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From compact 512-Wh units to massive 2048-Wh ones with optional expansion batteries large enough to power your home, we've rounded up the best portable power stations on the market. Battery Power Station Portable
In an age where every tool and device we own seems to constantly yearn for a recharge, staying juiced up on the move has become critical. For the modern road tripper and car camper—or even homeowner during power outages—portable power stations have emerged as essential lifelines. This isn't just about keeping your smartphone topped up; it's about ensuring your refrigerator, CPAP machine, portable heaters, power tools, and more can run without missing a beat.
We've curated a list of the best portable power stations out there. To simplify the process, we've categorized our picks into three main power brackets: compact yet mighty units under 1000 watt-hours for the light traveler; midrange units hovering around 1000 watt-hours; and robust 2000-Wh power stations, many of which come with the option to further boost capacity via expansion batteries.
Keep in mind nearly all of our picks come in similar sizes, so if you need a little less or a little more power, check out the manufacturers' websites to find the right capacity for your needs.
Before you purchase a portable power station, it's important to consider your needs and what you intend to use it for. Here are some important things to keep in mind before you plunk down your cash.
First and foremost, you need to determine the total watt-hours (Wh) of energy you'll require. This dictates how long a power station can run a device. Equally important is the power output (measured in watts), which will let you know if the unit can handle your device's draw. If you're hoping to power larger appliances or multiple devices simultaneously, you'll want a station with a high peak wattage.
Different devices need different ports. Look for power stations that offer a mix of AC outlets, USB ports, 12-volt DC ports, and other connectors. This ensures you can plug in a variety of gadgets, from laptops and phones to mini-fridges and more.
How do you recharge the power station itself? Some units can be recharged via wall outlets, car chargers, or even solar panels. A versatile recharging capability can be a lifesaver, especially if you're on an extended trip or in areas without a conventional power source.
Particularly for those on the move, weight can be a big concern. While larger capacity units tend to weigh more, technological advancements have made even higher-capacity power stations relatively portable. Look for ones with sturdy handles or even wheels for ease of transport.
As your power needs grow, some power stations allow for expandable options via additional battery packs. This is especially valuable if you foresee your energy needs increasing in the future or during specific trips.
Is there a difference between the two? Not really. As you'll see below, some of these power stations are also referred to as "solar generators" by their respective manufacturers depending on whether you purchase it in a bundle. Generally speaking, a solar generator is simply one of these portable power stations sold in a bundle alongside one or more portable solar panels. As the name suggests, this combo allows you to generate energy via solar panels and store it in a compatible power station for use as needed.
Anker knows a thing or two about making battery packs. After all, the company has been doing it for over a decade, with a vast array of portable USB power banks designed for smartphones. Anker has stepped up its game, however, and is now manufacturing much higher-capacity power stations, including its PowerHouse 535. This compact unit has a built-in handle and packs in 512 watt-hours worth of power.
It can power devices up to 500 watts (750-W surge), uses a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) chemistry for a longer lifespan compared to lithium-ion (Li-ion), and it comes with a five-year warranty.
The PowerHouse 535 offers one DC charging port, four AC wall plugs, three USB-A ports, and a USB-C port (60-W max). The 512-Wh capacity (160,000 milliampere-hours) should be enough to charge an iPhone 14 Pro Max up to 30 times or power a standard electric cooler for between 10 and 16 hours, depending on ambient temperatures.
The unit can charge at up to 120 watts via the included DC adapter, which would bring it to 80 percent charge in two-and-a-half hours (and roughly four hours to 100 percent charge). It can also be charged at up to 60 watts via the USB-C input in case you don't want to have to worry about carrying another charger around.
This is a great option if you're out tailgating, headed to the beach for the day, or simply want a bit of added security in the event of power loss at home.
The Jackery Explorer 500, as its name suggests, has a 512-Wh capacity with a 500-W maximum output (1000-W surge). As is a trend you'll see throughout this list at the various power capacities, this unit looks almost identical to the similar-capacity Anker PowerHouse 535, although the Explorer 500 does differ in a few key ways.
Most notably, the Jackery unit has only one AC outlet (with a pure sine inverter). It also has a standard DC charging port, as well as two DC barrel ports that can be used with an array of various DC connectors (sold separately) to power more obscure devices without the need for a large DC adapter. The Explorer 550 also has only three USB-A ports (no USB-C).
One of the more distinctive features of this power station (at least at this capacity) is its ability to be charged not only over your standard AC wall outlet and DC car plug, but also via solar. The Explorer 500 has a built-in maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller, which allows it to be charged via a solar panel at up to 100 watts. However, Jackery uses a rather obscure DC barrel port for its solar panels, so you'll either have to go with one of the company's SolarSaga solar panels or purchase an MC4-to-DC adapter if you plan to use the more standard connection other solar panel manufacturers use.
While the solar-charging component might get complicated if you plan to use non-Jackery solar panels, having the option to charge the Explorer 550 even if you don't have direct access to power is a nice advantage.
Goal Zero is another major player in the power-station game, and the Yeti 500X is its 497-Wh unit designed for portable power on the go. Unlike the aforementioned Anker and Jackery offerings, the Yeti 500X can only output at up to 300 watts (1200-W surge). What it lacks in output, though, it makes up for in port variety.
The Yeti 500X features two 120V AC outlets with pure sine wave output, two USB-C ports (18-W max for one, 60-W max for the other), two USB-A ports (12-W max), an 8-mm DC barrel port (150-W max), a 6-mm DC barrel port (120-W max), and a 12-volt DC car charging port. It's safe to say you won't struggle to find a way to plug in pretty much any device you need to charge or power.
The Yeti 500X can charge four ways: via the included AC adapter (at 60 watts, although a 120-W AC adapter is an optional add-on purchase for faster charging); via Goal Zero’s 12-volt car charger (an optional purchase); via a USB-C cable (60-W max); or via a solar panel. The integrated display will show the current battery capacity, charge rate, output rate, and other pertinent information to ensure you always know how much power you have left.
Of all the roughly 500-Wh units, the Goal Zero is the least capable, but the company's two-year warranty and reputation for more rugged adventures is a testament to the products it produces.
The EcoFlow Delta 2 is a 1024-Wh power station built around an LFP battery. It supports appliances and devices that pull up to 1800 watts (2200-W surge) and has an impressive array of ports to ensure nearly every device imaginable can be powered on the go.
Specifically, the Delta 2 features six standard AC wall outlets, a DC car plug (12 volts), two 5.5-mm DC barrel plugs (DC5521), two USB-C (100-W max) ports, two USB-A Fast Charge (18-W max) ports, and two standard USB-A (12-W max) ports. For charging the unit, you can use the included AC wall adapter, which can charge the device from zero to 100 percent in just 80 minutes at 1200 watts, or use the XT-60 DC input for charging the unit via solar panels or a DC car charger.
The unit features a partially colored LCD display that shows the current input/output status, and it can be paired with a smartphone for wireless monitoring via the company's Android and iOS apps. If you'd like a little more power, you can also purchase an expansion battery to double the capacity to 2048 watt-hours, but at that range it almost makes more sense to go with a 2000-Wh unit, such as those listed below.
That said, the EcoFlow Delta 2 is a solid 1024-Wh unit that's rated to hold 80 percent of its battery capacity even after more than 3000 charging cycles, ensuring your road trips, tailgating parties, and overlanding adventures are backed with a bit of off-grid power.
The Jackery 1000 Plus offers a 1264-Wh capacity thanks to its LFP battery system and is rated for 2000-W output (4000-W surge)—more than enough to power everything from electric grills to coffee machines. Beyond its base 1264-Wh capacity, the unit can be expanded by up to five kilowatt-hours by connecting up to three supplementary battery packs for longer adventures or more robust home power backup.
The Jackery 1000 Plus provides a diverse range of outputs, including three 2000-W AC ports (with pure sine wave inverter), dual USB-A and USB-C connectors (18-W and 100-W max, respectively), and a DC car port (12 volts/10 amps). For charging, the Jackery 1000 Plus features an AC input, which can fully charge in just 100 minutes. Solar-charging will also work, but as previously mentioned, Jackery uses a DC barrel plug for solar-charging its power stations, which can be troublesome if you plan to use non-Jackery solar panels. The unit features intelligent control via Jackery’s Android and iOS app, which is accessible through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. As with the EcoFlow Delta 2, the Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus is available as a standalone product or in bundles with solar panels and/or extra battery packs.
If you're looking to power high-wattage tools or simply pack as much power as possible into a portable unit, you're going to want to look for power stations such as Anker's Solix F200 (formerly called the PowerHouse 767). This unit features a 2048-Wh-capacity LFP battery pack with the ability to double it to 4096 watt-hours with an optional expansion battery.
The Solix F2000 can continuously power tools and devices that pull up to 2400 watts via a pure sine wave inverter. For plugging in devices, Anker includes four AC wall outlets, two DC car plugs, three USB-C (all up to 100 watts), two USB-A plugs, and a TT-30 plug for powering RVs, trailers, or other dwellings with the proper cable. Between these 12 ports, you should have more than enough space to power all your devices, whether you're tailgating at your home team's game or miles off the beaten path on your latest overlanding trip.
The Solix F2000 can recharge at up to 1440 watts via AC power and up to 1000 watts via DC power when used with solar panels. Anker opted to go with an XT-60 connection for its DC power input, making it easy to charge the unit with the company's line of solar panels (or third-party solar panels) so long as you have a way to get the power to a male XT-60 connector. The DC XT-60 connection can also be used to charge the device via the included DC car charger, but it'll top out at 120 watts due to the limitations of most vehicles.
Other nice features of this unit include the pop-out luggage-style handle and accompanying wheels that make it easy to move around as needed, as well as the built-in light bar and LCD display. The unit also has Bluetooth connectivity that works alongside Anker's app to allow you to update the unit's firmware, keep an eye on internal temperatures, check on input/output statuses, and even remotely turn on and off different plugs on the unit.The Anker Solix F2000 can be purchased on its own or in various bundles that include Anker's 200-W solar panels and/or the expansion battery that doubles the capacity of the unit.
Similar to the Anker unit is Jackery's Explorer 2000 Plus. This unit packs 2042 watt-hours worth of power inside. But unlike the Anker, which tops out at 4096 watt-hours with support for a single expandable battery, the Explorer 2000 Plus can be expanded to up to 12 kilowatt-hours via 2042-Wh expansion batteries and 24 kilowatt-hours if you connect another unit in parallel with accompanying expansion batteries (for a total of two main units connected in parallel and 10 expansion batteries).
In other words, Jackery's unit offers far more modularity when it comes to ensuring you have exactly how much power you need, whether you are powering only a few devices while out camping or if it is acting as a home power-backup supply in the event of the power going out. It can power devices that pull up to 3000 watts and has a 6000-W surge peak for things like refrigerators or air-conditioner units that might pull additional wattage when the compressor kicks on.
The plug-in options are similar to the Solix F2000, with the 2000 Plus offering one DC car plug (12 volts/10 amps), two USB-A ports (18-W max), two USB-C ports (100-W max), four AC plugs (20-amp max), and one TT-30 plug for plugging in to RVs or connecting to a transfer switch at home. Charging the unit takes roughly two hours via AC connection (as per Jackery and verified by our tests, which showed an average charge rate of 1000 watts via the included AC adapter) and as fast as two hours if you charge the unit with up to six 200-watt solar panels, such as Jackery's own SolarSaga 200 models. Even when using just two SolarSaga 200-W units, the Explorer 2000 Plus can charge with seven hours of direct sunlight. Of course, these times increase linearly as you add expansion batteries.
One thing to note about Jackery's solar input is that it uses dual 8-mm DC barrel plugs on the back of the unit. This is fine if you're using the SolarSaga 200-W solar panels, which come with the 8-mm DC barrel plug as the output. But almost no other solar panel uses this connector, so you'll need to purchase the appropriate adapter from Jackery if you plan to use alternative solar panels.
The Explorer 2000 Plus also has a built-in Emergency Power System (EPS). This feature means you can plug the unit into a wall outlet and plug appliances or devices into the power station, and in the event of a power loss, the unit will automatically kick into battery mode with a 20-millisecond response time so your computers or other devices that require full-time power never turn off, even if you lose electricity.
Other features include integrated wheels, a handle for easy maneuvering, and Wi-Fi connectivity so you can monitor the unit's input and output, as well as temperature and other features, directly from your smartphone or tablet, even if you're half a world away.
As with the Anker and the upcoming Bluetti, the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus can be purchased as a standalone unit or as a bundle with an array of options, including solar panels and/or expansion batteries.
Another solar-generator option is the Bluetti AC200MAX. This unit features a 2048-Wh capacity with its LFP battery pack, which is rated to maintain 80 percent of its capacity after more than 3500 charging cycles. Like its competitors, this unit is expandable up to 8192-Wh capacity with optional expansion batteries and can be recharged via solar.
The AC200MAX can power devices that pull up to 2200 watts via its integrated pure sine wave inverter (4800-W surge). The unit features four AC wall outlets (20 amps), one TT-30 AC plug (30 amps), one USB-C port (100-W max), four USB-A ports (two 12-W max, two 18-W max), and an array of DC ports, including one 12-volt/30-amp RV outlet, one 12-volt/10-amp car outlet, and two 12-volt/10-amp 5.5-mm barrel plug connections. A nice feature of this unit is the inclusion of two 15-W Qi charging pads on the top of the unit, which makes it easy to charge compatible smartphones, smartwatches, and other gadgets without the need for a cable.
Charging the device can be done using the 500-W AC adapter included, up to 800 watts using either Bluetti or third-party solar panels, or both at the same time for a total of 1400 watts of charging capacity. However, the odds you'll be using solar panels at the same time you're pulling AC power are slim, so you might want to take those individual numbers into account when considering charging times. The AC200MAX also features Bluetooth connectivity so you can use Bluetti's accompanying app to check on the unit via your phone or tablet when in range.
The AC200MAX doesn't have wheels and handles or charge as fast as the aforementioned two most comparable units, but it offers more output options than them with its DC barrel connections. Plus, the Qi charging pads on the top are great for quickly topping off your phone while on the road, and its size makes it a great option to throw in the back seat or trunk on a road trip or camping adventure.
Select power stations offer jump-starting options. None of the above models specifically include the required components, but some of the manufacturers featured do offer options that allow you to connect the power station to your vehicle's battery. You can also use battery chargers—both AC and DC—from other manufacturers.
Depending on their capacity and output, many power stations can run camping gear and RV appliances. Some of the larger units even offer a TT-30 plug, the standard most RV models use. Always check the power requirements of your equipment against the station's specifications.
Extremely. These units can power essential devices, provide emergency backup, and even assist in jump-starting vehicles with the appropriate attachments, making them a road-trip essential.
Charging times vary by model and power source, but most stations take between two and six hours. AC charging is typically the fastest option, although some of the units above can actually charge faster with solar panels. You can charge all of these units via your car's DC plug, but considering those connections typically top out at 120 watts, they're best used for maintaining the battery rather than charging from dead.
Most power stations are essentially silent, but most do have built-in fans that activate during high usage or while charging. These fans are typically very quiet, though, and some units even have "Quiet Charging" modes that charge at a slower rate, which negates the need for the fan to run.
Select models, including some mentioned above, allow for daisy-chaining or connecting to expansion batteries, effectively increasing their capacity. Check the manufacturer's specifications for compatibility.
Technically, yes. Exceeding a station's maximum output can cause overheating or damage. However, every unit we've highlighted here includes built-in protections to minimize the risk of anything serious happening. That said, always ensure your devices' combined power draw is within the station's limit.
While some high-capacity stations might handle brief usage from these devices, continuous use of high-draw appliances could quickly deplete the battery or risk overload. Always compare the devices' wattage with the power station's rated output.
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Gannon Burgett loves cameras, cars, and coffee: a perfect combination for his Hearst Autos work. His byline has appeared in USA Today, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Digital Trends, the Detroit Free Press, and more.
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