Appliance Wattage Chart | Power Consumption

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June 16, 2023 December 31, 2021 by Chris Collins

In order to select the right generator size, you need to calculate how much energy you use. This is done by noting down the power consumption of all your appliances that will be running at the same time. This is where an appliance wattage chart comes in handy.

We prepared a chart containing information on starting and running wattage many appliances require. You can consult these charts for rough estimates to get an idea of how much watts each appliance uses. Before you make the final purchasing decision, make sure you check the label of every appliance or machine for exact wattage requirements.

We gathered the information in these charts from reputable industry and government websites, renowned generator manufacturers such as Generac, Honda, Yamaha, and store websites.

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Home Appliance Wattage Chart

Heating and Cooling

Appliance	Running Watts	Starting Watts
Ceiling Fan	75 W	120 W
Central AC (24,000 BTU / 2 Ton)	2,800 W	8,600 W
Central AC (30,000 BTU / 2.5 Ton)	3,600 W	10,800 W
Dehumidifier	300 W	0 W
Electric Heater (Fan)	1,500 W	0 W
Electric Thermal Radiator	500 W	0 W
Electric Water Heater	4,000 W	0 W
Electric Water Heater (Immersion)	3,000 W	0 W
Electric Water Heater (Tankless)	6,600 W	0 W
Evaporative AC	700 W	0 W
Fan (Pedestal)	50 W	0 W
Fan (Table)	30 W	0 W
Fan (Wall)	55 W	0 W
Furnace Blower (1/2 HP)	850 W	2,350 W
Furnace Blower (1/3 HP)	700 W	1,400 W
Heat Pump (3 Ton)	5,400 W	7,200 W
Humidifier (13 Gallon)	175 W	0 W
Portable AC (5,000 BTU)	600 W	1,800 W
Window AC (8,000 BTU)	960 W	2,800 W
Window AC (10,000 BTU)	1,200 W	3,600 W
Mini-Split AC (12,000 BTU)	1,500 W	4,500 W
Mini-Split AC (18,000 BTU)	2,200 W	6,500 W

Lighting

Appliance	Running Watts	Starting Watts
Light Bulb (Common)	75 W	0 W
Light Bulb (LED)	9 W	0 W
Night Light	1 W	0 W
Outdoor Light String	250 W	0 W
Tube Light (1500 MM)	25 W	0 W

Pumps

Appliance	Running Watts	Starting Watts
Sump Pump (1/2 HP)	1,050 W	2,150 W
Sump Pump (1/3 HP)	800 W	1,300 W
Well Water Pump (1/2 HP)	1,000 W	2,100 W
Well Water Pump (1/3 HP)	750 W	1,600 W

Kitchen

Appliance	Running Watts	Starting Watts
Air Fryer	1,500 W	0 W
Blender	500 W	800 W
Chest Freezer	450 W	900 W
Coffee Maker	750 W	1,200 W
Crock Pot	250 W	0 W
Deep Freezer	500 W	1,500 W
Dishwasher	1,500 W	1,800 W
Electric Grill	1,650 W	0 W
Electric Kettle	1,200 W	3,000 W
Electric Oven	2,150 W	0 W
Electric Skillet	1,500 W	0 W
Electric Stove (8" Element)	2,100 W	0 W
Espresso Coffee Machine	900 W	1,500 W
Food Dehydrator	800 W	0 W
Food Processor	400 W	0 W
Garbage Disposal	450 W	1,600 W
Hot Water Dispenser	150 W	750 W
Induction Cooktop (Per Hob)	1,200 W	1,800 W
Microwave (1000 W)	1,000 W	0 W
Modern Fridge	400 W	600 W
Pressure Cooker	700 W	0 W
Range Hood	65 W	0 W
Refrigerator	700 W	2,200 W
Rice Cooker	200 W	500 W
Sandwich Maker	700 W	0 W
Slow Cooker	160 W	0 W
Smart Fridge	500 W	750 W
Steriliser	650 W	0 W
Toaster	850 W	0 W
Toaster Oven	1,200 W	0 W
Waffle Iron	1,200 W	1,725 W
Water Cooler	80 W	0 W
Water Dispenser	100 W	0 W
Wine Cooler (18 Bottles)	83 W	0 W

Bathroom

Appliance	Running Watts	Starting Watts
Curling Iron	1,500 W	0 W
Electric Shaver	15 W	20 W
Extractor Fan	12 W	0 W
Hair Dryer	1,250 W	0 W
Power Shower	7,500 W	10,500 W
Straightening Iron	75 W	300 W

Laundry

Appliance	Running Watts	Starting Watts
Clothes Dryer (Electric)	5,400 W	6,750 W
Clothes Dryer (Gas)	700 W	1,800 W
Clothes Iron	1,200 W	0 W
Steam Iron	350 W	1,200 W
Washing Machine	1,150 W	2,250 W

Cleaning

Appliance	Running Watts	Starting Watts
Air Purifier	30 W	40 W
Robotic Vacuum Home Stand	30 W	90 W
Steam Cleaner	1,000 W	1,800 W
Vacuum Cleaner	1,000 W	1,500 W

Entertainment

Appliance	Running Watts	Starting Watts
Amazon Echo	3 W	0 W
Amplifier	300 W	0 W
Apple TV	3 W	0 W
AV Receiver	450 W	0 W
Blu Ray Player	25 W	0 W
Cell Phone	25 W	0 W
Computer Monitor	25 W	0 W
Desktop Computer	100 W	350 W
Home Phone	3 W	5 W
Home Sound System	95 W	0 W
Laptop	60 W	0 W
Mi Box	5 W	0 W
Nintendo Wii	15 W	0 W
Playstation 4	165 W	0 W
Playstation 5	340 W	0 W
Set Top Box	27 W	0 W
Soundbar	30 W	0 W
Stereo	450 W	0 W
Tablet	10 W	0 W
Television (CRT)	500 W	0 W
TV (43" LED)	80 W	0 W
TV (55" LED)	90 W	0 W
TV (65" LED)	100 W	0 W
TV (75" LED)	115 W	0 W
VCR / DVD Player	100 W	0 W
Video Game System	40 W	0 W
WiFi Router	5 W	15 W
Xbox 360	160 W	0 W
Xbox Series X	200 W	0 W

Garden

Appliance	Running Watts	Starting Watts
Cultivator (1/3 HP)	700 W	1,400 W
Electric Leaf Blower (Handheld)	750 W	1,440 W
Electric Lawn Mower	900 W	1,500 W
Electric Strimmer	300 W	500 W
Hedge Trimmer	600 W	1,500 W
Weed Cutter	500 W	600 W

Home Gym

Appliance	Running Watts	Starting Watts
Elliptical Bike	240 W	0 W
Exercise Bike	100 W	0 W
Treadmill	300 W	900 W

Other

Appliance	Running Watts	Starting Watts
EV Home Charger	1,600 W	1,800 W
Garage Door Opener	875 W	2,350 W
Security System	500 W	0 W

Work Tools Wattage Chart

Work Essentials

Appliance	Running Watts	Starting Watts
2-Way Radio	40 W	0 W
Floodlight	1,000 W	0 W
Heater (Liquid Fuel 100,000 BTU)	420 W	1,260 W
Heater (Liquid Fuel 50,000 BTU)	225 W	675 W
Quartz Halogen Work Light (1000 W)	1,000 W	0 W
Quartz Halogen Work Light (500 W)	500 W	0 W
Sump Pump (1 HP)	1,440 W	4,000 W
Sump Pump (1/2 HP)	1,050 W	2,150 W

Construction and Jobsite Tools

Appliance	Running Watts	Starting Watts
Air Compressor (1/2 HP)	1,000 W	2,000 W
Air Compressor (1/4 HP)	970 W	1,600 W
Air Compressor (1 HP)	1,600 W	4,500 W
Air Compressor (2 HP)	2,800 W	7,700 W
Airless Sprayer (1/3 HP)	600 W	1,200 W
Angle Grinder	900 W	1,500 W
Belt Sander	1,200 W	2,400 W
Bench Grinder	1,400 W	2,500 W
Chainsaw (14”)	1,200 W	2,400 W
Circular Saw (7.25")	1,400 W	2,300 W
Concrete Vibrator (1 HP)	1,100 W	2,500 W
Concrete Vibrator (2 HP)	1,800 W	3,600 W
Electric Drain Cleaner	250 W	0 W
Electric Drill	600 W	900 W
Hammer Drill	1,000 W	3,000 W
High-Pressure Washer (1 HP)	1,200 W	3,600 W
Impact Wrench (1")	1,200 W	1,400 W
Jig Saw	300 W	700 W
Jointer/Planer	1,800 W	4,500 W
Miter Saw (10")	1,800 W	3,300 W
Orbital Sander	600 W	1,200 W
Reciprocating Saw	960 W	1,040 W
Shop Vac (6.5 HP / 14 Gal.)	1,000 W	1,500 W
Table Saw (10")	1,800 W	4,500 W
Welder (Electric)	2,000 W	2,500 W
Wood Router	600 W	1,500 W

Office

Appliance	Running Watts	Starting Watts
Copy Machine	1,600 W	0 W
Fax	70 W	0 W
Paper Shredder	200 W	220 W
Printer (Inkjet)	30 W	50 W
Printer (Laser)	300 W	550 W
Projector	220 W	270 W
Scanner	10 W	18 W

Farm

Appliance	Running Watts	Starting Watts
Electric Fence (25 Miles)	250 W	0 W
Milk Cooler	1,100 W	1,800 W
Milker / Vacuum Pump (2 HP)	1,000 W	2,300 W

Camping and RV Wattage Chart

RV Camping Essentials

Appliance	Running Watts	Starting Watts
AM/FM Radio	100 W	0 W
Box Fan	200 W	0 W
Coffee Pot	550 W	900 W
Electric Water Heater (6 Gal.)	1,440 W	0 W
Furnace Fan (1/3 HP)	700 W	1,400 W
Hot Plate	1,200 W	1,725 W
Inflator Pump	50 W	150 W
LED Lights	5.6 W	0 W
Microwave (650 W)	650 W	0 W
Mini Fridge	100 W	200 W
RV Rooftop AC (11,000 BTU)	1,000 W	2,100 W
RV Rooftop AC (13,500 BTU)	1,400 W	2,900 W
RV Rooftop AC (15,000 BTU)	1,700 W	3,500 W
Space Heater	1,800 W	0 W
TV (32" LED)	50 W	0 W

Note: All charts are rough power estimates. Your actual power consumption may vary.

Starting Watts VS Running Watts Explained

machines, tools, and devices power consumption from the appliance wattage charts

When calculating power consumption, it’s important to factor in both starting and running watts of tools/appliances and your generator.

Running (rated, continuous) watts: This is the constant wattage that a generator can supply and that the tools/appliances need to keep working.

Starting (surge) watts: This is the wattage that the generator can supply momentarily and that the tools/appliances need to start.

Note: Some appliances don’t require extra wattage to start. So there will be only one wattage for it to start and run. A good example of that is a light bulb. It requires 75 watts to work and doesn’t require extra wattage to start.

How to calculate your wattage requirements?

Once you know how many running and starting watts every appliance has, calculating wattage requirements is a matter of doing some simple math.

Here are the 5 steps to follow:

List all the appliances you are going to use
Put them all in a table together with starting and running watts (make sure you find this info on the tag of the appliance)
Add up all the running watts
Find the appliance with the highest starting watts requirement
Add this number to the total running watts

The number you get is the starting wattage rating your generator needs to have. Here’s a simple example to illustrate this:

Example

Appliance	Running Watts	Starting Watts
3 Light Bulb (LED)	27 W	0 W
Floor Fan	50 W	70 W
Microwave	1,000 W	0 W
Refrigerator / Freezer	700 W	2,200 W
Television (50" LED)	85 W	0 W
Total Running Watts:	1,862 W
Total Starting Watts:	4062 W

If you can’t find wattage requirements on the appliance/tool, you can calculate it using the following formula:

Watts (W or kW) = Volts (V) x Amps (A)

Amps (A) = Watts (W or kW) / Volts (V)

As you can see, all you need to calculate this are required volts and amps. Alternatively, you can get an appliance load tester and avoid doing equations.

FAQ

How many watts to run a house?

In a typical, average-sized home, 5000 to 7500 watts would be enough to run essential items. A 10,000 watt generator would cover essentials as well as some extras. A typical home generator would need more than 15,000 watts to run an entire home with everything in it.

How many watts does a refrigerator use?

A refrigerator uses 700 watts to run and 2200 watts to start (rough estimates). The average use is between 400 and 750 watts, depending on the type and size of the fridge, how old it is, the room temperature, etc.

How many watts does a freezer use?

A freezer uses 500 watts to run and 1500 watts to start (rough estimates). Running watts average is between 450 and 900 watts depending on the size of the freezer and the model. The older the model, the more power it will need to run.

What size generator to run the refrigerator and freezer?

To calculate the generator size, for running a refrigerator and a freezer, calculate the total running wattage by adding the two and the higher starting wattage to the total. An average electric generator will usually have enough power to run both a freezer and a refrigerator.

How many watts does a TV use?

Depending on the size and type of the TV screen (LCD vs. LED), a TV needs from 20 to 200 watts to run. For example, a 24″ LED TV needs 40W, a 49″ LED TV needs 85W, an 85″ LED TV needs 120W, while a 30″ LCD TV needs 60W, a 42″ LCD TV needs 120W, and a 50″ LCD TV needs 150W.

What appliances use the most electricity in a household?

Electric water heaters (4000-6500 watts), heat pumps (5500 watts), and air conditioners (1000-4000 watts) use the most power in every household. In general, cooling and heating use 47% of all energy in an average home. Next is washing (1200W) and drying (5500W) clothes, which uses around 13% of the power. Electric grill, oven, and stove are also significant electricity users (1500-2500 watts).