Goal Zero Yeti 500 vs Goal Zero Yeti 1500
Side-by-side on the specs that decide it — surge, capacity, runtime and price.
Both models' specs verified against manufacturer listings · Last updated
The short answer
Goal Zero Yeti 500 costs $1000 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on what you need to run.
- Goal Zero Yeti 1500 holds 202% more energy (1505Wh vs 499Wh), so it runs the same load proportionally longer.
- Goal Zero Yeti 1500 has 2600W more surge headroom (3600W vs 1000W) — that decides whether a fridge, pump or AC compressor will actually start.
- Goal Zero Yeti 500 is 39.9 lb lighter (12.9 lb vs 52.75 lb).
Goal Zero Yeti 500
A rugged, water-resistant unit for people who'll actually beat it up. You pay a premium over similar-capacity rivals for that durability.
Best for: Overlanders and job sites where the unit will get wet, dusty and knocked around.
Where it falls short:
- $699 for 499Wh is expensive per watt-hour
- Only a 2-year warranty vs 5 years from most rivals
- 120W solar input is very low
Goal Zero Yeti 1500
The new-for-2026 LiFePO4 Yeti 1500 — a big durability and cycle-life upgrade over the older 1500X it replaces.
Best for: Home backup buyers who want Goal Zero's build with modern battery chemistry.
Where it falls short:
- 52.75 lb — a two-hand lift
- 600W solar input is modest for the capacity
| Spec | Goal Zero Yeti 500 | Goal Zero Yeti 1500 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699 | $1699 |
| Capacity | 499 Wh | 1505 Wh |
| Continuous output | 500 W | 2000 W |
| Surge output | 1000 W | 3600 W |
| Battery | LiFePO4 | LiFePO4 |
| Rated cycles | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| Weight (lighter wins) | 12.9 lb | 52.75 lb |
| Max solar | 120 W | 600 W |
| Recharge time (faster wins) | 1h 25m | 1h 30m |
Runtime head-to-head
| Appliance | Goal Zero Yeti 500 | Goal Zero Yeti 1500 |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 7.1 hrs | 21.3 hrs |
| Mini fridge | 13.5 hrs | 40.6 hrs |
| Chest freezer | 5.3 hrs | 16.0 hrs |
| CPAP machine | 10.6 hrs | 32.0 hrs |
| Sump pump | ❌ | 1.6 hrs |