Portable power station calculator · free, no sign-upWhat power station do you need?One that is the right size.

Tell us what you want to run, the way you’d tell a friend. Type it, paste it or say it. You get the station that fits and the math behind it.

Or start from , , or . Typed or spoken, your words are read once and not kept.

Or tap what you’re running

Add one and the rest of the list — about ninety appliances — opens up.

How it works out size, runtime and surge

Usable energy, not the number on the box. A station delivers roughly 85% of its rated watt-hours, so that is what we count. It is the same constant behind every runtime on this site.

The inverter is a load too. While AC is switched on, the station spends about 6 W running its own inverter. For a router left on all day that is a third again on top, so it gets its own line.

One big appliance at a time. Fridges, pumps and everything steady are assumed to run together. Of the microwave, kettle and power tools, only the largest counts, which is how people live on an inverter.

Motors need a shove to start. A compressor or pump briefly pulls several times its running watts. We check that against each station’s published surge rating, and say so when a maker doesn’t publish one.

Typical watts, yours to correct. Every figure starts at a typical value for a current appliance. The label on yours — volts times amps — beats our number every time.

Your limits are gates, not preferences. Ask for a 30A RV outlet, a UPS that takes over by itself, or a weight you can lift, and a station that misses is out before ranking starts. A budget works differently: we stay inside it whenever something that fits exists, and show what the whole job costs when nothing does.

Solar has to get in. If you plan to recharge from panels, we work out the panel watts that put a day’s use back, then check that against what each station’s solar input accepts. One that can’t take in what the day takes out falls a little further behind every day, and ranks lower for it.

Picked on fit, then price. The smallest station that covers the list with a working margin wins, on its typical price rather than this week’s sale. How we score stations.

Worked examples

Seven common setups, sized

The same arithmetic the calculator runs, on typical appliances. The station named beside each one is whatever fits it best in our catalogue today, on typical price. Open any of them to change the numbers.

Setup	Lasts	Energy	Peak	To start	Fits today
Fridge, freezer and Wi-Fi through a day without power	24 hours	2,849 Wh	340 W	1,390 W	BLUETTI Elite 4003,840 Wh · 2,600 W
Sump pump and fridge through a stormy night	12 hours	1,866 Wh	970 W	2,270 W	BLUETTI Elite 3203,200 Wh · 1,800 W
Full-time RV: 12V fridge, Starlink, CPAP, laptops, a microwave	24 hours	2,931 Wh	1,847 W	—	BLUETTI Elite 4003,840 Wh · 2,600 W
RV air conditioner for an afternoon, with a soft-start kit	8 hours	4,662 Wh	1,550 W	2,050 W	BLUETTI Apex 300 + B500K7,885 Wh · 3,840 W
Weekend camping: 12V fridge, lights, a speaker, three phones	2 days	1,147 Wh	120 W	—	BLUETTI AC180P1,440 Wh · 1,800 W
A CPAP with its humidifier, two nights off-grid	2 days	1,088 Wh	62 W	—	BLUETTI AC180P1,440 Wh · 1,800 W
Home office that must not drop: desktop, two monitors, router	3 hours	708 Wh	230 W	—	BLUETTI Elite 100 mini1,005 Wh · 700 W

Reference

Appliance wattage chart: running and starting watts

The 96 typical figures this calculator starts from. Running watts are what an appliance draws once it is going; starting watts are the brief total it takes to get a motor or compressor moving, which is what a power station’s surge rating has to cover. Daily watt-hours allow for the time a thermostat keeps it idle. These are planning figures for current appliances — the label on yours (volts × amps) always wins. Tap a name to add it to your list above.

Kitchen & food

19 appliances

Swipe the table for typical use and watt-hours a day →

Appliance	Running watts	Starting watts	Typical use	Wh a day
Refrigerator (full-size)	150 W^est (100–400)	1,200 W	all day	1,188
Mini fridge	80 W^est (50–100)	400 W	all day	634
Chest or upright freezer	100 W^est (80–200)	800 W	all day	792
Microwave	1,500 W (1,000–1,700)	—	9 min	225
Drip coffee maker	1,000 W (800–1,200)	—	12 min	200
Pod coffee maker (Keurig-style)	1,500 W^est (1,200–1,500)	—	6 min	150
Electric kettle	1,500 W^est (1,000–1,500)	—	6 min	150
Toaster	1,200 W (800–1,400)	—	6 min	120
Toaster oven	1,225 W (1,200–1,800)	—	18 min	221
Air fryer	1,500 W (1,200–1,800)	—	24 min	420
Electric pressure cooker (Instant Pot)	1,000 W^est (700–1,200)	—	1 h	400
Slow cooker	250 W (150–300)	—	6 h	1,050
Rice cooker	500 W^est (300–700)	—	36 min	300
Hot plate / electric burner	1,300 W (1,000–1,500)	—	30 min	455
Portable induction cooktop	1,300 W^est (1,000–1,800)	—	30 min	455
Electric grill	1,500 W (1,200–1,800)	—	30 min	525
Blender	700 W (500–1,000)	1,200 W	3 min	35
Countertop ice maker	150 W^est (100–200)	450 W	8 h	720
Dishwasher	1,200 W (1,200–2,400)	2,700 W	1 h	720

Heating & cooling

14 appliances

Swipe the table for typical use and watt-hours a day →

Appliance	Running watts	Starting watts	Typical use	Wh a day
Space heater	1,500 W (750–1,500)	—	4 h	6,000
Electric blanket	100 W (60–200)	—	8 h	480
Window AC, small (5,000–6,000 BTU)	500 W^est (450–600)	1,500 W	8 h	2,400
Window AC, medium (8,000–10,000 BTU)	900 W^est (700–1,200)	2,700 W	8 h	4,320
Window AC, large (12,000 BTU)	1,200 W (1,100–1,500)	3,250 W	8 h	5,760
Portable AC (hose-vented)	1,100 W^est (900–1,400)	3,000 W	8 h	5,280
Mini-split heat pump (9–12k BTU)	900 W^est (500–1,200)	—	10 h	4,500
Central air conditioner (3-ton)	4,000 W (3,500–5,000)	15,000 W	8 h	16,000
Gas furnace (blower fan)	750 W (400–800)	1,500 W	all day	7,200
Boiler + circulator pump	100 W^est (60–200)	—	all day	1,200
Box or pedestal fan	75 W (50–250)	—	8 h	600
Ceiling fan	75 W (65–175)	—	8 h	600
Dehumidifier	600 W (300–785)	1,200 W	12 h	3,600
Pellet stove	150 W^est (100–400)	—	10 h	1,500

Medical

6 appliances

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Appliance	Running watts	Starting watts	Typical use	Wh a day
CPAP, humidifier off	12 W (6–15)	—	8 h	96
CPAP with heated humidifier	62 W (50–85)	—	8 h	496
Home oxygen concentrator	350 W^est (300–600)	700 W	all day	8,400
Portable oxygen concentrator (charging / running)	60 W^est (40–120)	—	8 h	480
Nebulizer	80 W^est (60–100)	—	30 min	40
Power wheelchair / scooter charger	250 W^est (100–400)	—	6 h	1,500

Internet & work

13 appliances

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Appliance	Running watts	Starting watts	Typical use	Wh a day
Wi-Fi router + modem	20 W^est (10–30)	—	all day	480
Starlink Mini	25 W (15–40)	—	12 h	300
Starlink Standard	75 W (20–100)	—	12 h	900
Starlink High Performance	130 W (45–150)	—	12 h	1,560
Laptop	60 W (30–100)	—	6 h	360
Desktop computer (tower)	150 W (100–400)	—	8 h	1,200
Gaming PC (under load)	450 W^est (300–700)	—	4 h	1,800
Monitor	30 W^est (20–60)	—	8 h	240
Phone charging	15 W (5–20)	—	1.5 h	23
Tablet charging	20 W (10–30)	—	2 h	40
NAS / home server	60 W^est (30–120)	—	all day	1,440
Security cameras + recorder	40 W^est (15–80)	—	all day	960
Ham / two-way radio	40 W^est (20–100)	—	6 h	240

TV & audio

5 appliances

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Appliance	Running watts	Starting watts	Typical use	Wh a day
TV (LED, 50–55")	100 W (60–170)	—	4 h	400
Game console	200 W^est (100–220)	—	3 h	600
Projector	250 W^est (100–350)	—	2.5 h	625
Bluetooth speaker	15 W^est (5–30)	—	4 h	60
Stereo / PA system	150 W (70–400)	—	4 h	600

Lighting

3 appliances

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Appliance	Running watts	Starting watts	Typical use	Wh a day
LED bulb / lamp	10 W^est (5–15)	—	5 h	50
USB / 12V string lights	10 W^est (5–20)	—	5 h	50
Work light	100 W (50–1,000)	—	4 h	400

Tools

9 appliances

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Appliance	Running watts	Starting watts	Typical use	Wh a day
Circular saw	1,500 W (1,400–1,800)	3,500 W	1 h	300
Table or miter saw	1,800 W (1,500–1,800)	4,300 W	1 h	360
Corded drill	600 W (600–1,000)	1,450 W	1 h	120
Reciprocating saw	1,200 W (1,000–1,440)	2,400 W	1 h	240
Angle grinder	800 W (800–1,200)	3,200 W	1 h	240
Air compressor (pancake / small)	1,000 W (1,000–1,600)	3,000 W	1 h	300
Shop vac	900 W (900–1,400)	1,800 W	30 min	225
Cordless tool battery charger	200 W (60–360)	—	2 h	400
Corded electric chainsaw	1,800 W^est (1,400–1,800)	3,600 W	1 h	540

Pumps & house systems

13 appliances

Swipe the table for typical use and watt-hours a day →

Appliance	Running watts	Starting watts	Typical use	Wh a day
Sump pump, 1/3 HP	800 W^est (600–1,000)	2,100 W	all day	1,920
Sump pump, 1/2 HP	1,050 W^est (900–1,300)	3,000 W	all day	2,520
Well pump, 1/2 HP	1,000 W (750–1,100)	3,000 W	all day	2,400
Well pump, 1 HP or larger	2,000 W^est (1,500–2,500)	6,000 W	all day	4,800
Garage door opener	600 W^est (400–800)	1,400 W	3 min	30
Electric water heater (tank)	4,500 W (4,500–5,500)	—	3 h	13,500
Electric stove / range (one burner)	2,000 W (1,500–3,000)	—	45 min	900
Washing machine	500 W (350–500)	1,700 W	1 h	500
Electric clothes dryer	5,000 W (1,800–5,000)	—	1 h	5,000
EV charging from a wall outlet (Level 1)	1,440 W (960–1,440)	—	8 h	11,520
Aquarium (heater, filter, air pump)	150 W (50–1,210)	—	all day	1,800
Vacuum cleaner	1,200 W (1,000–1,440)	—	18 min	360
Hair dryer	1,500 W (1,200–1,875)	—	9 min	225

RV, van & outdoors

14 appliances

Swipe the table for typical use and watt-hours a day →

Appliance	Running watts	Starting watts	Typical use	Wh a day
12V compressor fridge / cooler	50 W^est (40–65)	—	all day	396
Thermoelectric (plug-in) cooler	50 W (40–60)	—	all day	1,200
RV absorption fridge on electric	325 W^est (300–400)	—	all day	4,680
RV rooftop AC, 13,500 BTU	1,500 W^est (1,250–1,600)	3,500 W	6 h	5,400
RV rooftop AC, 15,000 BTU	1,800 W (1,500–2,000)	3,600 W	6 h	6,480
12V roof vent fan	30 W^est (15–60)	—	8 h	240
Diesel air heater (12V)	30 W^est (10–50)	—	10 h	300
RV propane furnace (12V blower)	100 W^est (80–120)	—	10 h	400
12V water pump	75 W^est (50–100)	—	18 min	23
12V interior lights (whole rig)	40 W^est (20–80)	—	5 h	200
Drone battery charging	120 W^est (60–250)	—	2 h	240
Camera battery charging	20 W^est (10–30)	—	2 h	40
E-bike charger	180 W^est (100–300)	—	4 h	720
Air pump for inflatables	500 W (100–500)	2,000 W	3 min	25

Where the figures come from: the US Department of Energy’s appliance list (as reproduced in Virginia Cooperative Extension publication 2901-9014), the Champion and DR Power / Generac generator wattage charts, and this site’s own CPAP and Starlink draw models. The range in brackets spans common units, chart figures included. est marks the 46 running figures that are our own planning estimate for a current unit — generator charts are written for older, worst-case appliances (a refrigerator at 400–725 W) and would oversize a battery several times over.

Questions

Size, runtime and what it can run, answered

What size power station do I need?

Three numbers decide it: the energy your list uses over the time it has to last (watt-hours), the most it draws at one moment (watts), and the brief surge it takes to start the largest motor. For example, a refrigerator, a freezer, Wi-Fi, four LED bulbs and two phones for 24 hours come to about 2,849 Wh, 340 W at the heaviest moment and 1,390 W for an instant when the refrigerator starts — so you would shop for roughly 3,352 Wh of rated capacity. The calculator above works this out for your own list.

How many watt-hours does a refrigerator use in a day?

A current full-size refrigerator draws about 150 W while its compressor runs, and the compressor runs roughly a third of the time, so it uses about 1,188 Wh in 24 hours. The power station's own inverter adds around 144 Wh while it stays switched on, which makes 1,332 Wh — about 1,568 Wh of rated capacity. Older refrigerators can draw two or three times as much, so check the label on yours.

How long will a power station run a refrigerator?

A current full-size refrigerator averages about 56 Wh an hour, counting the station's own inverter, because the compressor only runs part of the time. A 1,000 Wh station delivers about 850 Wh of that, so it runs one for roughly 15 hours; a 2,000 Wh station, roughly 31. Whether it can run the refrigerator at all is a separate question — the station's surge rating has to cover the 1,200 W the compressor asks for when it starts.

What is the difference between running watts and starting watts?

Running watts are what an appliance draws once it is going. Starting watts are the brief surge a motor or compressor needs to get moving. A refrigerator that runs at 150 W can ask for around 1,200 W for an instant when it kicks on. A power station has to cover both: its continuous rating must exceed everything running at once, and its surge rating must exceed the worst start. Heaters, kettles and electronics have no meaningful starting surge.

Besides capacity, what should I check when choosing a power station?

Capacity only says how long it runs. Whether it runs your things at all is decided by other numbers. Continuous output, in watts, has to exceed everything switched on at once. Surge has to cover the largest motor starting — a refrigerator that runs at 150 W asks for about 1,200 W for an instant. If you recharge from panels, the solar input limits how much a day of sun can put back. Then the practical ones: a 30A outlet if you plug an RV in, UPS switchover if something must not blink, and a weight you can actually lift. The calculator checks every one of these against your list, not only the watt-hours.

Why does the calculator ask for more capacity than my appliances add up to?

Because a power station does not deliver every watt-hour printed on it. Conversion losses and the battery's protective reserve mean you get roughly 85% of the rated figure, so the calculator divides what you need by 0.85. It also counts about 6 W for the station's own inverter whenever AC is switched on, which matters for small loads left on all day.

Can a power station run a space heater?

It can start one, but not for long. A 1,500 W heater empties a 1,000 Wh station in about 34 minutes, and running one for eight hours takes about 12,048 Wh. An electric blanket keeps a person warm for a small fraction of that energy.

How much solar do I need to recharge a power station?

Enough panel to put back what you use in a day, in the sun you actually get. Real panels make about 70% of their rating, so divide your daily use by your peak sun hours and by 0.7. The outage example above uses 2,849 Wh a day; with 4 hours of good sun that is about 1,200 W of panels. The station's solar input limit has to be at least that high, which the calculator checks.

What size solar generator do I need?

A solar generator is a portable power station sold with solar panels, so it is sized the same way, in two steps. First the station: the watt-hours your list uses between charges, the watts it draws at once, and the surge that starts its largest motor. Then the panels: enough to put a day's use back in the sun you actually get. For the outage example above that is about 3,352 Wh of rated capacity and about 1,200 W of panels in 4 hours of good sun. Describe your own list above, mention solar, and the calculator gives both numbers and a station whose solar input can take them.

Can a power station run an RV air conditioner?

Yes, with the right station and usually a soft-start kit. A 13,500 BTU rooftop unit runs at about 1,500 W but needs around 3,500 W to start; a soft-start kit brings that down to about 2,000 W. Energy is the larger problem: cycling on a hot afternoon it uses roughly 900 Wh every hour, so a few hours of cooling is a multi-kilowatt-hour battery.

Going deeper

One kind of setup, in full

The calculator sizes any mix of things. These go further on one: tested picks, the mistakes people make, and what the spec sheets leave out.