What size generator to run a house?
Check, uncheck or adjust the typical device list below — watts, startup surge and battery size update instantly. Numbers come from U.S. DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer spec sheets, not marketing copy.
1. Check what you need to power
Refrigeration & Freezers
- 1
- 1
Kitchen
- 1
- 1
Heating, Cooling & Fans
- 1
Water & Pumps
- 1
Laundry & Cleaning
- 1
- 1
Electronics & Office
- 2
- 1
Medical Devices
Power Tools & Outdoor
Lighting
- 12
2. Your sizing
3. Best cross-brand matches
No single portable power station covers this load — look at expandable systems (e.g., EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 + extra battery, Anker SOLIX F3800 expansion packs) or a fixed home battery instead.
Static answer (crawlable summary)
Typical device list: Refrigerator (side-by-side, ~24 cu ft)×1, Freezer (upright, ~15 cu ft)×1, Central AC (3-ton, 36,000 BTU)×1, Furnace Fan (1/2 HP blower)×1, Submersible Well Pump (1/2 HP, 240V)×1, Clothes Washer×1, Clothes Dryer (gas)×1, Dishwasher (with heated dry)×1, Microwave Oven×1, Electric Kettle×1, Router + Modem×1, LED Bulb (60W equivalent)×12, TV (65-inch LED)×1, Laptop Computer×2, Phone / Smartphone Charger×4.
| Continuous load | 11,863 W |
|---|---|
| Startup peak | 26,113 W (driven by 1× Central AC (3-ton, 36,000 BTU)) |
| Daily energy use | 39,870 Wh |
| Recommended capacity | 49,840 Wh (25% margin included) |
| Minimum inverter | 13,050 W continuous |
Frequently asked questions
What size generator to run a house?
For a typical setup (refrigerator (side-by-side, ~24 cu ft), freezer (upright, ~15 cu ft), central ac (3-ton, 36,000 btu), furnace fan (1/2 hp blower) and submersible well pump (1/2 hp, 240v)), you need at least 11,863W of continuous power. The single biggest moment is startup: when 1× central ac (3-ton, 36,000 btu) kicks on, the momentary draw peaks at 26,113W. For overnight runtime we recommend at least 49,840Wh of battery capacity (your devices use about 39,870Wh per day, plus a 25% margin).
Which power stations can handle this?
Look for a station whose surge rating covers 26,113W and whose capacity is at least 49,840Wh.
Why is the startup surge higher than the running watts?
Motor-driven devices (fridge compressors, well pumps, air conditioners) draw 2-5× their running power for a split second at startup — measured as locked-rotor amps (LRA). A generator that only meets the running load will trip or stall when the biggest motor starts. Our data sources: U.S. DOE Energy Saver, ENERGY STAR certified product database, and manufacturer spec sheets (Franklin Electric, Goodman, Zoeller).