What size generator for home power outage?
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
Kitchen
- 1
- 1
Heating, Cooling & Fans
- 1
- 1
Water & Pumps
Laundry & Cleaning
Electronics & Office
Medical Devices
Power Tools & Outdoor
Lighting
- 4
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 (top-freezer, ~16 cu ft)×1, Furnace Fan (1/2 HP blower)×1, Pellet Stove (PelPro PP130 class)×1, Electric Blanket (double)×1, Router + Modem×1, LED Bulb (60W equivalent)×4, Coffee Maker×1, Microwave Oven×1.
| Continuous load | 3,322 W |
|---|---|
| Startup peak | 4,822 W (driven by 1× Furnace Fan (1/2 HP blower)) |
| Daily energy use | 9,130 Wh |
| Recommended capacity | 11,420 Wh (25% margin included) |
| Minimum inverter | 3,660 W continuous |
Frequently asked questions
What size generator for home power outage?
For a typical setup (refrigerator (top-freezer, ~16 cu ft), furnace fan (1/2 hp blower), pellet stove (pelpro pp130 class), electric blanket (double) and router + modem), you need at least 3,322W of continuous power. The single biggest moment is startup: when 1× furnace fan (1/2 hp blower) kicks on, the momentary draw peaks at 4,822W. For overnight runtime we recommend at least 11,420Wh of battery capacity (your devices use about 9,130Wh per day, plus a 25% margin).
Which power stations can handle this?
Look for a station whose surge rating covers 4,822W and whose capacity is at least 11,420Wh.
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).