What Generator Wattage Do I Need?
The following wattage chart can be used as a guideline to help you determine what type of generator will be best for your needs. Feel free to call in at 888-264-2189 x-1 and we can personally help walk you through sizing and pairing your application and budget with the appropriate generator. There is no sense in spending more than need be or under equipping yourself for your need. We would be delighted to help!
Minimum and maximum energy consumption is noted, as well as the surge requirements some tools and appliances require for initial start-up.
This information has been compiled from a wide variety of online sources. Please note that these are only estimates. Your tools and appliances may require different wattages depending on a variety of factors. For more accurate wattage requirements you should either look at the Data Plate on the back of your appliances/tools or you could use a wattage meter that will tell you exactly what wattage is required. This wattage chart should just be used as a reference/starting point.
We recommend purchasing a generator with a large enough wattage rating to run all needed items at 50 percent of full generator capacity.
These numbers are averaged from a variety of sources. Numbers may not represent the type of appliances or tools in your home.
APPLIANCE | MIN | MAX | SURGE | VARIABLES |
---|---|---|---|---|
HOUSEHOLD | ||||
Air Conditioner - Central | 2000 | 10,000 | 11,250 | |
Air Conditioner - Room | 1,000 | 1,500 | 2,000-2,200 | BTU rating |
Blender | 300 | 400 | 850 | |
CD Player | 35 | 0 | ||
Clock-Electric | 3 | 0 | ||
Clothes Washer | 425 | 1,200 | 2,300 | |
Coffee Maker | 600 | 1,750 | 0 | |
Computer Monitor | 30 | 250 | 0 | |
Computer Printer | 100 | 600 | 0 | |
Computer - Desktop | 80 | 800 | 0 | |
Computer - Laptop | 200 | 250 | 0 | |
Dehumidifier | 785 | 0 | ||
Dishwasher | 700 | 1,800 | 2,000 | |
Dryer - Clothes, Electric | 1,800 | 5,400 | 6,750 | |
Dryer - Clothes, Gas | 300 | 400 | 0 | |
Dryer - Hair | 1,000 | 1,800 | 2,000 | |
Electric Blanket | 80 | 200 | 0 | |
Fan - Ceiling | 10 | 120 | 0 | |
Fan - Furnace | 300 | 1,000 | 500 - 2,350 | HP of motor |
Fan - Portable | 10 | 150 | 30-450 | |
Fan - Whole House | 500 | 0 | ||
Fax Machine | 600 | 800 | 0 | |
Freezer - Chest | 350 | 600 | 0 | cubic feet |
Furnace - Gas | 400 | 0 | ||
Furnace - Oil | 1,500 | 0 | ||
Garbage Disposal | 450 | 0 | ||
Heater - Electric | 1,125 | 1,500 | 0 | |
Heater - Engine Block | 150 | 1,000 | 0 | |
Heater - Radiant | 1,300 | 0 | ||
Heater - Water, Electric | 5,000 | 0 | 40-gallon | |
Heater - Waterbed | 400 | 0 | ||
Hot Plate | 1,200 | 0 | ||
Iron - Clothes | 1,000 | 1,400 | 0 | |
Iron - Waffle | 1,200 | 0 | ||
Light Bulb - CF | 25 | 0 | bulb rating | |
Light Bulb - Incandescent | 60 | 120 | 0 | bulb rating |
Microwave | 625 | 1,500 | 800-1,700 | wattage rating |
Oven - Toaster | 1,225 | 0 | ||
Pump - Sump | 600 | 1,050 | 1,300-2,150 | |
Pump - Well | 700 | 0 | ||
Radio | 50 | 200 | 0 | |
Radio - 2-Way | 360 | 960 | 0 | |
Radio - CB | 5 | 0 | ||
Radio - Clock | 1 | 10 | 0 | |
Range - Electric | 2,100 | 4,500 | 0 | |
Refrigerator - Energy Star | 132 | 192 | 1,200 | |
Refrigerator | 475 | 725 | 2,200 | cubic feet |
Satellite Receiver | 30 | 250 | 0 | |
Shaver-Electric | 15 | 0 | ||
Slow Cooker | 170 | 270 | 0 | |
Stereo | 250 | 0 | ||
Stereo - Portable | 10 | 30 | 0 | |
Telephone - Radio | 5 | 150 | 0 | recv. or trans. |
Television | 65 | 340 | 0 | screen size/type (LCD, plasma, etc.) |
Toaster | 800 | 1,500 | 0 | |
Typewriter | 800 | 1,500 | 0 | |
Vacuum Cleaner | 200 | 1,225 | 0 | |
VCR/DVD/Bluray | 25 | 350 | 0 | |
APPLIANCE | MIN | MAX | SURGE | VARIABLES |
TOOLS | ||||
Air Compressor | 975 | 1,500 | 1,600-4,500 | 1/2 - 1 HP |
Battery Charger | 380 | 5,750 | 0 | amp rating |
Bench Grinder - 8 in. | 1,400 | 2,500 | ||
Drill - 1 inch | 1,000 | 0 | ||
Drill - 1/2 inch | 600 | 750 | 900 | |
Drill - 1/4 inch | 250 | 0 | ||
Drill - 3/8 inch | 440 | 600 | ||
Hammer - Demolition | 1,260 | 0 | ||
Hammer - Rotary | 1,200 | 0 | ||
Heater - Kerosene | 400 | 625 | 600-1,000 | 50-150K BTU |
Motor - 1/4 HP | 600 | 1,000 | ||
Motor - 1/2 HP | 875 | 2,300 | ||
Pressure Washer | 1,200 | 3,600 | 1 HP | |
Sander - Belt, 3 in. | 1,000 | 0 | ||
Sander - Disk, 9 in. | 1,200 | 0 | ||
Saw - Band, 14 in. | 1,100 | 0 | ||
Saw - Chain, 12 in. | 1,100 | 0 | 2 HP | |
Saw - Circular, 7 1/4 in. | 900 | 1,400 | 2,300 | HP rating |
Saw - Circular, 8 1/4 in. | 1,400 | 0 | ||
Saw - Table, 10 in. | 1,800 | 4,500 | ||
Sewing Machine | 100 | 0 | ||
Welder - Electric | 7,800 | 9,000 | 0 | 100-200 amp |
APPLIANCE | MIN | MAX | SURGE | VARIABLES |
OUTDOOR/RECREATION | ||||
Air Conditioner - RV | 1,000 | 2,000 | 1,600-3,300 | BTU rating |
Fence-Electric | 2,500 | 0 | 25 miles | |
Fridge - RV | 180 | 0 | ||
Garage Door Opener | 350 | 720 | 600-1,420 | HP rating |
Heater-Stock Tank | 100 | 0 | ||
Hedge Trimmer | 450 | 0 | ||
Mower - Electric | 1,500 | 0 | ||
Weed Eater | 500 | 0 |
For more help, please contact us.