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.

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