Generator Wattage Guide

In choosing and buying generators, you first need to determine your need. You can assess this simply by listing down the appliances you will need to run with the generator. The general rule of thumb is that the more power you need, the bigger the generator gets so if size is a factor then you will need to make some trade-off adjustments between size and power. If you’re going to use it for light appliances, as in the case of camping trips or small picnics, a small 1,000 watts unit may suffice. See the table below for your reference:

Generator Watts Power Suitable for
1,000 watts TV, lights, electric fans, small electric power tools, computers, laptops, etc.
2,000 watts TV, DVD players, satellite dishes, refrigerators, coffee-makers, etc.
3,000 watts refrigerators, furnaces, microwave ovens, mobile home aircon, etc.
6,500 watts home backup power, outdoor events, RVs, construction job sites, concerts, etc.

If you are buying from your neighborhood hardware store, then you can just list down the appliances you are planning to use it for and bring it to the store and just show it to a knowledgeable attendant or product specialist. You can also call your electrician for more input. If you are buying online, you will need to spend a bit more time by going through the appliances and taking down their wattage ratings to accurately determine your power requirements. You need to do this because you do not really want to get a generator that is too big or too small for you as that may result to you spending more because you will not be able to get maximum efficiency.

For a more detailed wattage and needs analysis you may refer to our appliance wattage estimate guide.