Power Station for a TV
From an outdoor movie night to keeping the news on during an outage, TVs are a common power station load — and a relatively light one. This calculator is preconfigured with a typical LED TV wattage.
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Add a custom device
Enter your power station’s capacity in Wh to see a runtime estimate.
This is an estimate. Real-world runtime can be lower than the theoretical figure due to inverter efficiency losses, fluctuating (not constant) device draw, ambient temperature, battery age/health, and other factors. Always check your power station’s official specifications before relying on it for critical use.
How much power does a TV use?
A typical 40–55" LED TV draws around 100 W while on, which is what this calculator defaults to — actual draw varies with screen size, brightness setting and content (a bright scene draws more than a dark one on some panel types).
OLED TVs tend to draw more than LED/LCD sets of the same size, since each pixel generates its own light rather than using a shared backlight — expect meaningfully higher wattage on bright content specifically. Check your TV's energy label or settings menu (many TVs show real-time or average power draw) for an exact figure.
Adding a streaming device or soundbar
A streaming stick or small streaming box typically adds only a few watts — negligible next to the TV itself. A soundbar can add anywhere from a few watts idle to 20–60 W at moderate volume. Add these as custom devices in the calculator above if you're running them alongside the TV.
Outdoor movie nights and camping
Portable power stations are popular for outdoor movie setups — a TV or projector, a small soundbar, and lighting, all run off one battery with no extension cord back to the house. Check the required capacity for your specific combination using the "What capacity do I need?" mode above.
Frequently asked questions
How long will a power station run a TV?
At a typical 100 W load and 85% efficiency, a 1000 Wh power station provides roughly 8h 30m of TV time — a full evening several times over. Use the calculator above with your specific TV's wattage for an exact figure.
Do bigger TVs always use more power?
Generally yes, larger screens of the same panel technology draw more power, but panel type matters too — an efficient large LED TV can draw less than a smaller OLED set at high brightness. Check your specific model's power rating rather than assuming based on size alone.
Can a power station run a projector instead of a TV?
Yes — add a projector as a custom device with its own wattage (commonly 150–300 W for portable models, though this varies widely by brightness and technology) rather than using the TV preset, since projectors typically draw meaningfully more power than a flat-panel TV.