It’s your power.

Most home networks rely on several small devices that all require electricity: a modem, a router, sometimes Wi-Fi access points, switches, or security cameras. When power fails, every one of those devices shuts off instantly.

A UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) solves this problem by providing instant battery backup. When electricity fails, the UPS switches to battery power automatically and keeps your networking equipment running.

Because routers and modems draw very little power, even a modest UPS can often keep your internet working for an hour or more.

Best UPS Battery Backup for Routers and Modems

If your goal is keeping your internet connection alive during a power outage, these UPS models provide reliable backup power and strong electrical protection.

Best UPS Battery Backup for Routers and Modems

If your goal is keeping your internet connection alive during a power outage, these are the UPS models I would consider first.

Can a UPS Keep Wi-Fi Working During a Power Outage?

Yes. A properly sized UPS can keep your modem, router, Wi-Fi access point, and small network switch running during short power outages. The runtime depends on the size of the battery backup and how much equipment is plugged into it.

For many home setups, the goal is not to run the entire house. It is to keep the internet connection alive long enough for brief outages, remote work, smart-home devices, security cameras, and alerts to keep functioning.

If your internet provider’s equipment outside the home still has power, a UPS can often keep your home network online. If the neighborhood equipment is also down, the UPS may keep your router running but not preserve the internet connection.

Why Routers and Modems Benefit From a UPS

Networking equipment consumes surprisingly little electricity.

Typical power usage looks like this:

• Modem: 10–20 watts
• Router: 10–25 watts
• Wi-Fi access point: 10–20 watts
• Small network switch: 5–20 watts

Because the power draw is low, UPS batteries can keep networking equipment running far longer than desktop computers or gaming systems.

A UPS also protects networking hardware from:

• power outages
• voltage drops
• power surges
• short power interruptions

If you work from home, rely on internet-connected security cameras, or have smart home devices that stop working when the network goes down, a UPS can make a bigger difference than you might expect.

If those devices are part of a second-home or vacation-home monitoring setup, the router and modem are not just convenience devices. They are a vital part of your alert system. I cover the broader setup in my guide to vacation home remote monitoring.

Best Overall UPS for Routers and Modems: CyberPower CP1000PFCLCD

The CyberPower CP1000PFCLCD is the one I would buy first for a typical home network.

It is more UPS than a bare modem-and-router setup strictly needs, but that is the point. Most home networks grow. A modem and router become a modem, router, switch, access point, smart-home hub, and maybe a camera bridge. A little extra capacity keeps the UPS useful after the next upgrade.

• 1000VA / 600W capacity
• Pure sine wave output
• Automatic Voltage Regulation
• LCD status display
• Enough headroom for many modem/router/switch/access-point setups

Buy this if: you want one UPS that should handle a normal home network without being huge.

Skip it if: you only need the cheapest possible backup for one modem and one router.

Check the latest price on Amazon

Best UPS for Larger Home Networks: APC BR1500MS2

The APC BR1500MS2 is the step-up pick for people whose “router setup” has turned into a small network closet.

If you have multiple access points, a switch, security-camera gear, a small NAS, or a rack shelf full of boxes, the extra capacity and outlets start to matter. This is probably overkill for a basic modem and router, but it makes sense once the network becomes something the household depends on.

• 1500VA / 900W capacity
• 10 outlets
• Strong voltage regulation
• USB charging ports
• More room for network closets and larger setups

Buy this if: you have more than just a modem and router, or you want longer runtime.

Skip it if: your internet setup lives on a small shelf and only has two devices.

Check the latest price on Amazon

Best Budget UPS for Routers and Modems: CyberPower EC650LCD

The CyberPower EC650LCD is the practical budget pick.

If your problem is simple — brief outages knock out the modem and router, then everything takes several minutes to reboot — this is the kind of UPS that solves it without turning the project into a home-lab upgrade.

• 650VA / 390W capacity
• Compact design
• LCD battery display
• Energy-saving outlets

Buy this if: you want an affordable UPS for a modem and router.

Skip it if: you also need to support multiple access points, a PoE switch, a NAS, or a network closet.

Check the latest price on Amazon

Best Compact UPS for Small Setups: APC BE600M1

The APC BE600M1 is a small UPS designed for simple networking setups.

• 600VA / 330W capacity
• compact footprint
• USB charging port
• reliable APC design

If you only want to keep a modem and router running, this compact UPS can do the job without taking up much space. It is especially appealing if your equipment lives on a shelf, in a corner, or anywhere a larger UPS would be awkward.

Check the latest price

Best Premium UPS for Networking Equipment: Eaton 5S700LCD

The Eaton 5S700LCD is known for excellent build quality and strong electrical protection.

• 700VA / 420W capacity
• excellent surge protection
• LCD display
• durable internal components

If you want something a bit more robust than the usual consumer UPS options, Eaton is a respected name. This model is a good fit for buyers who care about electrical protection quality as much as runtime.

Check the latest price

How Long a UPS Can Keep Your Internet Running

UPS runtime depends on how much electricity your devices use.

Because routers and modems consume very little power, runtime can be surprisingly long:

• small UPS: 30–60 minutes
• mid-size UPS: 1–2 hours
• larger UPS: several hours depending on load

If your ISP’s neighborhood equipment stays online during an outage, that can mean your internet keeps working long after the lights go out. Of course, if the provider’s own local infrastructure loses power, your UPS cannot fix that. But for many brief outages and localized electrical issues inside your home, it absolutely helps.

How Much UPS Capacity Do You Actually Need for a Router and Modem?

This is one of the biggest mistakes people make when shopping for a UPS. They assume they need a huge battery backup because that is what they would need for a gaming PC or home server.

For a modem and router, that usually is not true.

If your combined load is only 20 to 40 watts, even a modest UPS can provide meaningful runtime. The bigger units are useful if:

• you want much longer runtime
• you also want to power access points, switches, or cameras
• you want extra overhead and flexibility

For a simple setup, the budget and compact models are often enough. For more complicated home networks, the larger units become easier to justify.

UPS Features That Matter for Networking Equipment

When choosing a UPS for routers and modems, these features matter most:

• Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) to stabilize power fluctuations
• pure sine wave output for sensitive electronics
• surge protection for networking hardware
• sufficient outlets for your modem, router, and other equipment

You do not necessarily need the most expensive UPS on the market, but you do want one that handles brownouts and voltage fluctuations gracefully. Those are often more common than full outages.

If you want to understand these features in more detail, see this guide to choosing a UPS with the right features.

If you are deciding between UPS models for a router, NAS, home server, or monitoring setup, that broader UPS feature guide goes deeper on AVR, PFC compatibility, USB shutdown, and replaceable batteries.

When a UPS Makes the Biggest Difference for Home Internet

A UPS battery backup is especially useful if:

• power flickers frequently
• you work from home
• your security cameras rely on internet connectivity
• your smart home devices depend on cloud services
• your modem takes several minutes to come back online after a power outage

Even brief outages can lead to several minutes of downtime while a modem and router reboot. A UPS prevents that interruption entirely and can make your home internet feel much more reliable.

The same logic applies if your home network supports leak sensors, door and window sensors, smoke/CO alerts, or remote cameras. Those alerts are only useful if the network stays online long enough to send them. For more on that side of the setup, see my guides to Govee leak sensors, door and window sensors for a vacation home, and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

What I Would Buy

For most people, I would buy the CyberPower CP1000PFCLCD. It has enough capacity for a normal home network, gives you room to add a switch or access point, and avoids the regret of buying the smallest possible UPS.

For a very simple modem-and-router setup, I would save money with the CyberPower EC650LCD or APC BE600M1.

For a larger network closet, I would move up to the APC BR1500MS2.

The main thing is not to put your entire office on the UPS just because there are empty outlets. Use it for the networking gear that keeps the house online. That is where a UPS gives you the most value for the least battery drain.

Which UPS Is Best for Your Router and Modem?

If you want the best balance of price, features, and runtime, the CyberPower CP1000PFCLCD is the strongest overall choice for most people.

If you have a larger home network or want more runtime, the APC BR1500MS2 is a strong upgrade.

If you want a lower-cost solution, the CyberPower EC650LCD and APC BE600M1 are both sensible picks for simple setups.

And if you want a more premium UPS with a strong reputation for power protection, the Eaton 5S700LCD is worth a look.

For something as simple as keeping your router and modem online during a power outage, a UPS is one of the most practical upgrades you can make. Once you have one, it is hard to go back to watching your internet disappear every time the power blinks.