Portable Power

How to choose a portable power station

The right unit comes down to how much energy you need to store and how fast you need to put it out. Two figures on every listing tell you this: capacity in watt hours (Wh) and output in watts (W).

• Capacity: small units like the BLUETTI AC2P (230.4Wh) or AC50P (504Wh) suit phones, lights and small electronics. Mid-range options such as the AC70P (864Wh) or AC180P (1,440Wh) will run a fridge overnight. Larger stations like the AC200P L (2,304Wh), Elite 400 (3,840Wh) or Apex 300 (2,764.8Wh) handle whole campsites or home backup.
• Output: watts determine what you can run at once. A 1,000W unit like the AC70P covers most small appliances, while the Apex 300 at 3,840W or the Elite 320 at 1,800W step up to power tools, induction cooktops or larger rigs.
• Expansion: batteries such as the B300K, B500K, B230 and B300 let you add capacity to a compatible station without buying a second unit outright.
• Charging: solar panels from the compact PV60F (60W) up to the PV350 (350W) and Sora 500 (500W) let you recharge off-grid, while the Charger 1 and Charger 2 add alternator or AC charging options.

Frequently asked questions

What size power station do I need for camping?

For weekend trips running lights, phones and a small fridge, something in the 500Wh to 1,000Wh range such as the AC50P or AC70P is usually enough. Longer stays or larger loads call for the higher capacity AC180P or AC200P L.

Can I use solar panels to recharge these on the road?

Yes, BLUETTI solar panels match most of the stations in this range and recharge them through the day while you drive or camp. Check the wattage of the panel against the input rating of your station for the fastest charge.

Are these suitable for home blackout backup?

Larger units like the AC300 and B300 combination or the Elite 400 are built for home backup, running essentials such as fridges, routers and lighting during an outage.

For more on working out run times, see The Secret to Never Running Out of Juice Again and What Size Portable Power Station Do I Need?. Browse Trending for current best sellers.