A backup battery, often referred to as a Uninterruptable Power Supply or UPS, is the perfect system for safeguarding your home from unexpected power outages.
These batteries give you an alternative to mains electricity, so in the unlikely event of an outage, you have a reliable power source that you can draw electricity from. This is ideal for keeping core appliances like your fridge fully powered, as well as for charging important mobile devices like phones in the event of an emergency.
There’s loads of options on the market, from affordable low capacity units to doomsday prepper high capacity systems. These portable power stations are also great for van life, where mains electricity isn’t as easily accessible.
We’ve put together this list covering the best portable power station for van life or home backup for blackouts, and it covers a range of different price points.
So, what are our favourites?
Best Options At A Glance
Product Summaries
CyberPower BR1000ELCD-UK BRICs Series
- Brand - CyberPower
- Dimensions - 16.6 x 28.8 x 11.8 cm
- Weight - 5.3 kg
- Capacity - aprx. 600Wh
- Special Feature - Automatic Voltage Regulation
Firstly we have the CyberPower BR1000ELCD-UK BRICs Series. It’s currently selling for £129/$174 on Amazon.
This CyberPower battery backup is perfect if you’re looking for an affordable backup power solution. It has an a 420 watt capacity, and it can be recharged to full in around 8 hours. The battery comes with 6 UK plug sockets as standard (3 surge only and 3 battery + surge). This allows you to power PCs, gaming consoles, surveillance systems, servers, routers and more.
The PowerPanel Personal Edition management software can automatically save computer files and ensure your system shuts down safely in the event of a blackout. You have the option of either USB or serial connection to setup the software and ensure you’re covered.
Another great feature is the GreenPower UPS™ Technology. This helps to keep the system’s energy consumption as low as possible, improving efficiency and saving money for the user in the long run. CyberPower have also included Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) to maintain a safe voltage for any connected equipment.
This CyberPower UPS is an ideal choice if you want a reliable backup battery that won’t break the bank.
Buy the CyberPower BR1000ELCD-UK BRICs Series from Amazon for only £129/$174:
Jackery Explorer 500 Portable Power Station
- Brand - Jackery
- Dimensions - 30.1 × 19.3 × 23.4 cm
- Weight - 6 kg
- Capacity - 518Wh
- Special Feature - Solar Generator
Next we have the Jackery Explorer 500 Portable Power Station. It’s currently selling for £439/$591 on Amazon.
This kit combines a 518Wh portable power station with a 100W folding solar panel, giving you a reliable off-grid charging setup for camping, RV trips, or short family breaks. With a rated output of 500W (1000W peak), it can power laptops, small appliances, lights, and a wide range of outdoor electronics.
In terms of connectivity, the Explorer 500 offers 1 AC outlet, 1 car port, 3 USB-A ports, and 2 DC outputs, making it flexible enough to support multiple devices at once. The solar panel uses MPPT technology to maximise charging efficiency, helping you recharge the battery in daylight without relying on the grid.
At just 6 kg, the Explorer 500 is designed to be portable and easy to use. The foldable panel and carry handle make it simple to pack and set up, while the plug-and-play design keeps things straightforward even if you’re new to solar generators.
The package includes the Explorer 500 power station, SolarSaga 100W panel, AC adapter, car charger cable, and user manual — covering everything you need to get started.
Overall, the Jackery Explorer 500 with SolarSaga panel is a lightweight, practical solar generator bundle, ideal for outdoor trips or as a small-scale backup solution.
Buy the Jackery Explorer 500 Portable Power Station on Amazon for only £439/$591:
Dabbsson Portable Power Station DBS2300
- Brand - Dabbsson
- Dimensions - 35.2 x 43 x 53 cm
- Weight - 24 kg
- Capacity - 2330Wh
- Special Feature - 4 Year Warranty
Next we have the Dabbsson Portable Power Station DBS2300. It’s currently selling for £1599/$2152 on Amazon.
This Dabbsson backup battery is an excellent all rounder. It has an impressive 2330Wh capacity, 11 power outputs, and 4 different charging methods, giving you options for every eventuality.
You can charge this power station to 100% capacity in just 2 hours via AC input, 2 hours using a generator, 3 hours via solar input, or 21 hours using your car’s battery. This means that you always have access to power, no matter the emergency situation.
The expandable capacity is one of the more interesting features of this power station. The unit can be connected to up to 2 additional batteries, increasing the standard 2330Wh capacity to a shocking 83330Wh! This versatility makes this kit perfect if you a system that can be added to in the future.
Dabbsson also supply this portable power station with a 4 year warranty as standard, and there’s a 30 day money back guarantee if there’s any reason you’re not happy after purchase.
This premium Dabbsson power station is an excellent all-rounder that you can add to in the future, and the 4 year warranty is the cherry on top.
Buy the Dabbsson Portable Power Station DBS2300 from Amazon for only £1599/$2152:
Anker SOLIX F2000 Portable Power Station
- Brand - Anker
- Dimensions - 52.5 x 25 x 39.5 cm
- Weight - 30.6 kg
- Capacity - 2048Wh
- Special Feature - 10 Device Outlets
Another high-quality backup battery is the Anker SOLIX F2000 Portable Power Station. It’s currently selling for £1699/$2287 on Amazon.
This high-capacity unit is designed for long-term reliability, featuring InfiniPower technology that allows it to last over a decade, even with daily use. With a 2300W output and 10 available ports, it can power multiple appliances and devices at the same time — from laptops and phones to larger household equipment.
One standout feature is the HyperFlash charging system, which recharges the PowerHouse 767 from 0 to 80% in just one hour, significantly reducing downtime compared to many alternatives.
The package includes the power station itself, along with AC, car, and solar charging cables, making it adaptable for home backup, road trips, or off-grid use. Anker also offers a 5-year full-device warranty, which is one of the most comprehensive in this category.
Overall, the Anker PowerHouse 767 is a high-capacity, fast-charging power station that combines durability with versatile power output, making it a strong choice for both emergency backup and regular off-grid use.
Buy the Anker SOLIX F2000 Portable Power Station from Amazon for only £1699/$2287:
BLUETTI Portable Power Station AC200L
- Brand - BLUETTI
- Dimensions - 42 x 28.2 x 38.7 cm
- Weight - 28 kg
- Capacity - 4096Wh
- Special Feature - Expansion Battery
Finally we have the BLUETTI Portable Power Station AC200L. It’s currently selling for £1998/$2689 on Amazon.
With a 2048Wh capacity, the AC200L is built for demanding use, whether that’s home backup, RV living, or extended off-grid trips. The included PV350 foldable solar panel can recharge the station from 0–80% in 4.6–9.2 hours, while direct AC input supports 2400W fast charging — bringing it to 80% in just 45 minutes. For heavier use, the unit also accepts up to 1200W of solar input, reducing recharge time to under 2.5 hours.
One of its key advantages is expandability. The AC200L can be paired with additional BLUETTI batteries, such as the B300 (3072Wh), B210 (2150Wh), or B230 (2048Wh), allowing you to scale your setup for longer runtimes or greater power needs.
Connectivity is another strong point. Alongside standard AC outlets, USB-A, car port, and 100W USB-C PD, it features a 48V/8A DC port designed specifically with RV owners in mind. When paired with BLUETTI’s D40 voltage regulator, it can charge an RV’s onboard battery directly and efficiently.
The kit includes the AC200L station, PV350 solar panel, AC/solar/car charging cables, XT90 aviation cable, and user manual, covering all the essentials.
Overall, the BLUETTI AC200L with PV350 is a fast-charging, expandable solar generator system that balances large-scale capacity with flexible recharge options, making it ideal for anyone who needs dependable power both at home and on the move.
Buy the BLUETTI Portable Power Station AC200L from Amazon for only £1998/$2689:
Comparison Of The Portable Power Stations
We’ve compared the top portable power stations at a glance. Below you’ll find key details like capacity, estimated mobile phone charges, and standout features, so you can quickly decide which option best fits your backup, camping, or off-grid power needs.
FAQs
Your household energy consumption and the amount of time you want to be able to use electricity in an emergency situation are the main two considerations when deciding on the size of a backup battery.
The average household uses around 7-10 kWh of electricity per day, but this is largely dependant on the number of people in the house as well as the number of high-consumption devices. This means that if you want to be able to use electricity for half a day in a blackout, you need a backup battery with a 3-5 kWh capacity. If you want to continue to use your electricity for a full day or more, you’ll need a battery with a 7-10 kWh capacity.
To work out your daily energy consumption, you can multiply the hourly energy consumption of key appliances like fridges and washing machines by the number of hours that you use them per day. Adding the total daily energy consumption of each of your appliances together will give you a total figure for your daily household energy consumption. You can then use this figure to help guide your decision on the battery capacity required to run your home.
A 10 kW battery should be able to power an average home for 10-12 hours, but this is largely dependant on the energy consumption of the home.
A low consumption household might only use 5 kWh per day, whereas a high consumption may use as much as 12 kwh per day.
To work out how long a 10kW battery will power your house, work out your total daily energy consumption. Adding the daily energy consumption of each of your appliances together will give you your daily household energy consumption. You can then divide the 10kW capacity of a battery by your daily kW consumption, giving you a figure for the number of days it could power your home. For example, if your daily household energy consumption was 20kW, a 10kw battery could run your home for 0.5 days.
There’s loads of great home batteries on the market, but the Dabbsson Portable Power Station DBS2300 is one of our favourites. It comes with a sizeable 2330Wh capacity as standard, and you have the option to link two extra batteries to achieve a combined capacity of 8330Wh. Dabbsson also supply this battery with a 4 year warranty and 30 day money back guarantee if you have any concerns after purchase.
If you want something that’s a bit more affordable, the CyberPower BR1000ELCD-UK BRICs Series is great value for money.
The BLUETTI Portable Power Station AC200MAX is one of the best portable power stations on Amazon, and the massive 4096Wh capacity is a great fit for van life. One of the best features of this battery is the ability for expansion – you can buy additional BLUETTI batteries and link them together to create a sizeable power network for your van or house.
Thanks for reading our article covering the best portable power station for van life or home backup power.
If you’re interested in off-grid living, you may want to check out our article covering the Best Caravan Solar Panel Kit UK.
Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any thoughts or queries that you’d like us to take a look at – we’d be happy to help.
