CrunchYourDollars

Cheapest Power Station Per Watt-Hour: Most Battery for the Money

By Marcus Reed. Updated Oct 13, 2026. Picks come from published specs and our sizing math. Some links pay us a commission, and each one says so.

Buy the FOSSiBOT F3600 Pro if you want the most battery per dollar. At around $1,199 for 3,840 Wh it works out to $0.31 per watt-hour, the lowest of any complete unit we track. That is about 63 hours of fridge, or ten CPAP nights, on one charge.

Our picks at a glance

From published specs and our sizing rules. Not lab tested.

For a 1 kWh unit, the FOSSiBOT F1800 at around $399 is $0.39/Wh. It undercuts the usual 1 kWh units for the same 17 hours of fridge.

Price per watt-hour is the fairest way to compare power stations, because capacity is what keeps things running. Every unit below is LiFePO4, so cycle life is not the trade-off. The trade-offs are weight, brand track record and features, and each pick says which one you give up.

Top picks, and why

Lowest $/Wh overall1
FOSSiBOT F3600 Pro

3,840Wh battery

FOSSiBOT F3600 Pro

  • 3.8 kWh
  • expands to 12 kWh
  • 3,600 W continuous

3,840 Wh, 3,600 W and 7,200 W surge for around $1,199, or $0.31/Wh. It runs a fridge for about 63 hours and expands to 11,520 Wh. Buy it if it will mostly sit at home and you want multi-day backup for the least money.

  • 3,840 Wh, about 2 days of fridge per charge
  • Expands to 11,520 Wh, about 6 days of fridge
  • 3,600 W inverter and 2,000 W solar input
  • Over 90 lb at 92.6 lb
  • Not split-phase, no 240V

About $1,199 at FOSSiBOT, checked Oct 12, 2026

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Cheapest 1 kWh2
FOSSiBOT F1800

1,024Wh battery

FOSSiBOT F1800

  • 1.0 kWh
  • 1,800 W continuous

1,024 Wh and 1,800 W for around $399, or $0.39/Wh, with a 10 ms UPS and a 1,200 W fast charge. That is about 17 hours of fridge or 22 hours of CPAP, for less than the usual 1 kWh units.

  • About 17 hours of a full-size fridge per charge
  • 1,800 W inverter runs a coffee maker or microwave
  • 10 ms UPS switchover
  • Only two AC outlets, fewest of the 1 kWh class

About $399 at FOSSiBOT, checked Oct 12, 2026

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Best $/Wh from a big brand3
BLUETTI Elite 300

3,014Wh battery

BLUETTI Elite 300

  • 3.0 kWh
  • 2,400 W continuous

3,014 Wh and 2,400 W for around $1,199, or $0.40/Wh. It runs a fridge for about 49 hours. Buy it if you want the low price per watt-hour from a brand with a longer US track record.

  • 3,014 Wh, about 49 hours of fridge
  • 2,400 W inverter runs a microwave or coffee maker
  • 10 ms UPS switchover
  • Not split-phase, no 240V

About $1,199 at BLUETTI, checked Oct 10, 2026

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Will it run your stuff?

Tick what you need to keep running. Every pick below re-sorts by how long it lasts on one charge.

Average draw about 104 W, peak about 1,251 W when the biggest motor starts.

Runtime = capacity x 0.85 inverter efficiency / average draw, with fridges and freezers cycling on their compressors. Amazon links are paid links. Amazon prices change, so we show a range.

Price per watt-hour, ranked

Lower is better. These are complete power stations with a built-in inverter, at the street prices we checked on October 12, 2026. Add-on batteries are cheaper per watt-hour but need a unit to plug into.

FOSSiBOT F3600 Pro, 3,840 Wh, around $1,199: $0.31/Wh. FOSSiBOT F1800, 1,024 Wh, around $399: $0.39/Wh. BLUETTI Elite 300, 3,014 Wh, around $1,199: $0.40/Wh. BLUETTI AC180, 1,152 Wh, around $499: $0.43/Wh. BLUETTI Elite 200 V2, 2,074 Wh, around $899: $0.43/Wh. FOSSiBOT F2400, 2,048 Wh, around $899: $0.44/Wh. EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max, 2,048 Wh, $500 to $1,000: $0.40 to $0.50 per Wh. Jackery Explorer 1000 v2, 1,070 Wh, $250 to $500: $0.40 to $0.50 per Wh.

For contrast, the small 288 Wh units cost $0.80 to $1.15 per watt-hour. Buy one only when weight matters more than runtime.

Sale prices move every week, so the ranking can shift. The buttons below open the live price.

What each dollar buys in an outage

Usable energy is capacity x 0.85 after inverter losses. A full-size fridge averages about 52 W, a CPAP with the humidifier off is 40 W, and a router is 10 W.

FOSSiBOT F3600 Pro: 3,264 Wh usable. Fridge about 63 hours, CPAP about 82 hours (ten nights), router about 13 days. That is 272 usable watt-hours for every $100 spent.

FOSSiBOT F2400: 1,741 Wh usable. Fridge about 33 hours, CPAP about 43 hours (five nights).

FOSSiBOT F1800: 870 Wh usable. Fridge about 17 hours, CPAP about 22 hours (close to three nights).

BLUETTI Elite 300: 2,562 Wh usable. Fridge about 49 hours, CPAP about 64 hours.

Tick your own loads in the table above and every unit re-sorts by hours.

FOSSiBOT: the lowest prices, and what you give up

FOSSiBOT is a newer brand than Jackery, EcoFlow or BLUETTI, and it undercuts them on price per watt-hour across the line. The specs match the big brands: LiFePO4 cells, pure sine wave inverters and a sub-10 ms UPS on all three units.

Know three things before you buy. The F3600 Pro weighs 92.6 lb, so it is a roll-around home unit, not a camping box. In UPS mode the US version passes through up to 2,500 W, below its 3,600 W rating. And none of the three outputs 240V, so a well pump or central AC still needs a generator or a split-phase home battery.

FOSSiBOT lists the warranty as 2 years plus a 3-year extension. Check the current terms on the product page before you order.

Most battery per dollar1
FOSSiBOT F3600 Pro

3,840Wh battery

FOSSiBOT F3600 Pro

  • 3.8 kWh
  • expands to 12 kWh
  • 3,600 W continuous

3,840 Wh, 3,600 W, 7,200 W surge and 2,000 W of solar input for around $1,199. Add two FB3840 batteries for 11,520 Wh. Buy it for multi-day outages where it can stay parked by the fridge.

  • 3,840 Wh, about 2 days of fridge per charge
  • Expands to 11,520 Wh, about 6 days of fridge
  • 3,600 W inverter and 2,000 W solar input
  • Over 90 lb at 92.6 lb
  • Not split-phase, no 240V

About $1,199 at FOSSiBOT, checked Oct 12, 2026

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Six outlets, 2 kWh2
FOSSiBOT F2400

2,048Wh battery

FOSSiBOT F2400

  • 2.0 kWh
  • 2,400 W continuous

2,048 Wh, 2,400 W, 4,800 W surge and six AC outlets for around $899. About 33 hours of fridge. It ties the DELTA 2 Max on price per watt-hour and has more outlets.

  • Six AC outlets and a 2,400 W inverter
  • About 33 hours of a full-size fridge per charge
  • 10 ms UPS switchover
  • 500 W solar input, low for a 2 kWh unit
  • Not split-phase, no 240V

About $899 at FOSSiBOT, checked Oct 12, 2026

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Cheapest 1 kWh3
FOSSiBOT F1800

1,024Wh battery

FOSSiBOT F1800

  • 1.0 kWh
  • 1,800 W continuous

1,024 Wh and 1,800 W at 24.8 lb for around $399, with a 1,200 W AC fast charge (about 70 minutes to full). It has only two AC outlets, so add a power strip. Buy it for one night of fridge or three CPAP nights at the lowest price.

  • About 17 hours of a full-size fridge per charge
  • 1,800 W inverter runs a coffee maker or microwave
  • 10 ms UPS switchover
  • Only two AC outlets, fewest of the 1 kWh class

About $399 at FOSSiBOT, checked Oct 12, 2026

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Low $/Wh from the big brands

Pay a few cents more per watt-hour for the BLUETTI or EcoFlow units if you value a longer US track record or an app you already use. You still get far more battery per dollar than the 288 Wh class.

3 kWh for $1,1991
BLUETTI Elite 300

3,014Wh battery

BLUETTI Elite 300

  • 3.0 kWh
  • 2,400 W continuous

3,014 Wh and 2,400 W for around $1,199, or $0.40/Wh. About 49 hours of fridge per charge. The closest big-brand match to the F3600 Pro on price.

  • 3,014 Wh, about 49 hours of fridge
  • 2,400 W inverter runs a microwave or coffee maker
  • 10 ms UPS switchover
  • Not split-phase, no 240V

About $1,199 at BLUETTI, checked Oct 10, 2026

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2 kWh for $8992
BLUETTI Elite 200 V2

2,074Wh battery

BLUETTI Elite 200 V2

  • 2.1 kWh
  • 2,600 W continuous

2,074 Wh and 2,600 W for around $899, or $0.43/Wh. About 34 hours of fridge. A strong 2 kWh choice if you want BLUETTI over FOSSiBOT.

  • Rated for 6,000 cycles
  • 2,600 W inverter and 10 ms UPS switchover
  • About 34 hours of a full-size fridge per charge
  • Not expandable
  • Over 50 lb at 53.4 lb

About $899 at BLUETTI, checked Oct 10, 2026

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1 kWh for $4993
BLUETTI AC180

1,152Wh battery

BLUETTI AC180

  • 1.2 kWh
  • 1,800 W continuous

1,152 Wh and 1,800 W for around $499, or $0.43/Wh, the best value of the big-brand 1 kWh units. About 19 hours of fridge.

  • 1,152 Wh, most capacity of the 1 kWh class
  • About 19 hours of fridge or 3 CPAP nights
  • 1,800 W inverter runs a coffee maker or microwave
  • Heaviest of the 1 kWh class at 35.3 lb
  • Previous-generation model with 20 ms switchover

About $499 at BLUETTI, checked Oct 10, 2026

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Best EcoFlow value4

2,048Wh battery

EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max

  • 2.0 kWh
  • expands to 6 kWh
  • 2,400 W continuous

2,048 Wh and 2,400 W for $500 to $1,000, or $0.40 to $0.50 per Wh. About 33 hours of fridge, and it expands with EcoFlow extra batteries.

  • Expands to 6,144 Wh, about 3 days of fridge
  • 2,400 W inverter and six AC outlets
  • 1,000 W solar input
  • Over 50 lb at 50.7 lb
  • 20 ms switchover, slower than the DELTA 3 line

$500 to $1,000, live price on Amazon

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When cheapest per watt-hour is the wrong pick

If it travels, buy for weight. A 3.8 kWh unit at 92 lb stays home. The Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 is 23.8 lb for 1,070 Wh.

If it needs 240V, buy for split phase. A well pump, central AC or electric dryer needs 240V, which only home batteries and generators supply. Our home battery backup sizer shows what it takes.

If you only run a CPAP or router, a small unit is enough. You will pay more per watt-hour, but less in total.

The bottom line

From published specs and our sizing rules. Not lab tested.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest power station per watt-hour?

The FOSSiBOT F3600 Pro at about $0.31 per watt-hour (3,840 Wh for around $1,199 on October 12, 2026). For a 1 kWh unit, the FOSSiBOT F1800 is about $0.39 per watt-hour at around $399.

Is FOSSiBOT a good brand?

FOSSiBOT uses LiFePO4 cells, pure sine wave inverters and a sub-10 ms UPS, the same core specs as the big brands, at a lower price. It is newer than Jackery, EcoFlow and BLUETTI, so check the warranty terms and support before you buy.

How do I calculate price per watt-hour?

Divide the price by the capacity in watt-hours. A $1,199 unit with 3,840 Wh is $1,199 / 3,840 = $0.31 per watt-hour. Compare only LiFePO4 units, since they last thousands of cycles.

How long will a 3,840 Wh power station run a refrigerator?

About 63 hours. 3,840 Wh x 0.85 inverter efficiency is about 3,264 Wh usable, and a full-size fridge averages about 52 W, so 3,264 / 52 is about 63 hours.

How long will a 1,024 Wh power station run a CPAP?

About 22 hours, or close to three 8-hour nights. 1,024 Wh x 0.85 is about 870 Wh usable, and a CPAP with the humidifier off draws about 40 W, so 870 / 40 is about 22 hours. With the heated humidifier on, the draw can be several times higher, so expect one night or less.

Why do small power stations cost more per watt-hour?

The inverter, case, ports and charging electronics cost about the same whether the battery is 288 Wh or 3,840 Wh, so a small unit spreads that fixed cost over fewer watt-hours. On this page, the 288 Wh class costs roughly 2.5 to 3.7 times as much per watt-hour as the FOSSiBOT F3600 Pro. Buy small only when weight or size matters more than runtime.

Are expansion batteries cheaper per watt-hour than a second power station?

Yes, usually, because an add-on battery has no inverter or outlets of its own. The catch is that it only works with its matching unit, such as two FOSSiBOT FB3840 packs that take the F3600 Pro from 3,840 Wh to 11,520 Wh. If you might want multi-day backup later, buy a unit that expands.

Can the FOSSiBOT F3600 Pro run 240V appliances?

No. The F3600 Pro, F2400 and F1800 all output 120V only, as do the BLUETTI units on this page. A well pump, central AC or electric dryer on 240V needs a split-phase home battery or a generator.

How much does it cost to recharge a power station from the wall?

Well under a dollar. At the 17.3 cents per kWh US average, refilling a 3,840 Wh unit is 3.84 kWh x $0.173 = about 66 cents, and a 1,024 Wh unit is about 18 cents, plus a little for charging losses.

How long does a power station take to charge from an outlet?

Roughly capacity divided by the AC charging watts, plus some time for the charge to taper near full. The FOSSiBOT F1800 charges at up to 1,200 W from the wall, about 70 minutes from empty to full. Check the AC input rating on the spec sheet of any unit you compare.

10 products are linked on this page. We have not lab-tested these products; picks are based on published specifications and our sizing rules. Amazon prices change, so we show a range and link to the live price. See our disclosure.

Marcus Reed

Founder and Editor, CrunchYourDollars

Marcus Reed builds the sizing tools on CrunchYourDollars. He is a software engineer with a long-running PC hardware and power supply habit, which is where the watts, watt-hours and surge math on this site comes from. Product specs are pulled from manufacturer data sheets, electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and water chemistry rules from the Water Quality Association. He is not a licensed electrician or plumber: the tools show the math and the matching models so you can make the call, and anything involving your electrical panel should be checked by a licensed pro.

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