Can a Power Station Run a Window Air Conditioner?

A small 5,000 BTU window unit runs at about 450 W and needs around 1,100 W to start its compressor. As it cycles, it averages about 225 W. That’s about 3.8 hours on a 1,000 Wh power station and 7.6 hours on a 2,000 Wh one.

An 8,000 BTU unit uses roughly 50% more. Air conditioning is one of the fastest ways to drain a battery, so it works best with solar recharging or a large battery.

Running450 Wtypical range 350–600 W

Starting (surge)1,100 Wfor a split second

Average225 Wincluding on/off cycling

Per day1.8 kWhat 8 h/day

Calculate with your model Find the right size

Runtime by power station

Nonstop runtime for one window ac at 225 W average, with 85% inverter efficiency. Models that can't supply its running or starting power are listed separately below.

How long each power station runs a window ac
Power station	Battery	Runtime
Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus	5,040 Wh	19 hours
EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3	4,096 Wh	15 hours
Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000	3,994 Wh	15 hours
Anker SOLIX F3800	3,840 Wh	15 hours
Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus	3,840 Wh	15 hours
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Older	3,600 Wh	14 hours
Anker SOLIX F3000	3,072 Wh	12 hours
BLUETTI Elite 300	3,014 Wh	11 hours
BLUETTI Apex 300	2,765 Wh	10 hours
BLUETTI Elite 200 V2	2,074 Wh	7.8 hours
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max	2,048 Wh	7.7 hours
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus	2,048 Wh	7.7 hours
EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max Older	2,048 Wh	7.7 hours
BLUETTI AC200L	2,048 Wh	7.7 hours
BLUETTI AC200MAX Older	2,048 Wh	7.7 hours
Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2	2,048 Wh	7.7 hours
Anker SOLIX F2000 (767) Older	2,048 Wh	7.7 hours
DJI Power 2000	2,048 Wh	7.7 hours
Jackery Explorer 2000 v2	2,042 Wh	7.7 hours
Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Older	2,042 Wh	7.7 hours
BLUETTI AC200P Older	2,000 Wh	7.6 hours
Jackery Explorer 1500 v2	1,536 Wh	5.8 hours
Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra	1,536 Wh	5.8 hours
Goal Zero Yeti 1500X Older	1,516 Wh	5.7 hours
Goal Zero Yeti 1500	1,505 Wh	5.7 hours
Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus	1,264 Wh	4.8 hours
Anker SOLIX F1200 (757) Older	1,229 Wh	4.6 hours
BLUETTI AC180	1,152 Wh	4.4 hours
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2	1,070 Wh	4 hours
Anker SOLIX C1000	1,056 Wh	4 hours
EcoFlow DELTA 3	1,024 Wh	3.9 hours
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus	1,024 Wh	3.9 hours
EcoFlow DELTA 2 Older	1,024 Wh	3.9 hours
BLUETTI Elite 100 V2	1,024 Wh	3.9 hours
Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2	1,024 Wh	3.9 hours
DJI Power 1000	1,024 Wh	3.9 hours
Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro Older	1,002 Wh	3.8 hours
Jackery Explorer 1000 Older	1,002 Wh	3.8 hours
Goal Zero Yeti 1000	998 Wh	3.8 hours
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro Older	768 Wh	2.9 hours
Anker SOLIX C800 Plus	768 Wh	2.9 hours
BLUETTI EB70S Older	716 Wh	2.7 hours
DJI Power 500 Surge not published	512 Wh	1.9 hours
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus	286 Wh	1.1 hours
BLUETTI EB3A Older	269 Wh	1 hours

Models that can't run it

Power station	Output	Surge	Why
Goal Zero Yeti 700	600 W	1,000 W	Can’t start it
Jackery Explorer 300 v2	300 W	600 W	Too much power
Anker SOLIX C300	300 W	600 W	Too much power

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Tips

Cool one small room and keep its door closed.
Set the thermostat a few degrees higher. The compressor then runs less of each hour, and runtime goes up.
Variable-speed (inverter) air conditioners usually start more gently and use less power than older fixed-speed units.
Pair it with solar: running the AC while the sun is out, when you need it most, uses solar power directly.

Questions

What size power station do I need to run an AC overnight?

For 8 hours of a 5,000 BTU unit, plan on about 2,100 Wh of battery (about 2,300 Wh with a 10% margin) and at least 1,200 W of surge. Larger units need proportionally more.

Sources

Wattage figures are typical values from the sources below. Your appliance may differ, so check its label or measure it with a plug-in watt meter.