EcoFlow
DELTA 3
- Nominal capacity
- 1,024 Wh Manufacturer source for Nominal capacity (checked 2026-10-04; opens in a new tab)
When to consider another option Loads requiring 240 V or more than the continuous output rating.
Read the fit and limitationsCalculators Backup power planning
How long can my generator run on the fuel I have?
Use your generator’s fuel-use figures to estimate runtime and target fuel.
About 3 minutes You’ll need: generator fuel-use figures, fuel, and selected loads
Generator runtime calculator for household backup power planning
Saves on this devicePrivacy & options
Calculations run in this browser; inputs stay out of analytics. A draft saves here after your first change unless you turn saving off. You choose separately whether to save a result to My Household Plan or copy a permitted share link.
Carbon monoxide: generators stay outdoors
Keep it at least 20 feet from doors, windows, and vents—never in a home, garage, basement, or shed. Use working carbon-monoxide alarms and follow the manual. CDC safety guidance.
Illustrative fuel arithmetic
How hourly burn rate and a 20% untouched reserve affect fuel totals
These rows show pure arithmetic for three illustrative manual consumption rates, holding one fifth (20%) of total fuel untouched (`fuel burned ÷ 0.8`). They are not ratings for a specific generator or permission to store a given fuel volume; always use your exact manual's fuel-use table and follow local fire and container storage rules.
| Manual burn rate at planned load | 12-hr fuel burned | 12-hr total with 20% reserve | 24-hr fuel burned | 24-hr total with 20% reserve |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.15 gal / hr | 1.8 gal | 2.25 gal (0.45 gal reserve) | 3.6 gal | 4.5 gal (0.9 gal reserve) |
| 0.25 gal / hr | 3.0 gal | 3.75 gal (0.75 gal reserve) | 6.0 gal | 7.5 gal (1.5 gal reserve) |
| 0.40 gal / hr | 4.8 gal | 6.0 gal (1.2 gal reserve) | 9.6 gal | 12.0 gal (2.4 gal reserve) |
Plan runtime and target fuel without guessing at consumption
Use the exact figures from your generator manual, keep the planned electrical load within the documented fuel-use range, and preserve a reserve without treating the result as a fuel-storage recommendation.
- Copy the model's fuel-use figures and units from its manual, then enter the fuel you can safely store and rotate.
- Add essential running loads, check startup requirements separately, and keep the plan at or below 75 percent of rated output.
- Choose a target runtime, compare the required planning fuel with what is safely and lawfully available, and test the equipment outdoors before an emergency.
Common questions
Why do I need the manufacturer fuel-use table?
Fuel consumption varies by model, fuel, load, maintenance, temperature, and altitude. The model-specific manual is more dependable than a generic gallons-per-hour assumption.
Can I enter propane in pounds instead of gallons?
Use one consistent liquid-volume unit for both available fuel and the manual's consumption rate. Do not mix pounds, gallons, liters, or gaseous-volume figures without a verified conversion for the exact fuel conditions.
How much generator fuel do I need for an outage?
Use the exact generator's manufacturer fuel-use figures at the planned load. The estimator multiplies the interpolated burn rate by your target hours, then divides by the fraction of fuel left after your chosen reserve. That keeps the same share of total fuel untouched in both views. The planning total is not permission to store a particular quantity at home; follow the fuel-container instructions and current local fire rules.
What does a 20% fuel reserve mean?
It means keeping one fifth of the total fuel unused, rather than adding one fifth to the fuel you expect to burn. For illustration only, a burn rate of 0.25 gallons per hour uses 6 gallons in 24 hours. With a 20% reserve, the planning total is 6 ÷ 0.8 = 7.5 gallons: 6 to use and 1.5 held back. This is arithmetic, not a generator specification or a storage recommendation; enter your exact manual's figures.
Where is it safe to run a portable generator?
Keep it outdoors at least 20 feet from doors, windows, and vents, follow the exact manual, never use it in a home or garage, and use working carbon-monoxide alarms.
Plan first. Buy what is missing.
Compare indoor battery stations for overnight quiet hours
Many households pair an outdoor generator with an indoor battery station so essentials stay powered overnight without running an engine. These documented examples are not selected from your calculator answers.
Jackery
Explorer 1000 v2
- Nominal capacity
- 1,070 Wh Manufacturer source for Nominal capacity (checked 2026-10-04; opens in a new tab)
When to consider another option Loads requiring 240 V, more than 1,500 W continuous output, or a verified battery expansion option.
Read the fit and limitations