The 9 Best Portable Power Stations

Best Overall

Jackery Portable Power Station

$1,207 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, the Jackery Explorer 1500 is my go-to portable power station.

With the addition of four Jackery SolarSaga panels, this portable power station keeps me going whenever the power goes out (I've even leaned on it during more than one hurricane). If you prefer a package deal, our best for camping pick includes a slightly less powerful Jackery Explorer 1000 and two SolarSaga panels.

I like this model more than the Explorer 1000 because I've found that it 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.

One of my favorite things is how fast this portable power station charges (just six hours with the included wall charger), so it's easy to power up before a trip or if an incoming storm has me worried about power outages.

After Hurricane Sally left me without power (and my roof severely damaged), I used the Jackery Explorer 1500 to power my freezer and keep my stores of frozen food from spoiling until the power came back on. It has about 10 times the battery capacity of our best value pick, which is why I think it's worth the extra money.

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. I wish it used lithium iron phosphate batteries (like our most versatile pick) because they last through more charging cycles, 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 Budget

Westinghouse iGen160s

$140 $111 at Amazon $129 at Walmart $130 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. I like that it has a flashlight (perfect for getting set up in the dark when the power is out).

This power station is extremely portable, weighing in at under 4 pounds, with enough battery capacity 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.

I like this power station because it provides more power than the competition does for around the same price. It does have limitations, including a modified sine wave inverter that isn't great for certain devices (including delicate medical equipment like CPAP machines), but it's a great backup to have on hand during a power outage.

_{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

$3,599 $2,999 at Amazon $2,513 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.

I love that you can use this power station alone or connect additional batteries or Delta Pro units to satisfy your power needs. If you connect enough together and wire them to your home's electrical panel, you can enjoy whole-house power during outages (without the noise of a gas or propane generator).

_{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

$1,649 at 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 I think it's the best option for off-grid camping. I use Jackery's solar panels with my Explorer 1500, but they work just as well with this model (as a package deal).

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.

This turnkey system can deliver 1,000 watts of continuous power, with peak surges of 2,000 watts, so it can run most of your devices and electronics in an emergency, on a 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.

One thing I love about these solar panels is that you can use them to charge devices without plugging into the Jackery. Each one 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.

One thing I like about this mini power bank is that it 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, especially if you're planning on a hike or camping trip. 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

EcoFlow River Mini

$132 at Amazon $198 at Home Depot View on Ecoflow.com

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 (I keep one on my desk to charge my phone with the wireless charger), but it’s also easy to take along on a road trip despite the lack of a carrying handle.

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. I like to take it camping as an extra backup, since it's so small and lightweight.

_{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 at Amazon View on Gonimble.com

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 (I wish it was a little lighter for better portability). It also doesn’t come with a wall charger, so you’ll have to supply your own. I don't find that to be a big issue, since I have so many USB chargers laying around, but it would be nice if it came with one in the package.

_{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 $130 $122 at Walmart $93 at Home Depot

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.

I used one of these when I was a mechanic to quickly jump start cars and pull them inside to start working, and I still keep one around as an easier alternative to jumper cables. It also has a built-in light and air compressor (which is good for emergency use when a real compressor isn't available).

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, but I think of those as nice bonuses since this isn't really intended for use as a power station. I love that I can charge my phone with it in a pinch.

One important piece of advice is that you'll need an extension cord to charge this because it doesn't have a power cord (you need to plug an extension cord directly into it).

_{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}

Best for Fast Charging

DJI Power 500 Portable Power Station

$499 at Amazon

If you’re looking for a super portable option that charges fast when you’re home and powers up your devices quickly when you aren’t, I like the DJI Power 500. It charges to full in a little over an hour, so you’ll never have to wait around for it to power back up.

This portable power station is great for photographers and other content creators, since it’s very lightweight and has fast USB charging for cameras and video cameras, and it’s especially good for charging up drones.

It’s quiet, too, so you don’t need to worry about annoying anyone when using it in the field. Portable power stations are all fairly quiet, but this one only puts out about 25 dB while charging (which is less noise than a whisper).

_{Dimensions: 12 x 8.1 x 7 inches︱Weight: 18.2 pounds︱Power Source: LiFePO4 battery︱Ports: 2x USB-C, 2x AC, 2x USB-A, SDC Lite | Capacity: 1000Wh}