What size power station and solar panels do I need?
Portable power stations come in four rough sizes, from about 250 Wh to over 4 kWh. Here is how to pick a size, which solar panels suit each one, how long solar takes to fill them in summer and winter, and 19 current UK models from EcoFlow, Jackery, Bluetti and Anker SOLIX.
Compact (250 to 800 Wh, about 4 to 10 kg): camping, laptops, lights, a router. Pair with a 100 to 220 W folding panel. From about £160.
Medium (about 1 kWh, 11 to 13 kg): weekends away and a fridge-freezer through a day-long power cut. Pair with 200 to 600 W of panels. From about £400.
Large (about 2 kWh, 18 to 25 kg): vans, cabins and longer power cuts; the more powerful ones run a kettle. Pair with 400 W to 1 kW of panels. From about £800.
Home backup (about 3 to 4 kWh, 27 to 52 kg): long power cuts and running chosen circuits through an electrician-fitted switch; most can be expanded. Pair with 1 to 2.6 kW of rigid panels. From about £1,500.
Rule of thumb for panels: about a quarter to a fifth of the battery size in watts, never above the unit’s solar input limit. In winter, plan on charging from the mains.
The four sizes, what each typically runs, and how home-backup units can be expanded.
Layer 2
Picking a size in three steps
Then compare the models in each size below.
How much energy do you need? For each appliance, multiply its watts by the hours you will use it, add them up and add about 15% for losses. That is the capacity (Wh) to look for. A laptop, router and two lamps for a day need about 0.5 to 1 kWh; a fridge-freezer for a day needs about 1 kWh on its own.
What is the most you will run at once? Add up the watts of everything that might be on together. The unit’s continuous output must be higher, with surge headroom for anything with a motor or compressor.
How will you charge it? For solar, check the maximum solar input (W) and voltage range: a big battery with a small solar input refills slowly. For cheap-rate mains charging, check how fast it charges from the wall.
Average energy a 200 W panel facing south adds each day, after charging losses. Hover or tap a bar for the figure. Source: PVGIS.
Prices below are typical UK selling prices seen on 5 October 2026, often sale prices, with the maker’s list price where there is one. They change often: check before you buy. Specifications are from the makers’ UK pages; where a figure could not be confirmed we say so.
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Compact power stations (250 to 800 Wh)
Good for: Camping, a caravan or campervan, a home office through a short power cut, a CPAP machine overnight (check with its maker), charging phones, laptops, lights and a router. Not for: Kettles, heaters, hairdryers and most kitchen appliances.
Solar panels: 100 to 220 W of folding panels (up to 500 W on the larger units), within each unit’s input limit.
How long solar takes to fill a compact unit from empty
Set-up
London, June
London, December
Edinburgh, June
Edinburgh, December
288 Wh, 100 W of panels
under 1 day
about 2.7 days
under 1 day
about 4.5 days
288 Wh, 200 W of panels
under ½ a day
about 1.4 days
under ½ a day
about 2.3 days
768 Wh, 400 W of panels
under 1 day
about 1.8 days
under 1 day
about 3.0 days
Average days, from PVGIS figures for panels facing south at about 35 degrees, after charging losses. In winter, top up from the mains.
EcoFlow RIVER 3
245 Wh LFP (3,000 to 80% cycles); 300 W output, surge 600 W; X-Boost up to 600 W; 1 UK socket; solar input up to 110 W, 11 to 30 V; mains charging 305 W, full in about 60 minutes; 3.55 kg; not expandable; UPS switch-over under 20 ms (UPS version under 10 ms).
Solar panels to pair with it:One 100 to 110 W folding panel (the input limit is 110 W). EcoFlow also sells it with a 45 W USB-C panel.
Very light, but one socket and 300 W: laptops, lights, a router or a fan, not a kettle.
286 Wh LFP (3,000 to 80% cycles); 600 W output, surge 1,200 W; X-Boost up to 1,200 W; 3 UK sockets; solar input up to 220 W, 11 to 55 V, XT60; mains charging 360 W, full in about 60 minutes; 4.7 kg; expandable to 858 Wh with an extra battery; UPS switch-over under 10 ms.
Solar panels to pair with it:One 200 to 220 W folding panel, or two 100 W panels.
288 Wh LFP (3,000+ to 80% cycles); 600 W output; power lifting up to 1,500 W for heating-type loads; 1 UK socket; solar input up to 200 W, 12 to 28 V, XT60; mains charging 980 W, 80% in about 45 minutes; 4.3 kg; not expandable; UPS switch-over 10 ms or less.
Solar panels to pair with it:One 200 W folding panel, or two 100 W panels connected in parallel. The 28 V input limit rules out linking panels in series.
288 Wh LFP (3,000 cycles); 300 W output, surge 600 W; SurgePad up to 600 W; 2 UK sockets; solar input up to 100 W, 11 to 28 V, XT60; mains charging 80% in about 50 minutes; 4.1 kg; not expandable.
Solar panels to pair with it:One 60 to 100 W folding panel (the input limit is 100 W).
Small and quiet; strong on USB-C charging for laptops.
512 Wh LFP (6,000 to 70% cycles); 500 W output; 2 UK sockets; solar input up to 200 W, 11 to 60 V; mains charging About 1.3 hours; 5.7 kg; not expandable; UPS switch-over under 10 ms.
Solar panels to pair with it:One 200 W panel, or two 100 W panels in series.
Twice the capacity of the smallest units for not much more weight.
768 Wh LFP (3,000+ to 80% cycles); 1,000 W output; power lifting up to 2,000 W for heating-type loads; 2 UK sockets; solar input up to 500 W, 12 to 58 V; mains charging 950 W, 80% in about 45 minutes; 10.2 kg; expandable with Bluetti B80, B230 or B300 batteries; UPS switch-over 20 ms.
Solar panels to pair with it:Two 200 W folding panels in series (about 400 W), or up to 500 W in total.
1,000 W output in the compact tier: runs a microwave or small power tools.
768 Wh LFP (3,000+ to 80% cycles); 1,200 W output, surge 1,600 W; SurgePad up to 1,600 W; 3 UK sockets; solar input up to 300 W; mains charging 1,100 W, full in about 58 minutes (fast mode); not expandable.
Solar panels to pair with it:One 200 W panel, or up to 300 W in total (check the voltage limit with the seller before linking panels).
1,200 W output; built-in camping light on some versions.
Good for: Weekends away, keeping a fridge-freezer, router and lights going through a power cut of up to about a day, small power tools, a microwave for a few minutes. Not for: Running a whole home or anything that heats for long.
Solar panels: 200 to 600 W of folding panels (up to 1,000 W on some), within each unit’s input limit.
How long solar takes to fill a medium unit from empty
Set-up
London, June
London, December
Edinburgh, June
Edinburgh, December
1,024 Wh, 200 W of panels
about 1.4 days
about 4.9 days
about 1.5 days
about 8 days
1,024 Wh, 400 W of panels
under 1 day
about 2.4 days
under 1 day
about 4.0 days
1,024 Wh, 600 W of panels
under ½ a day
about 1.6 days
under 1 day
about 2.7 days
Average days, from PVGIS figures for panels facing south at about 35 degrees, after charging losses. In winter, top up from the mains.
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus
1,024 Wh LFP (4,000 to 80% cycles); 1,800 W output, surge 3,600 W; X-Boost up to 2,400 W; 4 UK sockets; solar input up to 1,000 W, 11 to 60 V (two inputs, 500 W each), XT60i; mains charging 1,500 W, full in about 56 minutes; 12.5 kg; expandable to 5 kWh with extra batteries; UPS switch-over under 10 ms.
Solar panels to pair with it:One 220 W panel on each input (440 W), or up to 400 to 500 W on each.
Two solar inputs and expandable: a flexible all-rounder.
1,070 Wh LFP (4,000 to 70% cycles); 1,500 W output, surge 3,000 W; 2 UK sockets; solar input up to 400 W, 12 to 60 V, DC8020 (two inputs); mains charging About 1.7 hours (faster emergency mode in the app); 10.8 kg; not expandable; UPS switch-over 20 ms or less.
Solar panels to pair with it:Two 100 W or two 200 W Jackery SolarSaga panels (400 W limit).
Prices vary a lot between sellers: we saw it from about £420 to over £900.
1,024 Wh LFP (4,000 to 80% cycles); 2,000 W output, surge 3,000 W peak; UK sockets: check with the seller; solar input up to 600 W, 11 to 60 V, XT60i; mains charging 1,600 W, full in about 49 minutes; 11.3 kg; not expandable (the first C1000 was expandable); UPS switch-over 10 ms.
Solar panels to pair with it:Two 200 W panels in series, or one 400 W panel; up to 600 W if the panels' combined voltage stays under 60 V.
2,000 W output is high for this size. UK sellers list 3 or 4 sockets: check.
1,024 Wh LFP (4,000+ to 80% cycles); 1,800 W output, surge 3,600 W; power lifting up to 2,700 W; 2 UK sockets; solar input up to 1,000 W, 12 to 60 V; mains charging 1,200 W, full in about 70 minutes; 11.5 kg; expandable: only with a B80 battery in power-bank mode; UPS switch-over 10 ms or less.
Solar panels to pair with it:One 350 W or 500 W panel (Bluetti bundles), up to 1,000 W in total.
Replaced the AC180. Very high solar input for its size.
Good for: Off-grid cabins and vans, longer power cuts, a kettle or induction hob for short spells on units with enough output, workshops and market stalls. Not for: Heating, or several big appliances at once.
Solar panels: 400 W to 1 kW of panels, folding or rigid, within each unit’s input limit.
How long solar takes to fill a large unit from empty
Set-up
London, June
London, December
Edinburgh, June
Edinburgh, December
2,048 Wh, 400 W of panels
about 1.4 days
about 4.9 days
about 1.5 days
about 8 days
2,048 Wh, 800 W of panels
under 1 day
about 2.4 days
under 1 day
about 4.0 days
2,048 Wh, 1,000 W of panels
under 1 day
about 1.9 days
under 1 day
about 3.2 days
Average days, from PVGIS figures for panels facing south at about 35 degrees, after charging losses. In winter, top up from the mains.
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus
2,048 Wh LFP; 3,000 W output, surge 6,000 W; X-Boost up to 3,900 W; 4 UK sockets; solar input up to 1,000 W, 11 to 60 V (two inputs), XT60 (two inputs); mains charging 2,300 W, full in about 68 minutes; 22.1 kg; expandable to about 10 kWh (adapter announced); UPS switch-over 10 ms.
Solar panels to pair with it:One 400 W panel on each input (800 W), up to 1,000 W in total.
3,000 W output runs a kettle. Replaced the DELTA 2 Max.
2,042 Wh LFP (4,000 to 70% cycles); 2,200 W output, surge 4,400 W; 2 UK sockets; solar input up to 400 W, 11 to 60 V, DC8020 (two inputs); mains charging About 1.7 hours (1.3 hours in emergency mode); 17.5 kg; not expandable; UPS switch-over under 20 ms.
Solar panels to pair with it:Two 200 W SolarSaga panels (the 400 W limit is low for this size, so solar refills are slow).
Good value for mains and car charging; solar input is the weak point.
2,048 Wh LFP (4,000 to 80% cycles); 2,400 W output, surge 3,000 W (4,000 W peak); 4 UK sockets; solar input up to 800 W, 11 to 60 V, XT60i; mains charging 2,300 W, 80% in about 45 minutes; 18.9 kg; expandable to about 4 kWh with a BP2000 battery; UPS switch-over 10 ms.
Solar panels to pair with it:About 800 W, for example two 400 W panels in parallel (check the combined current with the seller).
2,074 Wh LFP (6,000+ to 80% cycles); 2,600 W output; power lifting up to 3,900 W; UK sockets: check with the seller; solar input up to 1,000 W, 12 to 60 V, XT60 (MC4 adapter included); mains charging 2,300 W; 24.2 kg; not expandable; UPS switch-over 15 ms.
Solar panels to pair with it:One or two 350 to 500 W panels, up to 1,000 W in total.
Home backup power stations (about 2.8 to 4.1 kWh, most expandable)
Good for: Keeping essential circuits or appliances running through long power cuts, off-grid outbuildings, charging overnight on a cheap tariff and running appliances in the evening. Not for: Moving about: these weigh 27 to 52 kg and usually sit on wheels.
Solar panels: 1 to 2.6 kW of rigid panels on a frame, shed or garage roof, within each unit’s input limit.
How long solar takes to fill a home backup unit from empty
Set-up
London, June
London, December
Edinburgh, June
Edinburgh, December
4,096 Wh, 1,200 W of panels
under 1 day
about 3.2 days
about 1.0 days
about 5 days
4,096 Wh, 2,400 W of panels
under ½ a day
about 1.6 days
under 1 day
about 2.7 days
Average days, from PVGIS figures for panels facing south at about 35 degrees, after charging losses. In winter, top up from the mains.
EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3
4,096 Wh LFP (4,000 to 80% cycles); 4,000 W output, surge 8,000 W; X-Boost up to 6,000 W; 5 UK sockets; solar input up to 2,600 W, High-voltage input 30 to 150 V (1,600 W) and low-voltage input 11 to 60 V (1,000 W); mains charging 2,900 W, 0 to 80% in about 50 to 60 minutes; 51.5 kg; expandable to 12 kWh with two extra batteries; UPS switch-over 10 ms.
Solar panels to pair with it:Rigid panels: for example four 400 W panels in series on the high-voltage input, plus up to 1,000 W on the other input.
On wheels. Can also be connected to house circuits through an electrician-fitted transfer switch.
3,072 Wh LFP (4,000 cycles); 3,600 W output; UK sockets: check with the seller; solar input up to 2,400 W, High-voltage input 11 to 165 V (1,600 W) and low-voltage input 11 to 60 V (800 W); mains charging Fast mains charging: check the UK input rating with the seller; 41.5 kg; expandable to 12 kWh with up to three BP3000 batteries; UPS switch-over 20 ms.
Solar panels to pair with it:Rigid panels: for example four 400 W panels in series on the high-voltage input and two 400 W on the low-voltage input.
2,765 Wh LFP (6,000+ to 80% cycles); 3,840 W output; power lifting up to 7,680 W; UK sockets: check with the seller; solar input up to 2,400 W, 12 to 60 V (two inputs, 1,200 W each), XT60; mains charging 2,300 W (3,840 W with an add-on hub); 38 kg; expandable up to six B300K batteries per unit; UPS switch-over 20 ms.
Solar panels to pair with it:Up to 1,200 W on each of the two inputs (Bluetti says up to 6,400 W with its optional SolarX 4K add-on); Bluetti sells 350 W and 500 W bundles.
Built as a home backup unit; the base unit is 2.8 kWh and is usually bought with extra batteries.
3,072 Wh LFP (4,000 to 70% cycles); 3,600 W output, surge 7,200 W; 3 UK sockets; solar input up to 1,000 W, 12 to 60 V (two inputs), 8 mm DC (two inputs); mains charging About 1.8 hours; 27 kg; not expandable; UPS switch-over 20 ms or less.
Solar panels to pair with it:Two 400 to 500 W panels, one on each input (1,000 W limit).
Lighter than most at this size, but cannot be expanded.
Layer 3For the technically mindedPanel voltage, series and parallel, and how we worked out the charge times
Matching panels to an input
Add the open-circuit voltage (Voc) of panels connected in series and keep it below the input’s maximum, with a margin for cold mornings, when Voc rises. Panels in parallel add their current instead, so keep the combined current within the input’s limit. Folding 100 to 200 W panels typically have a Voc of about 20 to 25 V, and 400 W folding panels about 40 to 50 V. Units with two inputs can take one panel or string on each.
How we worked out the charge times
We used PVGIS 5.3 monthly averages (SARAH3 data) for a panel facing south at 35 degrees with 14% system losses, for London and Edinburgh, and took off a further 10% for charging. Days to fill = battery Wh ÷ (panel kW × daily kWh per kWp × 0.9). Panels laid flat do far worse in winter (about 40% of the 35-degree figure in December in London), and a steeper winter angle of about 60 degrees does a little better.
Comparing cycle ratings
Check the end point: “4,000 cycles to 70%” and “4,000 cycles to 80%” are not the same. A higher end point at the same count means slower wear.
Frequently asked questions
What size power station do I need?
Add up what you want to run: watts multiplied by hours for each appliance, plus about 15% for losses. A laptop, router and lights for a day need about 0.5 to 1 kWh; a fridge-freezer through a day-long power cut needs about 1 kWh on its own. Then check the output: the unit must supply your biggest appliance, with surge headroom for motors.
What size solar panel do I need for a 1 kWh power station?
Around 200 W is a good match: it fills a 1 kWh unit in a little over a day of average June sun in southern England. Up to 400 to 600 W refills it within a day in summer, if the unit's solar input allows that much.
Can I use any solar panel with a power station?
Most panels work with the right connector or adapter, as long as the panels' combined voltage stays inside the unit's solar input range and you stay within its current limit. Over-voltage can damage the unit; too many watts are simply not used.
Which power stations can run a kettle?
Those with a continuous output above your kettle's rating, usually 2,500 to 3,000 W: in our list, the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus, the Bluetti Elite 200 V2 (for kettles up to 2,600 W) and the home-backup units. Some smaller units run a kettle at reduced power in a boost or power-lifting mode.
Why are the prices different from what I see?
Power station prices change often and sales are frequent. We show a typical UK selling price seen on the date given, with the list price where there is one. Check the current price before you buy.
Updated 5 October 2026 (first published 5 October 2026). General information, not financial or electrical advice. Prices and specifications change: confirm with the seller before you buy.
