SURVIVAL BUNKER

What will it run?

Choose how long a cut to plan for and what you'd want to keep going: a fridge or freezer, the router, phones, lamps, an electric blanket or a laptop. We'll show which power stations last, as a range, because real use varies.

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How long a cut to plan for?
Replace your list with:

Plug-in appliances only: boilers and anything wired in aren't included.

Kitchen

0.4-1.5 kWh a day from Which? running-cost figures; one measured fridge-freezer used 0.38 kWh. The start-up surge is our estimate for a compressor.

Older models use more; British Gas's round figure is 2.5 kWh a day. The surge is our estimate.

Up to 1.5 kWh a day (British Gas estimate, an upper figure). The surge is our estimate.

One measured at about 1,290 W while running (Octopus Energy).

Kettles are rated 2-3 kW on the base.

Staying in touch

One router measured at 7.7 W (Octopus Energy). Fibre broadband also needs the box on the wall: add it below.

With full fibre, the separate box on the wall where the fibre comes in; your router plugs into it. Both need power.

Our estimate; check the label on the power adaptor.

15-25 Wh per full charge: our estimate from typical 4,000-5,000 mAh batteries plus charging losses.

Our estimate from typical 45-65 W chargers; most laptops draw less once charged.

Light and comfort

One LED bulb measured at 11.1 W (Octopus Energy); many draw 5-8 W.

Our estimate for a modern LED set; check the energy label.

One measured at 101 W (Octopus Energy). A good way to keep warm on little power.

Heating

Fan heaters are usually rated 1-2 kW.

2 of 15 last 12 h, even at our high estimate of what your list uses.

Energy for the whole cut402-1,256 Wh over 12 h

Power with everything on (running draw)
234 W
Brief start-up peak (a fridge or freezer starting)
684 W
Back to the answer

2 of 15 last 12 h, even at our high estimate of what your list uses. Your list needs 402-1,256 Wh over the cut.

How they compare

Example list, for 12 h: Fridge-freezer (modern), Wi-fi router, 2 × Phone (one full charge a day), 2 × LED lamp. Change

  1. Jackery Explorer 2000 v2

    2,042 Wh, 2,200 W · 2 UK sockets · 17.5 kg · under 20 ms switchover
    Lasts the whole cutAbout 15 h to 2 days. Lasts the whole cut, even at our high estimate of use.
    £765 at CurrysSee today's price at AmazonSold out at Jackery

  2. EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max

    2,048 Wh, 2,400 W · 4 UK sockets · 20.3 kg · 10 ms switchover
    Lasts the whole cutAbout 15 h to 2 days. Lasts the whole cut, even at our high estimate of use.
    £1,199 at EcoFlow£1,199 at CurrysSee today's price at Amazon

  3. EcoFlow DELTA 3 1500

    1,536 Wh, 1,800 W · 4 UK sockets · 16.5 kg · under 15 ms switchover
    Lasts only at our low estimateAbout 11 h to 41 h. At our high estimate of use it lasts about 11 h.
    Sold out at EcoFlowSold out at CurrysSearch Amazon
  4. Show 9 more that could workHide 9 more that could work

    1. Jackery Explorer 1000 v2

      1,070 Wh, 1,500 W · 2 UK sockets · 10.8 kg · up to 20 ms switchover
      Lasts only at our low estimateAbout 7.7 h to 29 h. At our high estimate of use it lasts about 7.7 h.
      See today's price at AmazonSold out at CurrysSold out at Jackery

    2. 6 models with the same estimated runtime

      What sets them apart is below.
      Lasts only at our low estimateAbout 7.3 h to 28 h. At our high estimate of use it lasts about 7.3 h.

    3. EcoFlow RIVER 3 Max Plus (Wireless)

      858 Wh, 600 W · 3 UK sockets · under 10 ms switchover
      Lasts only at our low estimateAbout 6.1 h to 23 h. At our high estimate of use it lasts about 6.1 h.
      £419 at EcoFlowSearch Amazon

    4. Bluetti AC70

      768 Wh, 1,000 W · 2 UK sockets · 10.2 kg · 20 ms switchover
      Lasts only at our low estimateAbout 5.5 h to 21 h. At our high estimate of use it lasts about 5.5 h.
      £499 at BluettiSearch Amazon
  5. Show the 3 that can't do thisHide the 3 that can't do this

    1. EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus

      286 Wh, 600 W · 3 UK sockets · 4.7 kg · under 10 ms switchover
      Runs out too soonAbout 2 h to 7.7 h. Not enough stored energy for a cut this long.

    2. Jackery Explorer 300 Plus

      288 Wh, 300 W · 1 UK socket · 3.75 kg · under 20 ms switchover
      Can't run your listAt start-up your list could need 684 W; this one's surge limit is 600 W. Switching things on one at a time may help.

    3. EcoFlow RIVER 3 (UPS)

      245 Wh, 300 W · 1 UK socket · 3.55 kg · under 10 ms switchover
      Can't run your listAt start-up your list could need 684 W; this one's surge limit is 600 W. Switching things on one at a time may help.
How we worked this out

Runtimes assume you can use 75-90% of the rated capacity through the plug sockets, after inverter losses, plus 5-15 W the inverter uses itself. Lamps, TVs and laptops count their daily hours within the cut, however short. Running draw is everything on at once; start-up surge is the brief extra a fridge or freezer compressor takes as it starts.

Top-ups, for cuts of a day or more: a 220 W folding panel's daily output uses PVGIS monthly averages (EU Joint Research Centre) for London, Manchester and Aberdeen in December and June, reduced by 20-40% for a panel propped at a window or on the grass and for charging losses. A car's 12 V socket adds about 80-90 Wh per hour of driving. We show these as extra margin, never as a reason a station that falls short will last: dull days give much less, and the battery has to get through each night on its own. Solar figures only appear where the maker publishes the station's solar input.

These are our estimates, not the makers' figures. Ranked by how well each fits, then by the smallest that will do; price never decides the order. Prices checked 3 November 2026.

Not for medical equipment: the makers say power stations aren't designed for it.

Boilers aren't included. Most are wired in, and running one from a power station needs an electrician and the boiler maker's approval. Why the heating stops in a power cut.

2 of 15 last 12 hSee results