What Size Portable Power Station Do I Need?

Updated June 2026

Two numbers decide everything: watt-hours (Wh) — how much energy it stores — and watts (W) — how much it can deliver at once. Get both right for your use case.

Step 1: List what you want to run, and its wattage

Check the label or manual for the wattage of each device. Rough examples:

• Phone charge: ~10–20W
• Laptop: ~50–90W
• TV: ~50–100W
• Fridge/freezer: ~100–200W (running), with a higher start-up surge
• Kettle / microwave / hairdryer: ~1,000–3,000W

Step 2: Check the output (W) covers your biggest load

Add up anything that runs at the same time. A full-size UK kettle (often 2,000–3,000W) needs a power station with an AC output rating to match — so high-output units are essential here, while an ~1,800W unit like the EcoFlow DELTA 3 comfortably runs most other appliances (microwave, fridge, tools) but not a high-wattage kettle. Small units (300–1,000W) are fine for devices but won’t run high-heat appliances.

Step 3: Size the capacity (Wh) for how long

Energy used ≈ device watts × hours. A 150W fridge for 6 hours needs ~900Wh, so a ~1kWh unit covers it. Allow ~10–15% for inverter losses.

Quick guidance by use case

• Camping / devices: 250–800Wh is plenty — e.g. the Bluetti AC70.
• Day off-grid with appliances: ~1kWh and 1,800W output — the sweet spot.
• Home power cut (essentials): 1–2kWh, ideally expandable.
• Longer outages / more load: 2kWh+ home-backup units like the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3.

Don’t over-buy

A 300Wh unit you actually carry beats a 2kWh one left in a cupboard. Match the size to the job — then compare the field on our portable power stations page.

Prefer to skip the maths? Try our power station sizing calculator — pick your appliances and it shows exactly which units will run them.