Best solar generators for power outages (2026)

A solar generator is a portable power station sold with a solar panel: the battery runs your devices and the panel refills it in daylight, with no fuel and no exhaust. Buying the kit means the panel and cable are made for that station. Here are the kits worth buying, from small to large.

By PreparedStates editors · Updated October 22, 2026 · 6 products, prices indicative

Solar generators compared for US households

Our picks

Our top pick 4.5

Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2

1,070 Wh · 200 W · 1,500 W

A mid-size kit for a fridge and essentials

Researched

Check price →

Runner-up 4.5

Anker SOLIX C1000 + 200W

1,056 Wh · 200 W · 1,800 W

Fast solar charging with a light panel

Researched

Check price →

Also good 4.5

EcoFlow DELTA 3 MAX + 220W

2,048 Wh · 220 W · 2,400 W

2 kWh for a longer outage

Researched

Check price →

All 6 compared

Kit	Battery	Solar panel	AC output	Price
1. Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 with 200W Solar Panel Our top pick 1,070 Wh · 200 W · 1,500 W A mid-size kit for a fridge and essentials 4.5	1,070 Wh	200 W	1,500 W	Check price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched Jackery's popular 1 kWh station with a matched 200 W panel: enough to run a fridge, lights and phones through an evening, then top up in the sun the next day. Best for A mid-size kit for a fridge and essentials Good 1,070 Wh with 1,500 W AC Matched 200 W panel Sold by Jackery Worth knowing One 200 W panel refills it slowly Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you need to run 240V appliances.
2. Anker SOLIX C1000 Power Station with 200W Bifacial Solar Panel Runner-up 1,056 Wh · 200 W · 1,800 W Fast solar charging with a light panel 4.5	1,056 Wh	200 W	1,800 W	Check price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched Anker's 1,056 Wh C1000 takes up to 600 W of solar, so you can add panels later, and comes with a light 200 W bifacial panel. Best for Fast solar charging with a light panel Good Up to 600 W solar input Light bifacial panel 1,800 W output Worth knowing Panel alone won't use the full solar input Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you need 240V.
3. EcoFlow DELTA 3 MAX Power Station with 220W Solar Panel Also good 2,048 Wh · 220 W · 2,400 W 2 kWh for a longer outage 4.5	2,048 Wh	220 W	2,400 W	Check price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched Twice the battery of the 1 kWh kits, with 2,400 W output: enough to keep a fridge and lights going through a night. One 220 W panel is a top-up at this size. Best for 2 kWh for a longer outage Good 2,048 Wh 2,400 W output LFP battery Worth knowing One 220 W panel refills it slowly Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you need 240V.
4. Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 with 2x 200W Solar Panels 2,042 Wh · 400 W · 2,200 W The most solar in one kit 4.5	2,042 Wh	400 W	2,200 W	Check price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched 2,042 Wh with two 200 W panels, so it refills faster than the single-panel kits, and 2,200 W of output for a fridge, furnace fan and more. Best for The most solar in one kit Good Two 200 W panels 2,042 Wh 2,200 W output Worth knowing Two panels to lay out and store Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you're short on space for panels.
5. EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic Solar Generator with 220W Solar Panel 1,024 Wh · 220 W · 1,800 W A 1 kWh kit with a bigger panel 4.0	1,024 Wh	220 W	1,800 W	Check price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched A 1,024 Wh EcoFlow station with 1,800 W output and a 220 W panel, a little more panel than the 200 W kits. Best for A 1 kWh kit with a bigger panel Good 1,800 W output 220 W panel LFP battery Worth knowing 1 kWh: a day of essentials, not a week Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want the biggest battery for the money.
6. EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus Solar Generator with 45W Solar Panel 286 Wh · 45 W · 600 W Phones, lights and Wi-Fi on a budget 4.0	286 Wh	45 W	600 W	Check price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched A small 286 Wh station and a 45 W panel: enough for phones, lights, a router or a fan, and light enough to carry anywhere. Best for Phones, lights and Wi-Fi on a budget Good Small and light 600 W output Cheapest way into solar Worth knowing 286 Wh: no fridge for long Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want to run a fridge.

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The honest bit

Panels rarely make their rated watts: clouds, angle and short winter days all cut output. Renogy, for example, estimates up to 500 Wh a day from its 200 W panel in average sun, about half a 1 kWh station. Size the battery for the outage and treat solar as the top-up.

Before you buy

Size the battery first: it carries you through the night and cloudy days.

Then the panel: more panel watts refill faster, up to the station's solar input limit.

Kits take the guesswork out of connectors: the panel and cable are made for that station.

Panels need space to lay out facing the sun, and bigger ones are heavy and bulky to store.

How we choose

We verify every product's specifications against at least two independent sources, re-check its US price and stock on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and cross-check safety-relevant claims against official guidance. Every review is labelled Researched or Used and reviewed by us: where we've bought a product, or been sent it free, and used it ourselves, its review says which; where we haven't, our verdict is a considered spec-and-evidence comparison, not a hands-on test — and commissions never change a ranking either way. Read our full methodology →

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Common questions

What is a solar generator?

A portable power station sold with one or more solar panels. The station's battery powers your devices; the panel recharges it in daylight.

How long does a solar panel take to recharge one?

Longer than the label suggests. Renogy estimates up to 500 Wh a day from a 200 W panel in average sun, so a 1 kWh station takes about two good days on one panel.

Can I use a solar generator indoors?

The station burns no fuel, so it gives off no carbon monoxide and can sit indoors; the panel goes outside in the sun.

Solar generator or gas generator?

Gas runs bigger loads for longer if you have fuel, but Ready.gov says generators must be used only outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages. A solar generator is silent, fume-free and needs no fuel, but stores less energy.

Sources (2)