Guides · Updated 2026-11-02

Best power station for a CPAP: EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus vs Bluetti AC180

We may earn a commission from links on this page, at no extra cost to you. How we make money.

Short answer: The small EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus covers about one night of CPAP (more with the humidifier off). The Bluetti AC180 covers several nights. Pick by how long outages usually last where you live.

Medical equipment: ask your doctor or equipment supplier about backup power, and check your machine's label for its actual watts. Many CPAP makers sell a DC adapter, which is usually more efficient than plugging into the AC outlet.

Watts vs. watt-hours, in one minute

Watts (W) is how hard something pulls power right now, like how fast water flows from a tap. Watt-hours (Wh) is how much is stored in the battery, like how much water is in the bucket.

Runtime ≈ battery Wh × 0.85 ÷ watts used. The 0.85 covers energy lost turning battery power into wall-outlet power. Example: a 1,000 Wh battery running a 60 W fridge lasts about 1,000 × 0.85 ÷ 60 ≈ 14 hours.

Nights of CPAP on each

Many CPAPs use 20-40 W with the humidifier off; a heated humidifier can roughly double that. We use 30 W and 60 W below, for an 8-hour night.

Nights of CPAP, humidifier OFF (~30 W, 8-hour nights)

Nights of CPAP, heated humidifier ON (~60 W)

Specs side by side

	EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus	BLUETTI AC180
Battery size (Wh)	286 Wh	1,152 Wh
Steady output	600 W	1,800 W
Surge / peak	1,200 W	2,700 W
Battery type	LiFePO4	LiFePO4
Warranty	Not listed	5 yr
Weight	10.4 lb	35.3 lb
Price on maker site	$279	$449
Cost per Wh	$0.98	$0.39

Specs and prices from each maker's product page, checked 2026-11-02. Prices change often.

What each does well

EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus

10.4 lb: easy to keep at the bedside.
Very quiet (under 30 dB per EcoFlow) so it won't keep you up.
Switches over in under 10 ms if the power cuts out while plugged in, so the CPAP keeps going.
Can expand to 858 Wh with an add-on battery.

See it on EcoFlow's site

Bluetti AC180

About four times the stored energy: several nights between charges.
Enough output to also run a fridge or a fan during the day.
5-year warranty, 3,500+ cycle LiFePO4 battery.

See it on Bluetti's site

Best for short outages and bedside use: EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus, small, quiet and automatic.
Best for multi-day outages or power shutoffs: Bluetti AC180, with several nights of CPAP plus room for the fridge.

Common questions

How many watts does a CPAP use?

Many use about 20-40 W without the humidifier and more with it on. Check the label on your machine's power supply.

Should I use the humidifier during an outage?

If you can sleep comfortably without it, turning it down or off can roughly double your runtime.

Can the power station stay plugged in every night?

Many stations, including both here, can pass wall power through and switch to battery if the power drops. Check the maker's guidance on leaving it plugged in.

Runtimes are estimates (battery Wh × 0.85 ÷ watts). Real results vary with temperature, the age of your appliance and how often its compressor runs. Try your own mix in the calculator.