The 9 Best Portable Power Stations

Best Overall

Jackery Portable Power Station

$1,199 at Home Depot $1,499 at Lowes View on Jackery.com

Whether you’re looking for a backup in case of emergencies, something that can power your tools on the job site, or a way to keep your electronics up and running on an extended camping trip, we think the Jackery Explorer 1500 is a great pick.

This power station strikes a balance between portability and utility. The huge battery capacity results in a correspondingly high price, but it’s ready to handle just about anything you throw at it. It also charges really fast (six hours with the included wall charger), so it's easy to power up before a trip, or if an incoming storm has you worried about power outages.

Need to keep the food in your freezer safe during a power outage? The Jackery Explorer 1500 has you covered for up to 15 hours, depending on the power consumption of your freezer. It has about 10 times the battery capacity of our best value pick.

The Jackery Explorer 1500 is ready to go right out of the box, and it comes with everything you need, including two chargers (one for home, and another that you can plug into your car.) The wall charger is the faster of the two (it'll take the battery from zero to full in about six hours), but it's nice to have the convenience of charging in your car available without an additional purchase

Though this unit doesn't come with solar panels, you can add up to four Jackery SolarSaga panels if you need power off the grid (for comparison, our best for camping pick includes a slightly less powerful Jackery Explorer 1000 and two SolarSaga panels).

We also really like Jackery Explorer 1500 for its utility. It features three AC outlets, and it can put out 1500 watts continuously. That’s enough to run power-hungry devices like a hairdryer or a curling iron on a camping trip, run a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine for several nights, or even pop some microwave popcorn during a power outage.

This power station is also surprisingly compact and light enough that it’s easy to carry around, position exactly where you need it, and store away when you don’t. We wish it used lithium iron phosphate batteries for safety, like our most versatile pick, but the lithium-ion battery it uses does allow it to be a bit smaller and lighter.

_{Dimensions: 14 x 10.4 x 12.7 inches︱Weight: 35.2 pounds︱Power Source: Lithium-ion battery︱Ports: 3x AC outlets, USB-C Power Delivery, USB-A Quick Charge 3.0, USB-A, 12V car | Capacity: 1534Wh}

Best Value

Westinghouse iGen160s

$140 $129 at Amazon $129 at Walmart $131 at Home Depot

The Westinghouse iGen160s is a basic little power station capable of keeping your electronics charged during a brief power outage or camping trip.

This power station is extremely portable, weighing in at under 4 pounds, and it has enough power to provide two or three laptop charges, up to 14 total smartphone charges, or power your AC devices that draw less than 100 watts. For example, you could plug in a 25-watt mini projector for a four- or five-hour movie marathon in the backyard and still have power left over.

This power station is a good option because it provides more power than the competition does at the same price point. It does have limitations, though, including a modified sine wave inverter, which means you can’t use it with some devices, like CPAP machines.

_{Dimensions: 8.14 x x 3.77 x 7 inches︱Weight: 3.75 pounds︱Power Source: Lithium-ion battery︱Ports: 2x AC outlets, 3x USB-A, USB-C, 3x DC output | Capacity: 155 Wh}

Most Versatile

EcoFlow Delta Pro Portable Power Station

$3,499 at Amazon $2,783 $2,183 at Home Depot View on Ecoflow.com

Whether you need emergency battery backup for your house, power when camping off the grid, or any other reason, the EcoFlow Delta Pro is more than ready for the task. This big unit weighs nearly 100 pounds, but the built-in wheels make it a little easier to move around as long as you're not going up or down stairs or over rough terrain.

It weighs a lot because of the massive 3.6-kilowatt-hour battery. That’s enough to keep a microwave running for over an hour or even keep a portable air conditioning unit on for an hour or two. You can even plug a fridge and a freezer in during a short power outage and have power to spare.

The thing that sets the Delta Pro apart is its flexibility. You can take it camping or on a road trip, use it under your desk at home as an uninterruptible power supply, or even wire it into your home for a whole-house battery solution.

Plus, you can use it alone, in conjunction with an optional additional battery, or even in a system with multiple Delta Pro units connected to your home’s electrical panel for whole-house power during an outage. We like that you can monitor it through the EcoFlow app via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. There’s no denying that this is a pricey unit, but endless possibilities make it an excellent option for powering your entire home.

_{Dimensions: 25 x 11.2 x 16.4 inches︱Weight: 99 pounds︱Power Source: Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery︱Ports: 5x AC outlets, 2x USB-A, 2x USB-C, Car, 2x DC5521 | Capacity: 3,600 Wh}

Best for Camping

Jackery Solar Generator 1000

View on Amazon $1,489 at Walmart View on Jackery.com

The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 is a complete solar-powered portable power station package, which is why we think it's the best option for off-grid camping.

You can take any good portable power station camping and get good use out of it, as long as you don't mind closely monitoring your power usage. The difference with the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 is that it comes with two of Jackery's powerful SolarSaga 100X solar panels that can charge the battery in about eight hours. With enough sun exposure, you can fully charge this portable power station every day, and never worry about running out of power.

It's Jackery's second-biggest power station, with a powerful 1002-watt-hour battery, plenty of outlets, and a relatively light 22-pound weight that's easy to carry and place wherever it's needed. We think that's too bulky for hiking, but perfect for drive-up tent camping, and primitive off-grid RV camping that doesn't involve hauling gear by hand.

This turnkey system can deliver 1000 watts of continuous power, with peak surges of 2000 watts, so it can run most of your devices and electronics in an emergency, on the job site, or during an extended camping trip. For example, it has enough juice to keep a mini-fridge or a CPAP machine running for about 17 hours, even without hooking up solar panels.

Each SolarSaga panel generates 100 watts, and you can use them separately or together. You can also use the panels without plugging them into the power station, because each panel includes both USB-C and USB-A outputs to charge your electronics directly without going through the portable power station itself.

The solar panels are very lightweight, so you might even consider bringing them and leaving the main power station behind if your power needs are light and you're planning to hike into your campsite.

_{Dimensions: 13.1 x 9.2 x 11.1 inches︱Weight: 22.04 pounds︱Power Source: Lithium-ion battery︱Ports: 3x AC outlets, 2x USB-C Power Delivery, 2x USB-A, 12V car | Capacity: 1002 Wh}

Best for Emergencies

Blavor Solar Charger with Foldable Panels

$60 at Amazon View on Blavorpowerbank.com

The Blavor Solar Charger with Solar Panels is an excellent little power bank to have on hand in case of emergencies. It’s a little bigger and heavier than a typical cellphone, but it has enough power to charge your phone several times before a recharge of its own. It also has a built-in Qi wireless charger in addition to USB-C and USB-A ports for wired charging.

It's great for emergencies because it has a built-in flashlight and a fold-out solar panel array. While the foldable solar panel is convenient, the solar charging is a little on the slow side.

It's wise to plan on charging this panel by plugging it into the wall. The solar array is primarily for adding a little extra power if you find yourself in an extended emergency or you’re out camping off the grid.

_{Dimensions: 7 x 3.5 x 1.6 inches︱Weight: 1.54 pounds︱Power Source: Lithium polymer battery︱Ports: USB-C Power Delivery, 2x USB-A Quick Charge 3.0, Micro USB | Capacity: 20000 mAh}

Best Mini

BougeRV Flash300

$350 at Amazon View on Bougerv.com

The BougeRV Flash300 is a surprisingly powerful little device, which is why it’s our favorite mini portable power station. It tips the scales at just a bit over 12 pounds, but it comes equipped with a huge range of outlets and ports to power up all of your devices (including two AC outlets, four USB ports, and three DC outputs.) It also includes wireless charging for your phone.

We think this is a good option for camping and road trips with its compact size, but it does have a limited battery capacity—just 286 Wh compared to the 10002 Wh provided by our best camping pick. The BougeRV Flash300 is perfect for keeping electronics (like laptops, cameras, and drones) charged up, and you can add a solar panel for off-grid charging to avoid running out of power.

This power station charges extremely fast when plugged into AC power or a powerful solar array (from zero to 90 percent in about 30 minutes), so you’re never far from fully charged emergency power. The catch there is that charging that fast can shorten the lifespan of a battery, and the only way to charge slowly is with a low-powered solar array or a car charger.

_{Dimensions: inches︱Weight: 12.1 pounds︱Power Source: Lithium battery︱Ports: USB-Ax2, USB-A QC3.0, USB-C PD3.0, Cigarette, CD5521x2 | Capacity: 286 Wh}

Best Wireless

EcoFlow River Mini

$198 at Home Depot View on Ecoflow.com $199 at Best Buy

The EcoFlow River Mini is a flexible little power station with built-in wireless charging. It's small enough that it’s perfect for desk use, but it’s also easy to take along on a road trip despite a lack of a carrying handle.

The top of the power station includes a built-in wireless charging pad with a slightly cupped shape to provide a secure platform for your phone. Unlike many other wireless chargers, there’s no chance of accidentally knocking your phone off this one. However, the case lacks a handle and is shiny, so it collects fingerprints easily.

In addition to providing 210 watt-hours of backup power, the EcoFlow River Mini can also function as a basic uninterruptible power supply. You can set it on your desk, plug in mission-critical equipment like your modem and router, and the River Mini will automatically switch to battery backup if your power goes out.

It also uses the same power inputs as other EcoFlow power stations, so you can charge it via AC power, plug it into your car, or plug in a solar panel.

_{Dimensions: 9.8 x 5.5 x 5.2 inches︱Weight: 6.3 pounds︱Power Source: Lithium-ion battery︱Ports: 2x AC outlets, 3x USB-A, USB-C Power Delivery, 12V car | Capacity: 210 Wh}

Best for Phones

Nimble Champ Portable Charger

$60 $50 at Amazon View on Gonimble.com $80 at Apple

If the only thing you need to keep powered up is your cell phone, the Nimble Champ is the best option. This compact little power bank doesn’t have any of the features found in bigger portable power stations, but it’s small, easy to carry, and is made from recycled materials—including sustainable packaging.

This portable device has enough juice to keep your phone running through about three days of heavy use and supports both 18-watt power delivery and Quick Charge 4.0 for rapidly charging the Nimble (with a compatible charger) in about two to four hours. It also has two USB ports, so you can charge two devices at once or charge one device with the USB port plugged into a wall outlet to charge the Nimble Champ simultaneously.

The Nimble Champ uses a gallium nitride battery that provides more power than you’d get from lithium-ion, but the catch is that it’s also heavy. While this diminutive power bank is smaller than a pack of cards, it weighs more than an iPhone 13. It’s still highly portable, but you’ll feel it in your pocket. It also doesn’t come with a wall charger, so you’ll have to supply your own.

_{Dimensions: 2.2 x 0.99 x 3 inches︱Weight: 6.4 ounces︱Power Source: Gallium nitride battery︱Ports: USB-C, USB-A | Capacity: 10000 mAh}

Best for Automotive Use

Stanley Peak Amp Jump Starter

View on Amazon $150 $121 at Walmart View on Westmarine.com

The Stanley J5C09 is the best option for automotive use because it includes several features that can come in handy on the road. The primary function of this unit is to jumpstart cars, which is why the manufacturer specifies its amperage output and amp-hour capacity instead of giving numbers in watts.

This unit clamps to the battery terminals of a vehicle that has a dead battery and provides a ton of power at once, allowing the vehicle to start, and it does that job very well. The other two key features that make the Stanley J5C09 good for automotive use are the light and the air compressor.

If you find yourself dealing with a flat tire in the dark (or want to be prepared for such a thing), this is the perfect unit to bring along. You can also use it at the beach to blow up inflatables or anywhere else you need an air compressor.

It only has one USB port and one 12-volt car accessory port, though, and it doesn’t come with a charging cord. The primary charging method is plugging into an extension cord, which is handy, but could be an annoyance if you don’t own any extension cords.

_{Dimensions: 11.25 x 8.3 x 13.5 inches︱Weight: 18 pounds︱Power Source: Lead-acid battery︱Ports: USB-A, 12V car port | Capacity: 21 Ah}