The Best Solar Generators
The best solar generators (portable power stations) compared — by battery capacity (Wh), output watts, solar input and recharge time — with picks from apartment backup to whole-day off-grid.
A “solar generator” is a portable power station — a big battery with AC outlets, USB and a built-in inverter — that you recharge from solar panels, a wall outlet or your car. It makes no fumes and no noise, so unlike a gas generator it’s safe to run indoors. That makes it ideal for apartments, CPAP and electronics backup, and quiet off-grid power. The leaders are Jackery, EcoFlow, Bluetti and Anker.
| Model | Best for | Capacity · output | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | Best all-rounder | 1,070 Wh · 1,500 W | Popular, portable, easy — runs a fridge, electronics and CPAP; solar or wall recharge. |
| EcoFlow DELTA 2 | Best fast-charge | 1,024 Wh · 1,800 W (expandable) | Very fast recharge, expandable battery, strong app control. |
| Bluetti AC200L | Best for off-grid | 2,048 Wh · 2,400 W (expandable) | Big capacity and high output for a day-long outage or off-grid. |
| Anker SOLIX C300 / Jackery Explorer 300 | Best for camping | ~300 Wh · 300 W | Light and cheap — phones, laptops, lights and small devices. |
How to choose a solar generator
- Capacity (Wh). Match watt-hours to what you run and for how long — a ~100 W fridge for 10 hours needs ~1,000 Wh plus headroom. Camping: 300–500 Wh; CPAP overnight: 500–1,000 Wh; fridge + essentials for a day: 1,500–3,000 Wh.
- Output (watts). The running + surge watts must be able to start your appliance — check the fridge or tool surge.
- Solar input & recharge. More solar input and fast wall charging extend runtime during an outage.
- Expandable battery. If you may need more later, pick a model that adds battery modules.
Need to run central AC or power the whole house all day? A solar generator can’t — compare whole house standby generators for that, or a dual-fuel unit for fuel-based backup. To size a fuel generator instead, use the sizing calculator.
Specs and prices change — confirm current capacity, output and price on the retailer’s page. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequently asked questions
What is a solar generator?
A “solar generator” is a portable power station — a large battery with AC outlets, USB and a built-in inverter — that you recharge from solar panels, a wall outlet or a car. It produces no fumes and makes no noise, so unlike a gas generator it’s safe to run indoors. It’s ideal for apartments, CPAP and electronics backup, and off-grid or camping power, though it stores a fixed amount of energy rather than running indefinitely on fuel.
What is the best solar generator?
The leading solar generators come from Jackery, EcoFlow, Bluetti and Anker. For most homes an EcoFlow DELTA 2 or Jackery Explorer 1000/2000 balances capacity and price; for whole-day off-grid, a Bluetti AC200L or EcoFlow DELTA Pro with extra battery and panels goes further. The right pick depends on how many watt-hours (Wh) you need and what you want to run — pick capacity to match your load and runtime.
What size solar generator do I need?
Match the battery capacity (watt-hours, Wh) to what you run and for how long: a fridge drawing ~100 W for 10 hours needs about 1,000 Wh plus headroom. For a phone, laptop and lights on a camping trip, 300–500 Wh is enough; for a CPAP overnight, 500–1,000 Wh; for a fridge and essentials through a day-long outage, 1,500–3,000 Wh. Also check the output watts (running + surge) can start your appliance.
Can a solar generator power a house?
A large solar generator can power a home’s essentials — fridge, lights, Wi-Fi, phones and a CPAP — for a number of hours, and recharge from panels during the day to extend that. It generally can’t run central air conditioning or an electric range, and it stores a fixed amount of energy rather than running non-stop like a fuel generator. For whole-house, all-day backup, a standby generator is still the tool; solar generators shine for quiet, fume-free essential backup.