Best Van Life Battery Banks

How to size a LiFePO4 battery bank for your camper van — from weekend warriors to full-time van lifers.

How Much Battery Does Your Van Need?

Van builds are all about trade-offs: every amp-hour takes space and adds weight. Here's a realistic sizing guide based on how you use your van:

Build Type Typical Daily Use Recommended Bank Covers
Minimal / Weekend Van 300–600 Wh/day 1× 100Ah 12V (1,280 Wh) Lights, phone/laptop charging, USB fan, water pump
Comfort Build 800–1,500 Wh/day 1× 200Ah or 2× 100Ah (2,560 Wh) Above + 12V compressor fridge, diesel heater fan, LED strips, laptop work
Full-Time / Remote Worker 1,500–3,000 Wh/day 2× 200Ah or 4× 100Ah (5,120 Wh) Above + induction cooktop, espresso machine, large monitor, AC (limited)
Adventure / Overlander 500–1,200 Wh/day 1–2× 100Ah + 200W solar Fridge, lights, comms gear, camera charging — focus on durability and solar recharge
Quick formula: Add up your daily watt-hours, then divide by 12.8V. For example: 1,500 Wh ÷ 12.8V = 117Ah → one 200Ah battery gives headroom for cloudy days. Want an exact number? Use our System Calculator — select the "Van" preset and add your appliances.

Van Build Considerations

Space & Weight
  • Under-bed or under-seat is the most common battery location. Measure your space before buying — a single 200Ah battery (20×9×8″) often fits better than two 100Ah side by side.
  • Weight matters for vans. A 200Ah LiFePO4 weighs ~50 lbs. The equivalent in AGM (two 200Ah batteries at 50% DoD) weighs 130+ lbs. LiFePO4 saves 80 lbs in this example — that's meaningful for a Sprinter's payload capacity.
  • Ventilation: LiFePO4 doesn't off-gas, so it's safe to mount inside the cabin. No ventilation required (unlike lead-acid).
Charging Sources
  • Solar (primary): 200–400W of rooftop panels handles most van builds. Flexible panels work on curved roofs but are less efficient. Rigid panels are better if you have a roof rack.
  • Alternator (driving): A DC-DC charger (Victron Orion, Renogy DCC) is essential for van builds — charges at 30–60A while driving. A few hours of driving can top off your batteries.
  • Shore power (campgrounds): A small battery charger (20–40A) plugged into a campground outlet fully charges a 200Ah bank overnight.
Winter Van Life: If you camp in cold weather, your battery must have low-temperature charge protection. LiFePO4 cells can be damaged if charged below 32°F (0°C). Choose a battery with a built-in heater or a BMS that cuts off charging in the cold. The battery can still discharge in cold temps — it's only charging that's dangerous.

Recommended Van Life Batteries

All batteries below are drop-in LiFePO4 with built-in BMS. Weight and size matter most for van builds.

Battery Voltage Capacity Weight Warranty Bluetooth Heater
Battle Born
BB10012 		12.80V 1,280 Wh
100.00Ah		 30 lbs 10 yr Price
Battle Born
BB5024 50Ah 24V 		25.60V 1,280 Wh
50.00Ah		 29 lbs 10 yr Price
Battle Born
BB5024H 50Ah 24V Heated 		25.60V 1,280 Wh
50.00Ah		 31 lbs 10 yr Price
RELiON
RB100 		12.80V 1,280 Wh
100.00Ah		 31 lbs 10 yr Price
Renogy
RBT100LFP12-G1 		12.80V 1,280 Wh
100.00Ah		 26 lbs 5 yr Price
Litime
12V 200Ah Plus Self-Heating LiFePO4 		12.80V 2,560 Wh
200.00Ah		 44 lbs 5 yr Price
LiTime
24V 100Ah LiFePO4 Lithium Battery 		25.60V 2,560 Wh
100.00Ah		 46 lbs 10 yr Price
Renogy
RBT200LFP12-G1 		12.80V 2,560 Wh
200.00Ah		 51 lbs 5 yr Price
Battle Born
270Ah 12V Heated 		12.00V 3,456 Wh
270.00Ah		 — 10 yr Price
ECO-WORTHY
48V 100Ah Server Rack 		51.20V 5,120 Wh
100.00Ah		 93 lbs 5 yr Price
LiTime
24V 230Ah Smart Self-Heating LiFePO4 Battery 		25.60V 5,888 Wh
230.00Ah		 — 5 yr Price

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Looking for the full comparison with cycle life and DIY options? See our complete LiFePO4 battery comparison.

Van Life Battery FAQ

Most van builds need 100–200Ah of LiFePO4 (1,280–2,560 Wh). A single 200Ah battery handles a fridge, lights, laptop, fan, and phone charging comfortably. Full-time van lifers running an induction cooktop or working remotely all day may want 300–400Ah.

Use our System Calculator to get a personalized recommendation based on your specific appliances.

One 200Ah battery is simpler: fewer connections, no balancing concerns, and often fits better in a single space. Two 100Ah in parallel gives you redundancy (if one fails you still have 100Ah) and more flexible mounting options if your space is oddly shaped.

For most van builds, a single 200Ah battery is the better choice. You save on cables and bus bars, and there's no risk of imbalanced parallel batteries.

A good rule of thumb: 100W of solar per 100Ah of battery in the Sun Belt, or 150W per 100Ah in cloudier climates. Most vans fit 200–400W on the roof depending on rack setup and equipment (AC unit, fan, etc.).

Solar alone often can't fully recharge a large bank in winter or overcast conditions. Pair it with alternator charging (DC-DC charger) for a reliable system year-round.

Technically yes, but it drains batteries fast. A small 5,000 BTU AC unit draws about 500W — that's 40A at 12V. Running it for 4 hours uses 2,000 Wh, which would drain a 200Ah battery to 16%. Most van lifers use a roof-mount MaxxAir fan instead, which draws only 3–5A and runs all night on a small battery.

If you must have AC, plan for 400Ah+ of batteries and 400W+ of solar to partially offset daytime use.

The most popular locations are under the bed platform, under a bench seat, or in a dedicated electrical cabinet. Keep batteries low in the vehicle for stability. LiFePO4 batteries are safe to mount inside the cabin — they don't off-gas like lead-acid.

Secure batteries firmly with straps or a bracket. They should not move during hard braking or rough roads. Keep wire runs to the fuse panel as short as possible.

Plan your van electrical system

Add your appliances, select "Van" preset, and get battery + solar sizing instantly.

Size My Van Battery Bank