Home battery backup
Storm outside. Lights on inside.
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What each size keeps running
2 kWh power station
about 15 hours
of fridge, Wi-Fi, lights and phones
Like the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max. No install, about $899.
3.84 kWh home system
about 29 hours
of fridge, Wi-Fi, lights and phones
Plug-in system plus an electrician for home circuits.
13.5 kWh installed battery
about 5 days
of fridge, Wi-Fi, lights and phones
Usable capacity of one Powerwall 3; automatic, whole-home.
Our pick to keep the essentials on
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max
Plug the fridge, router and a lamp into it and leave them there. When the power cuts out it takes over in about a hundredth of a second. No electrician needed.
- Fridge alone: about 18 hours
- CPAP: 7 nights
Our pick for whole-home backup you can buy online
Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus
240-volt power for a well pump or home circuits, room to grow into days of backup, and lots of solar input. An electrician connects it through a transfer switch or smart panel.
- Fridge, Wi-Fi and lights: about 29 hours
- Expands to about 8.5 days
Our pick for an installed battery
Tesla Powerwall 3
One box that handles both solar and storage, switches over automatically, and is covered for 10 years. Sold through Tesla and certified installers.
- Whole-home: 11 hours of average use
- Essentials: about 4 days
*Prices on the makers' US sites when we checked on October 15, 2026; prices change often.
The three options at a glance
| Portable power station | Plug-in whole-home system | Installed home battery | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it powers | Whatever you plug into it | Selected circuits through a transfer switch or smart panel | Selected circuits or the whole home, switching automatically |
| Typical capacity | 1 to 3 kWh | 3 to 6 kWh per unit, expandable | 5 to 15 kWh per unit, stackable |
| Installation | None | Electrician for the panel or switch | Certified installer, permit |
| Cost (examples below) | From $499 for 1 kWh+ | From $1,499.99 plus electrician | About $1,130 per kWh installed† |
| Takes solar? | Portable panels | Portable or roof panels | Roof solar (often sold together) |
Not sure how much you need? Use the battery sizer: five questions, then real systems that reach your size with their prices.
Installed whole-home batteries
These are sold through installers, so makers don't publish a price. The cost column uses EnergySage's average installed price per kWh for each brand from its first-half 2026 marketplace quotes, before incentives. Expect a quote to differ with your electrical panel, permits and whether solar is installed at the same time.
| Battery | Usable capacity | Continuous power | Chemistry | Warranty | Avg installed $/kWh† | One unit, installed† |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Powerwall 3 (opens in a new tab) | 13.5 kWh | 11,500 W | Not stated | 10 yr | $967 | about $13,100 |
| Enphase IQ Battery 5P (opens in a new tab) | 5 kWh | 3,840 W | LFP | 15 yr | $1,429 | about $7,100 |
| Enphase IQ Battery 10C (opens in a new tab) | 10 kWh | 7,080 W | LFP | 15 yr | $1,429 | about $14,300 |
| FranklinWH aPower 2 (opens in a new tab) | 15 kWh | 10,000 W | LFP | 15 yr | $1,232 | about $18,500 |
†EnergySage brand averages, first half of 2026 (source); for brands without one we use EnergySage's overall median of $1,130/kWh. EnergySage says whole-home backup with several batteries can run $34,000 or more. Specs are from each maker's US datasheet, checked October 15, 2026.
Plug-in whole-home and large portable systems
Big power stations and modular home batteries you can buy online. They run appliances straight away from their outlets; to back up hard-wired circuits, an electrician connects them through the maker's smart panel or a transfer switch. Most offer 120/240-volt output for well pumps and other 240 V loads.
| Model | Capacity | AC output | Chemistry | Rated cycles | Weight | Expands to | Solar input | Warranty | Price* | $/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra (opens in a new tab) | 6.14 kWh | 7,200 W | LFP | 3,500 | 181.8 lb | 30.72 kWh | 5,600 W | 5 yr | $4,199list | $683 |
| Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus (opens in a new tab) | 5.04 kWh | 7,200 W | LFP | 4,000 | 134.5 lb | 60 kWh | — | 5 yr | $3,499 | $694 |
| EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 (opens in a new tab) | 4.1 kWh | 4,000 W | LFP | 4,000 | 113.54 lb | 12.29 kWh | 2,600 W | 5 yr | $2,799list | $683 |
| Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus (opens in a new tab) | 3.84 kWh | 6,000 W | LFP | 3,000 | 136.7 lb | 26.88 kWh | 3,200 W | 5 yr | $2,599.99list | $677 |
| Anker SOLIX F3000 (opens in a new tab) | 3.07 kWh | 3,600 W | LFP | 4,000 | 91.5 lb | 12.29 kWh | 2,400 W | — | $1,499.99list | $488 |
| Bluetti Apex 300 (opens in a new tab) | 2.76 kWh | 3,840 W | LFP | 6,000 | 83.78 lb | 19.35 kWh | 2,400 W | — | $1,599list | $578 |
Portable power stations for essentials
For a fridge, CPAP, router and phones through a short outage, a 1 to 2 kWh power station is often enough and costs a fraction of an installed battery. See our full power station guide and picks.
| Model | Capacity | AC output | Chemistry | Rated cycles | Weight | Expands to | Solar input | Warranty | Price* | $/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluetti AC180 (opens in a new tab) | 1.15 kWh | 1,800 W | LFP | 3,500 | 35.3 lb | — | 500 W | 5 yr | $499 | $433 |
| Bluetti Elite 100 V2 (opens in a new tab) | 1.02 kWh | 1,800 W | LFP | 4,000 | 25 lb | — | 1,000 W | — | $499 | $487 |
| Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 (opens in a new tab) | 1.02 kWh | 2,000 W | — | 4,000 | 24.9 lb | No | 600 W | — | $549.99list | $537 |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 (opens in a new tab) | 1.07 kWh | 1,500 W | LFP | 4,000 | 23.8 lb | No | 400 W | 5 yr | $559 | $522 |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus (opens in a new tab) | 1.26 kWh | 2,000 W | LFP | 4,000 | 32 lb | 5.06 kWh | 800 W | 5 yr | $619list | $489 |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 (opens in a new tab) | 1.02 kWh | 1,800 W | LFP | 4,000 | 27.6 lb | 5 kWh | 500 W | 5 yr | $629list | $614 |
| DJI Power 1000 V2 (opens in a new tab) | 1.02 kWh | 2,600 W | LFP | 4,000 | — | 11.26 kWh | — | — | $699 | $683 |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus (opens in a new tab) | 1.02 kWh | 1,800 W | LFP | 4,000 | 27.6 lb | 5 kWh | 1,000 W | 5 yr | $719list | $702 |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max (opens in a new tab) | 2.05 kWh | 2,400 W | LFP | — | 44.8 lb | — | 500 W | 5 yr | $899list | $439 |
| Bluetti Elite 200 V2 (opens in a new tab) | 2.07 kWh | 2,600 W | LFP | 6,000 | 53.4 lb | No | 1,000 W | 5 yr | $899 | $434 |
| Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 (opens in a new tab) | 2.04 kWh | 2,200 W | LFP | 4,000 | 39.5 lb | No | 400 W | 5 yr | $999 | $489 |
| Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 (opens in a new tab) | 2.05 kWh | 2,400 W | LFP | 4,000 | 41.7 lb | 4.1 kWh | 800 W | — | $999.99list | $488 |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus (opens in a new tab) | 2.05 kWh | 3,000 W | LFP | — | — | 10 kWh | — | 5 yr | $1,199list | $585 |
*Prices and specifications are from each manufacturer's US website, checked . Prices change often, sometimes daily during sales; the seller's page is the final word. Cycle ratings are the maker's own figures, measured to different end points, so treat them as rough guides.
Before you buy
- Power, not just capacity. kWh sets how long it lasts; continuous watts set what can run at once. Well pumps and central air need a high surge rating and often 240 V.
- LFP lasts longer. Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries are rated for thousands of cycles and are less prone to overheating than older NMC packs.
- Solar rechargingis what turns hours of backup into days. Check each model's solar input watts.
- Incentives: the 30% federal credit for homeowners ended after 2025, but some utilities pay battery owners to share power at peak times. See 2026 incentives.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a whole-home battery backup cost in 2026?
Installed home batteries averaged about $1,130 per kWh of capacity in EnergySage's marketplace in the first half of 2026, before incentives, so one 13.5 kWh battery runs roughly $13,000 to $16,000 installed depending on brand. Backing up a whole home for longer outages often takes two or more units. Plug-in systems cost less per kWh at listed prices but need an electrician to connect them to your home's circuits.
Can a portable power station back up my house?
It can back up the things you plug into it: a fridge, CPAP, router, lights or a sump pump on a cord. Larger models with 240-volt output and a transfer switch or smart panel, installed by an electrician, can run selected home circuits. They don't switch over automatically for hard-wired loads unless connected through such a panel.
How big a battery do I need to keep the fridge and essentials running?
Our sizer assumes essentials (fridge, lights, internet, phone charging) use about 5 kWh a day, so 12 hours needs about 3 kWh of battery and a full day about 6 kWh. The average US home uses 28.4 kWh a day, so whole-home backup for a day takes roughly 34 kWh. Use the battery sizer for your own answer.
Is there still a tax credit for home batteries?
Not for homeowners who buy one: the IRS says the 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit (25D) does not apply to expenditures after 31 December 2025. Some states and utilities offer storage rebates or pay for battery capacity during grid emergencies; check DSIRE for your state.
Whole-home battery or generator?
A standby generator runs as long as it has fuel and handles big loads, but needs maintenance, fuel and an outdoor install, and makes noise and fumes. A battery is silent, needs no fuel and can recharge from solar, but runs out unless solar refills it. Many people back up essentials with a battery and accept that central air or electric heat won't run in a long outage.
Specifications and prices are copied from manufacturers' US websites on the dates shown; installed costs are marketplace averages. Batteries connected to home wiring must be installed by a licensed electrician under local codes. See our disclaimer.
Sources
- EnergySage: how much do home batteries cost — Installed cost by brand, first half of 2026
- EnergySage: home energy market, first half 2026 — Median $1,130/kWh
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2024 Average Monthly Bill- Residential — 2024 (annual)
- Tesla Powerwall 3 specifications — checked October 15, 2026
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P specifications — checked October 15, 2026
- Enphase IQ Battery 10C specifications — checked October 15, 2026
- FranklinWH aPower 2 specifications — checked October 15, 2026
- EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra specifications — checked October 15, 2026
- Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus specifications — checked October 15, 2026
- EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 specifications — checked October 15, 2026
- Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus specifications — checked October 15, 2026
- Anker SOLIX F3000 specifications — checked October 15, 2026
- Bluetti Apex 300 specifications — checked October 15, 2026
- Bluetti AC180 specifications — checked October 15, 2026
- Bluetti Elite 100 V2 specifications — checked October 15, 2026
- Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 specifications — checked October 15, 2026
- Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 specifications — checked October 15, 2026
- Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus specifications — checked October 15, 2026
- EcoFlow DELTA 3 specifications — checked October 15, 2026
- DJI Power 1000 V2 specifications — checked October 15, 2026
- EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus specifications — checked October 15, 2026
- EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max specifications — checked October 15, 2026
- Bluetti Elite 200 V2 specifications — checked October 15, 2026
- Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 specifications — checked October 15, 2026
- Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 specifications — checked October 15, 2026
- EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus specifications — checked October 15, 2026
- IRS: FAQs on the modification of sections 25C, 25D and others (FS-2025-05) — 25D ends for expenditures after 31 December 2025
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Photo: Sergio Martins on Unsplash (Unsplash License).