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Portable power station and folding solar panel outside a house during a nighttime storm

Ready for Any Outage

Home Emergency Preparedness

Keep the fridge, lights, Wi‑Fi and medical devices running when the power goes out. Find a backup setup sized for your home, with no installation needed.

Take the 60-Second QuizShop Backup Power Stations

How Much Do You Need to Keep Running?

Pick the setup that matches your home and how long outages last.

Want the whole house covered? See Whole‑Home Backup Power

Power Station or Portable Generator?

Both can carry you through an outage. Here's how they differ.

Power Station Portable Generator
Fuel Recharges from a wall outlet, solar or a car Gasoline, propane or both
Noise Near silent Loud, like a lawn mower
Indoor use Safe indoors Outdoors only, 20 feet or more from the house
Runtime Until the battery runs down; solar extends it As long as you have fuel
Upkeep Very little Oil changes, fresh fuel and test runs
Startup Instant Pull or electric start

Running hardwired items like a furnace or well pump? See transfer switches

Popular Picks for Power Outages

How to Choose

  1. List What Matters

    Write down what you need during an outage, like the fridge, lights, Wi‑Fi and medical devices.

  2. Add Up the Watts

    Total the running watts and the hours you need each item. The calculator does the math.

    Open the Calculator

  3. Pick Your Size

    Match your total to a setup above, with some room to spare.

  4. Plan to Recharge

    For outages longer than a day, add solar panels or a generator.

    Shop Solar Panels

Want a recommendation? Take the 60‑second quiz

Get Free Expert Help

Free help from real people, before you buy.

  • 60-Second Power Quiz

    Answer a few quick questions and get an expert-recommended setup.

    Start the Quiz

  • Power System Calculator

    Add up what you want to run and size a system yourself.

    Open the Calculator

  • Free Home Backup Plan

    Tell us about your home. A specialist replies within 1 business day. No charge, no obligation.

    Get My Free Plan

Prefer to talk? Call 1-888-976-5443Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. MST (Arizona)

Guides for Outage Planning

Common Questions About Outage Power

What size power station do I need for a power outage?

Add up what you want to run and for how long. A fridge, lights, Wi‑Fi and phones usually use about 2–⁠3 kWh a day, so a 2–⁠4 kWh power station covers the essentials for about a day. Add solar panels to keep going longer.

The Power System Calculator will size it for you.

Can a power station run a refrigerator?

Yes. Most refrigerators run at 100–⁠800 watts and need a short burst more to start, so a power station with at least 1,500W of output handles most of them. A typical fridge uses 1–⁠2 kWh a day.

Read more in Can a Portable Power Station Run a Refrigerator?

Can I run a CPAP on a power station?

Yes. Most CPAP machines use 30–⁠60 watts without the heated humidifier, so a 1,000 Wh power station can run one for two or more nights. See our CPAP power station picks.

Is it safe to use a power station indoors?

Yes. Power stations make no fumes, so you can use them inside your home. Never run a gas generator indoors or in a garage. Keep it outdoors, at least 20 feet from the house, with the exhaust pointed away from doors and windows.

How do I keep a power station ready for an emergency?

Store it indoors, keep it charged and top it up every few months. Run a quick test each season so you know your devices plug in and work.

Do I need a transfer switch?

Not to plug appliances in directly. To power hardwired items like a furnace, well pump or sump pump, a licensed electrician can install a transfer switch or home panel. See transfer switches.

Should I get a power station or a generator?

A power station is quiet, safe indoors and needs almost no upkeep. A portable generator runs as long as you have fuel and handles bigger loads, but it must stay outdoors. Many households keep a power station for the essentials and a generator to recharge it in long outages.

Not Sure What You Need?

Take the 60-second quiz and get a recommendation sized for your home.

Take the 60-Second Quiz

Or call 1-888-976-5443Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. MST (Arizona)