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Home with its lights on at night and an EcoFlow TITAN battery backup in the garage

Power Through Any Outage

Whole-Home Backup Power

Keep your whole house running when the grid goes down. Compare home battery systems and standby generators, and get a free plan sized to your home.

Get a Free Backup PlanShop Whole-Home Systems

How Much of Your Home Do You Want to Back Up?

Pick the setup that matches what you need to keep running.

Not sure which one fits? Get a free backup plan

Home Battery or Standby Generator?

Both can power a whole house. Here's how they differ.

Home Battery System Home Standby Generator
Power source Stored electricity, recharged by the grid or solar Natural gas or propane
Noise Near silent Runs like a small engine
Runtime Until the battery runs down, longer with solar As long as the fuel lasts
Upkeep Very little Yearly service and oil changes
Installation Electrician; wall, floor or garage Electrician, gas hookup, outdoor pad and permits
Solar Works with solar panels Doesn't use solar
Where it goes Indoors or outdoors (most models) Outdoors only

On a tighter budget? A portable generator with a transfer switch can run key circuits. See our portable generator picks for home backup

Popular Whole‑Home Systems

How It Works

  1. Tell Us About Your Home

    Share what you want to keep running and how long your outages last. It's free.

    Get a Free Backup Plan

  2. Get a System Sized for You

    A specialist matches battery size, output and solar to your home, usually within 1 business day.

  3. Choose and Order

    Price Beat Guarantee, free shipping and financing options.

    See Financing

  4. Have It Installed

    A licensed electrician connects it to your panel.

    Find an Installer

Prefer to run the numbers yourself? Try the Power System Calculator

Get Free Expert Help

Free help from real people, before you buy.

  • Free Home Backup Plan

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

    Get My Free Plan

  • Power System Calculator

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

    Open the Calculator

  • Find an Installer

    Find a home backup installer near you, listed by state.

    Find an Installer

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

Guides for Planning Home Backup

Common Questions About Whole-Home Backup

How big of a battery do I need to back up my whole house?

It depends on what you want to run and for how long. Keeping the essentials on (fridge, lights, Wi‑Fi and a sump pump) usually takes about 5–⁠10 kWh a day. The average U.S. home uses about 29 kWh a day, so running everything for a full day takes roughly a 20–⁠30 kWh battery, or less if solar panels recharge it during the day.

Our free backup plan or the Power System Calculator will size it for your home.

Can a home battery run central air conditioning?

Yes, if the system has enough output and battery. Central AC needs a burst of power to start, then typically runs at 2–⁠5 kW. Systems built for whole‑home backup, like the Anker SOLIX E10 and EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra X, support 240V appliances such as central AC. Battery size decides how many hours it can run. A soft starter on the AC unit lowers the start-up surge.

How long will a whole-home battery last in an outage?

Divide the battery's capacity by what you're running. A 20 kWh battery running 1 kW of essentials lasts roughly 20 hours. Running 4 kW with the AC on, it lasts about 5 hours. Solar panels can recharge the battery during the day, which can stretch an outage from hours to days.

Should I choose a home battery or a standby generator?

A home battery is quiet, needs almost no upkeep and works with solar. A standby generator runs as long as it has fuel, which suits very long outages and homes with large loads, but it needs a gas line or propane tank, yearly service and an outdoor spot. Some homes pair a battery with a generator. Compare them in the table above, or get a free backup plan for a recommendation.

Do I need an electrician to install whole-home backup?

For any system that connects to your home's wiring, yes. A licensed electrician installs the transfer switch or home panel and handles any permits your area requires. A power station you plug appliances into directly doesn't need one. Find a home backup installer near you.

Can I add solar panels later?

With most home battery systems, yes. The Anker SOLIX E10, EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra X and EcoFlow TITAN all have built-in solar inputs, so you can start with the battery and add panels when you're ready. Standby generators can't use solar.

What happens the moment the power goes out?

Systems wired to your panel switch over on their own. Most home battery systems switch in a fraction of a second, so lights and Wi‑Fi often stay on. A standby generator senses the outage and starts within several seconds. When grid power comes back, both switch back automatically.

Can I finance a whole-home backup system?

Yes. At checkout you can pay over time with PayPal Credit or Shop Pay Installments, subject to approval. See our Financing page for the terms.

Not Sure Where to Start?

Tell us what you want to keep running and we'll recommend a system sized for your home. It's free.

Get a Free Backup Plan

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