How to size a battery bank for a cabin, tiny home, or off-grid house — from weekend getaways to full-time off-grid living.
Cabin and off-grid home systems are larger than RV or van builds. You need more storage because you can't just drive to a campground with hookups — your battery bank is your power grid.
| Cabin Type | Typical Daily Use | Recommended Bank | System Voltage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekend Cabin (minimal) | 1,000–2,000 Wh/day | 200–400Ah @ 12V (2.5–5 kWh) | 12V |
| Small Cabin (seasonal) | 2,000–4,000 Wh/day | 200–400Ah @ 24V (5–10 kWh) | 24V |
| Full-Time Cabin / Tiny Home | 4,000–8,000 Wh/day | 200–400Ah @ 48V (10–20 kWh) | 48V |
| Off-Grid Home (full comfort) | 8,000–20,000 Wh/day | 400–800Ah @ 48V (20–40 kWh) | 48V |
System voltage is the most important decision for cabin builds. Higher voltage means lower current, which means thinner (cheaper) wires and less energy loss over long cable runs.
Best for: weekend cabins under 2,000 Wh/day
Best for: seasonal cabins, 2,000–6,000 Wh/day
Best for: full-time off-grid, 5,000+ Wh/day
12V drop-in LiFePO4 batteries — wire in series for 24V/48V systems. For 48V, also consider dedicated rack-mount server batteries (EG4, SOK, Signature Solar).
| Battery | Voltage | Capacity | Cycle Life | Warranty | Parallel | Heater | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Battle Born BB10012 |
12.80V | 1,280 Wh 100.00Ah |
3,000 | 10 yr | Price | ||
|
Battle Born BB5024 50Ah 24V |
25.60V | 1,280 Wh 50.00Ah |
3,000 | 10 yr | Price | ||
|
Battle Born BB5024H 50Ah 24V Heated |
25.60V | 1,280 Wh 50.00Ah |
3,000 | 10 yr | Price | ||
|
RELiON RB100 |
12.80V | 1,280 Wh 100.00Ah |
3,500 | 10 yr | Price | ||
|
Renogy RBT100LFP12-G1 |
12.80V | 1,280 Wh 100.00Ah |
4,000 | 5 yr | Price | ||
|
Litime 12V 200Ah Plus Self-Heating LiFePO4 |
12.80V | 2,560 Wh 200.00Ah |
4,000 | 5 yr | Price | ||
|
LiTime 24V 100Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery |
25.60V | 2,560 Wh 100.00Ah |
4,000 | 10 yr | Price | ||
|
Renogy RBT200LFP12-G1 |
12.80V | 2,560 Wh 200.00Ah |
4,000 | 5 yr | Price | ||
|
Battle Born 270Ah 12V Heated |
12.00V | 3,456 Wh 270.00Ah |
5,000 | 10 yr | Price | ||
|
ECO-WORTHY 48V 100Ah Server Rack |
51.20V | 5,120 Wh 100.00Ah |
15,000 | 5 yr | Price | ||
|
LiTime 24V 230Ah Smart Self-Heating LiFePO4 Battery |
25.60V | 5,888 Wh 230.00Ah |
4,000 | 5 yr | Price |
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Looking for the full comparison with all specs? See our complete LiFePO4 battery comparison.
It depends on your daily usage and how many days of backup (autonomy) you want. A weekend cabin using 1,500 Wh/day with 2 days of autonomy needs 3,000 Wh — about three 100Ah 12V batteries. A full-time off-grid home using 8,000 Wh/day with 3 days of autonomy needs 24,000 Wh — a 48V system with 500Ah.
Use our System Calculator — add your specific appliances, set your location and autonomy days, and it calculates the exact bank size.
Yes, with caveats. Two identical 12V LiFePO4 batteries in series make a 24V bank. Four in series make 48V. The batteries must be the same brand, model, and age. Check the manufacturer's documentation — some batteries support series wiring and some don't (their BMS may not be designed for it).
For 48V systems over 10 kWh, consider purpose-built 48V rack-mount batteries (EG4 LL, SOK 48V). They're designed for this voltage and often have better communication between units.
For weekend/seasonal cabins with properly sized solar, usually not. For full-time off-grid living, yes — a generator is essential insurance. Even with a large solar array, extended cloudy periods in winter can drain your batteries. A propane or dual-fuel generator running 2–4 hours can bulk-charge your bank when solar falls short.
Budget $500–$2,000 for a quality inverter generator (Honda EU2200i, Predator 3500). A propane generator is cleaner and stores fuel indefinitely.
Divide your daily usage by your peak sun hours and add a 25% margin. For example: 4,000 Wh/day ÷ 4.5 PSH × 1.25 = 1,111W of solar. Round up to 1,200W (six 200W panels).
In practice, size solar for your worst month (usually December/January in the northern hemisphere), not the annual average. Use PVWatts to check monthly production at your location, or use our System Calculator which estimates this for you.
LiFePO4 wins for full-time or frequent-use cabins. It lasts 10–15 years (3,000–5,000 cycles), uses 100% capacity, and weighs half as much. Lead-acid (AGM or flooded) costs less upfront but only uses 50% of its capacity, lasts 2–5 years, and needs more maintenance.
The one case where lead-acid still makes sense: a weekend-only cabin used 10–20 times per year. At that low cycle count, a $200 AGM battery might last 8+ years, making it the cheaper option overall.
Add your appliances, set your autonomy days and location, and get battery + solar sizing instantly.
Size My Cabin Battery Bank