Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links are affiliate links. You pay the same.
What size solar generator do you actually need?
Tap the things you want to run, set how many sunny hours you get and how long you want to last, and we’ll do the math. You’ll get battery size (Wh), solar panel watts, and how big an inverter you need, in plain English.
What do you want to power?
Tap to add. Then edit the watts and hours so they match your gear. The label on the device or its charger usually lists the watts.
How will you use it?
Ready to shop? Start with the right size
We highlight the size that fits your number. Buying a little bigger gives you breathing room for cloudy days and batteries that lose capacity as they age. Want to compare more models side by side? See our best solar generators guide.
Small / grab-and-go
Phones, laptops, lights, a fan, or a CPAP for a night or two. One person can carry it to the car. Pairs with a 100–200 W folding panel.
Our pick: Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2, 1,024 Wh. That is just above this range, so it covers any number here with a little headroom (about 25 lb, not expandable).
See the Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 on AmazonMid / weekend & essentials
Keeps a fridge, lights, and devices going through a typical outage, or runs a camp setup. Pairs with 200–600 W of panels.
Our pick: Jackery Explorer 2000 v2, 2,042 Wh, 2,200 W. Covers results up to about 2,000 Wh. Not expandable, so if your number is higher than that, look at the Big tier.
See the Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 on AmazonBig / whole-room & multi-day
Window AC, several days of backup, or bigger loads. Look for expandable battery packs and 240 V or high-watt output. Pairs with 600 W+ of panels.
Our pick: EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3, 4,096 Wh, 4,000 W, with 120/240 V output. Add EcoFlow extra batteries to go past 6,000 Wh. It rolls on wheels and weighs over 110 lb.
See the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 on AmazonHow this calculator works
1. Add up your daily energy
Each appliance uses watts × hours of energy, measured in watt-hours (Wh). A 60 W laptop used 4 hours is 240 Wh. Add them all up and you have your daily total.
2. Size the battery
Multiply by the days you want to last without recharging, then divide by how much of the battery you can safely use: about 80% for LiFePO4, 50% for lead-acid. That’s your battery size.
3. Size the solar
Divide your daily Wh by your peak sun hours, then by 0.85 to cover real-world losses (heat, dust, panel angle, charging). That’s how many panel watts it takes to refill a day’s use.
These are good starting estimates, not a guarantee. Real numbers depend on your appliances, the weather, and the station’s own efficiency. Check the actual wattage on your devices when you can. A plug-in watt meter is cheap and very accurate. Running medical equipment? Ask your provider and keep a backup plan. For worked examples and the common sizing mistakes, read How much solar generator do I need?
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links are affiliate links. You pay the same.