Appliance Wattage & Running Cost
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What size generator or power station for a phone charger? (50+ W)

To run a phone charger, choose at least
50 W running.

A phone charger draws about 5 W while running. Pick a generator, inverter or power station rated comfortably above these numbers.

Battery runtime calculator

Estimated runtime

Assumes about 85% usable capacity. Motors need extra headroom for startup surge.

How long a power station lasts

Power stationEstimated runtime
300 Wh51 h 0 min
500 Wh85 h 0 min
1,000 Wh170 h 0 min
2,000 Wh340 h 0 min
3,000 Wh510 h 0 min

Sizing guide

Minimum running watts50 W
Minimum starting watts50 W
Suggested inverter100 W or higher

See also phone charger wattage and running cost.

FAQ

How many watts does a phone charger use?

About 2-20 watts while charging, depending on fast-charge support.

Does leaving a charger plugged in waste power?

Modern chargers draw almost nothing with no phone attached.