Can you use a generator in an apartment?

Not a gas or propane one. The CDC says never to run a generator inside a home or garage, even with doors and windows open, and only outside more than 20 feet from windows, doors and vents. A battery power station has no engine and no exhaust, so it is the type you can use inside an apartment.

Is there such a thing as an indoor generator?

What is sold as an "indoor generator" is a battery power station (often called a solar generator): a battery, an inverter and outlets in one case. It stores energy instead of burning fuel. The 218 models in our catalog range from 150 Wh to 10,017 Wh.

Can I use a solar generator in an apartment?

Yes. A solar generator is a power station sold with (or ready for) solar panels. Inside you charge it from a wall outlet; during a long outage a foldable panel on a balcony or by a sunny window can top it up, with output that depends on sun, angle and shade.

How long do portable power stations last?

Two answers. Per charge: hours = capacity (Wh) × 0.85 ÷ device watts, so the median model here (1,024 Wh) runs a 60 W laptop for about 15 hours. Over its life: makers rate the battery in charge cycles before capacity drops to a stated level. LiFePO4 cells are generally rated for more cycles than other lithium-ion chemistries, and 177 of the 218 power stations we list use LiFePO4. Check each maker's cycle-life spec and warranty; we haven't measured either.

Generator for an Apartment: The Indoor-Safe Option

How we picked: published specs of the power stations and panels in our catalog, the CDC's carbon monoxide guidance, and the watt math (capacity × 0.85 ÷ watts). We don't run hands-on tests. Our method

Why a gas generator doesn't work in an apartment

Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide. The CDC's guidance is direct: never use a generator inside your home or garage, even if doors and windows are open, and only outside, more than 20 feet away from any windows, doors and vents. Most apartments have no spot that meets that, and a balcony is right next to your own windows and often your neighbors'. A battery power station makes no exhaust, which is why it is the type sold as an "indoor generator".

What it can run during an outage

Hours of runtime at three capacities, using 85% of the battery to account for inverter losses. The watts are typical averages, not figures for a specific appliance: check the label of yours.

Device	Watts	500 Wh	1,000 Wh	2,000 Wh
Phone charging	10 W	43 h	85 h	170 h
Laptop	60 W	7.1 h	14 h	28 h
CPAP (no humidifier)	40 W	11 h	21 h	43 h
Mini fridge (average draw)	60 W	7.1 h	14 h	28 h
Full-size fridge (700 kWh/yr label)	80 W	5.3 h	11 h	21 h
TV	100 W	4.3 h	8.5 h	17 h
Space heater	1,500 W	17 min	34 min	1.1 h

A full-size fridge at a 80 W average is often the load that decides the size: about 11 h on 1,000 Wh and 21 h on 2,000 Wh. A space heater is the opposite case: it needs 1,500 W of output (114 of our 218 models are rated for that) and empties even a 2,000 Wh battery in about 1.1 h. Add your own devices in the size calculator.

Size vs weight: think about the stairs

In an apartment you may carry it up stairs, store it in a closet and move it from the kitchen to the bedroom. Median weight by size class in our catalog:

Size class	Models	Median weight	Typical use
Smallunder 500 Wh	72	7.7 lb	phones, laptops, lights, a CPAP for a night or two
Mid-size500–1,499 Wh	61	25.7 lb	weekend camping, a mini fridge, a work site
Large1,500–2,999 Wh	45	47.1 lb	RV trips, a full-size fridge for 16–32 hours, power tools
Home backup3,000 Wh and up	40	97 lb	outages at home, several appliances, multi-day backup

Home-backup units (3,000 Wh and up) have a median weight of 97 lb, so they make sense where they will stay in one place. For most apartments the mid-size and large classes are the balance between runtime and weight. The two most popular models in each class:

Model	Capacity	Output	Cells	Weight	Wh/lb	Amazon link
Jackery Explorer 300	292 Wh	300 W	LiFePO4	7.1 lb	41	Check price on Amazon
Anker SOLIX C300 DC	288 Wh	300 W	LiFePO4	6.2 lb	46	Check price on Amazon
Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 (1,024 Wh)	1,024 Wh	1,500 W	LiFePO4	23.4 lb	44	Check price on Amazon
Bluetti AC180	1,152 Wh	1,800 W	LiFePO4	37.4 lb	31	Check price on Amazon
EcoFlow Delta 3 Max	2,048 Wh	2,400 W	LiFePO4	44.8 lb	46	Check price on Amazon
Anker SOLIX S2000	2,010 Wh	1,500 W	LiFePO4	35.7 lb	56	Check price on Amazon
Jackery Homepower 3600 Plus	3,584 Wh	3,600 W	LiFePO4	77.2 lb	46	Check price on Amazon
EcoFlow Delta Pro	3,600 Wh	3,600 W	LiFePO4	99 lb	36	Check price on Amazon

Recharging it without a yard

Wall outlet. The usual way: keep it charged so it's full when the power goes out.
Car socket. Many stations accept 12 V car charging (check the specs of yours), slow but useful during a long outage if you have a car in the garage or on the street.
Solar on a balcony or window. We list 147 portable panels, 111 of them foldable; the 90 rated 200 W or less have a median weight of 10.3 lb. Real output depends on sun, angle and shade: a balcony facing away from the sun gets far less than the label. Check your building's rules before mounting anything outside.

Browse portable solar panels or power stations sold with a panel.

Before you buy

Battery chemistry. 177 of our 218 models list LiFePO4 cells, the chemistry rated for more charge cycles. It matters most if the unit will be cycled often.
Output. Rated output must cover everything running at once; a microwave or space heater needs 1,000–1,500 W or more.
Pass-through and UPS. Some models can stay plugged in and power a router or computer, switching to battery when the grid drops. Check the product page and the maker's manual for that feature.
Building rules. Leases and building rules vary; if in doubt, ask your landlord or building manager.

Comparing battery and gas in general? See power station vs generator.

Generator for an apartment