Appliance wattage chart
Running watts are what keep a load going, and starting watts are the extra push a motor needs during its first second. Both figures appear for 27 home loads in this appliance wattage chart, plus the smallest generator that fits each one.
The appliance wattage chart
| Load | Running watts | Starting watts | Smallest portable, running rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 150 to 400 | 800 to 1,200 | 2,000 W |
| Chest or upright freezer | 100 to 500 | 500 to 1,000 | 2,000 W |
| Sump pump, 1/3 hp | 500 to 800 | 1,000 to 1,600 | 2,000 W |
| Sump pump, 1/2 hp | 800 to 1,050 | 1,300 to 2,150 | 2,000 W |
| Well pump, 1/2 hp | 750 to 1,000 | 1,500 to 2,000 | 2,000 W |
| Well pump, 1 hp | 1,000 to 2,000 | 2,000 to 4,000 | 3,500 W |
| Window AC, 5,000 BTU | 450 to 600 | 900 to 1,200 | 2,000 W |
| Window AC, 10,000 BTU | 900 to 1,200 | 1,800 to 2,400 | 2,000 W |
| Electric water heater | 3,000 to 4,500 | no surge | 6,500 W |
| Electric dryer | 4,000 to 6,000 | no surge | 7,500 W |
| Electric range, one burner | 1,200 to 2,400 | no surge | 3,000 W |
| Dishwasher | 1,200 to 2,400 | no surge | 3,000 W |
| Microwave | 600 to 1,200 | no surge | 2,000 W |
| Washing machine | 500 to 1,000 | 1,000 to 2,300 | 2,000 W |
| Space heater | 750 to 1,500 | no surge | 2,000 W |
| TV, 32 to 55 in | 80 to 400 | no surge | 2,000 W |
| LED lights, 10 bulbs | 80 to 150 | no surge | 2,000 W |
| Ceiling fan | 15 to 75 | no surge | 2,000 W |
| Window fan | 50 to 200 | no surge | 2,000 W |
| CPAP, no heated humidifier | 30 to 60 | no surge | 2,000 W |
| CPAP with heated humidifier | 60 to 120 | no surge | 2,000 W |
| Internet router and modem | 10 to 20 | no surge | 2,000 W |
| Home security system | 15 to 40 | no surge | 2,000 W |
| Phone and laptop chargers | 20 to 100 | no surge | 2,000 W |
| EV charger, Level 2, 32 A | 7,680 | no surge | 10,000 W |
| Central AC, 3 ton | 3,000 to 3,500 | 5,000 to 6,000 | 5,000 W |
| Furnace blower | 800 | 1,600 | 2,000 W |
Download: CSV · JSON. Reuse it free if you link to this page. Ranges shown here follow the Champion generator wattage chart. For a start, a portable provides about 25% above its running rating: 2,000 W of running power becomes 2,500 W at startup.
Starting watts and running watts
A water heater, toaster and space heater are resistive loads. They use the same amount of power from the first second, so no starting figure applies. To start, a motor such as a compressor in a fridge, a pump or an air conditioner needs two to three times its running watts. Add up the running watts, then add the single largest start, and size a generator for that total.
The size calculator uses an NEC load sheet to total these figures for a whole house.
What generator size runs each load
| Load | 2,000 W | 3,500 W | 5,000 W | 7,500 W | 10,000 W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | runs | runs | runs | runs | runs |
| Chest or upright freezer | runs | runs | runs | runs | runs |
| Sump pump, 1/3 hp | runs | runs | runs | runs | runs |
| Sump pump, 1/2 hp | runs | runs | runs | runs | runs |
| Well pump, 1/2 hp | runs | runs | runs | runs | runs |
| Well pump, 1 hp | no | runs | runs | runs | runs |
| Window AC, 5,000 BTU | runs | runs | runs | runs | runs |
| Window AC, 10,000 BTU | runs | runs | runs | runs | runs |
| Electric water heater | no | no | tight | runs | runs |
| Electric dryer | no | no | no | runs | runs |
| Electric range, one burner | no | runs | runs | runs | runs |
| Dishwasher | no | runs | runs | runs | runs |
| Microwave | runs | runs | runs | runs | runs |
| Washing machine | runs | runs | runs | runs | runs |
| Space heater | runs | runs | runs | runs | runs |
| TV, 32 to 55 in | runs | runs | runs | runs | runs |
| LED lights, 10 bulbs | runs | runs | runs | runs | runs |
| Ceiling fan | runs | runs | runs | runs | runs |
| Window fan | runs | runs | runs | runs | runs |
| CPAP, no heated humidifier | runs | runs | runs | runs | runs |
| CPAP with heated humidifier | runs | runs | runs | runs | runs |
| Internet router and modem | runs | runs | runs | runs | runs |
| Home security system | runs | runs | runs | runs | runs |
| Phone and laptop chargers | runs | runs | runs | runs | runs |
| EV charger, Level 2, 32 A | no | no | no | no | runs |
| Central AC, 3 ton | no | no | runs | runs | runs |
| Furnace blower | runs | runs | runs | runs | runs |
One load at a time. A load that uses more than 80% of the running rating is "Tight"; "no" means it won't run or start.