Will a Power Station Run a Space Heater? (Mostly, Not for Long)
A 1,500 W space heater drains a 1 kWh station in about 35 minutes. What actually keeps a house warm in a winter outage, and what it costs in battery.
Updated October 27, 2026 · By the OutageWatt team · How we calculate
In short
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Why heaters and batteries don't mix
A space heater turns every watt into heat at the same rate whether it's plugged into the grid or a battery. On the grid that costs about 20 cents an hour. On a battery it means a 1 kWh station, the size most people buy first, lasts about 35 minutes. Thermostat cycling helps a little; it doesn't change the order of magnitude.
| Power station | Capacity | Runs it? | Runtime | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | 1.1 kWh | Yes | 38 min | $499 |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus | 1.0 kWh | Yes | 36 min | $719 |
| Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 | 1.0 kWh | Yes | 36 min | $499.99 |
| BLUETTI AC180 | 1.2 kWh | Yes | 41 min | $499 |
| Anker SOLIX F2000 | 2.0 kWh | Yes | 1.2 h | $1,999 |
| Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2 | 2.0 kWh | Yes | 1.2 h | $1,069 |
| Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus | 3.6 kWh | Yes | 2.1 h | $1,709 |
| BLUETTI Apex 300 | 2.8 kWh | Yes | 1.6 h | $1,599 |
| Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus | 3.8 kWh | Yes | 2.3 h | $2,399.99 |
| EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 | 4.1 kWh | Yes | 2.4 h | $2,799 |
| Jackery HomePower 3600 Pro Max | 3.6 kWh | Yes | 2.1 h | $1,799 |
| Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus | 5.0 kWh | Yes | 3.0 h | $3,149 |
What works instead
- Power the furnace, not a heater. A gas furnace needs only its blower and controls, a few hundred watts, to heat the whole house. See furnace battery backup.
- Heat people, not rooms. Electric blankets and heated pads use a small fraction of a space heater's power.
- Shrink the space. Pick the room with the fewest windows, close the doors, hang a blanket over the doorway.
- Use the 750 W setting if you must use a heater: it doubles runtime.
Never use a gas oven, a grill or a generator indoors for heat: carbon monoxide kills in outages every winter.
Frequently asked questions
How long will a power station run a 1,500 W space heater?
About 35 min per 1,000 Wh of battery at full power. A 5 kWh station lasts roughly 2.9 h. Thermostat cycling stretches that, but not by days.
Is the low setting worth it?
Yes. Most heaters have a 750 W setting that doubles runtime, and an electric blanket or heated pad (typically well under 100 W) keeps a person warm for a small fraction of the energy.
What's the best way to stay warm in a winter outage on battery?
Keep a gas or oil furnace running by powering only its blower and controls, heat one small room, close off the rest of the house, and use electric blankets. Never run a fuel heater or generator indoors.
Free tool
Plan the winter outage
Furnace blower, fridge, Wi-Fi and lights for 72 hours.
OutageWatt is independent and not affiliated with any brand named here. Specs come from makers' spec sheets and are dated; anything wired into your home needs a licensed electrician and a transfer switch or interlock. Never backfeed through an outlet.