Runtime by power station size: Starlink Standard dish
| Power station size | Typical runtime | Realistic range |
|---|---|---|
| 300 Wh | 3 h | 2.5–3.4 h |
| 500 Wh | 5 h | 4.3–5.7 h |
| 1,000 Wh | 10 h | 8.5–11.3 h |
| 1,500 Wh | 15 h | 12.8–17.0 h |
| 2,000 Wh | 20 h | 17.0–22.7 h |
| 3,000 Wh | 30 h | 25.5–34.0 h |
Runtime by power station size: Starlink Mini
| Power station size | Typical runtime | Realistic range |
|---|---|---|
| 300 Wh | 8 h 30 min | 6.4–10.2 h |
| 500 Wh | 14 h 10 min | 10.6–17.0 h |
| 1,000 Wh | 28 h 20 min | 21.3–34.0 h |
| 1,500 Wh | 42 h 30 min | 1.3–2.1 days |
| 2,000 Wh | 2.4 days (57 h) | 1.8–2.8 days |
| 3,000 Wh | 3.5 days (85 h) | 2.7–4.3 days |
How much power Starlink really uses
Starlink's draw depends on the dish and what it's doing. The Standard dish and router together typically use 75–100 W while connected. The Mini, which has the router built in, uses roughly 25–40 W. Both draw more when they are searching for satellites at startup, and the Standard dish can use far more with snow melt turned on, because it heats its own surface.
Unlike a fridge, Starlink runs at a fairly steady level the whole time it's on, so the runtime math is simple: usable watt-hours divided by its watts.
Run the Mini from DC or USB-C for extra hours
The Starlink Mini can be powered directly from DC, including a high-wattage USB-C Power Delivery port (check Starlink's current requirements for the minimum wattage). That skips the power station's AC inverter, so you get about 90% of the rated capacity instead of 85%, and the station's inverter isn't idling and wasting power. On a 1,000 Wh station that is roughly 30 hours instead of 28. The Standard kit normally runs from AC through its own power supply.
Make it last longer
- Switch it off when you don't need it. Turning Starlink off overnight saves more power than any setting. The Starlink app can also put it on a sleep schedule.
- Avoid snow melt unless you need it. Clear snow by hand if it's safe to reach the dish.
- Skip extra hardware. Mesh nodes, switches and Wi-Fi extenders each add their own draw.
- Add solar for multi-day use. A 200 W panel can supply a Mini's daily use on a good day. Check with the solar recharge time calculator.
If your home internet is cable or fiber instead, see how long a power station runs a Wi-Fi router: a modem and router use a fraction of Starlink's power.