Camping Calculator
What Size Of Power Station Do You Need For Camping?
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If you’re planning a weekend camping trip in the UK, you’ll want to avoid your phone running out of battery, your airbed deflating with no way to pump it up, or your food and drinks getting warm because your 12V cooler stopped working overnight.
Because petrol generators aren’t allowed at most UK campsites and wild camping spots, portable power stations have made off-grid camping much easier. They are quiet, lightweight, don’t produce emissions, and are safe to use inside your tent.
Whether you just need a small battery for your phone and tent lights, or a larger one to boil a kettle and run a 12V fridge for a few days, picking the right size is important.
Below, we’ll go over the three main types of camping power setups. Our custom calculator can also do the maths for you to make sure you get the right size for your camping trip.
The UK Camping Power Calculator
Before choosing a battery, let’s work out how much power you’ll actually use each day while camping.
Enter how often you’ll use high-power items like kettles or hair straighteners, and how long you’ll run things like fridges, fans, and lights.
The calculator will figure out your daily power needs and recommend the best power station for you
Camping Power Calculator
Simply enter your typical **uses**, **boils**, or **hours of runtime** for your camping gear below. We'll automatically calculate your daily usage and recommend the perfect portable power station for your next tent or off-grid trip.
Swipe table to view totals ➔
| Icon | Appliance | Avg. Watts | Daily Usage | Total (Wh) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Draw Cooking & Styling (Short Uses) | ||||
| Low-Wattage Travel Kettle (Assumes 5 mins/boil) | 600W | boils | 0 Wh | |
| 700W Microwave (Assumes 3 mins/use) | 700W | uses | 0 Wh | |
| Hair Straighteners / Blow Dryer (Assumes 10 mins/use) | 800W | uses | 0 Wh | |
| Cooking & Styling Subtotal: | 0 Wh | |||
| Personal Tech & Gadgets | ||||
| Laptop Charger (MacBook/Pro) | 60W | hrs | 0 Wh | |
| Smartphone Trickle Charge | 10W | hrs | 0 Wh | |
| Tablet Trickle Charge | 30W | hrs | 0 Wh | |
| Drone Battery Charging Hub | 30W | hrs | 0 Wh | |
| Portable Bluetooth Speaker | 10W | hrs | 0 Wh | |
| Tech & Gadgets Subtotal: | 0 Wh | |||
| Cooling, Comfort & Lighting | ||||
| 12V Compressor Fridge | 15W | hrs | 0 Wh | |
| 12V Heated Camping Blanket | 50W | hrs | 0 Wh | |
| Camping Fan | 10W | hrs | 0 Wh | |
| LED Lighting (Zone Dimmable) | 12W | hrs | 0 Wh | |
| USB Rechargeable Headlamp | 3W | hrs | 0 Wh | |
| String Fairy Lights (USB/LED) | 3W | hrs | 0 Wh | |
| CPAP / Medical Device | 45W | hrs | 0 Wh | |
| Comfort & Lighting Subtotal: | 0 Wh | |||
RESULTS BOX
Daily Raw Power Needed: 0 Wh
Recommended Station Size: 0 Wh Class
*Calculation includes a 15% buffer to account for common 240V AC inverter efficiency loss (the difference between battery capacity and usable output for plug sockets).
RECOMMENDED POWER STATIONS (STEP 2)
Based on your daily camping calculation above, we recommend these top choices:
Tier 1: The Ultralight Tent Setup (Up to 300Wh Class)
This 300Wh class is lightweight and easy to carry, perfect for short weekend trips. If you’re sleeping in a tent and hiking to your spot, it’s just what you need to keep your phone and headlamp charged. It doesn’t take up much space and will keep your devices powered for 2–3 days.
#1 Choice: EcoFlow River 3 (245Wh)
- Weight: 3.5 kg
- AC Output: It has 300W and (600W X-Boost)
- Highlights: This model is very light and compact, with a water-resistant battery case rated IP54. Its inverter is very quiet, under 30 dB, so you can keep it right next to your sleeping mat.
- Recharge: 0–100% in 60 minutes via standard UK mains
#2 Choice: Anker Solix C300X (288Wh)
- Weight: 4.13 kg
- AC Output: 300W pure sine wave (600W Surge)
- Highlights: This unit stands upright to save space and has a bright camping light built into the handle. It also comes with two 140W USB-C ports, so you can quickly charge laptops and camera gear.
Technical Comparison: EcoFlow River 3 vs Anker Solix C300X
| Feature | EcoFlow River 3 | Anker Solix C300X |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Capacity | 245Wh | 288Wh |
| Battery Chemistry | LiFePO4 (3,000+ cycles) | LiFePO4 (3,000+ cycles) |
| Continuous AC Output | 300W (600W X-Boost) | 300W (600W Surge) |
| UK AC Outlets | 1x 230V 3-pin UK Socket | 2x 230V 3-pin UK Sockets |
| Max Solar Input | 110W (11–30V, 8A) | 100W (11–28V) |
| Weight | 3.5 kg | 4.13 kg |
| Special Camping Feature | IP54 Weather Resistance | Built-in Pop-up Tent Lantern |
| Warranty | 5 Years | 5 Years |
If you’re planning a longer off-grid trip, use our Solar Panel Calculator to find the best 100W folding panels and adapter cables for these small units.
Tier 2: The Classic Weekender & 12V Fridge Setup (300Wh to 600Wh Class)
This setup is great for longer camping trips when you need to run a 12V fridge, like an Alpicool or Dometic. It keeps your milk cold, your food fresh, and has enough power for a heated blanket or CPAP machine overnight.
A power station with a 500Wh capacity offers a good balance between power and portability. It can run a 12V camping fridge for 24 to 36 hours on a single charge.
#1 Choice: Jackery Explorer 500 v2 (518Wh)
- Weight: ~6.0 kg
- AC Output: 500W pure sine wave (1000W Surge)
- Highlights: This is an updated version of a classic camping power station. It now uses long-lasting LiFePO4 battery cells and charges quickly, so it can run 12V coolboxes and heated blankets all weekend.
- Recharge: Fast AC charging, plus solar panel charging.
#2 Choice: EcoFlow River 2 Max (512Wh)
- Weight: 6.0 kg
- AC Output: 500W pure sine wave (1,000W X-Boost)
- Highlights: It recharges fully from the wall in just 60 minutes. You can plug it in while you pack the car, and it will be ready to go. Its 12V output keeps fridges running for up to 32 hours.
- Recharge: 60 minutes via UK mains socket; 220W max solar input.
Technical Comparison: Jackery Explorer 500 v2 vs EcoFlow River 2 Max
| Feature | Jackery Explorer 500 v2 | EcoFlow River 2 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Capacity | 518Wh | 512Wh |
| Battery Chemistry | LiFePO4 (4,000+ cycles) | LiFePO4 (3,000+ cycles) |
| Continuous AC Output | 500W (1000W Surge) | 500W (1000W Surge) |
| UK AC Outlets | 230V 3-pin UK Socket | 2x 230V 3-pin UK Sockets |
| 12V DC Fridge Runtime | ~24–35 Hours | ~23–32 Hours |
| AC Recharge Time | ~1.5 Hours | 60 Minutes |
| Max Solar Input | 100W–200W | 220W |
| Weight | ~6.0 kg | 6.0 kg |
| Warranty | 5 Years | 5 Years |
You can pair your 500Wh power station with a 100W or 200W folding solar panel. Use our free Solar Panel Calculator to find the best option.
Tier 3: The Glamping & High-Power Family Camp (700Wh to 1000Wh+ Class)
The power stations in this size range are designed for family camping, longer off-grid trips, or luxury glamping. You can run powerful 230V kitchen appliances like travel kettles, small microwaves, or toasters, a fridge, and drone charger.
With robust 1000W to 1800W pure sine wave inverters and over 1kWh of capacity, you get complete campsite independence without worrying about overloading the battery.
#1 Choice: EcoFlow Delta 2 (1,024Wh)
- Weight: 12.0 kg
- AC Output: 1,800W with (2,700W X-Boost)
- Highlights: A top choice for mid-to-high capacity portable power. It can run most household and camping appliances, including travel kettles and microwaves. You can also add another battery to expand it up to 2kWh. The Delta 2 charges from 0–80% in 50 minutes from a wall socket, plus it can take up to 500W of solar panel power.
#2 Choice: Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 (1,070Wh)
- Weight: 10.8 kg
- AC Output: 1,500W continuous (3,000W Surge)
- Highlights: This model is powerful but smaller and lighter than older versions. It can boil water, run kitchen appliances, and keep your family camp powered for several days—1-hour full charge via Emergency Super Charge mode; 400W max solar input.
Technical Comparison: EcoFlow Delta 2 vs Jackery Explorer 1000 v2
| Feature | EcoFlow Delta 2 | Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Capacity | 1,024Wh (Expandable) | 1,070Wh |
| Battery Chemistry | LiFePO4 (3,000+ cycles) | LiFePO4 (4,000+ cycles) |
| Continuous AC Output | 1,800W (2,700W X-Boost) | 1,500W (3,000W Surge) |
| UK AC Outlets | 4x 230V 3-pin UK Sockets | 2x 230V 3-pin UK Sockets |
| Travel Kettle Compatible? | Yes (Handles up to 1800W–2400W) | Yes (Handles up to 1500W) |
| AC Recharge Time | 0–80% in 50 min, 100% in 80 min | ~1 Hour (Emergency Mode) |
| Max Solar Input | 500W (11–60V, 15A) | 400W |
| Weight | 12.0 kg | 10.8 kg |
| Warranty | 5 Years | 5 Years |
Power Your Entire Camp with Solar
If you’re camping off-grid for more than a few days, adding a portable folding solar panel to your battery can help you avoid running out of power.
Once you know your daily power use from the calculator, check out our Solar Panel Calculator. Pick your power station model to see which folding panels fit, how long they take to charge during a UK summer, and which adapter cables you’ll need for an easy setup.
Effortless Off-Grid Camping
With modern portable power stations, you don’t have to give up comfort when camping. If you pick the right battery for your gear—whether it’s a small 245Wh pack for tent camping or a large 1000Wh unit for family meals—you can keep everything running smoothly from start to finish.
