- 300W
- while running, 500W to start
- 5,760Wh
- used over a full day
- 15 of 15
- models we track can run it
- Best for a second nightAnker Solix C2000 Gen 27.3 hr$899.99Check price
- Best for cooling down at bedtimeJackery Explorer 1000 v23.8 hr$499Check price
- Budget pick for an eveningBluetti AC702.7 hr$359Check price
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Runtime for every model
| Model | Runtime | Capacity | Output | Weight | Price | Per Wh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EcoFlow River 3 | 0.9 hr | 245Wh | 300W | 7.8 lb | $239 | $0.98 |
| Jackery Explorer 300 v2 | 1.0 hr | 288Wh | 300W | 8.2 lb | $299 | $1.04 |
| Anker Solix C300 | 1.0 hr | 288Wh | 300W | 9.1 lb | $249 | $0.86 |
| EcoFlow River 3 Plus | 1.0 hr | 286Wh | 600W | 10.4 lb | $299 | $1.05 |
| Bluetti AC70 | 2.7 hr | 768Wh | 1,000W | 22.5 lb | $359 | $0.47 |
| EcoFlow Delta 3 Plus | 3.6 hr | 1,024Wh | 1,800W | 27.6 lb | $669 | $0.65 |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | 3.8 hr | 1,070Wh | 1,500W | 23.8 lb | $499 | $0.47 |
| Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 | 3.6 hr | 1,024Wh | 2,000W | 24.9 lb | $499.99 | $0.49 |
| Bluetti Elite 100 V2 | 3.6 hr | 1,024Wh | 1,800W | 25 lb | $489 | $0.48 |
| EcoFlow Delta 3 Max | 7.3 hr | 2,048Wh | 2,400W | 44.8 lb | $879 | $0.43 |
| Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 | 7.2 hr | 2,042Wh | 2,200W | 39.5 lb | $899 | $0.44 |
| Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 | 7.3 hr | 2,048Wh | 2,400W | 41.7 lb | $899.99 | $0.44 |
| Bluetti Elite 200 V2 | 7.3 hr | 2,073Wh | 2,600W | 53.4 lb | $899 | $0.43 |
| EcoFlow Delta Pro 3 | 14.5 hr | 4,096Wh | 4,000W | 113.5 lb | $2,799 | $0.68 |
| Anker Solix F3800 | 13.6 hr | 3,840Wh | 6,000W | 132.3 lb | $1,979.99 | $0.52 |
Shaded rows are our picks. Assumed load: A portable tent air conditioner pulling 300W while cooling, running 80% of the time on a hot night, with a 500W startup surge.
What a tent air conditioner draws
A portable tent air conditioner is a small unit built to cool a tent. It pulls about 300W while it is cooling. The part doing the work is the compressor, a pump that moves heat out of the air. On a hot night the compressor runs about 80% of the time, so the average draw is about 240W.
Starting the compressor takes about 500W for an instant. That burst is called startup surge. Every model here can supply it. But the three 300W units have no room above the 300W running draw, and they last about an hour.
Check the label on yours. If it lists amps, multiply them by 120 volts to get watts. A unit that pulls 400W and not 300W cuts every runtime here by a quarter.
Hours per charge
A 1,000Wh unit lists 3.6 to 3.8 hours. A 2,000Wh unit lists 7.2 to 7.3. Wh stands for watt-hours, a unit of energy: one watt used for one hour. The two largest models list 13.6 and 14.5 hours, but at 132.3 and 113.5 lb they are not camping gear.
A full 8 hours at the 240W average takes about 2,260Wh out of the battery after losses. That is a little more than any 2,000Wh unit holds, which is why they stop just short.
Most nights cool off after midnight, and then the compressor rests more. If it runs 60% of the time and not 80%, 7.3 hours becomes about 9.7.
What these units can and cannot cool
A tent has thin fabric walls and no insulation. Heat comes in almost as fast as a small unit can push it out. That is why these units only suit a small, shaded, closed tent. In a large tent, or in direct afternoon sun, expect little.
Keep the door and windows zipped. The unit also has to send its hot air outside the tent, the way its manual shows. Hot air that stays inside undoes the cooling.
Shade and a reflective tarp cut the work
Every bit of heat you keep out is heat the compressor does not have to remove. Pitch the tent in shade. Hang a reflective tarp above it, with a gap so air can pass between the two. Wait until the sun is low before you switch the unit on.
Each step lets the compressor rest more, and the rest is where the extra hours come from.
A 12V fan uses a fraction of the power
A fan does not cool the air, but moving air is often enough to sleep. The tent camping guide adds up lights, a 12V fan for 8 hours, phone charging and a small speaker. Together they average 12W. The air conditioner’s 240W average is 20 times that.
A 1,000Wh unit that cools for 3.6 hours runs that whole camp list for about 3.2 days.
Refilling at camp
A night of cooling empties the battery, so a second night depends on refilling it by day. Solar input is the most panel power a station can accept. At 400W, the Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 needs more than 5 hours of full output to refill. At 800W, the Anker needs about half that. Panels rarely reach their full rating, so allow longer.
If your campsite has an electric hookup, plug the air conditioner into that and leave the battery for the nights without one.
The picks in detail
Jackery Explorer 2000 v2
- 7.2 hr
- Portable tent air conditioner
- $899
- $0.44 per Wh
- 39.5 lb
- Weight
A night of cooling takes a 2,000Wh unit, and this is the lightest one at 39.5 lb. That is 2.2 lb less than the Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 and 13.9 lb less than the Bluetti Elite 200 V2. It lists 7.2 hours with the compressor running 80% of the time, which is most of a night. It costs $899.
What fits
- 7.2 hours on a hot night
- 39.5 lb, the lightest 2,000Wh unit
What does not
- 400W solar input, so a full refill takes more than 5 hours of strong sun
- Cycle life is rated to 70% capacity, not 80%
Jackery's list price is $999. Jackery rates its 4,000 cycles to 70% capacity, not 80%.
Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2
- 7.3 hr
- Portable tent air conditioner
- $899.99
- $0.44 per Wh
- 41.7 lb
- Weight
This lists 7.3 hours and adds two things for longer trips. One expansion battery takes it to 4,096Wh, which would roughly double the hours. And it accepts up to 800W of solar, twice the Jackery's 400W, so panels can put back a night's use in about half the sun time. Anker lists a 9W idle draw, which is low for this size. It costs $899.99, or $0.44 per watt-hour.
What fits
- 7.3 hours on a hot night
- Expandable to 4,096Wh with one expansion battery
- 800W solar input
What does not
- 41.7 lb to carry from the car to the tent
- 7.3 hours is still short of a full 8
Anker's list price is $1,499.99. Anker lists a 9W idle draw, which is low for this size.
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2
- 3.8 hr
- Portable tent air conditioner
- $499
- $0.47 per Wh
- 23.8 lb
- Weight
If the goal is to fall asleep cool and let the night air take over, a 1,000Wh unit is enough. This one lists 3.8 hours, the longest of the four 1,000Wh units, and at 23.8 lb it is the lightest of them. It costs $499, or $0.47 per watt-hour. It will not last until morning, so pair it with a fan for the second half of the night.
What fits
- 3.8 hours, the longest of the 1,000Wh units
- 23.8 lb, the lightest in its class
What does not
- Under 4 hours, so not a full night
- Cycle life is rated to 70% capacity, not 80%
Jackery's list price is $559, and it has sold for less at other retailers. Jackery rates its 4,000 cycles to 70% capacity, not 80%.
Bluetti AC70
- 2.7 hr
- Portable tent air conditioner
- $359
- $0.47 per Wh
- 22.5 lb
- Weight
At $359 this is the lowest-priced unit with real room for the job. Its 1,000W output is more than three times the 300W draw, and its 1,500W surge rating is three times the 500W start. It lists 2.7 hours, enough for the hottest part of the evening. The three 300W units cost less, but they run at their limit and last about an hour. It weighs 22.5 lb.
What fits
- 2.7 hours for $359
- 22.5 lb
What does not
- 2.7 hours covers an evening, not a night
- Cannot be expanded with extra batteries
Coupon deals well under this price have appeared.
Verdict
Buy the Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 if you want cooling for most of a night and have to carry the unit to the site. Choose the Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 for trips of two nights or more, because it can add a battery and takes in solar twice as fast. The Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 suits people who only need to fall asleep cool. The Bluetti AC70 is the budget choice for an evening. If your tent sits in full sun, fix the shade before you spend on a battery.
How these numbers were worked out. Runtime = battery capacity × efficiency ÷ average watts. We use 85% efficiency for AC outlets and 90% for DC and USB ports, because some energy is lost as heat on the way out. A model is marked "can't run it" when the device needs more watts than the outlet gives, or a bigger startup surge than the unit is rated for. Your own device may draw more or less than our assumed load, so treat these as estimates. Prices were checked on 2026-10-04 and change often. Full method
Related guides
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- Best Portable Power Station for Camping With an Electric BlanketAn electric blanket averages 60W, so a 1,070Wh power station runs one for 1.9 nights. Night counts for 15 models and the four worth buying.