Portable power stations give campers and travelers an outlet-free battery to charge any handheld device, speakers, lights and appliances while on the go. But a portable power station is even more versatile than most people realize. If you ever lose electricity or have a power outage, such as during a hurricane, you can use a portable power station to juice up devices and even appliances, you can also use one in your home to funnel power to devices where you don’t have easy access to a charging point or even at a campsite hundreds of miles from home.
Portable power stations are a safe and easy-to-use alternative to generators, with the benefit of charging right from a traditional power socket, or via solar power. Generators burn fuel to power home appliances and can expose you to carbon monoxide if used improperly. This guide has the best portable power stations, from affordable, lightweight models to heavy-duty options with built-in solar panels.
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The best portable power stations in 2026
Our top picks come from established portable power brands like Jackery, Anker and Ecoflow. We list important specifications like battery capacity, outlets available, solar compatibility and total station weight under the “What to know” dropdown.
All of these portable power stations can be easily turned into solar power stations by plugging in a compatible solar panel. We included power station and solar panel bundles where possible, as it is generally cheaper to buy them together than separately.
Best small portable power station
The Jackery Explorer 300 is a great, low-cost choice for smaller energy needs. With a 293Wh capacity, you’ll get a few hours of use for power-hungry camping equipment or several days of charging for basic smartphone devices. At 7.1 lbs, it’s a lightweight option that you can easily carry with the hefty built-in handle, and it’s also impact-resistant and made of flame-retardant material. While it can’t power up a full-size home refrigerator, in a blackout it can work for a small (think dorm-size) fridge and other small devices for several hours, such as a CPAP machine.
You can also get the Jackery Explorer 300 with a Jackery SolarSaga 100-watt portable solar panel bundled together at a steep discount compared to buying them separately. The solar panel folds in half for convenient storage and is IP68 dust and waterproof, so you can use it outside without worrying too much about the weather.
Best mid-size portable power station
Anker is one of our favorite brands for smaller charging needs, but it also makes some of the best portable power stations. The Anker Solix C1000 strikes a great balance between power, weight and price. It can power large appliances like refrigerators, microwaves and electric stoves (at the same time depending on the wattage), and is easy to take camping or road tripping due to its portable size (it’s nearly 28 pounds but has carry handles that customers say makes it easy to transport).
It’s also high-tech: You can connect it via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and monitor its performance and power levels in the Anker app.
You can pair this solar panel from Anker with the Anker Solix C1000 (Gen 1) Portable Power Station (above). It has an adjustable kickstand to prop it up, which you can place at four different angles: 30, 40, 50 and 80 degrees. The water- and dustproof panel is safe to use by the beach or on campsites, according to the brand. It also has a coating that helps prevent scratches. In addition to the panel, you’ll also get a 3-meter power cable and a half-meter power cable.
Best large portable power station
If you need even more battery capacity and power, consider this station from Ecoflow. It has nearly double the total capacity of our Anker pick and even higher maximum output, making it well-suited for home backup and RV use. Like the Anker Solix, you can control and monitor the power station manually or through the EcoFlow mobile app.
Ecoflow also makes the larger, more powerful Ecoflow Delta 3 Ultra, but it’s pricier and weighs nearly 75 pounds, stretching the definition of “portable” in my mind.
Pair the Ecoflow Delta 3 Max with this EcoFlow 400W Solar Panel, and you have seriously effective solar power wherever you are. The solar panel is rated at 400 watts and it can power appliances to 80 percent in a little more than an hour, according to the brand. It’s strong enough to power large home appliances, including refrigerators, microwaves and important medical devices. It also has a decade-long lifespan and people who bought it said it’s extremely useful during a hurricane.
Best fast-charging portable power station
You can use this power station to charge and power beauty appliances, projectors, mini fridges, computers, CPAP machines and more. It can also charge some devices and appliances up to 80 percent in as little as 45 minutes, according to the brand. The power station is also compatible with wall outlets, car ports, solar panels and more. It has four three-prong AC outlets, a USB-C port and four USB-A ports. Shoppers say that the power station charges very fast.
How I picked the best portable power stations
I chose portable power stations based on advice from our experts, Mike Kreis, a product, sales and customer service specialist at REI and Josh Noble, the director of merchandise management at Batteries Plus; as well as the following criteria:
- Watt-hours and wattage: “There are two specific numbers you should look for when considering a portable power station,” Noble. “Watt-hours tells you how long it will run, while watts tell you what it can run at all. Customers tend to fixate on capacity without looking at the continuous output.” With this in mind, we selected power stations with varying levels of watts and watt-hours.
- Portability: How portable should a portable power station be? I looked at the weight of prospective models, whether they came with a handle, and if there were other intuitive design choices that make them easy to transport.
- Connectivity: Portable power stations must be able to connect to the devices you need to charge and power. I chose devices with multiple charging outlets of different types (AC plugs, USB-A, USB-C, etc.) and easy compatibility with solar panels for potentially endless power.
- Rugged design: Portable power stations are well-suited for outdoor use. I highlighted stations with some level of dust, water and impact protection that can ideally handle different weather and environmental conditions.
Do solar-powered power banks really work?
Portable solar power banks combine the compact convenience of a power bank and the recharging capabilities of a solar panel. At least, on paper. In reality, portable solar power banks are far less efficient than separate power and solar equipment.
“All-in-one solutions like portable solar power banks go against everything I know about batteries, namely that batteries don’t like to get hot,” says Kreis. A regular power bank is much more convenient and effective for charging small electronics on the go, without the fuss of a solar panel. Solar panels are great for when you are truly off the grid, and don’t want to (or can’t) rely on, say, a vehicle to power your devices, says Kreis.
What is the difference between a portable power station and a solar generator?
A portable power station is essentially a large battery that can charge and power small and large devices — think smartphones, speakers, microwaves and even refrigerators. A solar generator is typically a portable power station that includes a solar panel in the box or integrated into the station itself, says Kreis.
A solar-powered power station may be worth buying in addition to a regular one if you believe you’ll run out of battery based on what you use it for, according to Noble. “A station without a recharge source is destined to be merely an empty box until the grid comes back,” he says. “Solar panels can provide a renewable way to recharge your power station during extended outages or off-grid use. They’re especially beneficial if you’re facing anything from a multi-day hurricane outage to an extended camping trip.”
When buying a solar-power appliance, Noble recommends buying the panel as part of a set to make sure the voltage and wattage are both compatible with the station’s input range. “You’ll also want to set realistic expectations about your output,” he says. “For anyone relying on solar for emergency power, it’s best to size the battery as if the panels weren’t there and treat the panels as insurance.”
What is the difference between a power bank and a portable power station?
The main differences between a power bank and a portable power station have to do with what they’re meant to power and their level of voltage, according to Noble. “A power bank is a portable battery with USB ports, built with low-voltage DC power meant to top off your phone, tablet, and maybe your laptop,” he says. “Whereas a portable power station has an inverter that converts stored DC power into standard, 120-volt AC for actual wall outlets. That’s what allows you to plug in essential household items such as a refrigerator, sump pump, or CPAP machine, provided the power station is properly sized for the load.”
Frequently asked questions
If you’re often in situations where you have significant energy requirements without access to electricity — say, when running an RV or hefty home appliance at a camping site — then a portable power station could be well worth the investment. Additionally, portable power stations are safe to use indoors if you lose power during a natural disaster like a hurricane, unlike a gas generator, according to Noble.
“Gas generators need to be kept outside and away from windows as they produce carbon monoxide, not to mention the loud hum of the engine running,” he says. “But a power station has no engine, exhaust, or fuel. They run quietly and can be used indoors without the carbon monoxide concerns associated with gas generators. Power stations are also low maintenance, with no oil changes or pull cords necessary.”
Unlike a gas generator, which you can simply add more fuel to, a portable power station needs to be recharged from an electricity or solar source.
This largely depends on the station’s battery capacity and power output. Larger power stations have greater battery capacity and can theoretically run for longer, assuming you are powering similar devices. Portable power stations, like all rechargeable electronics, slowly lose capacity over time, so an older one may not run as long as a newer one.
Meet our experts
At NBC Selected, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Josh Noble is the director of merchandise management at Batteries Plus.
- Mike Kreis is a product, sales and customer service specialist at REI.
Why trust NBC Selected?
Henry St. Leger has been a gadget reporter since 2017, covering consumer hardware and more. He also reports on games for GamesRadar, The Times and IGN. Harry Rabinowitz is a former tech reporter for NBC Selected.
Cory Fernandez is a commerce editor at NBC Selected. He contributed to the reporting for this story. Leger, Rabinowitz and Fernandez interviewed experts to better understand the intricacies of portable power stations and solar power.
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