RV Power Calculator
Size your RV's battery bank, solar array and inverter for boondocking. Preloaded with common RV appliances — 12V fridge, interior lighting, water pump, TV and more — edit anything to match your rig.
| Appliance | Watts | Hours/day | Qty | Wh/day | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Large caravan/RV 12V compressor fridge (~80–150L)DC (12V) | 1,560 Wh | ||||
| Caravan/RV interior lighting (all lights)DC (12V) | 100 Wh | ||||
| 12V water pumpDC (12V) | 12 Wh | ||||
| TV (12V or small AC)AC (via inverter) | 135 Wh | ||||
| LaptopAC (via inverter) | 260 Wh | ||||
| Smartphone chargingDC (12V) | 20 Wh | ||||
| Wi-Fi routerDC (12V) | 120 Wh |
Appliance library
Wattages shown are estimates. Check the rating label or manual of your actual appliance for the most accurate value — every field is editable once added.
A reserve helps account for conversion losses, temperature, battery aging and differences between estimated and actual appliance consumption. Default is 20%.
Applied to AC appliances only, to approximate inverter conversion losses — theoretical battery capacity is not the same as real usable AC energy. Default is 85%. DC (12V) appliances are not adjusted.
Sizing power for boondocking
Whether you're dry camping in a travel trailer, Class A, Class B/campervan, or a truck camper, the same underlying math applies: total your 12V and AC (via inverter) loads, decide how many days you want to go without shore power or a generator, and size your battery bank, solar and inverter around that. Most modern RV lithium (LiFePO4) house battery upgrades are sized in Ah at 12V — see the recommended power class in your results below.
Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission if you buy through links on this site, at no extra cost to you. Recommendations are based on product suitability and published specifications, not commission rates. Read our full affiliate disclosure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many solar watts do I need to boondock full-time?+
It depends on your daily consumption and how much sun you realistically get. As a rough starting point, many full-time boondockers run 400-800W of rooftop solar, but add your actual appliances above for a figure matched to your setup, or use the dedicated Solar Panel Size Calculator.
What size battery bank do I need for RV boondocking?+
That depends on your daily Wh use, how many days you want between recharges, and how much solar or alternator charging you have. Use the calculator above, or the dedicated Caravan Battery Size Calculator for Ah figures at 12V, 24V or 48V — the same math applies to RVs.
Can I run my RV air conditioner off battery and solar alone?+
RV rooftop air conditioners are high-wattage compressor loads with a significant surge on startup, and running one off battery for extended periods typically requires a large battery bank and a high-output inverter. Use the Inverter Size Calculator to check surge requirements, and treat this as a specialist sizing exercise rather than a typical boondocking load.
Related Calculators
Caravan Power Calculator
Size your caravan's 12V and AC appliance load, battery bank, solar array and inverter for extended off-grid touring.
Caravan Battery Size Calculator
Work out what size lithium (LiFePO4) battery your caravan needs in Wh and Ah at 12V, 24V or 48V, based on daily use, autonomy and solar.
Power Station Size Calculator
Work out what size portable power station you need in Wh, based on the devices you want to run, how many hours per day, and how many days off-grid.
Camping Power Calculator
Calculate your camping power needs — fridge, lights, phones, Starlink and more — and get a recommended power station and solar size for your next trip.