Guide
Power bank or portable power station: which do you need?
Short answer: Most households need a power bank first. It keeps phones and a radio going for days and fits in a bag. Add a power station only when you have a specific job for it, like a CPAP machine, a laptop you need for work, or a router to keep running.
The difference
| Feature | Power bank | Portable power station |
|---|---|---|
| What it runs | Phones, earbuds, small radios, a headlamp, some laptops over USB-C | Laptops, a router, lights, a CPAP, a small fan, other devices with a regular plug |
| Outlets | USB ports | USB ports plus regular AC outlets |
| Size | Pocket or bag | Lunchbox to small-suitcase size; larger models are heavy, so check the weight before you buy |
| Typical capacity | Under 100 watt-hours | Several hundred to a few thousand watt-hours |
| Who needs one | Nearly everyone | People with powered medical devices, remote work, or a specific device to keep running |
How to read capacity
Look for watt-hours (Wh). That's the number that tells you how much energy the battery stores. Many power banks list milliamp-hours (mAh) instead. For a rough watt-hour figure, multiply the mAh by 3.7 and divide by 1,000.
You won't get the full label amount out of any battery, because some energy is lost as heat while charging your devices. Plan on noticeably less than the number on the box.
Estimate how long a power station will run something
Find the device's power draw in watts. It's usually on the label, the power brick, or the manual. Then divide the station's watt-hours by that number, and knock some off for losses.
Example numbers, not a specific product: a 1,000 Wh station running a 50-watt device gives about 20 hours before losses, so plan on less.
If you rely on a CPAP or other medical device, ask the device maker how much power it draws and which settings use less. Heated humidifiers can use a lot. Talk to your clinician about a backup plan, and register the device with your utility if it offers a medical priority list.
Neither one is a generator, and that's good
Battery power banks and power stations don't burn fuel, so they don't give off carbon monoxide and are fine to use indoors. Fuel generators are different. They must run outdoors, more than 20 feet from windows, doors, and vents, which rules them out for most apartments.
Keep it ready
- Charge power banks when you charge your phone, and top off a power station every few months, or as its manual says.
- Store them at room temperature, away from heaters and direct sun.
- Test a power station once with the devices you actually plan to run, before you need it.
- Traveling? Power banks go in carry-on bags only. The FAA limits them to 100 watt-hours per battery, and airlines may be stricter. Most power stations are well over that.
Buy, Borrow, or Skip
- Buy: a power bank for every adult who relies on a phone.
- Borrow: a friend's power station for a test run before you spend on one.
- Skip: fuel generators in apartments, and "whole-home" backup systems if you rent.
Related
What to buy
Last reviewed: September 26, 2026
Sources
- Ready.gov (FEMA): Get Tech Ready. Keep a backup power source on hand and conserve phone battery in an outage.
- CDC: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Basics. Never use a generator indoors; run it outside, more than 20 feet from windows, doors, and vents.
- NYC Emergency Management: Utility Disruptions. Register powered medical equipment with your utility and plan a battery backup.
- FAA: Lithium Batteries (PackSafe). Power banks go in carry-on only, limited to 100 Wh per battery.