In a power outage the number on the box that matters is hours, not lumens. On the listings below, the 154-lumen Etekcity runs about 50 hours on three AA batteries; the 1,000-lumen Consciot runs about 12. Both light a room well enough to read by. Over a three-day outage the dim one is still on when the bright one has eaten its second set of batteries — and the Red Cross’s rule is the reason you are buying any of them: use flashlights, not candles.
Ready.gov asks for a flashlight for every household member; a lantern is what lights the room everyone sits in. Five options below, compared on what the listings say about output, runtime and power source, with the catch for each. No scores, no prices: the buttons show today’s. For the rest of the outage kit, see our guide to surviving a long blackout.
At a glance
| Product | Best for | Output / runtime (listing) |
|---|---|---|
| Etekcity collapsible lanterns, 4-pack | The family outage kit: one lantern per room | 154 lm / ~50 h on 3×AA |
| Etekcity collapsible lanterns, 2-pack | A couple, a car, a starter | 154 lm / ~50 h on 3×AA |
| Lichamp collapsible lanterns, 4-pack | The same job, a little brighter | 250 lm / ~30 h on 3×AA |
| XTAUTO rechargeable solar/USB lanterns, 4-pack | Households that would rather recharge than stockpile AAs | 300 lm / USB + solar |
| Consciot 1,000-lumen lanterns, 2-pack | A garage, a large room, signalling | 1,000 lm / ~12 h |
Etekcity collapsible lanterns, 4-pack
For: The family outage kit: one lantern per room
What the listing says: Four collapsible LED lanterns, 154 lumens each, about 50 hours per set of three AA batteries, water-resistant, batteries included.
Before you buy: 154 lumens is a reading light, not a floodlight. It is the right trade: four rooms lit for two days on twelve AA batteries. Keep a spare dozen AAs with them; the included ones are the cheap kind.
Etekcity collapsible lanterns, 2-pack
For: A couple, a car, a starter
What the listing says: Same lantern as the 4-pack, two units, batteries included.
Before you buy: Per lantern it usually costs more than the 4-pack. Buy it for the car or the office desk; buy the 4-pack for the house.
Lichamp collapsible lanterns, 4-pack
For: The same job, a little brighter
What the listing says: Four collapsible lanterns, about 250 lumens, roughly 30 hours on low per three AA batteries, adjustable brightness, hanging handle.
Before you buy: The 30-hour figure is on low. On high, expect much less; plan batteries on the low figure and treat high as a task setting, not a room setting.
XTAUTO rechargeable solar/USB lanterns, 4-pack
For: Households that would rather recharge than stockpile AAs
What the listing says: Four collapsible lanterns, about 300 lumens, USB and solar charging, multiple modes, waterproof.
Before you buy: The solar cell on a lantern this size is a trickle; a sunny windowsill tops it up over days, not hours. Charge them from the wall before the storm and keep a power bank for the outage; treat solar as the backup to the backup. A rechargeable lantern left in a drawer for a year arrives flat.
Consciot 1,000-lumen lanterns, 2-pack
For: A garage, a large room, signalling
What the listing says: Two lanterns, 1,000 lumens, dimmable with warm-to-cool modes, IPX4, hanging hook, about 12 hours per battery set.
Before you buy: Twelve hours at full output is one long evening. Use the dim modes for room light and keep the 1,000 lumens for the moment you need to see the breaker panel or the flooded basement.
How to size the outage lighting
- One lantern per occupied room, one flashlight per person. Ready.gov’s rule for flashlights; the lanterns are what stop the household gathering in one room around one light.
- Count batteries by hours, not by lanterns. Three AA cells for 50 hours means a 4-pack needs twelve cells for two days and twenty-four for four. Store them in the original packaging next to the lanterns, and write the purchase date on the box.
- Mix the power sources. One set on AAs, one rechargeable set charged from the same solar panel or power bank as the phones. If one supply chain fails, the other lights the kitchen.
- No candles. The Red Cross says it in four words. A collapsed lantern is the same size as a candle and cannot set the curtain alight.
- Headlamps for the hands. A lantern lights a room; changing a fuse, a nappy or a bandage needs both hands and a headlamp. Our emergency lighting guide covers the whole layered setup.
FAQ
How bright does an outage lantern need to be?
About 150 lumens lights a kitchen table for cooking and reading; 300 fills a living room; 1,000 is for a garage or a yard. Buy runtime first and brightness second: the dim lantern is the one still working on day three.
Rechargeable or AA batteries?
Both, deliberately. AA lanterns work after a year in a drawer as long as the spare batteries are there; rechargeable ones need charging before the storm and a power bank during it. A household with one set of each is covered either way.
How many lanterns for a family of four?
Four to six: kitchen, living room, one per bedroom in use, and one for the bathroom or hallway. A 4-pack plus a 2-pack is the usual answer, with a headlamp or flashlight per person on top.
Preparing with Dan is reader-supported: as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product details are as stated on the retailer listings at the time of writing; check the listing before you buy.
Official sources & further reading
The guidance in this article comes from official sources. Consult them directly for the authoritative version:
Dan Lockland is a preparedness instructor and survival skills educator with over 15 years of hands-on experience. He shares practical, no-nonsense guidance on emergency preparedness, self-reliance, and sustainable living at PreparingWithDan.com.