How to keep your internet and phones working during a power outage
What to power, for how long, and which small battery size is enough.
Quick answer
A modem and Wi-Fi router draw about 15 W together, so a 1,000 Wh power station runs them for about 2.4 days and a 500 Wh unit for about 28.3 h. Phones are cheaper still, at roughly 50 full charges from 1,000 Wh.
Will your internet work during an outage?
Not always. Cable and fiber networks use equipment outside your home that may also lose power or run out of backup, so your connection can drop even when your modem has power. Satellite internet such as Starlink and your phone’s mobile hotspot depend less on local wiring, so they make good backups.
How long will a power station run your internet?
| Device | Draw | 300 Wh | 500 Wh | 1,000 Wh | 2,000 Wh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modem and Wi-Fi router | 15 W | 17.0 h | 28.3 h | 2.4 days | 4.7 days |
| Starlink Mini | 35 W | 7.3 h | 12.1 h | 24.3 h | 2.0 days |
| Starlink Gen 3 dish | 100 W | 2.5 h | 4.2 h | 8.5 h | 17.0 h |
| Laptop | 60 W | 4.2 h | 7.1 h | 14.2 h | 28.3 h |
Hours of runtime after 15% inverter loss. For the Starlink figures and sources, see our Starlink guide.
Powering the modem and router
Plug them into the power station’s AC outlet through their normal adapters. Some routers run on a 12 V DC adapter, and a matching DC output can skip the AC inverter, but check the voltage and plug type on the label first.
Keep your phone going
A phone hotspot uses more battery than normal use, so budget extra charging. Charge phones directly from the power station’s USB ports, which wastes less than going through the inverter.
Which size fits?
Modem, router and two phones for a day need about 544 Wh:
A Starlink Mini all day, a laptop for 6 hours and two phones need about 1,631 Wh:
Add your own devices
Use the home backup power calculator to size for your internet gear plus everything else.
Related guides
- Winter storm power outage plan: what to power first
- How long will a power station run Starlink?
- What can a 1,000 Wh power station run, and for how long?
Estimates only. Real draw varies by device. Figures last checked November 2026.