A DC solar fridge or chest freezer costs about ₦170,000–₦600,000 in Nigeria, depending on size (roughly 100 to 320 litres) and brand, at prices seen in September–October 2026. Koolboks freezers cost more, from ₦633,000 for a 200L unit to ₦2,154,000 with a stand and solar panel. A complete DC freezer kit with one panel and one battery comes to about ₦770,000–₦1,040,000. These prices move with the naira exchange rate, so confirm with the seller before you pay.

Quick answer

DC solar freezers: about ₦170,000–₦250,000 for 100–120L, ₦180,000–₦350,000 for about 168L, ₦200,000–₦500,000 for 200–220L and ₦440,000–₦540,000 for 318L.
Koolboks: ₦633,000 (200L AC inverter freezer) to ₦1,034,000 (208L DC), with instalment and pay-as-you-go plans.
Panels and battery: a 200L DC freezer runs on one 300–450W panel and a 12V 100Ah lithium battery (or two 12V gel batteries for 24V models).
Normal freezer on solar: needs an inverter, about two 450W panels and around 2.5 kWh of battery, so roughly ₦1,600,000–₦2,400,000 as a stand-alone system.
Which to choose: a DC solar freezer for a shop or a home without a solar system; a normal or inverter fridge if you already have a home solar setup.

What is a solar refrigerator or freezer?

A solar freezer is a chest freezer or fridge with a DC compressor that runs straight from a 12V or 24V battery charged by a solar panel. There is no inverter in between, so less power is wasted. Most models sold in Nigeria also have an AC plug, so you can run them on NEPA when the light is on.

A normal fridge or freezer runs on 220V AC. To power it from solar you need a full system: panels, a charge controller, batteries and an inverter. The inverter itself uses power all day, which is why a normal freezer needs a bigger solar setup than a DC one of the same size.

Which solar freezer brands are sold in Nigeria?

Koolboks: a Lagos-based company selling solar and AC inverter freezers, mainly to traders and small businesses. Nigeria is its biggest market, and it offers outright purchase, instalments and pay-as-you-go. It says it is building local assembly that should cut prices by 15–20%.
BONA: widely listed in Lagos (Ojo and Alaba) and Onitsha in 118L, 168L, 218L and 318L sizes. Most are hybrid AC/DC models that run on 12V or 24V batteries.
SOL, Roy and Steca: DC fridges and freezers from about 158L to 220L, sold by solar dealers. Steca is a German brand, so check that you are buying the genuine product.
Unbranded imports: 108L–200L “solar chest freezers” sold at Alaba and on Jiji. They are cheaper, but warranty and spare parts are hard to get.

Normal AC freezers from Haier Thermocool, Hisense and similar brands are also widely run on home solar systems. They are not “solar freezers”, but they work well when the inverter and battery are sized properly.

How much is a solar freezer in Nigeria by litre size?

Size	Examples	Type	Price range
100–120L	BONA 118L, unbranded 108L	DC (12V) or AC/DC	₦170,000–₦250,000
158–170L	BONA 168L, unbranded 168L, Steca 166L, Roy 158L	AC/DC or DC	₦180,000–₦600,000
200–220L	BONA 218L, SOL 200L and 220L, unbranded 200L	AC/DC or DC	₦200,000–₦500,000
318L	BONA 318L	AC/DC (12V/24V)	₦440,000–₦540,000
318L full kit	BONA 318L with panel, battery and controller	DC package	About ₦1,280,000 (one Lagos listing)

Prices seen in September–October 2026 on Jiji.ng and Nigerian price roundups. Prices move with the naira exchange rate and vary by seller.

The wide range at 158–170L comes from brand: unbranded imports start below ₦200,000, while Roy and Steca models sit at the top. If a price looks far below these ranges, ask whether it is a refurbished unit or a different compressor.

How much does a Koolboks freezer cost?

Koolboks model	What you get	Price	Listed monthly price
200L solar AC inverter freezer	Freezer only	₦633,000	₦27,522
200L solar AC inverter freezer	Freezer and pedestal	₦1,943,000	₦84,479
200L solar AC inverter freezer	Freezer, pedestal and panel	₦2,420,000	₦105,218
208L AC solar freezer	Freezer only	₦824,000	₦35,827
208L AC solar freezer	Freezer, pedestal and panel	₦2,154,000	₦93,653
208L DC solar freezer	Freezer only	₦1,034,000	₦44,957

Prices listed on koolboks.com, October 2026. The site also shows separate plan prices (₦65,000–₦150,000 a month) that do not match these figures, so confirm the real monthly cost with Koolboks before you sign.

Koolboks costs more than a BONA or an unbranded freezer of the same size. What you pay for is the brand warranty, remote monitoring, after-sales support and the option to pay small amounts daily or weekly. Koolboks says its freezers keep things cold for several days without power; its own site quotes figures between 3 and 7 days, so treat that as a best case.

How much is a normal fridge or freezer compared?

For comparison, Zit.ng listed a Haier Thermocool 200L chest freezer at ₦445,000 and a Hisense 150L single-door fridge at ₦282,000 in October 2026. So the appliance itself costs about the same as a branded DC solar freezer. The difference is in what it takes to power it.

How many solar panels and batteries does a solar freezer need?

A 200L DC chest freezer typically uses about 0.6–1 kWh a day in Nigerian heat, depending on how often you open it and how full it is. Check the label on your model. Using 0.8 kWh (800 Wh) a day:

Panels: 800 Wh ÷ (4.5 sun hours × 0.8 for losses) = 222 W. One 300W panel covers it; a 450W panel gives headroom for rainy days.
Battery: about 14 hours a day without sun, so 800 × 14 ÷ 24 = 467 Wh at night. A 12V 100Ah lithium battery (about 1.28 kWh) covers that with room for a cloudy day. With gel or tubular batteries, use 12V 200Ah, or two 12V 100Ah batteries in series for a 24V model, because lead-acid should only be drained halfway.
Charge controller: a 20–30A MPPT or PWM controller between the panel and the battery. Our charge controller price guide lists options.

Setup	Daily use (typical)	Panels	Battery	Inverter
100–120L DC freezer	0.4–0.6 kWh	1 × 200–300W	12V 100Ah lithium or 12V 150Ah gel	None
200–220L DC freezer	0.6–1 kWh	1 × 300–450W	12V 100Ah lithium or 2 × 12V 100Ah gel (24V)	None
318L DC freezer	1–1.3 kWh	1–2 × 450W	24V 100Ah lithium or 2 × 12V 200Ah gel	None
Normal 200L chest freezer	1.2 kWh plus about 0.7 kWh inverter standby	2 × 450W	About 2.5 kWh lithium (24V 100Ah)	1–1.5kVA, with good surge rating
Normal 150L fridge	0.8–1 kWh plus inverter standby	1–2 × 450W	About 2.5 kWh lithium	1–1.5kVA

Our estimates using 4.5 peak sun hours and 20% losses. Daily use varies by model, room temperature and how often the lid is opened; check the energy label.

Already running other appliances on solar? Add the freezer to our solar load calculator to see whether your inverter, battery and panels can carry it.

What does a complete solar freezer setup cost?

Item	DC 218L solar freezer kit	Normal 200L freezer on solar
Freezer	₦357,000–₦430,000 (BONA 218L)	₦445,000 (Thermocool 200L)
Panels	1 × 450W: ₦95,000–₦130,000	2 × 450W: ₦190,000–₦260,000
Battery	12V 100Ah lithium: about ₦295,000–₦435,000	About 2.5 kWh lithium: about ₦575,000–₦850,000
Controller or inverter	Charge controller: about ₦20,000–₦40,000	1.5kVA inverter: about ₦200,000–₦380,000
Cables and installation	Small; often DIY	Add 15–25%
Total	About ₦770,000–₦1,040,000	About ₦1,600,000–₦2,400,000

Our estimates from prices seen in October 2026 on Jiji.ng, Zit.ng and dealer listings. Battery prices are worked out at ₦230,000–₦340,000 per kWh of lithium; the charge controller range is an estimate. Prices move with the exchange rate.

The DC kit costs roughly half as much because it skips the inverter and needs a smaller battery and fewer panels. Battery prices are covered in more detail in our solar battery price guide, and panel prices in our solar panel price list.

How much does a solar freezer save compared with a generator?

Many shops in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt run a freezer on a small “I-better-pass-my-neighbour” petrol generator. A 1kVA generator burns roughly 0.4–0.6 litres an hour. With petrol at about ₦1,370 a litre (NNPC Abuja price in early October 2026):

6 hours a day × 0.5 litres × ₦1,370 = ₦4,110 a day.
₦4,110 × 30 days = about ₦123,000 a month, before oil changes and repairs.
A ₦770,000–₦1,040,000 DC freezer kit pays for itself in about 6–8 months.

For the full running-cost comparison for a home, see generator vs inverter vs solar in Nigeria.

Should I buy a solar freezer for my business or my home?

For a business: buy a DC solar freezer

If you sell cold drinks, pure water, fish, meat or ice blocks, the freezer is your income. A DC solar freezer keeps running through outages without fuel, and the money saved on petrol pays for it within a year. Choose 200L or larger, a model with thick insulation, and a lithium battery. If you cannot pay upfront, Koolboks pay-as-you-go or other buy now, pay later solar plans spread the cost.

For a home with a solar system: keep a normal fridge

If you already have an inverter, batteries and panels, a normal fridge or an inverter-compressor model is the simplest choice. Check that your system has spare capacity: a freezer adds about 1–1.5 kWh a day. Our complete solar system cost guide shows what each system size can carry.

For a home without solar: a DC freezer is the cheapest way to keep food cold

If your main worry is spoiled soup and meat during long outages, a 118–218L DC solar freezer kit costs much less than a full home system. You can add a bigger system for fans and lights later.

What should I check before buying a solar freezer?

Real DC compressor: ask for the compressor brand and voltage (12V/24V). Some “solar freezers” are normal AC freezers with a solar sticker.
Battery quality: avoid “London-used” or refurbished batteries sold as new. Ask for the cycle rating and warranty in writing.
Warranty and service: buying from an authorised dealer costs more than Alaba or Computer Village, but you get a warranty someone will honour.
Insulation and seals: thicker walls and a tight lid keep the freezer cold overnight with less battery.

Frequently asked questions

Can a solar freezer work without a battery?

Some direct-drive models run straight from the panel in the day and store cold in ice packs for the night, but most freezers sold in Nigeria need a battery to run after sunset.

How many solar panels can power a freezer?

One 300–450W panel runs a 200L DC freezer. A normal 200L AC freezer on an inverter usually needs two 450W panels because of inverter losses.

Can a 1.5kVA inverter carry a freezer?

Yes, a 1–1.5kVA inverter can usually run one chest freezer, as long as it handles the compressor’s starting surge. Adding fans and a TV at the same time may need a 2.5kVA unit.

Is Koolboks worth the higher price?

For a business that needs a warranty, support and small daily payments, often yes. If you can pay upfront and install the panel and battery yourself, a BONA or similar DC freezer kit costs less.

Need a quote for a solar freezer kit? Visit our shop.

Sources

Last updated: October 2026. Prices were seen in September–October 2026 and move with the naira exchange rate; confirm with the seller before you buy. Power figures are typical estimates; check your appliance’s label.