What size UPS do I need?

Find the wattage and runtime a UPS needs to keep your computer or network gear alive through an outage.

How ups / battery backup sizing works

A UPS is sized by the load it carries (watts) and how long it must hold that load (minutes). Add the wattage of everything plugged in — PC, monitor, modem, router — then decide whether you need 5 minutes to save and shut down or 30+ minutes to ride out short outages. More runtime means more battery (watt-hours). Buy a UPS whose watt rating comfortably exceeds your load; running near 100% shortens both runtime and battery life.

Top picks

UPS Battery Backups we’d actually buy

Ranked by rating & value · prices on Amazon

CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
CyberPower

CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD

1000 W 4.6★ (11,500)
APC Back-UPS BE600M1
APC

APC Back-UPS BE600M1

330 W 4.5★ (28,000)
450 W
Amazon Basics

Amazon Basics Standby UPS 800VA

450 W 4.1★ (3,400)
CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD
CyberPower

CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD

900 W
CyberPower CP900AVR
CyberPower

CyberPower CP900AVR

560 W
CyberPower CP1000PFCLCD
CyberPower

CyberPower CP1000PFCLCD

600 W
APC Back-UPS Pro BR1500MS2
APC

APC Back-UPS Pro BR1500MS2

900 W
APC Back-UPS Pro BX1500M
APC

APC Back-UPS Pro BX1500M

900 W
900 W
Tripp Lite

Tripp Lite SMART1500LCDT

900 W
1080 W
Eaton

Eaton 5SC1500

1080 W

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