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Power station vs gas generator: what does an outage cost?
Enter how much energy you need per day and how long the outage lasts. We'll show what the generator burns in fuel, what the battery covers on its own, and the gap you'd need solar or fuel to fill.
Your outage
Not sure? Use the sizing calculator and divide its Wh needed by 1,000. 2.5 kWh/day roughly covers a fridge, router, lights and phone charging.
Gas generator
Power station
Generator
Power station
How we calculate: generator fuel = days x hours per day x gal/hour x gas price. Power station usable energy = capacity x 0.8 (our planning allowance). Recharge cost = energy used ÷ 0.8 x electricity price. Battery wear = price ÷ (capacity x rated cycles to 80%) per kWh cycled, shown only where the maker states cycles. Defaults: EIA's Central Atlantic (incl. PA) regular gasoline price for Nov 2, 2026 ($4.232/gal) and EIA's Pennsylvania residential average for Aug 2026 (21.77¢/kWh).
What the numbers usually show
For short outages, a power station's running cost is close to nothing. Recharging a 1 kWh battery at 21.77¢/kWh costs about 27¢. A generator wins on endurance: it turns stored gasoline into as many kWh as you have fuel for, but it needs safe outdoor placement, fuel storage, and maintenance. Many households end up with both, a battery for quiet overnight loads indoors and a generator outdoors to top it up during multi-day outages.
FAQ
Is a power station cheaper to run than a gas generator?
Per kWh, usually yes: recharging from the grid at Pennsylvania's August 2026 average of 21.77¢/kWh costs far less than gasoline at about $4.23/gal. The catch is capacity. A battery only holds what you charged before the outage, while a generator keeps going as long as you have fuel. For multi-day outages you need solar or a generator to recharge the battery.
How much gas does a small inverter generator use?
Honda lists its EU2200i (1,800W rated) at 3.2 hours per 0.95-gallon tank at rated load and 8.1 hours at 1/4 load, or roughly 0.30 and 0.12 gallons per hour.
Can I run a generator in my garage with the door open?
No. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says never to run a portable generator in a home, garage, basement, crawlspace or shed, even with doors or windows open. Run it outside only, at least 20 feet from the house, with the exhaust pointed away.