What is the best portable power station for UK power cuts?

The EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro is our top overall pick for most UK households. Its 768Wh capacity covers a router, lights, and phone charging for a full day, and it recharges in 70 minutes — so you can top it up fast when power returns. On a budget, the Jackery Explorer 500 v2 (519Wh, ~£339) handles a typical 4–8 hour outage comfortably at a lower price.

Are portable power stations safe to use indoors during a power cut?

Yes. Unlike petrol generators, portable power stations produce no fumes or carbon monoxide and are completely safe indoors. Models with LFP (lithium iron phosphate) batteries are the safest option, as LFP chemistry is more thermally stable than standard lithium-ion. All the units we recommend use LFP cells.

How long will a portable power station last during a power cut?

It depends on what you run. A 500Wh unit can power a router and ONT for around 15 hours, charge a laptop 6–8 times, or run LED lights for 20+ hours. For a typical UK power cut of 2–8 hours, a 500–800Wh station covers most home essentials comfortably.

What size portable power station do I need for a UK home?

For phones, router, and lights: 500Wh is enough for most outages. For a laptop as well: aim for 700–1,000Wh. To also run a fridge intermittently: 1,000Wh+ with 1,000W+ continuous output and 2,000W+ surge. See our full buying guide for model recommendations at each size bracket.

Best portable power stations UK 2026

Honest picks for power cuts, camping, campervans, van life and home backup.

⭐ Our top 3 picks

Best budget

Jackery Explorer 500 v2

512Wh · 500W · 6.4kg · LFP · Great for camping & power cuts

~£339

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★ Best overall

EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro

768Wh · 800W · 55-min charge · Camping, campervans & power cuts

~£499

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Best campervan

Jackery Explorer 1000 v2

1070Wh · 1500W · 3000W surge · Runs fridges & campervans

~£429

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Prices approximate — updated Apr 2026. See all 6 picks →

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PowerCutReady is a practical UK guide to portable power stations, power cut prep, and backup setups that keep the essentials running — whether you're at home in a power cut, camping for the weekend, living in a van, or setting up a campervan.

We focus on honest, real-world information: keeping phones charged, protecting food in the fridge, staying warm, and keeping Wi‑Fi running during a power cut.

What we cover

Portable power stations (UK) — honest picks for power cuts, camping, campervans, van life, home backup and off-grid use
Power cut checklist (UK) — what to prep beforehand and what to do when the lights go out
Backup power basics — sizing (Wh vs watts), safe indoor use, and realistic runtimes
Camping & van life power — lightweight picks for weekends away through to full-time van life

Start here

Who is my DNO? (postcode lookup) — find your electricity network operator and power cut phone
Power cut checklist (UK) — the quick, printable plan (includes a free PDF)
Best portable power stations UK — top picks for power cuts, camping, campervans, van life and home backup
Keep Wi‑Fi running in a power cut — router + ONT backup, sizing, and simplest setups
Best power stations under £500 — the best-value picks for most UK homes
Power station sizing: Wh vs watts — how to work out exactly what you need
Best power station for camping UK — five picks from weekend trips to van life
Can a power station run a fridge? — realistic answer with UK fridge data
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro review — our full UK verdict on the top mid-range pick
Jackery Explorer 500 v2 review — is it the best budget power station?
Jackery vs EcoFlow UK — head-to-head brand comparison

PCR

Independent guides for power cuts and backup power

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Browse by use case

All top picks

Product	Why it's good
Jackery Explorer 500 v2	Budget-friendly 512Wh with LiFePO4	Check price
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro	768Wh capacity with X-Boost to 1600W	Check price
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max	1200W output, solar-ready, built-in UPS	Check price
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2	High-capacity 1070Wh, 1500W output	Check price
Anker SOLIX C800	768Wh with 2400W surge, 400W solar	Check price
FOSSiBOT F2400	2048Wh whole-home backup with UPS	Check price

Read our full reviews with specs, pros & cons →

1. Jackery Explorer 500 v2

Compact and reliable 512Wh LiFePO4 power station — perfect entry-level backup for power cuts and camping

Capacity: 512 Wh

Output: 500 W (1000W surge)

Pros: Compact and lightweight, pure sine wave, LiFePO4 battery (10+ years), fast USB-C

Cons: Limited to 500W continuous output

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2. EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro

Fast-charging 768Wh power station with X-Boost — best all-rounder for power cuts, camping and campervans

Capacity: 768 Wh

Output: 800 W (X-Boost to 1600W)

Pros: Ultra-fast 55-min charge, X-Boost handles 1600W, LiFePO4 battery, app control

Cons: Higher price point than basic models

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3. EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max

Latest generation with 1200W output and UPS — ideal for off-grid and van life

Capacity: 572 Wh

Output: 1200 W (1500W surge)

Pros: UPS function (<10ms switchover), strong solar input, compact, great for off-grid

Cons: Moderate capacity for the price

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4. Jackery Explorer 1000 v2

High-capacity 1070Wh — runs fridges and is our top campervan pick

Capacity: 1070 Wh

Output: 1500 W (3000W surge)

Pros: Large capacity, 1hr fast charge, LiFePO4 battery, 3000W surge starts fridge compressors

Cons: Heavier at 10.4kg, premium price

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5. Anker SOLIX C800

768Wh with exceptional 2400W surge — our top van life pick

Capacity: 768 Wh

Output: 800 W (2400W surge)

Pros: 2400W surge outstanding for the price, 400W solar input, reliable Anker build quality

Cons: 800W continuous is modest; 9.1kg

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6. FOSSiBOT F2400

Whole-home backup with massive 2048Wh capacity — our top home backup pick

Capacity: 2048 Wh

Output: 2400 W (4800W surge)

Pros: Huge capacity, UPS function, 1.5hr full charge, 3x AC outlets, best value per Wh

Cons: Heavy (27kg), not portable

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How we pick

UK plug sockets & indoor safety
Realistic capacity for essentials
Good value and reputable brands
Honest use-case matching

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