Appliance · Electronics
How many watts does a Wi-Fi router use — and what can run it?
A NETGEAR Nighthawk RAX70 router: 42 W adapter ceiling, 6.5 W idle per NETGEAR. Which power stations keep the Wi-Fi on in an outage, and how long.
Adapter rating is a ceiling, not typical draw. NETGEAR's SNE energy table lists 6.50 W idle power for the RAX70 (source: netgear-sne).
The representative model is the NETGEAR Nighthawk RAX70. NETGEAR does not publish a typical draw; its support article lists the power adapter for each router — 12 V, 3.5 A for the RAX70, which is 42 W — and states that the router's consumption does not exceed the adapter rating. The 42 W in the tables is therefore a ceiling, and the runtimes are the short end. NETGEAR's energy information sheet gives the other end: 6.50 W idle.
What changes the draw
Traffic and connected devices move a router between its idle figure and its ceiling; USB devices powered from the router add to it. A separate modem or fiber terminal is another load. The page assumes 24 hours a day, which at the 42 W ceiling would be 1,008 Wh.
No starting surge
A router is electronics with no motor start. Every station on the site with an AC outlet covers 42 W continuous.
Reading the tables
Runtime is at the 42 W ceiling. Example: the DARAN R100 record has no maker factor, so the default 0.85 applies: 89.6 Wh × 0.85 ÷ 42 W = 1.8 hours; at the 6.5 W idle figure it would be 11.7 hours. Real use falls between.
Power stations that can run it
Pass = continuous output ≥ 42 W. Runtime = capacity × maker's factor ÷ 42 W, nothing else plugged in. Method.
| Model | Fits | Runtime at 42 W | Capacity | List price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARBERO 88Wh Portable Power Station (M82) | Yes | 1.8 h | 89 Wh | $119.99 |
| DARAN R100 (89.6Wh) | Yes | 1.8 h | 90 Wh | $149.99 |
| Bluetti EB3A | Yes | 5.2 h | 269 Wh | $219 |
| EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus | Yes | 5.8 h | 286 Wh | $299 |
| Anker SOLIX C300 | Yes | 5.8 h | 288 Wh | $429.99 |
| Anker SOLIX C300 DC | No | — | 288 Wh | $349.99 |
| Jackery Explorer 300 | Yes | 5.9 h | 292 Wh | $289 |
| Goal Zero Yeti 500 | Yes | 10 h | 499 Wh | $499.95 |
| Bluetti AC70 | Yes | 16 h | 768 Wh | $359 |
| Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 | Yes | 21 h | 1,024 Wh | $499.99 |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 | Yes | 21 h | 1,024 Wh | $699 |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic | Yes | 21 h | 1,024 Wh | $599 |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus | Yes | 21 h | 1,024 Wh | $799 |
| Anker SOLIX C1000X | Yes | 21 h | 1,056 Wh | $469.99 |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | Yes | 22 h | 1,070 Wh | $559 |
| Bluetti AC180 | Yes | 21 h | 1,152 Wh | $499 |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus | Yes | 26 h | 1,264 Wh | $699 |
| Goal Zero Yeti 1500 | Yes | 30 h | 1,505 Wh | $1,499.95 |
| Goal Zero Yeti 1500X | Yes | 31 h | 1,516 Wh | $1,124.89 |
| EcoFlow DELTA Max (2000) | Yes | 41 h | 2,016 Wh | — |
| Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 | Yes | 41 h | 2,042 Wh | $999 |
| Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus | Yes | 41 h | 2,043 Wh | — |
| Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 | Yes | 41 h | 2,048 Wh | $899.99 |
| Bluetti AC200L | Yes | 41 h | 2,048 Wh | $899 |
| EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max | Yes | 41 h | 2,048 Wh | $1,299 |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max | Yes | 41 h | 2,048 Wh | $1,199 |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus | Yes | 41 h | 2,048 Wh | $1,599 |
| Bluetti Elite 200 V2 | Yes | 38 h | 2,074 Wh | $899 |
| Jackery HomePower 3000 | Yes | 2 d 14 h | 3,072 Wh | $1,499 |
| Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus | Yes | 3 d 6 h | 3,840 Wh | $2,599.99 |
| EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 | Yes | 3 d 11 h | 4,096 Wh | $3,299 |
Generators that can run it
| Model | Fits | Load | Published run time | CO sensor | List price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champion 100396 3400W Electric Start Dual Fuel Inverter | Yes | 1 % (gasoline) | 7.5 h @ 25 % | No | — |
| Champion 201241 13,500W Electric Start Tri Fuel Generator | Yes | 0 % (gasoline) | 8 h @ 50 % | Yes | — |
| Champion 201319 4500W Electric Start Dual Fuel Inverter | Yes | 1 % (gasoline) | 14 h @ 25 % | Yes | — |
| DuroMax XP13000EH | Yes | 0 % (gasoline) | 17 h @ 25 % · 8 h @ 50 % | Yes | $1,299 |
| DuroMax XP9500iH | Yes | 1 % (gasoline) | 21 h @ 25 % · 11 h @ 50 % | Yes | $1,999 |
| Generac GP8000E (with COsense, model 7715) | Yes | 1 % (gasoline) | 10 h @ 50 % | Yes | — |
| Generac iQ3500 (with COsense) | Yes | 1 % (gasoline) | 14.1 h @ 25 % · 8.9 h @ 50 % | Yes | — |
| Honda EU2200i | Yes | 2 % (gasoline) | 8.1 h @ 25 % · 3.2 h @ 100 % | Yes | $1,199 |
| Honda EU3200i | Yes | 2 % (gasoline) | 8.6 h @ 25 % · 3.3 h @ 100 % | Yes | $2,799 |
| Honda EU7000iS | Yes | 1 % (gasoline) | 16 h @ 25 % · 6.4 h @ 100 % | Yes | $4,899 |
| WEN DF680iX | Yes | 1 % (gasoline) | 6.1 h @ 50 % | Yes | $803.40 |
| WEN GN400i | Yes | 1 % (gasoline) | 7 h @ 50 % | No | $479.99 |
| Westinghouse WGen7500DFc | Yes | 1 % (gasoline) | 11 h @ 25 % | Yes | $1,299 |
| Westinghouse WGen9500DF | Yes | 0 % (gasoline) | 12 h @ 25 % · 8 h @ 50 % | No | $1,249 |
| Westinghouse WGen9500DFc | Yes | 0 % (gasoline) | 12 h @ 25 % · 8 h @ 50 % | Yes | $1,399 |
| Westinghouse WGen9500DFc EFI | Yes | 0 % (gasoline) | 15 h @ 25 % · 10 h @ 50 % | Yes | $1,549 |
Frequently asked questions
How many watts does a Wi-Fi router use?
How long can a small power station run a router?
Does the modem need power too?
Sources
- NETGEAR Support — How much power does my NETGEAR router use? (adapter ratings, RAX70) (accessed 2026-10-31)
- NETGEAR — SNE Energy Information (PDF), idle power, RAX70 (accessed 2026-10-31)
Page updated 2026-10-31.