The first thing most people want to run during a winter power outage is a space heater. It makes intuitive sense: the power is out, the house is getting cold, plug the heater into the power station and stay warm.
The math says otherwise. A standard 1,500W space heater on a portable power station is one of the worst uses of stored energy you can choose. It drains batteries faster than almost any other household device, and it provides a fraction of the runtime you actually need to survive a multi-day winter outage.
This guide explains why, and then shows you what actually works.
The Heating Problem with Battery Backup
A standard space heater draws 1,500W at full power. That is a resistive load, meaning the running watts and the surge watts are identical. There is no startup spike to worry about. The problem is not compatibility with the power station. The problem is runtime.
Space heater energy consumption
1,500W × 4 hours = 6,000 Wh consumed
Now compare that to the largest single-unit portable power station in our database: the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 at 4,096 Wh. After applying the 0.70 derate factor for inverter and battery losses, you get 2,867 Wh of usable energy at the AC outlet.
2,867 Wh ÷ 1,500W = 1.9 hours of runtime.
That is the best case. The largest portable battery you can buy today runs a space heater for under two hours. A mid-range station like the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 (1,070 Wh) lasts 30 minutes.
A winter storm outage in the northern United States typically lasts one to five days. Two hours of electric heating does not solve that problem. You need a different strategy.
The Electric Blanket Alternative
An electric blanket draws 100 to 180 watts depending on the model and heat setting. That is roughly one-tenth the power of a space heater. But because the blanket is in direct contact with your body rather than heating an entire room of air, it keeps you warm with far less energy.
Here are the verified figures from our device database:
Biddeford Electric Warming Blanket: 180W running, 180W surge (resistive, no startup spike). This is the highest-draw blanket in our database. A full-size model on the highest heat setting.
Sunbeam Heated Throw: 110W running, 110W surge. A smaller throw-size blanket that covers one person comfortably.
The runtime comparison on a single power station tells the whole story.
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 (1,070 Wh) running a Sunbeam heated throw (110W):
1,070 × 0.70 ÷ 110 = 6.8 hours
Same station running a space heater (1,500W):
1,070 × 0.70 ÷ 1,500 = 0.5 hours
That is 13.6 times more runtime with the electric blanket. Nearly a full night of warmth versus thirty minutes.
And those numbers are for continuous operation at maximum heat. In practice, electric blankets cycle their heating elements using a thermostat. Once the blanket reaches the target temperature, the element turns off until the temperature drops. Actual average draw over an 8-hour night is typically 15 to 25 percent lower than the rated wattage, depending on the room temperature and blanket setting.
What about heating a room?
An electric blanket does not heat a room. It heats a person. This is the correct framing for battery-powered winter survival. You are not trying to maintain 72°F throughout the house. You are trying to keep the people in the house warm enough to sleep safely and comfortably. That is a fundamentally different problem, and it requires far less energy.
For daytime hours when you are awake and moving around, layered clothing (thermal base layers, fleece, wool socks, hat) combined with a warm room strategy (close all doors, seal drafts, gather everyone in one room) can maintain a livable environment without any electric heating at all.
If You Must Run a Space Heater
There are situations where an electric blanket is not enough. If someone in your household has a medical condition that requires a warm ambient temperature, if you have an infant, or if your home’s insulation is so poor that indoor temperatures drop below 50°F rapidly, you may need to heat at least one small room.
Here is how to minimize the battery drain.
Use the low setting
Most space heaters have at least two settings: 1,500W (high) and 750W (low). The low setting halves the power draw and doubles the runtime. On the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3: 2,867 Wh ÷ 750W = 3.8 hours. Still short, but twice as long as full power.
Consider an oil-filled radiator on low
A De’Longhi oil-filled radiator on its low setting draws approximately 600W. The advantage over a ceramic or fan-forced heater is thermal mass: the oil inside the radiator retains heat after you turn it off. You can run the radiator for 30 to 45 minutes to warm the oil, then turn it off and let it radiate stored heat for another 30 to 60 minutes before the room cools. This cycling approach reduces your average draw to roughly 300 to 400W.
On the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3: 2,867 Wh ÷ 350W (estimated average with cycling) = 8.2 hours. That is a meaningful improvement, though still limited to a single night per charge.
Heat one small room only
Close every door in the house. Pick the smallest room that can fit the people who need warmth. Hang blankets or towels over windows. Stuff towels under the door. The CDC recommends this “warm room” approach during winter power outages. A smaller volume of air heats faster and stays warm longer, reducing the duty cycle of the heater and extending your battery life.
Which stations can handle a space heater?
A 1,500W space heater on high requires a power station with at least 1,500W of continuous AC output. Since the load is purely resistive (no startup surge), the station’s surge rating does not matter for this device. Every power station in our database rated at 1,500W continuous or above can run a space heater. That includes the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 (1,500W), the Anker SOLIX C1000 (1,800W), and everything larger.
The constraint is never power. It is always energy (watt-hours). A station that can deliver 1,500W continuously might only sustain it for 30 minutes if the battery is small.
Other Heating Strategies That Use Less (or No) Electricity
Battery power is not the only tool in a winter outage. These alternatives require no electricity from your power station.
Propane heaters
Portable propane heaters (like the Mr. Heater Buddy series) produce 4,000 to 18,000 BTU of heat from small propane canisters. They require no electricity at all, making them completely independent of your power station.
Layered clothing and thermal gear
This is the most reliable and lowest-cost heating strategy. Thermal base layers (merino wool or synthetic), fleece mid-layers, wool socks, and a warm hat can keep a healthy adult comfortable at indoor temperatures down to the mid-40s°F while awake and active. At night, combine these layers with a quality sleeping bag rated to 20°F or below.
The “warm room” approach
The CDC recommends consolidating your household into a single room during a winter power outage. Choose an interior room with minimal windows (a bedroom or interior living room). Close all doors to unoccupied rooms. Seal gaps under doors with rolled towels. Cover windows with blankets, curtains, or plastic sheeting to reduce heat loss. If your house has a room that receives afternoon sun, that room will retain solar heat into the evening hours.
Hot food and drinks
A camp stove (used outdoors or in a well-ventilated area) can boil water for hot beverages and warm meals. Hot liquids raise your core body temperature and improve your subjective sense of warmth. This is not a substitute for adequate insulation and shelter, but it is a meaningful supplement, especially for children and elderly family members.
Pets
Bring all pets into the warm room. Dogs and cats are effective supplementary heat sources (a large dog’s body generates roughly 100W of thermal energy at rest), and they also need protection from cold.
The Realistic Winter Heating Kit
Based on the math above, here is what we recommend for battery-powered winter storm preparation.
For one to two people
Power station: Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 (1,070 Wh, 1,500W, $799)
Heating: Two Sunbeam heated throws (110W each, 220W combined)
Runtime: 1,070 × 0.70 ÷ 220 = 3.4 hours continuous. With thermostat cycling reducing average draw by roughly 20 percent, expect closer to 4 to 4.5 hours. Enough to stay warm while falling asleep, then switch off and rely on sleeping bags for the remainder of the night.
For a longer outage or a family
Power station: Bluetti AC200L (2,048 Wh, 2,400W, $1,499)
Heating: Two Sunbeam heated throws (220W combined)
Runtime: 2,048 × 0.70 ÷ 220 = 6.5 hours continuous. With cycling, roughly 7 to 8 hours. That covers a full night.
For multi-day autonomy
Add a 200W solar panel to either setup. On a clear winter day (3 to 4 peak sun hours in the northern U.S.), a 200W panel generates roughly 420 to 560 Wh after losses. That is enough to recover most of the energy consumed by two electric blankets in a night (roughly 800 to 1,000 Wh at the battery, accounting for the derate factor in reverse). Cloudy days produce 30 to 50 percent of rated output, so budget for reduced solar income during the storm itself and plan for recovery charging once skies clear.
Winter Storm Preparation Checklist
Do this before winter storm season, not after the forecast.
Electric blankets or heated throws. One to two per person. Verify that each one works and note the wattage on the label or in the manual.
Power station sized for blankets. Minimum 1,000 Wh for two people with throws. The Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 and the Anker SOLIX C1000 are the minimum viable options. A 2,000 Wh station like the Bluetti AC200L provides a full night of coverage.
Non-electric heating backup. A propane heater with extra fuel canisters, a wood stove if your home has one, or a fireplace with dry firewood. These are your primary heat sources for multi-day outages. The electric blankets are for sleeping comfort. If you also plan for forced evacuations in other seasons, pair this with our wildfire evacuation power kit guide so your backup power setup is ready to move quickly.
Insulation materials. Rolled towels for sealing door gaps. Plastic sheeting or spare blankets for covering windows. Foam weatherstripping tape for any obvious drafts.
Sleeping bags. One per person, rated to 20°F or below. Even without electric blankets, a quality sleeping bag keeps a healthy adult warm through a cold night indoors.
Food that does not require cooking. Canned goods (with a manual can opener), peanut butter, bread, crackers, dried fruit, nuts. Cooking on a camp stove requires outdoor access and fuel.
Phone charging plan. Your power station is doing double duty: blankets at night, phone charging during the day. A fully charged 1,070 Wh station can run two blankets for 3 to 4 hours and still have enough capacity to fully charge five or six smartphones.
Water. If your home uses a well pump, fill containers before the outage. If your municipal water supply is intact, fill a bathtub and large containers as a precaution in case the water treatment facility loses power.
Battery-operated CO detector. Required if you plan to use any combustion heating source indoors. Replace batteries at the start of every winter season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run a space heater all night on a power station?
No. Even the largest portable power station in our database (EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3, 4,096 Wh) runs a 1,500W space heater for under two hours. A 750W low setting extends that to roughly 3.8 hours, which is still less than half a night. Space heaters on battery power are a short-term emergency measure, not an overnight solution. For sustained nighttime warmth, electric blankets are the only realistic battery-powered option.
Is it safe to sleep with an electric blanket on?
Modern electric blankets from established manufacturers (Sunbeam, Biddeford, Beautyrest) include automatic shut-off timers, overheat protection, and thermostat cycling. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific blanket. Do not fold the blanket while it is powered on, and do not place heavy objects on top of it. If the blanket’s wiring or fabric is damaged, replace it. For battery-powered use during an outage, the blanket draws steady, low wattage and the power station’s built-in protections provide an additional safety layer.
What about a ceramic space heater on low?
A ceramic or fan-forced heater on its low setting typically draws 750W. On the Bluetti AC200L (2,048 Wh): 2,048 × 0.70 ÷ 750 = 1.9 hours. Better than 1,500W, but still limited to under two hours. The oil-filled radiator cycling strategy described above provides better effective runtime because the oil retains heat after the unit is turned off. If you must use a ceramic heater, combine it with the warm room approach to reduce how often it needs to run.
Do I need a pure sine wave power station for electric blankets?
Electric blankets are resistive loads, meaning they convert electricity directly to heat with no motor or sensitive electronics involved. They work on any waveform, including modified sine wave. However, all portable power stations in our database output pure sine wave, so this distinction is academic unless you are using a standalone inverter connected to a car or marine battery. In that case, any waveform will work for blankets, but check whether other devices you plan to run (phone chargers, CPAP machines) require pure sine wave.
How cold can a house get during a winter outage?
An unheated house in freezing outdoor conditions loses temperature gradually, with the rate depending on insulation quality, sun exposure, and the number of occupants. A well-insulated modern home in 20°F outdoor conditions might take 8 to 12 hours to drop from 68°F to 50°F with the heat off. An older, poorly insulated home can reach uncomfortable temperatures in 3 to 4 hours. Below 50°F, pipes begin to freeze (particularly those on exterior walls). Below 40°F, the risk of hypothermia increases, especially for elderly adults, infants, and people with certain medical conditions. The CDC notes that hypothermia can occur at temperatures as high as 60°F in vulnerable individuals.
Sources: CDC: Safety During & After a Winter Storm. CDC: Preventing Hypothermia. Ready.gov: Winter Weather. Device wattage from OEM manuals and spec sheets. Power station specifications from manufacturer product pages. See our data sources methodology for how we verify every number.