Appliance Wattage Chart: Watts and Amps of 19 Appliances
A refrigerator runs on about 700 watts and needs about 2,200 to start, a microwave uses 1,000 W, and the biggest load in this chart is the electric dryer at 5,400 W. The chart lists the running watts, starting watts and amps of 19 common household appliances. They are the same figures the generator size calculator adds up, so you can tick your own list there and get a total.
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Appliance watts chart
Sorted from the largest load to the smallest. Running watts are the steady draw, starting watts the brief peak as a motor starts. Amps are running watts divided by the voltage: read the 120 V column for an appliance on an ordinary outlet and the 240 V column for one on a 240 V circuit (the nameplate says which). The last column is the energy used in one full hour of running.
| Appliance | Running watts | Starting watts | Amps at 120 V | Amps at 240 V | Energy per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric dryer | 5,400 W | 6,750 W | 45.0 A | 22.5 A | 5.40 kWh |
| Electric water heater | 4,000 W | 4,000 W | 33.3 A | 16.7 A | 4.00 kWh |
| Central air conditioner, 2 to 3 ton | 3,500 W | 10,500 W | 29.2 A | 14.6 A | 3.50 kWh |
| Dishwasher | 1,500 W | 1,500 W | 12.5 A | 6.3 A | 1.50 kWh |
| Space heater | 1,500 W | 1,500 W | 12.5 A | 6.3 A | 1.50 kWh |
| Window air conditioner, 10,000 BTU | 1,200 W | 3,600 W | 10.0 A | 5.0 A | 1.20 kWh |
| Washing machine | 1,150 W | 2,300 W | 9.6 A | 4.8 A | 1.15 kWh |
| Well pump, 1/2 hp | 1,000 W | 2,100 W | 8.3 A | 4.2 A | 1.00 kWh |
| Microwave | 1,000 W | 1,000 W | 8.3 A | 4.2 A | 1.00 kWh |
| Coffee maker or kettle | 1,000 W | 1,000 W | 8.3 A | 4.2 A | 1.00 kWh |
| Sump pump, 1/3 hp | 800 W | 2,100 W | 6.7 A | 3.3 A | 0.80 kWh |
| Furnace blower, 1/2 hp | 800 W | 2,350 W | 6.7 A | 3.3 A | 0.80 kWh |
| Refrigerator | 700 W | 2,200 W | 5.8 A | 2.9 A | 0.70 kWh |
| Garage door opener | 550 W | 1,100 W | 4.6 A | 2.3 A | 0.55 kWh |
| Freezer | 500 W | 1,500 W | 4.2 A | 2.1 A | 0.50 kWh |
| TV and cable box | 250 W | 250 W | 2.1 A | 1.0 A | 0.25 kWh |
| Fans | 150 W | 300 W | 1.3 A | 0.6 A | 0.15 kWh |
| Laptop, router and phone chargers | 150 W | 150 W | 1.3 A | 0.6 A | 0.15 kWh |
| LED lights, about 10 bulbs | 100 W | 100 W | 0.8 A | 0.4 A | 0.10 kWh |
To turn the last column into money, multiply by your price per kWh, or use the appliance electricity cost calculator.
Starting watts chart
11 of the 19 appliances draw extra for a moment as they start. The central air conditioner has the largest surge, 7,000 W above its running watts. The last column is the generator the calculator suggests for that one appliance by itself.
| Appliance | Running watts | Starting watts | Extra to start | Start ÷ run | Generator for it alone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central air conditioner, 2 to 3 ton | 3,500 W | 10,500 W | 7,000 W | 3.0× | 9,000 W |
| Window air conditioner, 10,000 BTU | 1,200 W | 3,600 W | 2,400 W | 3.0× | 3,000 W |
| Furnace blower, 1/2 hp | 800 W | 2,350 W | 1,550 W | 2.9× | 2,000 W |
| Refrigerator | 700 W | 2,200 W | 1,500 W | 3.1× | 2,000 W |
| Electric dryer | 5,400 W | 6,750 W | 1,350 W | 1.3× | 6,500 W |
| Sump pump, 1/3 hp | 800 W | 2,100 W | 1,300 W | 2.6× | 2,000 W |
| Washing machine | 1,150 W | 2,300 W | 1,150 W | 2.0× | 2,000 W |
| Well pump, 1/2 hp | 1,000 W | 2,100 W | 1,100 W | 2.1× | 2,000 W |
| Freezer | 500 W | 1,500 W | 1,000 W | 3.0× | 2,000 W |
| Garage door opener | 550 W | 1,100 W | 550 W | 2.0× | 2,000 W |
| Fans | 150 W | 300 W | 150 W | 2.0× | 2,000 W |
The other 8 (electric water heater; dishwasher; space heater; microwave; coffee maker or kettle; TV and cable box; laptop, router and phone chargers; LED lights, about 10 bulbs) start at their running watts. When several motors share a generator, the calculator adds only the largest surge to the total, because they do not all start in the same second.
Whole house generator size from the chart
Add the running watts of everything that will be on together, then add the one largest surge. Four totals from the chart, each run through the generator size calculator:
| What is running | Running watts | Peak at startup | Amps at 240 V | Generator to shop for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essentials: refrigerator, sump pump, furnace blower, microwave, lights, laptop and router | 3,550 W | 5,100 W | 14.8 A | 5,000 W |
| Whole house on gas: everything in the chart except central air, the electric water heater, the electric dryer and the space heater | 10,850 W | 13,250 W | 45.2 A | 15,000 W |
| The same house with central air in place of the window unit | 13,150 W | 20,150 W | 54.8 A | 20,000 W |
| All 19 appliances in the chart at once | 25,250 W | 32,250 W | 105.2 A | Over 22,000 W (standby) |
Central air, an electric water heater and an electric dryer are what push a house past portable sizes. For standby units see what size standby generator you need, for the amps behind a transfer switch see what size transfer switch you need, and for the generator each load needs see the generator wattage chart.
How to find the watts of your own appliance
- Read the nameplate. It is usually on the back, the base or inside the door, and gives watts (W), or volts (V) and amps (A).
- If it gives amps, multiply by volts. Watts = volts × amps, so a label that reads 120 V and 12.5 A is 1,500 W.
- Measure it. A plug-in watt meter shows what a 120 V appliance draws, including the average over a day for something that cycles, like a refrigerator.
- Use the chart as a fallback for planning, and replace each figure with your own as you find it.
About these figures
The watts are typical values for each kind of appliance and are the ones built into the WeekendCalc generator size calculator, so the chart and the calculator always agree. Real appliances vary by model and age, starting watts most of all. Amps and energy per hour are worked out from the watts, not measured. You are welcome to quote or link this chart; please give the page address so readers can find these notes. For a generator connected to house wiring, have a licensed electrician do the work.
Frequently asked questions
How many watts does a refrigerator use?
About 700 watts while the compressor runs, which is 5.8 amps at 120 V, and about 2,200 watts for a moment as it starts. It cycles on and off, so over a day it averages less than its running watts.
Which household appliances use the most watts?
In this chart: the electric dryer (5,400 W), the electric water heater (4,000 W) and the central air conditioner (3,500 W). Anything that makes heat or cools a whole house is near the top.
How do I convert appliance watts to amps?
Divide the watts by the voltage. A 1,500 W space heater on a 120 V circuit draws 12.5 amps.
What size generator runs a whole house?
All 19 appliances in the chart at once come to 25,250 running watts and 32,250 W at startup. Without central air, an electric water heater, an electric dryer or a space heater it is 10,850 W, for which the calculator suggests 15,000 W.
Are these the exact watts of my appliance?
No. They are typical figures for planning. The nameplate on the appliance, in watts or in volts and amps, is the number to use for your own.
More guides
Estimates only. Quantities depend on your materials, site and supplier. Confirm important numbers before you order, and follow local building codes for anything structural.
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