When selecting a portable power station, Alan Duncan, CEO of Solar Panels Network USA, recommends going all-in on battery capacity. “Battery capacity is key—you want a battery that can handle whatever situation you might need it for,” advises Duncan. “Job sites, camping, and emergencies all require different levels of power, so make sure to pick the right one for your needs. Another thing to look at is output wattage—this tells you how much power the portable power station can provide.” We examined dozens of power stations, from big solar power stations to ultra-portable power banks, looking at key factors like battery capacity, power output, size and portability, and feature sets to identify which ones stand out. Our favorite power station, the Jackery Explorer 1500 Portable Power Station, delivers ample battery capacity, can power just about any device or appliance, and is compact enough to transport or store easily. Here are the best portable power stations. After a short charge, the Jackery Explorer 1500 is ready to go right out of the box, and it comes with everything you need. It includes a fast charger that you can plug into a wall outlet and a slower charger that you can plug into an accessory outlet in your car. The wall charger will take the battery from zero to full in about four hours, or significantly less if you add a second optional charger. The car outlet takes much longer, but it’s a helpful option to have. Though this unit doesn’t come with solar panels, you can add up to four if you need power off the grid. The best thing about the Jackery Explorer 1500 is its utility. It features three AC outlets, and it can put out 1500 watts continuously. That’s enough to run power-hungry devices like a hairdryer or a curling iron on a camping trip, run a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine for several nights, brew coffee, or even pop some microwave popcorn during a power outage. It’s also compact and light enough that it’s easy to carry around, position exactly where you need it, and store away when you don’t. This portable power station is a good option if you’re working on a tight budget because it provides more power than the competition does at the same price point. It does have limitations, though, including a modified sine wave inverter. That means you can’t use it with some devices, like CPAP machines. Weighing about 23 pounds, the Delta Mini has a big 882-watt-hour battery capable of keeping your phone and laptop charged through an extended power outage or powering your hairdryer, microwave, or even portable air conditioning unit for a short time. If you’re worried about an incoming storm that might knock your power out, this power station has a fast-charge feature that can take it from zero to full in a little over an hour and a half. The only problem with this power station is that it lacks creature comforts, like wireless charging for your phone, and there’s no built-in emergency light. The Nimble Champ uses a gallium nitride battery that provides more power than you’d get from lithium-ion, but the catch is that it’s also heavy. While this diminutive power bank is smaller than a pack of cards, it weighs more than an iPhone 13. It’s still highly portable, but you’ll feel it in your pocket. It also doesn’t come with a wall charger, so you’ll have to supply your own. In addition to providing 210 watt-hours of backup power, the EcoFlow River Mini can also function as a basic uninterruptible power supply (UPS). You can set it on your desk, plug in mission-critical equipment like your modem and router, and the River Mini will automatically switch to battery backup if your power goes out. It also uses the same power inputs as other EcoFlow power stations, so you can charge it via AC power, plug it into your car, or plug in a solar panel. It is great for emergencies because it has a built-in flashlight and a fold-out solar panel array. While the foldable solar panel is convenient, the solar charging is a little on the slow side. It’s wise to plan on charging this panel by plugging it into the wall. The solar array is primarily for adding a little extra power if you find yourself in an extended emergency or you’re out camping off the grid. While many portable power stations are light enough to carry along on a camping trip, the ISSOMI is very well suited to the purpose at under 11 pounds. In addition to being dustproof and water-resistant, it has plenty of reserve power to keep your devices running on an extended camping trip. It has enough power to charge your phone more than 30 times, and you can also use it to power other low-wattage electronics like a portable projector or a fan to keep you cool at night. It only has one AC port, though, so you are limited to plugging in one non-USB device at a time. This turnkey system can deliver 1000 watts of continuous power, with peak surges of 2000 watts, so it can run most of your devices and electronics in an emergency, on the job site, or during an extended camping trip. For example, it has enough juice to keep a mini-fridge or a CPAP machine running for about 17 hours, even without hooking up the solar panels. If you have plenty of sun available during the day, the solar panels will keep your most crucial gear powered up even longer. The thing that sets the Delta Pro apart is its flexibility. You can take it camping or on a road trip, use it under your desk at home as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), or even wire it into your home for a whole-house battery solution. You can use it alone, in conjunction with an optional additional battery, or even in a system with multiple Delta Pro units connected to your home’s electrical panel. You can also monitor it through the EcoFlow app via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. There’s no denying that this is an expensive unit, but endless possibilities make it an excellent splurge option. The other two key features that make the Stanley J5C09 good for automotive use are the light and the air compressor. If you find yourself dealing with a flat tire in the dark, this is the perfect unit to take care of that. You can also use it at the beach to blow up inflatables or anywhere else you need an air compressor. It only has one USB port and one 12-volt car accessory port, though, and it doesn’t include a charging cord. The primary charging method is plugging into an extension cord, which is handy, but could be an annoyance if you don’t own any extension cords.
Battery Capacity
Battery capacity refers to the amount of power the portable power station can store. Duncan advises that battery capacity is highly dependent on the scenario in which the power station will be used, so there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. “If you’re looking for something to use in an emergency power outage situation, then you’ll want a higher-capacity battery,” says Duncan. “For job sites or camping, a lower-capacity battery might suffice. It just depends on your needs.” This capacity is measured in watt-hours, as it indicates how many hours you could run a 1-watt device or the maximum wattage you could run for one hour. For example, if you connected a TV that draws 60 watts to a portable power station with a 600-watt capacity, watching the TV for ten hours would completely drain the battery. You’ll lose some power to inefficiency, heat, and other factors, so never expect a portable power station to run exactly as long as the math suggests it would under perfect conditions.
Output
Portable power station output comes in watts, and there are two numbers to look at. Continuous output is the wattage the power station can deliver on an ongoing basis, while peak output is the highest safe wattage it can output for a short time. Some devices, like air conditioning units and refrigerators, use far more power when first turned on than when running, so a high peak wattage rating allows you to connect such a device safely. In general, it’s best to check the wattage of each device you want to connect to your portable power station and select a power station that can handle them all. If you think you’ll need to have two or more devices plugged in at once, add those wattages and an additional ten to 20 percent for safety, and use that as your baseline.
Charging Speed and Options
The primary methods of charging a portable power station are plugging into a wall outlet, connecting a solar panel, and plugging into a vehicle’s cigarette lighter or 12-volt accessory socket. Charging via a wall outlet is usually the fastest, and it’s also the most ubiquitous. For example, a portable power station that charges in two hours plugged into the wall in your house might take eight hours to charge in your car. Look for a power station that lets you plug in two 110-volt chargers at once for the fastest charging possible. Charging via the cigarette lighter socket in a car can be a useful option to have, but it’s also very slow. The speed of charging via solar panels varies depending on the wattage of the solar panel and local conditions, but you can use them anywhere. According to Duncan, “solar charging is a great way to keep your portable power station charged up and ready to go. They’re perfect for use in areas where there’s no grid access or where there’s a low-power outlet available. They’re also great for emergencies or when you need to stay off the grid for an extended period.” The most powerful solar chargers are faster than plugging into your car but slower than plugging into a 110-volt outlet in your house.
Ports
Portable power stations include a variety of ports, including 110-volt outlets, USB-A and USB-C ports, 12-volt accessory ports, and 12-volt barrel connectors. Some include one or more of these options, while others only have USB ports, 110-volt outlets, or various combinations. If you expect to need to plug in two or three 110-volt devices at once, then make sure to select a portable power station that includes at least that many outlets. If you have devices like phones and laptops that can quickly charge over USB-C, make sure your portable power station has at least one USB-C Power Delivery (PD) port.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Jeremy Laukkonen, a freelance writer and product tester for The Spruce. He’s had experience testing and reviewing a variety of portable power stations and power banks throughout his career, including hands-on experience with several of the options featured on this list. In addition to The Spruce, his reviews can be found in other outlets, including Lifewire and Digital Trends. In addition to keeping your portable power station in a climate-controlled space, it’s also a good idea to store it with about 40 to 50 percent charge, as that’s better for battery life than storing it with a full charge. The exception is that if you live in an area that’s prone to power outages from winter storms, hurricane season, or other natural disasters, you’ll be better off keeping the battery charged during those times. It’s more important to have your portable power station ready to go for an emergency than it is to maximize the battery life. Every portable power station has a duty cycle rating, which refers to how many times it can be fully discharged and recharged before the battery capacity drops below 80 percent of the original capacity. Most people can use a portable power station for at least two to five years before the capacity drops noticeably, but high use can reduce that drastically. Laukkonen contacted Alan Duncan, Founder and CEO of Solar Panels Network USA, to tap his extensive knowledge of battery storage systems. With Duncan’s expert insights, Laukkonen considered battery size and type, power output, port selection, size and design, and a number of other factors to identify the best possible portable power stations in several categories.
