Home Power Facts Power station vs generator
A power station is silent, has no exhaust and can run indoors, but it stops when the battery is empty; a generator runs as long as you have fuel and handles bigger loads, but must stay outdoors at least 20 feet from the house. Keeping a fridge running for a day costs about $0.36 of grid electricity to refill a power station, versus up to about $12 of gasoline (2.8 gal) for the smallest generator we track, the Honda EU2200i, because its engine runs the whole time. For a fridge, CPAP, internet and lights through a short outage, a power station is the simpler, safer choice; for multi-day outages, well pumps or central systems, a generator or a large 240 V station is.
Side by side
| Power stations (15) | Generators (12) | |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous output | 300 W – 6,000 W | 1,800 W – 10,500 W running |
| 240 V loads (well pump) | 1 of 15 (Anker SOLIX F3800) | 5 of 12 |
| How long it runs | Until the battery is empty; recharge from the wall or solar | As long as it has fuel; refuel as its manual directs |
| A fridge for 24 hours | About $0.36 of electricity to refill (1.6 kWh) | Up to $12.19 of gasoline (2.8 gal, Honda EU2200i at its 25% rating; lighter loads use somewhat less, not published) |
| Energy cost at full use (median) | $0.22+ per kWh (grid electricity) | $0.97 per kWh at the stated load; far more per kWh for a small load like a fridge |
| Exhaust and indoor use | No combustion, no exhaust | Never indoors or in a garage; 20+ ft from the house |
| List price range | $289 – $2,300 | $1,049 – $4,899 (the 6 of 12 with a published price) |
Station energy cost = $0.18/kWh (EIA US residential average) × rated ÷ usable capacity (median 1.22: refilling takes the rated capacity but only the usable share comes out), a lower bound since charging losses aren't published. A fridge for a day = 1.6 kWh × that. Generator gallons a day = tank ÷ runtime × 24 at the manufacturer's stated load: a generator burns fuel for every hour it runs, however small the load. Generator fuel cost = the manufacturer's stated runtime and load, × $4.33/gal (EIA US regular gasoline). Medians across the models we track. Power stations · Generators
How many of each can run it
Which to choose
- Apartment, CPAP or medical devices overnight, or you can't safely place a generator 20 feet from the house: a power station. It has no exhaust.
- Outages of several days: a generator with stored fuel, or a power station with solar panels or expansion batteries.
- 240 V well pump: a generator with a 240 V outlet, or a 240 V-capable station; both need a transfer switch or inlet installed by an electrician.
- Both: a power station can cover the night (quiet, no exhaust) while a generator, outdoors, recharges it and runs bigger loads by day.