Tool · runtime and solar sizing
How long will your battery run it, and how much solar does it need?
Pick your dish, how you’ll power it, your hours, your battery and where you are. You get watt-hours per day, runtime, panel watts for the month you pick, and the smallest setup that covers it.
- Numbers checked
- Every watt figure carries its source badge
- Runs on your device
No address, no account, nothing stored. Your choices stay in this page (and in the link, if you share it).
Your result
Loading the calculator…
Where the load figure comes from:
The smallest setup that works
December vs July in
Panel watts for every month
| Month | Sun hours | Panel W |
|---|
Starlink requires a USB PD source of at least 100 W (20 V / 5 A) and its own USB-C to barrel cable; it says 65 W or lower won’t work. What to check on a power bank.
The Mini accepts 12–48 V. At 12 V, a long thin cable can drop the voltage too far. Check your gauge and length.
The inverter loses energy, and the dish’s own power supply adds another step. If your battery has a 100 W USB-C or 12 V port, use it. How much AC costs.
We add 50% while it melts snow (planning assumption). Winter power budget.
Its power supply is AC-only. Starlink sells a DC-DC power supply in select markets; we haven’t confirmed US availability, so the calculator plans for AC. Mini vs Standard power.
Pick USB-C PD as the connection, or choose a power station for 12 V or AC.
The Standard needs AC through its power supply. Choose a power station or a 12 V battery with an inverter.
It would take more than 2000 W of flat panels. Cut the hours (sleep schedule), tilt the panels toward the sun, add a generator or shore charging, or size for a battery that rides through. How to close the winter gap.
Reference: runtime by battery size
For the Mini on USB-C PD at 40 W Official spec: From a Starlink specification sheet or help article. Checked Oct 5, 2026 (top of Starlink’s average range) and for the Standard on AC at 100 W Official spec: From a Starlink specification sheet or help article. Checked Oct 5, 2026. Planning assumptions: Planning assumption: Our stated assumption, used until bench results replace it usable share and conversion as listed above.
| Battery (label size) | Mini, USB-C | Mini, AC | Standard, AC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99 Wh USB-C PD power bank (100 W single port) | 1 h 48 min | — | — |
| Small power station, about 256 Wh | 4 h 54 min | 4 h 42 min | 1 h 54 min |
| Mid power station, about 512 Wh | 9 h 48 min | 9 h 30 min | 3 h 48 min |
| Large power station, about 1,024 Wh | 19 h 36 min | 18 h 54 min | 7 h 36 min |
| 12 V 100 Ah LiFePO4 battery, 1,280 Wh | 25 h 54 min | 25 h 6 min | 10 h |
| Very large power station, about 2,048 Wh | 39 h 12 min | 37 h 54 min | 15 h 6 min |
| 12 V 200 Ah LiFePO4 bank, 2,560 Wh | 2.2 days | 2.1 days | 20 h |
| 48 V 100 Ah LiFePO4 rack battery, 5,120 Wh | 4.3 days | 4.2 days | 40 h 6 min |
How the numbers are made
- Load: the watt figure you pick, with its badge. Starlink’s figures are AC-input averages that include the power supply and cables, so on USB-C or 12 V the real draw is usually lower.
- Battery-side watts = load ÷ conversion efficiency (90% USB-C PD and 12 V DC, 87% through an inverter) Planning assumption: Our stated assumption, used until bench results replace it.
- Runtime = usable Wh ÷ battery-side watts. Usable Wh = label Wh × 80% / 85% / 90% (bank / station / LiFePO4) Planning assumption: Our stated assumption, used until bench results replace it. Our battery bench will replace these with measured delivery.
- Panel watts = Wh per day from the battery ÷ (sun hours × 0.75). Sun hours: NASA POWER monthly averages, flat panel, one reference city per state, checked Oct 5, 2026.
- Snow melt: for the Mini we use its 60 W Official spec: From a Starlink specification sheet or help article. Checked Oct 5, 2026 input rating as the ceiling while melting; real melt draw is usually lower.
Questions people ask
How long will a battery run a Starlink Mini?
Divide the battery’s usable watt-hours by what the Mini draws through your connection. At the top of Starlink’s average range (40 W, AC input), a 512 Wh power station on USB-C lasts about 9 h 48 min with our planning assumptions. The calculator does this for your battery and hours.
Why does the calculator use 40 W when people report less?
Because 40 W is the top of Starlink’s published average range, and planning with the high figure means you don’t run out early. Switch “Which watt figure?” to the community reading to see the lower, dated owner measurement, with its source.
How is panel size worked out?
Panel watts = battery-side watt-hours per day ÷ (peak sun hours for your state and month × 0.75). Sun hours are NASA POWER monthly averages for a flat panel at one reference city per state; the 0.75 covers heat, dirt, angle and charging losses (a planning assumption).
Do you store what I type?
No. The calculator runs in your browser. The share link puts your choices in the address bar so you can send it; nothing is sent to us except an anonymous count that the calculator was used.
Sources
- Starlink Mini Specifications (PDF) · checked Oct 5, 2026
- How much power does my Starlink need? · checked Oct 5, 2026
- Standard 4 X Specifications (PDF) · checked Oct 5, 2026
- StarLink Mini measured power consumption (Escape Trailer Owners forum, user gklott) · checked Oct 5, 2026
- Starlink Mini Install: Power, Wiring, & Mounting to our Van (FarOutRide) · checked Oct 5, 2026
- Show us your Starlink Mini setup! page 3 (TacomaWorld) · checked Oct 5, 2026