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1. What do you need to keep running?
Pick your devices
Tap everything you want powered at the same time.
For how long?
Running load
0 W
Battery needed for 12 h (with 15% loss)
Pick a device
Shop for
Rough guide using typical draws. Check the wattage on your own labels, and motors briefly draw more at start-up.
See your top pick ↓Your top pick
2. The three sizes
Your match
Compact
Under 500 Wh
Phones, router and a few lights through a night or two.
- Easy to carry; good first unit.
Your match
Mid size
About 1,000 Wh
Router, lights, laptops and a blanket, or a fridge part of a day.
- Best balance for most homes.
Your match
Large
2,000 Wh and up
A longer device list, or a fridge for about a day. Often expandable.
- Pair with solar for multi-day outages.
Also check the rated output in watts. It must exceed everything you run at once. Solar input is worth having if an outage could run for days.
3. Brands to compare
All sell in Canada or the US. Compare capacity (Wh), output (W), warranty and price per Wh on the maker's page. We do not list prices because they change often.
J
JackeryWide range, compact to home backup sizes
Well known brand with a Canadian store. Wide range from compact to home backup sizes.
- Has a Canadian store
- Small, mid and large models
- Compare capacity, output and warranty on the maker page
A
ALLPOWERSCapacity for the price, plus solar kits
Covers Canada and the US. Often competitive on capacity for the price.
- Value-focused lineup
- Solar kits available
- Confirm shipping, duties and warranty at checkout
B
BLUETTILarge lineup, expandable home systems
Large capacity lineup, including expandable systems.
- Broad capacity range
- Expandable home-backup options
- Compare battery chemistry and stated cycle life
E
EcoFlowFast charging and expandable systems
Fast charging and expandable systems. Compare solar input specs.
- Markets fast charging, so compare charge times
- Expandable systems in larger sizes
- Check solar input specs
Capacity (Wh)How much energy it stores. Bigger runs more, longer.
Output (W)The most it can run at once. Must beat your total load.
Solar inputLets you recharge from panels during a long outage.
WarrantyCompare years and what is covered.
Runtime calculator and typical loads
Runtime calculator
8 hours
Typical loads (check your own labels)
| Device | Typical draw | On 1,000 Wh at 80% |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi router and modem | about 10 to 20 W | roughly 40 to 80 hours |
| Phone charging | about 5 to 20 W | many full charges per day |
| LED lights (a few) | about 10 to 30 W | roughly 25 to 80 hours |
| Laptop | about 45 to 90 W | roughly 9 to 18 hours |
| Electric blanket | about 50 to 100 W | roughly 8 to 16 hours |
| Space heater (1,500 W) | 1,500 W | about 32 minutes |
| Refrigerator | varies, see the EnergyGuide label | use the label's daily kWh |
The big lesson: power stations are great for small, steady loads. They are a poor way to make heat. A 1,500 W heater drains a 1,000 Wh unit in about half an hour.
Generator or power station?
Fuel generators can run bigger loads for longer, but they need fuel and they must run outdoors. Never run a generator, camp stove or barbecue inside a home, garage or tent. Carbon monoxide is odourless and can kill. A power station has no exhaust. For most households that only need to keep a few essentials going, a power station is simpler and safer. If you need to run a furnace, well pump or large appliances, talk to a licensed electrician about a proper transfer switch or inlet.
Guides on this topic (33)
What Size Power Station Do I Need? A 3-Step MethodWork out the watt-hours you need for your router, lights, phones and fridge, with a worked example.›How Long Will a Power Station Run a Fridge? Worked ExamplesRuntime depends on your fridge's real energy use. Here is how to estimate it, with examples for common sizes.›Best Portable Power Stations for Home Backup in Canada: How to ChooseWhat to compare before buying a portable power station in Canada: capacity, output, battery type, cold weather, warranty and shipping.›Best Portable Power Station for Home Backup in the US: 120V, 240V and Transfer SwitchesHow US buyers can choose a power station for storm and winter outages: outputs, 240V needs, transfer switches and solar.›Solar Generator vs Gas Generator for Power Outages: Which Fits Your Home?A fair comparison of battery power stations and fuel generators: runtime, noise, fuel, safety, cost and who each suits.›Jackery vs EcoFlow vs BLUETTI: A Spec Worksheet to Compare ThemInstead of declaring a winner, a worksheet to compare Jackery, EcoFlow and BLUETTI on the specs that decide outages.›Can a Power Station Run a Sump Pump?Learn how to match a portable power station to a sump pump: starting watts, realistic runtime, float switch tips and a layered backup plan.›How to Charge a Power Station With Solar PanelsMatch panel watts to your power station's input limit and voltage window, estimate real charging times and set up solar safely in an outage.›How to Use a Portable Generator SafelySafe generator use in an outage: placement at least 6 m (20 ft) from the house, CO alarms, fuel storage, grounding, cords and refuelling rules.›Transfer Switch vs Extension Cords for GeneratorsCompare a generator transfer switch, interlock kit and extension cords, and why backfeeding is deadly for line workers. Hire a licensed electrician.›How Long Do Portable Power Stations Last?Battery chemistry (LFP vs NMC), cycle life ranges, shelf storage at partial charge and simple care habits that help a power station last for years.›Using a Portable Power Station in Cold WeatherLithium batteries struggle in the cold. Learn charging limits near freezing, capacity loss, where to keep your power station and how to store it.›What to Plug Into a Power Station FirstA priority list for outage power: communications, light, medical devices, the fridge and router, with typical watt ranges and what to avoid.›Whole-Home Battery vs Portable Power StationCompare whole-home batteries and portable power stations on cost scale, installation, capacity, portability, renters vs owners and outage length.›What Size Generator Do I Need for a Power Outage?Learn how to add up running and starting watts, size a generator for your essentials, and avoid buying too big or too small.›Using an Electric Vehicle or Hybrid as Backup PowerWhat vehicle-to-load means, how an EV or hybrid might power a few devices in an outage, and the safety rules, including garages.›Solar Panel Kits for Home Backup: What They Can DoPortable solar panels paired with a power station: what they can and cannot run in an outage, and how to size a setup at a high level.›Working From Home During a Power OutageKeep working when the power drops: phone tethering, power banks, UPS basics, offline files and a simple plan for telling your team.›How to Keep Phones and Devices Charged in an OutageMake your phone battery last through a blackout with power-saving settings, power banks, car charging and smart habits that help.›How Many Watts Does a Furnace Use? Sizing Backup PowerGas furnace blowers are modest but need a start surge. Learn the watts to plan for and how to size a power station or generator safely.›How Many Watts Does a Chest Freezer Use? Backup GuideLearn running vs start watts for a chest freezer, how cycling affects battery runtime, and how to keep food safe during an outage.›How Many Watts Do You Need to Run a House in an Outage?Essentials-only or whole house? Add up your loads, understand surge, and learn how 100A and 200A panels fit into backup power sizing.›How Long Will a Power Station Run a TV and WiFi Router?Watt-hour math for a TV, modem and router on a power station. Low loads add up, so learn how to estimate hours and save power.›Inverter Generator vs Conventional Generator ExplainedInverter generators are quieter and give cleaner power, while conventional ones suit heavy loads. Compare noise, fuel use and safety.›UPS vs Power Station for a Home Office SetupA UPS protects a desktop for minutes, while a power station runs a home office for hours. Learn which fits and how passthrough works.›Can a Power Station Run a Microwave, Kettle or Air Fryer?High-wattage cooking appliances are tough on batteries. Learn inverter limits, realistic runtimes and smarter ways to cook in an outage.›How Many Watts Does a Dehumidifier Use?Find out how many watts a dehumidifier uses, what its start-up surge means, and whether a power station should run it in a basement outage.›How Many Watts Does an Electric Water Heater Use?Electric tank water heaters draw thousands of watts, far beyond most batteries. See why, what your tank holds, and practical hot water options.›How Many Watts to Run a Heat Pump in an Outage?How many watts a heat pump needs, why start-up surge matters, how to size a generator, and the honest limits of portable power stations.›How Many Watts to Run a Window Air Conditioner?Window and central AC wattage, start-up surge, and realistic cooling options when a heat wave and a blackout hit at the same time.›How Many Watts Does a Home Office Use?Laptop, monitor, router and modem wattage, plus simple runtime math to keep your home office working through a power outage.›How Long Will a 300W Power Station Last in a Blackout?What a small 300 watt power station can and cannot run in a blackout: phones, lights, a CPAP, a router and a fridge for short stretches.›How to Charge a Power Station With a GeneratorHow to charge a power station with a gas generator safely: outdoor placement, carbon monoxide rules, fuel planning and a hybrid strategy.›
Not sure yet?
Start with the free 72 hour checklist and come back when you know your load.
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