The best portable power station or generator for each job
Pick what has to stay on in an outage: a fridge, a CPAP, a sump pump, a furnace or the whole house. Each page names the power station or generator to buy, its price, and the numbers behind the pick.
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Home backupThe best portable power stations for home backup
A fridge, the internet, a few lamps and everyone's phones through a day without the grid, indoors, with no engine to run. Sized on the harder end of every range.
We picked it because it is the lowest-priced way to cover a typical day of this plan, counting its extra battery, among units with no recall.
Our pick: EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3$2,799 at Amazon
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Camping and road trips
The best portable power stations for camping
Two nights of phones, a laptop and a few lights is a small job with a wide range, and the range is what catches people out. All three picks cover the easy end of it on one charge; the hard end takes a panel at the site or a full charge before you leave.
We checked 82 units against phones, a laptop with a monitor, and LED lights for two days (48 hours): an easy trip needs 444 watt-hours and a hard one 4,512.
Our pick: EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3$2,799 at Amazon
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CPAPBest portable power station for a CPAP (2026)
A CPAP is a small, steady load. The heated humidifier decides how long a battery lasts, so we size on it being on and show how much longer each pick lasts with it off.
We size on the humidifier-on case: a CPAP with its heated humidifier and tube draws 30 to 100 watts, and the BLUETTI AC180 covers one night even at the top of that range.
Our pick: BLUETTI AC180$499 at Amazon
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Portable generatorsThe best portable generator for home backup
We sized every generator we track for the moment the sump pump starts while the fridge, freezer and furnace are already running. That starting number decides the buy.
Buy the WEN DF8000X ($623 at Amazon).
Our pick: WEN DF8000X$623 at Amazon
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RefrigeratorWhich power station will run your refrigerator?
A typical fridge needs about 2,000 watt-hours a day. Buy a station that holds that much you can actually use, and check it can start the compressor.
For a typical fridge, get the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra (3072Wh): it runs a full day on one charge, the lowest price that does.
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Sump pumpThe best portable power stations for a sump pump
A sump pump is a motor that starts hard and then runs in bursts: the starting surge decides which station can start it at all, and the weather decides how much energy it drinks. Sized on the harder end of every range.
Buy the EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max ($1,049 at Amazon).
Our pick: EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max$1,049 at Amazon
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Furnace
Can a power station run a gas furnace? Yes, with the right hookup
A gas furnace needs power only for its blower and controls. The blower motor type decides how long a battery lasts.
Yes. Our pick, the EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max, runs an older single-speed blower (about 550 W) for about 9.1 hours, and a variable-speed one for at least 12 hours, with the blower on a third of each hour.
Our pick: EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max$1,049 at Amazon
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Well pump
The best generator for a well pump
A well pump is the hardest start in most homes, and it is wired in at 240 volts. So the generator needs 240 volts, enough starting watts for the pump, and an outlet that an electrician's inlet can take.
Buy the WEN DF8000X ($623 at Amazon).
Our pick: WEN DF8000X$623 at Amazon
Sump pump backupBest battery backup sump pump, and how long each one runs
A second pump with its own battery, rated by gallons per charge.
Buy the Basement Watchdog Special CONNECT (BWSP) if you already have a working sump pump.
Our pick: Basement Watchdog Special CONNECT (BWSP)$279 at Amazon
Wi-Fi router backupBest battery backup for a Wi-Fi router, and how long it runs
A plug-in UPS or a mini UPS, with hours worked out for your router and modem.
Buy the CyberPower AVRG900LCD if your router and modem plug into the wall.
Our pick: CyberPower AVRG900LCD$139.95 at Amazon
California generatorsBest CARB-compliant generators, checked against PG&E’s list
Generators legal to buy new in California, each found by model number on an official list.
Buy the A-iPower SUA4300iD for RV trips and a fridge in an outage.
Our pick: A-iPower SUA4300iD$649.99 at Amazon
Or size your own list of appliances and see every unit judged against it.