99price checked November 7, 2026; it may have changed
2Cheapest with a published daily figure
Renogy 42 qt (40L) portable refrigerator
The cheapest fridge whose maker publishes Wh per 24 hours, not only rated watts.
- Capacity
- 42 qt
- Power data
- 60 W rated; 1400 Wh/24 h published
- Affiliate program
- Impact (Renogy US) (not joined yet)
- 60 W rated (published)
- 1400 Wh per 24 h published
- real use depends on heat, settings and how often you open it
$299.99 $499.99price checked November 7, 2026; it may have changed
3Cheapest dual zone with published watts
BougeRV CRD2 V2.0 43 qt dual zone
The cheapest two-zone fridge whose page publishes its rated watts.
- Capacity
- 43 qt
- Power data
- 60 W rated
- Affiliate program
- Awin 52765 (not joined yet)
- 60 W rated (published)
- real use depends on heat, settings and how often you open it
$319.99 $439.99price checked November 7, 2026; it may have changed
Prices shown by the brand stores on November 7, 2026 (sale prices included). We have not tested any product: we compare published product pages. How we compare: criteria, sources and dates
Rig Amps may be paid through affiliate links to BougeRV, Renogy and EcoFlow. As of November 7, 2026, no affiliate program has accepted the site yet, and ICECO links never carry a commission. Affiliate disclosure.
The fridge is usually the largest load in a van, and the one with the vaguest numbers. We read 30 portable 12V compressor fridges on four brand stores and noted, word for word, the power figures their pages publish. 20 of them publish at least one figure we can compute with.
Two kinds of figures
Rated watts tell you the draw while the compressor runs. They give the worst case if you multiply by 24 hours, and BougeRV writes that case itself for its 53 qt: "would consume 1.44 kWh of energy if it runs continuously for 24 hours at Max Mode (60W)".
A daily figure comes from a test with stated conditions. EcoFlow's is the most complete: "Refrigeration(4°C/39°F): 165wh/24h; 0.57 Ah/h", "Freezing (-18°C/-0.4°F): 520wh/24h; 1.8 Ah/h", "Tested @ Ambient temperature: 25°C/77°F, Eco mode". ICECO's VL45: "Average wattage: 55W. Power consumption: 0.347kw.h/24 (Laboratory data for reference only)". Renogy: "In ECO mode, it consumes 45 watts, equivalent to approximately 1 kWh of electricity per day. MAX mode ... consuming around 1.4 kWh". The Renogy figures are watts x 24 h, so they are a worst case too.
The gap is large: 165 Wh against 1,440 Wh [calc: 60 W x 24 h] for fridges of similar size. Your own figure will sit between them, depending on the room temperature, the setting, how full the box is and how often you open it. That is why our power budget lets you choose the hours the compressor runs.
All 30 fridges, cheapest first
| Fridge | Capacity | Rated watts | Published daily use | Worst case, 24 h at rated watts [calc] | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BougeRV CRPRO20 21 qt | 21 qt | 45 W | not published | 1,080 Wh | $179.99 |
| BougeRV CRX3 23 qt | 23 qt | 60 W | not published | 1,440 Wh | $199.99 |
| BougeRV CRPRO30 30 qt | 30 qt | 60 W | not published | 1,440 Wh | $234.99 |
| BougeRV CRS 42 qt | 42.1 qt | 60 W | not published | 1,440 Wh | $239.99 |
| BougeRV CRX3 30 qt | 30 qt | 60 W | not published | 1,440 Wh | $249.99 |
| BougeRV 53 qt (50L) fridge/freezer | 53 qt | 60 W | not published | 1,440 Wh | $249.99 |
| BougeRV ASPEN S50 50 qt | 50 qt | 60 W | not published | 1,440 Wh | $264.99 |
| Renogy 42 qt (40L) portable refrigerator | 42 qt | 60 W | 1400 Wh/24 h | 1,440 Wh | $299.99 |
| BougeRV CRD2 V2.0 43 qt dual zone | 43 qt | 60 W | not published | 1,440 Wh | $319.99 |
| BougeRV CRD2 V2.0 52 qt dual zone | 52 qt | 60 W | not published | 1,440 Wh | $359.99 |
| BougeRV CRD2 V2.0 61 qt dual zone | 61 qt | 60 W | not published | 1,440 Wh | $399.99 |
| BougeRV Rocky V3.0 41 qt dual zone | 41 qt | 80 W | not published | 1,920 Wh | $399.99 |
| ICECO GOPACK12 13.5 qt | 13.5 qt | not published | not published | not published | $449 |
| ICECO GO20 21 qt dual zone | 21 qt | 45 W | not published | 1,080 Wh | $449 |
| BougeRV Rocky V3.0 55 qt dual zone | 55 qt | 80 W | not published | 1,920 Wh | $449.99 |
| BougeRV CRS 79 qt dual zone | 79 qt | 70 W | not published | 1,680 Wh | $449.99 |
| ICECO APL20 21 qt | 21 qt | not published | 293 Wh/24 h | not published | $559 |
| ICECO VL45 47.5 qt | 47.5 qt | 55 W | 347 Wh/24 h | 1,320 Wh | $559 |
| ICECO VL35ProS 37 qt | 37 qt | not published | not published | not published | $649 |
| EcoFlow GLACIER Classic 35L | 37 qt (35 L) | 55 W | 165 Wh/24 h fridge, 520 Wh/24 h freezer | 1,320 Wh | $699 |
| ICECO VL45ProS 47.5 qt | 47.5 qt | not published | not published | not published | $749 |
| ICECO APL35 37 qt dual zone | 37 qt | not published | not published | not published | $759 |
| ICECO BF65 66 qt | 66 qt | not published | not published | not published | $760 |
| ICECO VL45PLUS 44.4 qt | 44.4 qt | not published | not published | not published | $799 |
| EcoFlow GLACIER Classic 45L | 47.6 qt (45 L) | 55 W | 165 Wh/24 h fridge, 520 Wh/24 h freezer | 1,320 Wh | $799 |
| ICECO VL60ProS 63.4 qt | 63.4 qt | not published | not published | not published | $849 |
| EcoFlow GLACIER Classic 55L | 58.1 qt (55 L) | 55 W | 165 Wh/24 h fridge, 520 Wh/24 h freezer | 1,320 Wh | $849 |
| ICECO APL55 58 qt dual zone | 58 qt | not published | not published | not published | $959 |
| ICECO VL75ProD 79.2 qt dual zone | 79.2 qt | not published | not published | not published | $1,049 |
| ICECO VL90ProD 95 qt dual zone | 95 qt | not published | not published | not published | $1,349 |
How we compare: criteria, sources and dates
Capacity as published (quarts; EcoFlow publishes liters, converted at 1 L = 1.05669 qt [calc]). BougeRV's CRPRO20 and CRPRO30 pages each carry two specification blocks; we use the first one on each page.
Picking one for a van
- Measure the space first: every page publishes outside dimensions (BougeRV CRS 42 qt: "28.0*19.6*17.1in."), and the lid needs room to open. Dual zone lets one side freeze while the other cools.
- Prefer a published daily figure when you are close on battery: it tells you the maker measured it.
- Check the low-voltage cut-off in the manual, so the fridge cannot drain your starter battery.
Next: what size battery for a 12V fridge, and the battery comparison.
Wiring a fridge. A 60 W fridge pulls about 5 A at 12 V [calc: 60 / 12]; a long, thin cable drops the voltage and can trip the fridge's battery protection. Use the cable and fuse the manual specifies, and have permanent wiring done by a qualified installer.
Frequently asked questions
How many watts does a 12V fridge use?
While the compressor runs: 45 W to 80 W on the BougeRV pages we read, 55 W for the EcoFlow GLACIER Classic, 60 W for Renogy's 42 qt in MAX mode and 45 W in ECO mode. The compressor stops once the box is cold, so the daily total is lower than watts x 24.
How many Wh per day does a 12V fridge use?
Only a few makers publish it. EcoFlow: 165 Wh per 24 h as a fridge at 39°F, 520 Wh as a freezer at 0°F, in a 77°F room in Eco mode. ICECO: 347 Wh for the VL45 and 293 Wh for the APL20 (lab data). Renogy: about 1 kWh in ECO and 1.4 kWh in MAX for its 42 qt.
Is a 12V fridge the same as a thermoelectric cooler?
No. Every fridge on this page uses a compressor, like a home fridge. Thermoelectric coolers are a different product and are not compared here.
Why do so many ICECO fridges show not published?
Because the product pages we read on November 7, 2026 do not state their wattage or daily consumption in text. We list them with their capacity and price, but our power budget cannot use them.