How long will the Goal Zero Yeti 500 run a laptop?

About 11 hours from a full charge. A laptop averages about 39 W (65 W running, on about 60% of the time), and the 499 Wh battery gives about 424 Wh after inverter losses. That is 9.2% of the battery an hour.

Can I run other things at the same time?

Yes, up to about 435 W more of the 500 W output. Each thing you add shares the same battery, so the 11 hours for a laptop gets shorter.

How many days of normal use is that?

About 1 day, if you use a laptop about 6 hours a day and nothing else is plugged in.

Goal Zero · Will it run?

Can the Goal Zero Yeti 500 run a laptop (13-16 in)?

Published October 17, 2026

Short answerYes

Yes. The Goal Zero Yeti 500 runs a laptop for about 11 hours from a full charge. At about 39 W on average it uses 9.2% of the battery an hour, and the 500 W output leaves plenty of room for more.

Add your other devices

Key numbers

Runtime: 11 hrs; from a full charge
Battery used per hour: 9.2%; at 39 W average

Laptop (13-16 in)

Running: 65 W; 30–140 W range
Start-up: 65 W
Average: 39 W; on 60% of the time

Goal Zero Yeti 500

Battery: 499 Wh; about 424 Wh usable
Output: 500 W; continuous
Surge: 1,000 W; start-up peak

How we worked it out: 499 Wh × 0.85 ÷ 39 W average (65 W × 0.6 duty) = about 11 hours. The 0.85 covers inverter and battery losses. We do not test units ourselves; the numbers come from the official spec sheets and typical device draws. How we pick

Goal Zero Yeti 500

499 Wh · 500 W output · 1,000 W surge · 16.1 lb

Full specs and runtimes

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What else the Goal Zero Yeti 500 runs

One device at a time, from a full charge.

Other power stations for a laptop

The nearest sizes that also run it.

Keep going

Real runtime depends on the model you own, room temperature and battery age. The 11 hours above is an estimate, not a measured result.

Common questions

How long will the Goal Zero Yeti 500 run a laptop?: About 11 hours from a full charge. A laptop averages about 39 W (65 W running, on about 60% of the time), and the 499 Wh battery gives about 424 Wh after inverter losses. That is 9.2% of the battery an hour.
Can I run other things at the same time?: Yes, up to about 435 W more of the 500 W output. Each thing you add shares the same battery, so the 11 hours for a laptop gets shorter.
How many days of normal use is that?: About 1 day, if you use a laptop about 6 hours a day and nothing else is plugged in.