Head-to-head test
Goal Zero Yeti 300 vs Goal Zero Yeti 500
Goal Zero Yeti 300 vs Goal Zero Yeti 500: buy the Yeti 500 for the capacity to finish a CPAP night and the inverter to hold a 400W load, unless your list is only phones, a laptop and lights and the lower price matters most.
Full profiles: Goal Zero Yeti 300 β Β· Goal Zero Yeti 500 β
Written by Wenny ZhengUpdated
Portable Power Tester, Station Arena Test Desk
Spec deltas
Goal Zero built one station in two sizes. The chemistry is the same LiFePO4, the long-lived lithium type. So are the cycle rating, the warranty and the solar input. Even the ports match. What changes is how much battery sits inside and how big the inverter is, the part that turns battery power into household AC.
The Yeti 500 holds 499Wh to the 300's 297Wh, and a CPAP night of about 320Wh falls between them. The 500 gets to morning with some left. The 300 stops roughly four fifths of the way through.
I keep a small station in the back of my Outback, and weight is usually the first thing I'd trade for. Here there is little to trade. The 500 weighs 2.4 lbs more, about a full water bottle.
What the Numbers Reveal
Each conclusion stated first β the numbers behind it on one line, the full analysis below.
Capacity
The 500's spare is about a third of the night's need, which is what a cold room or a heated humidifier would eat into.
Yeti 300: 297Wh rated capacityYeti 500: 499Wh rated capacityAfter a flat 15% allowance for conversion losses: roughly 252Wh and 424Wh usableThe CPAP Overnight load draws 320Wh
Why it mattersIf a CPAP is on your list, even as a maybe, the 300 is the wrong size.
continuous output
That is what happens at the tailgate. The 300's 600W surge gets the 400W peak going, then its 350W continuous rating takes over and it can't keep up. The 500 holds that load.
Yeti 300: 350W continuous, 600W surgeYeti 500: 500W continuous, 1,000W surgeOne review had the 300 shut down within minutes with a coffee maker running near its limitA3
Why it mattersA steady load over 350W, or a motor with a hard start, belongs on the 500.
weight
The 300 keeps two real advantages: the lower price and a quicker solar refill. With both capped at 200W, the smaller tank fills sooner, about 1.5 hours against 2.5 at the full rated input.
Yeti 300: 13.7 lbYeti 500: 16.1 lbBoth cap at 200W of solar input
Why it mattersChoose the 300 for the price or the quicker refill. The weight saving is too small to choose it for.
The specific dimensions that decide these two units β everything else is a tie.
Runtime: Will It Power Your Gear?
Selected because: After the flat conversion allowance, the two land on opposite sides of one overnight load.
continuous output
Take a flat 15% off both for conversion losses. The 300 has about 252Wh to hand out and the 500 about 424Wh. On phone-and-laptop duty the gap barely shows. It shows when one appliance has to run to a fixed finish line, like a CPAP until the alarm.
Your Life, Your Pick
Selected because: Two of the seven loads separate them, and four are beyond both.
Four of the seven scenarios are beyond both. A weekend camp list asks for 2,100Wh, about five times what the 500 can deliver. The eight-hour blackout, the remote workday and van life also belong to a larger class of station. An afternoon of phones and a speaker is easy for either.
Two scenarios separate them. The CPAP night goes to the 500. At the tailgate neither lasts the whole party, but only the 500 can hold the 400W peak.
Growth Path
Selected because: Neither accepts an expansion battery, so the number on the box is the ceiling.
Neither accepts an expansion battery, so the number on the side is what you own. With an expandable unit, a wrong guess costs you an add-on battery. Here it costs you a second station.
Lifetime Value
Selected because: The larger unit is the cheaper one per watt-hour and per lifetime kWh.
cost / lifetime kWh
Both are rated for 4,000 cycles, about 11 years of daily use, so cycle life doesn't split them. A cycle is one full charge and discharge.
Spread over everything each will deliver, the 500 comes to $0.25 per lifetime kWh and the 300 to $0.29. The gap is small.
Portability & Form Factor
Selected because: Weight is the usual argument for the smaller unit, and the gap is 2.4 lbs.
weight
Both are one-hand carries. If I were packing for a weekend where the box lives between the car and the picnic table, I wouldn't choose on weight.
If $150 is a real constraint, the 300 is a good little unit and you can buy it without apology.
Strengths & trade-offs
Goal Zero Yeti 300
Strengths
- +Costs $150 less
- +Lighter by 2.4 lb
Trade-offs
- βNo major technical downsides compared to rival.
Goal Zero Yeti 500
Strengths
- +Larger battery capacity
- +Higher AC output
Trade-offs
- βSubstantially more expensive (+$150) than the Yeti 300.
Will It Power Your Gear?
Scenario math and per-appliance runtimes, modeled from the spec record.
Scenario verdicts
We ran the math on seven real-world scenarios. Here's which unit survives your actual life.
SCN-01 Β· 2 nights Β· needs 2,100Wh
Weekend Camping
Two nights off-grid with essential comfort
Neither unit
Neither unit covers this scenario's 2,100Wh: the Yeti 300 comes up 1,848Wh short (about 12% covered), the Yeti 500 1,676Wh (20%). This is well outside what either unit is for; the right answer here is a larger station, not a choice between these two.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOADΒ Β Phone Charger 15WΓ6h Β· LED Lights 40WΓ8h Β· Box Fan 75WΓ14h Β· CPAP Machine 40WΓ16h
SCN-02 Β· 8 hours Β· needs 1,645Wh
8-Hour Blackout
Keep the essentials running through a night without power
Neither unit
The list asks for 1,645Wh, and even the 500 covers only about a quarter. Either can keep one small essential, such as a modem, going through the outage. Both list a UPS mode rated at no worse than 20ms.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOADΒ Β Fridge 150WΓ8h Β· Router + Modem 20WΓ8h Β· LED Lights (4 bulbs) 40WΓ6h Β· Phone Charger 15WΓ3h
SCN-03 Β· 8 hours Β· needs 320Wh
CPAP Overnight
Sleep therapy without interruption β the #1 medical use case
Yeti 500
One of these finishes the night. The load is 320Wh, and the 300 has about 252Wh usable, so it stops roughly four fifths of the way. The 500 ends the night with 104Wh left.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOADΒ Β CPAP Machine 40WΓ8h
SCN-04 Β· 8 hours Β· needs 910Wh
Remote Workday
Full work day off-grid without power anxiety
Neither unit
Neither unit covers this scenario's 910Wh: the Yeti 300 comes up 658Wh short (about 28% covered), the Yeti 500 486Wh (47%). Treat this as partial cover β enough for the essentials in it, not the whole list.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOADΒ Β Laptop 60WΓ8h Β· External Monitor 30WΓ8h Β· Router + Modem 20WΓ8h Β· Phone Charger 15WΓ2h
SCN-05 Β· 4 hours Β· needs 670Wh
Tailgate Party
Game day power for the crew
Neither unit
Neither lasts the whole party. The 300 can start the 400W peak on its 600W surge but can't hold it past its 350W rating. The 500 holds it, then runs dry with about three fifths of the list covered.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOADΒ Β Blender 400WΓ0.5h Β· LED TV (55") 80WΓ4h Β· Bluetooth Speaker 15WΓ4h Β· Phone Charger (Γ3) 45WΓ2h
SCN-06 Β· 24 hours Β· needs 4,685Wh
Van Life Daily
A full day of mobile living β the ultimate endurance test
Neither unit
Neither unit covers this scenario's 4,685Wh: the Yeti 300 comes up 4,433Wh short (about 5% covered), the Yeti 500 4,261Wh (9%). This is well outside what either unit is for; the right answer here is a larger station, not a choice between these two.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOADΒ Β Mini-Fridge 150WΓ24h Β· Laptop 60WΓ4h Β· Phone Charger 15WΓ3h Β· LED Lights 40WΓ5h Β· Fan 75WΓ8h
SCN-07 Β· an afternoon Β· needs 100Wh
Afternoon Off-Grid
Phones and a speaker at the park, beach, or campsite β the small-unit job description
Either unit
This is the job small stations are actually for, and both do it: the Yeti 300 finishes at 40% used, the Yeti 500 at 24%. At this size the decider is what rides in the bag, then price, not the leftover watt-hours: the Yeti 500 weighs 16.1 lbs, and at 13.7 lbs the Yeti 300 is the one you'll be glad you brought.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOADΒ Β Phone Charger (Γ2) 30WΓ2h Β· Bluetooth Speaker 10WΓ4h
The Load Test
RUNTIME = (Wh Γ 0.85) Γ· LOAD
None of the scenarios above exactly yours? Build it. Toggle what you'd plug in; both units are tested against the combined draw.
Essentials
Comfort & Convenience
High-Draw Appliances
Test duration
8h
Continuous draw
205W
Projected runtime
For this load: Yeti 500 runs 2.1h vs 1.2h.
$499.95 list Β· direct from Goal Zero
Planning for more than this? Describe your whole setup and get it sizedΒ β
Modeled from the spec record β same math as the tables below. Methodology
Runtime by appliance
Real-world runtime estimates for common appliances, modeled at 85% inverter efficiency.ΒΉ
Essentials
The basics you need runningscale 0β28.3hComfort & Convenience
Makes off-grid life actually enjoyablescale 0β5.7hHigh-Draw Appliances
These reveal the real limitsΒΉ Runtime = (capacity Γ 0.85) Γ· appliance watts. Within each group, all bars share one time scale (the group's longest runtime), so lengths are comparable across appliances; identical runtimes collapse into a single blue/orange bar. Actual runtime varies with battery age, temperature, and simultaneous loads β see methodology.
Conclusion
October 25, 2026
Verdict: the Yeti 500, on Power Score margin
Buy the Yeti 500. The extra $150 buys the capacity to finish an overnight CPAP run and an inverter that holds a 400W load the 300 can only start. It is also the cheaper of the two per watt-hour, and over its rated life it comes to $0.25 per kWh against $0.29. The Yeti 300 gives up nothing on chemistry, cycle rating or warranty. If your list is phones, a laptop and lights and will stay that way, it is a good buy.
Editor-assigned confidence, based on cited owner research and spec analysis.
List prices as of October 25, 2026. The links below open Goal Zero's current price.
$499.95 Β· direct from Goal Zero
Last checked 7 hours ago. Prices move β check before you buy.
or check the Yeti 300 price$349.95 list
Written by Wenny Zheng, Portable Power Tester Β· Station Arena Test Desk Β· Updated October 25, 2026
Black Friday Β· 25 days out
Prices to beat:Yeti 300 $350Yeti 500 $500
We have never seen either discounted, so any real cut would be a first.
Measured Data
Benchmark scores and the full spec record, side by side.
Benchmark scores
Full specifications
α΅ Derived: price Γ· rated capacity. See the data behind our comparisons β
Comparison ToolAdd more power stations, side by sideOpen Tool βHow these numbers are produced
Numeric verification
Every figure on this page traces to our spec database or arithmetic on it β no estimated numbers.
Owner claims
Statements about owner experience are cited to published reviews β see Sources & Research Notes below.
Runtime model
Runtime = (rated capacity Γ 0.85 inverter efficiency) Γ· device wattage. Solar recharge estimates assume panels deliver 70% of rated output. Cold weather, battery age, and stacked loads reduce real-world results.
Power Score
Computed from 14 published spec dimensions, weighted per use-case bench. Higher is better; a unit must meet a bench's minimum threshold to be rated.
See the full weight table and data sourcing on our methodology page βClass ranking (the star rating)
Each unit's star score is a category ranking, not customer reviews β no buyer opinions feed it. We score every station on size-independent quality (value, output, portability, endurance, ports, warranty, and more), then percentile-rank it against the other units in its capacity class, so a class-leading compact unit and a class-leading whole-home unit can both earn 5β . Here, Yeti 300 rates 3.7/5 (25th percentile of 25 Personal-class units), and Yeti 500 rates 4.5/5 (71st percentile of 25 Personal-class units).
How the class ranking is computed βTest Notes & Caveats
Hidden gotchas and advantages we spotted that you won't find on the product page.
Same Five Years
The warranty is identical, so it doesn't split them. Per dollar the 300 looks better, but that spread is only the price gap.
Full record above β the Test Desk pick is the Yeti 500.
Check Yeti 500 price βor check the Yeti 300 priceOwnership Analysis
What happens after you buy β true cost of ownership, brand trust, and growth potential.
Lifetime value
Service lifeyears at one full cycle per day
Lifetime energy delivered
Cost per delivered kWh
β warranty ends Β· Reaching the cycle rating means ~80% capacity remains β degraded, not dead.
Analyst note
The Yeti 300 is cheaper to buy, but the Yeti 500 is cheaper to own. At $0.25/kWh over its lifetime vs $0.29/kWh, the Yeti 500's higher cycle life and capacity make each dollar go further over the years. One thing to know reading the table: both carry the same 4,000-cycle rating, so the lifetime rows are sticker price and capacity in disguise β the wear horizon is identical and decides nothing here.
Growth path
Yeti 300
FIXED CAPACITYFixed at 297Wh, with no expansion β so size it for your needs up front rather than planning to add capacity later.
Accepts up to 200W of solar. Limited to a single portable panel.
Adequate ports for most setups, but heavy users may want a power strip.
Yeti 500
FIXED CAPACITYFixed at 499Wh, with no expansion β so size it for your needs up front rather than planning to add capacity later.
Accepts up to 200W of solar. Limited to a single portable panel.
Adequate ports for most setups, but heavy users may want a power strip.
Realistic full solar rechargeat 70% of rated panel output β see methodology
Analyst note
Neither expands, and that's no knock on either β each is a complete unit at a fixed size. Buy the capacity that covers your needs now (the Yeti 500 gives you the larger ceiling); you can't add to either later.
What Owners Report
Patterns from published owner reports and long-term reviews β every claim cited to its source below.
Goal Zero Yeti 300
Reviewers describe a well-built small unit, rated IP54 for dust and splash resistance, with rubberized corners and a sturdy handle, and report a full wall recharge in 50 minutesA2. One review put it at four to six hours of laptop work or 20 to 30 phone charges, and had it shut down with a coffee maker running near its limitA3. Another called the price steep for the capacityA4.
βA 297Wh LiFePO4 pack behind a 350W pure sine inverter (600W surge), rated 4,000 cycles β Goal Zero backs it with a long service life rather than raw output.β
Sources
goalzero.com Β· batteryskills.com Β· campingsolar.us Β· trailandkale.com Β· the-gadgeteer.com
Goal Zero Yeti 500
Long-term evidence on the 500 is thin but encouraging. One 2026 reviewer logged more than 180 charge cycles with minimal degradationB4. That is early against a 4,000-cycle ratingB1.
Check the listing before you buy. The LiFePO4 Yeti 500 is a different unit from the older NMC Yeti 500XB3, and some listings blend the twoB0. Goal Zero also claims up to six hours on a full-size refrigeratorB2. That figure is its own, and none of our sources measured it.
βThe Yeti 500's LiFePO4 battery is rated for 4,000+ cycles, meaning daily use for over 10 years (to 80% capacity at 75F).β
Sources
goalzero.com Β· rei.com Β· propaneva.com Β· portablepowernerd.com
Sources & Research Notes
Every owner claim in this report is traceable to a published source. The bracketed references above resolve here.
Recurring owner themes
- Modern LFP (4,000+ cycles), IP54 ruggedness, and fast charging are the praise; small capacity and high price are the caveats. [Yeti 300 Β· 3 entries]
- High 4,000+ cycle LFP rating and outage-backup capability (including running a fridge for hours) are the standout points. [Yeti 500 Β· 2 entries]
- A2
βAt 13.7 lbs, meets IP54 for dust and water resistance, with top-tier build quality β rubberized corners and a sturdy handle; recharges 0-100% in 50 minutes.β
campingsolar.us / trailandkale.com β Yeti 300 review Β· 2026 Β· [positive]
- A3
βThe 297Wh capacity limits it to lighter-duty use β 4-6 hours on a laptop or 20-30 phone charges β and it struggled near its 300W limit, shutting down after 2 minutes with a coffee maker.β
batteryskills.com β Yeti 300 review Β· 2026 Β· [mixed]
- A4
βA modern LFP (not NMC) rugged compact unit, though at $349.95 the price stings for the capacity.β
the-gadgeteer.com β Yeti 300 review Β· 2026 Β· [mixed]
- B1
βThe Yeti 500's LiFePO4 battery is rated for 4,000+ cycles, meaning daily use for over 10 years (to 80% capacity at 75F).β
goalzero.com / rei.com β Yeti 500 LFP Β· 2026 Β· [positive]
- B2
βActs as a backup power supply when the grid drops β you can plug a full-size refrigerator directly in for up to six hours of runtime to prevent food waste.β
goalzero.com β Yeti 500 backup Β· 2026 Β· [positive]
- B3
βWeighs about 16 lbs, upgraded to LiFePO4 battery technology from the older NMC-based Yeti 500X.β
goalzero.com / propaneva.com β Yeti 500 review Β· 2026 Β· [mixed]
- B4
βOne 2026 reviewer completed 180+ charge/discharge cycles with minimal observed degradation.β
portablepowernerd.com β Yeti 500 long-term review Β· 2026 Β· [positive]
Research compiled October 25, 2026.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the Yeti 300 if youβ¦
- βYour list is phones, a tablet, a laptop, a camera battery and some lights, and it will stay that way.
- βYou'll refill it from a panel most days. Both take 200W of solar, so the smaller tank is back to full sooner.
- β$350 is the number you have. The 300 gives up nothing on chemistry, cycle rating or warranty.
Buy the Yeti 500 if youβ¦
- βA CPAP is anywhere in the picture. The 500 finishes the 320Wh night with 104Wh to spare.
- βYou want to run something around 400W for a while. The 500's 500W inverter holds it, and the 300's 350W can only start it.
- βYou don't know yet what you'll plug in. Neither expands, so the larger ceiling is the only hedge.
If neither fits
If the plan is a weekend of camping, a remote workday off-grid or an eight-hour blackout with more than one appliance, look past both. Shop the class that starts where the 500 stops.
The Bottom Line
Same chemistry, same cycle rating, same warranty and the same solar ceiling. The Yeti 500 adds the capacity to finish a CPAP night and the inverter to hold a 400W load, and it costs less per watt-hour.
The case for the 300 is the $150 and a slightly lighter carry. If that money matters, it is a fine buy for USB and laptop duty. If it doesn't, take the 500.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers drawn from the spec record and cited owner research.
Is the Goal Zero Yeti 500 worth $150 more than the Yeti 300?
For most buyers, yes. The $150 buys 202Wh more capacity and a 500W inverter with 1,000W of surge instead of 350W and 600W, and the 500 costs less per watt-hour. Take the 300 only if your whole load list is USB devices, a laptop and lights, and you're confident it stays that way.
Will a Goal Zero Yeti 300 run a CPAP all night?
Not on the overnight load scored here. That run comes to 320Wh and the 300 has roughly 252Wh usable after a flat allowance for conversion losses, so it stops short of morning. The Yeti 500 covers the same night with about 104Wh left. Neither unit publishes a noise rating, so bedside fan noise is one thing this comparison can't settle.
Can either Yeti run a refrigerator?
The 500 is the better fit. A fridge compressor spikes above its running draw at startup, and the 500's 1,000W surge leaves more room for that than the 300's 600W. Goal Zero claims up to six hours on a full-size fridge for the 500. That is the manufacturer's number, so treat the unit as a bridge through an outage rather than house backup.
How long do these take to recharge from solar?
Both cap at 200W of solar input, so the smaller unit is the faster one to fill: about 1.5 hours for the 300's 297Wh and about 2.5 hours for the 500's 499Wh at the full 200W. Real panels rarely hold rated output for long, so plan on longer in anything but flat midday sun. From the wall, the 300 goes 0-100% in 50 minutes.
Is the Yeti 500 the same as the Yeti 500X?
No. The current Yeti 500 uses a LiFePO4 pack rated for 4,000 cycles; the older Yeti 500X was NMC with a far shorter rated life. Some listings still mix the two together. If the cycle life quoted on a listing is in the hundreds, you're looking at the older unit.
Related buying guides
Where to buy
Goal Zero Yeti 300
$349.95
$349.95 Β· direct from Goal Zero
Last checked 7 hours ago. Prices move β check before you buy.
Goal Zero Yeti 500Pick
$499.95
$499.95 Β· direct from Goal Zero
Last checked 7 hours ago. Prices move β check before you buy.
Prices may vary by retailer and are subject to change.