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What Size Portable Power Station Do I Need for Camping?

Most weekend campers land between 300Wh and 1,000Wh, but the right size depends on what runs continuously and what only needs a short top-up.

Count watt-hours, not just watts

Multiply each device's watts by hours of use, then add a 20–30% buffer for inverter losses and uncertainty. A 65W laptop used for four hours consumes about 260Wh; two phones and LED lights add much less.

Typical starting points

• 300–600Wh: phones, lights, cameras, and a laptop for a short trip.
• 600–1,200Wh: a laptop, lights, cooler, CPAP, and several device charges for a weekend.
• 1,200Wh+: fridge duty, induction cooking, multiple people, or several days without a recharge.

Enter your devices in the power station sizing calculator, then verify that the inverter can handle startup surges.