Power outages are more common than ever before. Between storms, wildfires, brownouts, accidental construction cuts, and the occasional squirrel chewing on power lines, losing power has become an occasional (or frequent) reality for millions of homeowners.
In fact, well over 70% of American households experienced at least one outage last year, and of those households, fewer than 25% had any sort of backup power available at all. Within that small group of people who had some form of backup plan, only about 5% were actually set up the right way.
If you’re reading this and realizing that you aren’t prepared for the next blackout, don’t panic. Turns out there’s a much better alternative to burning candles and running a loud gas generator: owning the right power station is all you really have to do.
To help you prepare for power outages and emergencies, we’re going to explain what a power station is, why it’s often a better choice than a noisy gas generator, what you should look for when you buy one, and the brands we recommend for different budgets.
Sick of getting caught in the dark? You’ve come to the right place.
A power station is a portable and rechargeable battery bank that is equipped with a built-in inverter. They also have all of the ports and plugs you need (AC, DC, USB), so you can plug in all of your appliances, handheld devices, and other electronics directly into the unit.
Unlike a gas generator, a power station is quiet, emits no fumes, can be used indoors, and can be charged from the wall before a storm, or recharged during an outage using solar panels.
Power stations can run everything from small essentials like your phone, Wi-Fi router, and lights, all the way up to bigger appliances like a fridge, furnace, CPAP machine, or even a washer and dryer—depending on the size of the unit.
Basically, a single unit can keep you connected, comfortable, and prevent your food from spoiling. In some cases, they can even keep you safe by running your critical loads, like medical equipment and heating systems.
As you can probably guess, power stations come in different sizes, each with its own battery capacity and output power rating. From budget-friendly units, like the Pecron E1000LFP, designed to help you keep the essentials running, to high-capacity power stations, like the EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra, which are made to keep high-demand appliances running during multi-day power outages, there are options for all power needs and budgets.
Even a small $400 to $500 portable power station can provide one to two days of basic backup power during a blackout, so you don't need to spend a fortune to enjoy reliable power security. A decent portable power setup removes the guesswork and gives you peace of mind: no fumes, minimal noise, usable indoors and, if you add solar panels, effectively unlimited runtime during multi-day outages.
If you’re interested, we have a full guide that details the benefits and drawbacks of using a power station over a gas generator. This guide also explains who the two can also be used together during outages: Gas Generator or Power Station for Backup Power.
For now, here are just some of the advantages and drawbacks of either type of backup power device:
Bottom Line: for quiet, user-friendly home backup power, as well as portable, camping-friendly off-grid power, a modern power station is often the best choice. If you want redundancy, you can take advantage of both options by keeping a small gas generator that you can use to top up your power station during prolonged blackouts.
Not all power stations are created equal. If you’re shopping for a unit for backup power, prioritize these specs and features:
LiFePO4 (lithium-ion phosphate) batteries are safer and last far longer than older lithium chemistries. They can typically withstand thousands of full cycles before reaching 80% health, making them the best long-term investment for backup power.
For blackouts and emergencies, we recommend choosing a power station with at least 1,000 watts of output power. Having an inverter this size is a practical starting point, as it will be able to run essentials, like your fridge, lights, router, and more, as well as handle short surges.
If you want to run more demanding electrical loads, like space heaters and larger appliances, step up the inverter size.
The average fridge uses roughly 1,300Wh per day, so a power station with a 1,500Wh battery will comfortably get you through about 24 hours of these basic needs. We usually recommend this as a good starting point for basic backup power.
For multi-day outages, or those hoping to power more appliances and devices, go with a bigger battery, or consider adding solar panels for off-grid charging.
Speaking of solar panels, you should choose a power station that can be recharged with solar power. Even if you don’t plan on buying solar panels right away, it’s always a good thing to have that option in case you decide to add solar charging in the future.
We like seeing a solar input rating that is roughly half the battery capacity (e.g., about a 750W solar input for a 1,500Wh battery). That lets you top the battery quickly during daytime sun. Solar charging transforms a power station from a single-day solution into an off-grid, multi-day backup system, so it's something we believe pretty much any backup power system should take advantage of.
If you want to save money and make sure you're prepared for outages, Shop Solar even bundles some of the best power stations with low-cost solar panels and cables. Ordering an all-in-one solar generator kit ensures you have everything you need right from the start.
Different power stations are equipped with different ports, so it’s important to choose a model that has all of the plugs and outputs that you actually use and need. This will vary from person-to-person, so you have to determine what types of appliances and devices you will want to run and charge during an outage.
Most power stations come with at least some standard 120V AC plugs, which function just like the wall outlets in your home. Pretty much any power station will also feature multiple USB-C and USB-A ports, which make charging portable devices easier and more convenient.
Other useful outputs can include a 30A RV-style output port, which is great if you want to run trailer and RV appliances. 12V car sockets are also useful for running small 12V fridges and other DC appliances, as well as camping accessories.
Some of the newer power stations, like the DJI Power 1000, even have dedicated fast charging ports for drones, cameras, and other types of portable electronics.
The most advanced power stations aren’t just portable batteries, they function almost like the brain of an entire backup power system.
Look for a power station that supports app connectivity via both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Not only does this let you monitor your remaining power and other important pieces of information, most apps allow you to control the unit remotely.
Any sort of Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) feature is also going to help you prepare for a blackout, as it automates your backup power by providing instant power to critical loads the second the power goes out.
We also recommend choosing a power station that supports expansion batteries. Even if you don’t need extra battery capacity right now, it’s reassuring knowing that your power station can grow with you in the future.
We’re also huge fans of power stations that have built-in lights. From small LED lights that just make it a bit easier to see the ports in the dark to units with removable flashlights, like the Anker SOLIX C800X, lights are a really useful feature that always comes in handy during an outage or off-grid trip.
We test a lot of gear here at The Solar Lab. While some of it is great, there’s also a lot of junk out there. While no brand is perfect, here are some solid options that usually deliver high-quality power stations:
While they aren’t the most well-known brand, Pecron has started to build a solid reputation for offering affordable power stations that work well and pack a surprising number of high-end features. They’ve also been around for a long time, and we find their units to be very reliable, especially for the low cost.
If you want the most backup power for your money and don’t need premium app features, a Pecron power station is a great value option. We’ve reviewed plenty of them, and most have been hits.
If you want polished apps, better customer support, and smoother integration into a home system, EcoFlow and Anker SOLIX are two of the industry leaders.
They usually cost more than the budget brands, but their power stations often deliver a better user experience and service. They also just look like premium products, which can be important to some people, especially if they want to keep their power station in their main living space.
Jackery and Bluetti power stations can also be great options, but the they tend to be a little more hit-or-miss than either EcoFlow or Anker.
No matter which power station you choose, we highly recommend avoiding the no-name knockoff brands you tend to see on Amazon. While they’re cheap, they often fail when you need them the most. We even did a deep dive into why you should avoid cheap power stations.
The biggest mistake most people make is waiting until after a blackout to think about backup power. By then, it’s too late. Whether you choose a budget-friendly unit from Pecron or a premium solar generator from EcoFlow or Anker SOLIX, a portable power station gives you peace of mind, quiet indoor backup, and flexibility that gas generators just can’t match.
And if you’re not sure which unit is right for you, we’ve built a Power Station Quiz that will match you with what we think will be the best option for your needs. We also have a guide to Common Power Outage Backup Mistakes, which will help you get the most out of your new power station.
Remember, power outages are happening more often than ever before, so don’t get left in the dark... literally. Start planning and prepping today!
Best Prices on Pecron Power Stations: www.Pecron.com
Best Prices on EcoFlow Power Stations: www.ShopSolarKits.com
Best Prices on Anker Power Stations: www.SignatureSolar.com
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