What Size Power Station Do I Need?
Add the devices you want to run, set your trip length, and get a recommended power station size in watt-hours — plus the continuous output you'll need. Every wattage is an editable estimate.
| Appliance | Watts | Hours/day | Qty | Wh/day | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smartphone chargingDC (12V) | 20 Wh | ||||
| LED camp light / lanternDC (12V) | 20 Wh | ||||
| LaptopAC (via inverter) | 260 Wh |
Appliance library
Wattages shown are estimates. Check the rating label or manual of your actual appliance for the most accurate value — every field is editable once added.
A reserve helps account for conversion losses, temperature, battery aging and differences between estimated and actual appliance consumption. Default is 20%.
Applied to AC appliances only, to approximate inverter conversion losses — theoretical battery capacity is not the same as real usable AC energy. Default is 85%. DC (12V) appliances are not adjusted.
How this calculator works
For each appliance, we calculate watts × hours/day × quantity = Wh/day. AC appliances (anything running through an inverter) are divided by your efficiency setting to approximate inverter conversion losses — a portable power station's rated Wh is not the same as the real, usable AC energy it can deliver. We then multiply your total daily Wh by the number of days in your trip, and add your chosen reserve percentage to arrive at a recommended rated capacity.
Worked example
A laptop rated at 65W used for 4 hours a day uses 65 × 4 = 260Wh/day. Add a 12V fridge estimated at 45W average draw over 24 hours (≈1,080Wh/day) and phone charging (≈20Wh/day), and your daily total is roughly 1,360Wh/day. Over a 3-day trip with a 20% reserve, that's approximately (1,360 × 3) × 1.2 ≈ 4,900Wh recommended rated capacity.
Formula & methodology
- Daily Wh = Σ (watts × hours/day × quantity), AC loads divided by efficiency
- Trip energy = Daily Wh × number of days
- Recommended capacity = Trip energy × (1 + reserve %)
- Recommended continuous inverter output = highest simultaneous AC load × margin
Full detail and limitations are documented on the How We Calculate page.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What size power station do I need for a weekend trip?+
It depends entirely on what you're running. A phone, some lights and a 12V fridge for a weekend typically needs somewhere in the 500–1000Wh range, but add a laptop, Starlink or a coffee machine and that can climb quickly — use the calculator above with your actual devices for an accurate figure.
Will a 1000Wh power station be enough?+
For light use (phones, lights, a small fridge) over 1–2 days, often yes. For multi-day trips with a fridge running continuously plus other appliances, 1000Wh alone (without solar top-up) usually only covers a day or two. Add your appliances above to see your specific requirement.
Why is the recommended capacity higher than my raw daily use × days?+
Because of the reserve/safety buffer, which accounts for battery aging, temperature effects, and the gap between estimated and actual appliance consumption — see the assumptions panel above for the exact percentage applied.
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