Solar-powered generators can provide the reliable and renewable energy you need for your next camping trip or emergency.
The price can skyrocket when you slap the word “solar” on anything, but there are plenty of affordable ones on the market.
We have tested and reviewed the best solar powered generators for any budget.
All of them can power small appliances or electronic devices, making them an easy choice for emergency preparedness or backup power.
Our Top Picks
| Product | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|
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Best Overall: Jackery Explorer 1000 | This generator is lightweight for the capacity and priced lower than many competitors. It offers lots of options for charging. | Check Price |
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Best For Emergency Power: BLUETTI AC200P | A bit heavy, but perfect as an emergency generator. High power output/battery capacity plus multiple charging options. | Check Price |
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Best For Versatility: Goal Zero Yeti 1500X | A TON of capacity at 600 watts. The add-ons, like the Home Integration Kit, make this generator one of the most versatile. | Check Price |
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Best For Budget: Jackery Explorer 240 | With this budget-friendly option, you can power up to 5 devices at once. Lightweight at just under 7 pounds. | Check Price |
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Best For Fast Charging: EF ECOFLOW EFDELTA Solar Generator | If you need power and need it fast, this generator goes from 0% to 80% charge within 1 hour, about 10x faster than most. | Check Price |
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Best Value: Generark Solar Generator Power Bundle | Offers multiple charging options, is user-friendly, and operates quietly. A mid-priced option that offers great value for the money. | Check Price |
How We Chose the Best Solar Powered Generators
We considered several factors when looking at solar-powered generators, including likely use cases, residential use, camping use, or emergency use.
We noted weight, power output, and portability.
Another big factor was the value you get for the price of the solar generator. For example, the best budget generator offers fewer features than our top choice, which is reflected in the price.
One of the most important factors we considered was the capacity of each solar-powered generator.
As the capacity increases, so does the price, but if you need something to use to power a weekend of camping, you may need more capacity than someone looking for a backup generator.
Generators with lithium-ion batteries weigh less than traditional deep-cycle batteries.
They are also smaller and made to be more portable than their deep-cycle counterparts, making them better for camping and RV life.
If you need a large capacity, the lithium-ion batteries can still weigh 10 pounds or more, so if you have a smaller vehicle or camper or are just tight on space, you may have to sacrifice your charging capacity for weight and size.
After we researched the highest-rated solar generators, we chose the most popular models to put to the test.
We found that each shines in a different situation, so our categories reflect those findings. Read on to see the 6 best solar generators we like and why!
Best Solar-Powered Generators Reviewed
1. Best Overall: Jackery Explorer 1000
Product Ratings
| Affordability | 3/5 |
| Charging Capacity | 4/5 |
| Charging Speed | 3/5 |
| Weight | 3/5 |
Wattage: 1,000 watts | Voltage: 110 volts | Total Power Outlets: 3 | Weight: 22 pounds | Phone Charges: 100 | Charging Time With Solar Panel: 6.5 hours | Dimensions: 13.1 inches x 9.2 inches x 11.1 inches
What We Liked
- Quiet operation
- Easy to use
- Long life expectancy
What We Didn’t Like
- Price
- Not many included accessories
The Jackery Explorer 1000 is made for the outdoorsy types. It’s extremely lightweight compared to other options on this list but can charge smartphones, tablets, and other small appliances.
If the size is important, this is a great option to consider. At just 22 pounds, this generator is extremely portable and ready for a long road trip in your RV or camper!
If you want to keep your refrigerator running without discharging your solar generator, consider buying a solar refrigerator to round-out your goal-zero RV and camping gear.
With size comes a somewhat smaller capacity rating.
While powering bigger appliances like refrigerators, the manufacturer claims that you can charge a smartphone 100 times, a laptop 8 times, and a camera 50 times.
It can power a TV long enough to let you binge 13 hour-long shows or watch Titanic four times over.
The Explorer 1000 has multiple outputs, including USB ports, an AC outlet, and a 12V DC port.
The LCD screen shows the generator’s status and how much power you have left until you need to recharge.
We love this feature! It’s always good to know when you need to recharge before it’s too late.
One downfall of this option is the price. It may be a bit more than some people want to spend on a portable solar generator.
See Price on Amazon2. Best for Emergency Power: BLUETTI AC200P
Product Ratings
| Affordability | 2/5 |
| Charging Capacity | 5/5 |
| Charging Speed | 4/5 |
| Weight | 2/5 |
Wattage: 2,000 watts | Voltage: 120 volts | Total Power Outlets: 6 | Weight: 60.6 pounds | Charging Time With Solar Panel: 3.5 hours | Dimensions: 13 inches x 9.1 inches x 9.6 inches
What We Liked
- Flexible panels for maximum sun exposure
- User friendly setup
- Quiet operation
- Can be used while charging
What We Didn’t Like
- Somewhat heavy
- Won’t be compatible with some appliances due to limited wattage
What jumped out at us first was the sheer weight of this generator. At around 60 pounds, this is not the most portable on our list or even on the market by a long shot.
But it does pack a punch when it comes to capacity.
The weight of this product is a bit of an issue, especially if you’re looking for something portable.
That being said, this one is probably for an emergency when the power may be out for a few hours, but not for taking on your next camping trip with the family.
This generator can run a cell phone for 250 hours, a laptop for 60 hours, and a television for 13 hours.
It can also charge your electric vehicle to travel 3 to 5 miles. If you have multiple devices to charge at once, have no fear! Up to 17 devices can be charged at once!
Being relatively new on the market, the Bluetti AC200P hasn’t had time to make a huge mark on the market, but reviewers like what they have seen thus far.
We loved testing this generator, and we agree with the market hype. It may not be super portable, but there is a lot to like about the AC200P.
See Price on Amazon3. Best for Versatility: Goal Zero Yeti 1500X
Product Ratings
| Affordability | 2/5 |
| Charging Capacity | 5/5 |
| Charging Speed | 4/5 |
| Weight | 4/5 |
Wattage: 1,500 watts | Phone Charges: 127 | Amp Hours of Charging Capacity:140.4 | Weight: 43 pounds | Dimensions: 19 inches x 14 inches x 14 inches
What We Liked
- Large capacity for charging devices
- Optional add-ons make it versatile
- Great option to take on a camping trip or go off-grid
What We Didn’t Like
- Heavier than others we tested
- Accessories aren’t included in price
If you want to get off the grid for a few days or run your camper on a long weekend, the Goal Zero Yeti 1500X is the generator for you.
Keeping the lights on won’t be a problem with 1,516 watt-hours and 140.4 amp hours of charging capacity!
The 1500X can power a portable fridge for more than 60 hours or a full-sized fridge for 28 hours.
If you need to charge your phone 127 times, a laptop 31 times, or a CPAP machine for up to 24 hours, this generator is up for it!
With its 2000 watt inverter, you can make a smoothie in a blender or blow dry your hair without a problem if the opportunity ever arises.
Using one of Goal Zero’s 100-watt solar panels will take 18 to 36 hours to charge. But with their 600W Power Supply, it takes just three hours to charge.
We love the versatility of this generator, but you will have to buy the additional kits to take advantage of its full potential.
See Price on Amazon4. Best for Budget: Jackery Explorer 240
Product Ratings
| Affordability | 5/5 |
| Charging Capacity | 2/5 |
| Charging Speed | 2/5 |
| Weight | 5/5 |
Wattage: 240 watts | Phone Charges: 24 | Voltage: 230 | Weight: 6.6 pounds | Dimensions: 9 inches x 5.25 inches x 8 inches | Charging Time With A Solar Panel: 5.5 hours | Charging Time With A Wall Outlet: 3.5 hours
What We Liked
- Only 6.6 pounds for extreme portability
- Easy on the wallet
- Great for short trips or just an extra boost of power
What We Didn’t Like
- Not a large capacity
- Long charging time for capacity
If budget is your biggest constraint, the Explorer 240 is the one for you. At a fraction of the price of the next cheapest option on this list, you really can’t go wrong with this one.
The capacity isn’t large, but we can’t complain at this price. It will recharge a phone 24 times, a camera 10 times, and a drone 4 times.
It has one 100-watt AC outlet, a DC input, a USB-C port, and two USB-A ports.
Weighing in at just 6.6 pounds, it is also the lightest option on this list. This makes it a great option for traveling or keeping around the campsite.
This may not be the option for you if you enjoy taking long trips, but if you need that little extra boost, this will fit the bill.
Unlike others on this list, it will not power appliances over 2,000 watts like blenders, refrigerators, or microwaves.
See Price on Amazon5. Best for Fast Charging: EF ECOFLOW EFDELTA Solar Generator
Product Ratings
| Affordability | 3/5 |
| Charging Capacity | 5/5 |
| Charging Speed | 5/5 |
| Weight | 3/5 |
Wattage: 1800 | Phone Charges: 100 | Voltage: 120 | Weight: 31 pounds | Dimensions: 16 inches x 8 inches x 11 inches
What We Liked
- Fast recharging, making it great for partly cloudy weather
- Plenty of outlets for charging multiple devices
- High output to keep up with charging needs
- IP67 waterproof
What We Didn’t Like
- Not a large capacity compared to others
- A bit pricey
- Heavier than some, making it less portable
With 13 ports, you’ll have difficulty finding a generator on the market with more charging options.
If you’re planning on taking the Delta camping, it is more than up for the challenge with a max of 1,800 watts and a capacity of 1,260 watt-hours.
Anything you need to charge or run off of this generator won’t be a problem. You can even charge an electric vehicle in a dire situation!
At 31 pounds, it isn’t the most portable generator on this list, but the ability to charge so many devices at once, the weight is a small price to pay for this high capacity, multi-tasking generator.
Four 100-watt solar panels can charge from 0% to 100% in just 4 to 8 hours.
If you want to charge it on the grid before taking off, you can plug it into a standard AC outlet to recharge it from 0% to 80% in under an hour.
See Price on Amazon6. Best Value: Generark Solar Generator Power Bundle
Product Ratings
| Affordability | 3/5 |
| Charging Capacity | 4/5 |
| Charging Speed | 3/5 |
| Weight | 3/5 |
Wattage: 1000 | Phone Charges: 100 | Voltage: 110 | Weight: 23 pounds | Dimensions: 13 inches x 9 inches x 9.5 inches | Recharge TIme With Solar Panel : 8 hours
What We Liked
- User-friendly setup and use
- Stores power for up to one year
- Can be used while charging
- Unique charging options
What We Didn’t Like
- Not super portable at 23 pounds
- Slow charging without direct sunlight exposure
If you are willing to spend the money, the Generark Solar Power Bundle offers the durability, reliability, and versatility that you’re looking for.
This mid-priced solar-powered generator is a great price for what it offers.
With three AC outlets, 2 USB-C outputs, 2 USB-A outputs (one with Quick Charge 3.0), and a car outlet, it is one of the most versatile options on this list.
It can provide up to 7 days of power to medical devices, home-office devices, and home appliances on a single charge.
We love that it takes about 30 seconds to set up and provide a reliable power supply.
The Generark can charge a smartphone 100 times, a laptop 8 times, and a security camera 50 times.
If connected to a refrigerator, it will stay powered on for 5 to 14 hours. A microwave will stay on for 1 to 7 days and a CPAP machine for 2 to 7 days.
These charging numbers assume that the unit can’t be recharged daily in the sunlight.
This is an incredibly reliable generator that can power devices and appliances indefinitely when given a daily charge in the sun.
See Price on AmazonComparison Chart
| Products | Best Overall | Best for Emergency Power | Best for Versatility | Best for Budget | Best for Fast Charging | Best Value |
| Overall Rating | 4/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Affordability | 3/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Charging Capacity | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 2/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Charging Speed | 4/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Weight | 4/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
The Winner
Ultimately, we chose the Jackery Explorer 1000 as our top pick.
While it doesn’t excel in any one quality that we rated it on, it did great in more categories than the others on the list.
We loved the portability and the built-in solar panel that makes it easy to keep it charged.
What Makes the Best Solar Powered Generator
Choosing a solar generator is an important decision because they aren’t cheap and you want to get a reliable solar generator that will meet your electric needs.
Here are a few things that we considered when choosing which solar powered generators to test.
Read our related article on the Best Hydroelectric Generators! If you live near a water source, a hydroelectric generator may be right for you. Learn more in this definitive guide and review!
Price
Some people can splurge a little more than others on a solar generator than others.
We have provided some options that span a wide price range to help you hopefully find one that fits your budget.
Remember, the higher the price, the more capacity and convenience that will come attached.
For example, we loved that the Generark came in at a mid-price but provides a good amount of power creating a good value.
The Jackery 240 came in at a budget price, but it really is only for charging small devices.
However, for those who want to field-charge a drone, it’s the perfect solution. The Bluetti shines in a power-outage when you need a large generator to keep life running.
How It Will Be Used
There are many situations where a solar-powered generator would be convenient or necessary.
Will it be on your packing list every time you take the family on a trip in the RV or camper, or will you keep it in the garage for emergencies?
If the former is the case, you might need something more portable and with a little more capacity.
If it’s the latter, portability and weight might not be a concern, but capacity is most important.
You will also have to consider how long it may keep a single charge if it isn’t used often.
Remember to read the best practices for maintaining the battery on the generator you choose.
