Goal Zero Yeti 500: what it runs and for how long
A 499 Wh lithium iron phosphate station with 500 W of output (1,000 W surge). At the default 85% efficiency that is 424 Wh you can use.
Updated
Key numbers
499Wh
Rated capacity
424Wh
Usable at 85%, 499 × 0.85
500W
Continuous output
1,000W
Surge
16.1lb
Weight, 7.3 kg
$499.95
Price on the maker's page, $1.00 per Wh, as of October 2026
Enough Watts may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never changes the math or the ranking.
What it runs
It powers 10 of the 16 common appliances below, each on its own. A modern full size refrigerator runs about 7.8 h on a full charge. It cannot power a sump pump (1/2 HP). Needs 925 W running at once; this station gives 500 W. It also cannot power 5 more from the list.
| Appliance | Watts | Can it power it | On a full charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone charging | 20 W | Runs it | 21.2 h |
| Laptop (while charging) | 65 W | Runs it | 6.5 h |
| Wi-Fi router and modemestimate | 28 W | Runs it | 15.1 h |
| LED bulb, 60 W equivalent (800 lumens) | 8.5 W | Runs it | 2.1 days |
| TV, 55 inch LED (LCD) | 82 W | Runs it | 5.2 h |
| CPAP machine (no humidifier) | 11 W | Runs it | 38.6 h |
| Oxygen concentrator (home, stationary) | 290 W | Runs it | 1.5 hCounts the running watts for every hour you enter.Starting watts not published; motors often need 2 to 3 times their running watts to start. |
| Box fan (20 inch) | 125 W | Runs it | 3.4 hCounts the running watts for every hour you enter.Starting watts not published; motors often need 2 to 3 times their running watts to start. |
| Refrigerator (modern, full size) | 275 W1,000 W to start | Runs it | 7.8 h |
| Chest freezer | 300 W750 W to start | Runs it | 12.7 h |
| Sump pump (1/2 HP) | 925 W1,725 W to start | Cannot power itNeeds 925 W running at once; this station gives 500 W.Needs 1,725 W to start; this station peaks at 1,000 W. | none |
| Drip coffee maker | 900 W | Cannot power itNeeds 900 W running at once; this station gives 500 W. | none |
| Microwave oven (1,000 W cooking power) | 1,530 W | Cannot power itNeeds 1,530 W running at once; this station gives 500 W.Needs 1,530 W to start; this station peaks at 1,000 W. | none |
| Electric kettle | 1,500 W | Cannot power itNeeds 1,500 W running at once; this station gives 500 W.Needs 1,500 W to start; this station peaks at 1,000 W. | none |
| Window air conditioner (5,000 BTU) | 525 W1,050 W to start | Cannot power itNeeds 525 W running at once; this station gives 500 W.Needs 1,050 W to start; this station peaks at 1,000 W. | none |
| Electric space heater (1,500 W) | 1,500 W | Cannot power itNeeds 1,500 W running at once; this station gives 500 W.Needs 1,500 W to start; this station peaks at 1,000 W. | none |
Running time is usable watt hours divided by the appliance's average draw, with nothing else plugged in. Loads used for minutes a day show minutes of use. Watts vary by model and age. Check the label on your own appliance and enter it for an exact answer.
Explained in: Why you get less than the rated capacity, Starting watts explained and How to read an appliance label for watts.
Will it run your appliance
Pick any of the appliance types in the data to see whether the Goal Zero Yeti 500 powers it and for how long.
Recharging
From the wall
Maximum AC charging input: 500 W.
The maker states these wall charging times:
- 0 to 100% in 1 h 24 min (AC Fast Charge)
From solar
It takes up to 200 W of solar. Worked at 4 peak sun hours, counting 75% of the panel rating to allow for heat, angle and controller losses:
- 200 W of panels × 4 h of sun × 0.75 = 600 Wh a day. From empty to full: 499 ÷ (200 × 0.75) = 3.3 hours of sun.
Work out other panel sizes for the Goal Zero Yeti 500
Explained in: How much solar to recharge a power station.
From a car
Car charging input: not published.
Expansion and backup mode
It takes no expansion batteries, so the capacity stays at 499 Wh.
Backup (UPS) switchover time: not published.
Explained in: Power station backup mode (UPS) explained.
Full specifications
- Rated capacity
- 499 Wh
- Battery chemistry
- LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate)
- Cycle life
- 4,000 cycles to 80% capacity
- Continuous AC output
- 500 W
- Surge rating
- 1,000 W
- AC voltage
- 120 V
- USB-C
- 3 ports, up to 100 W
- USB-A
- 2 ports
- Wall charging input
- up to 500 W
- Solar input
- up to 200 W
- Expansion batteries
- no
- Weight
- 16.1 lb (7.3 kg)
- Size (box)
- 11.3 × 7.8 × 7.7 in288 × 198 × 196 mm, largest side first
- Charges down to
- 32 °F (0 °C)
- Runs down to
- -4 °F (-20 °C)
- Ingress rating
- IPX4
- App connection
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
- Warranty
- 5 years
Battery chemistry: LiFePO4 vs NMC batteries in power stations.
Price
$499.95, the price shown on the maker's page in October 2026. That is $1.00 per Wh of rated capacity. Sale prices change often and are not stored; the maker's page shows today's price and stock.
Goal Zero's page for the Yeti 500 (opens in a new tab)
Enough Watts may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never changes the math or the ranking.
Similar stations
The nearest capacities in the data, from any brand.
| Power station | Capacity | Output | Surge | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goal Zero Yeti 300 | 297 Wh | 350 W | 600 W | 13.7 lb (6.2 kg) | $349.95$1.18 per Wh |
| DJI Power 500 | 512 Wh | 1,000 W | not published | 16.1 lb (7.3 kg) | $499$0.97 per Wh |
| Jackery Explorer 600 v2 | 640 Wh | 500 W | 1,000 W | 14.1 lb (6.4 kg) | $499$0.78 per Wh |
| Goal Zero Yeti 700 | 677 Wh | 600 W | 1,000 W | 20.3 lb (9.2 kg) | $699.95$1.03 per Wh |
All 5 Goal Zero power stations · Compare all 54 power stations
Sources
Researched from these pages, then checked against them a second time.
- Goal Zero YETI 500 Portable Power Station 499Wh LiFePo4 Battery maker product page, checked
We read published specifications and do the math; we do not test products. The methodology states every formula on this page.