Reference chart

Appliance wattage chart: running and starting watts

Running watts, starting watts and typical daily energy for 65 household devices, with the power station size you'd need to run each one alone for a full day. Values come from ENERGY STAR data, manufacturer manuals and utility tables; estimates are marked.

Updated November 1, 2026

Kitchen

Device	Running watts	Starting watts	Energy per day	Station for 24 h
Full-size refrigerator (top freezer)Runtime uses daily energy, not running watts. Turn off the station's ECO/auto-off mode so it doesn't cut power between compressor cycles. Older fridges use more.	160 (132–192)	1,200	0.99 kWh typical day	2,000 Wh
French door or bottom-freezer refrigerator (no dispenser)Runtime uses daily energy, not running watts. Turn off the station's ECO/auto-off mode so it doesn't cut power between compressor cycles.	170 (132–250)	1,200	1.48 kWh typical day	3,000 Wh
French door refrigerator (with ice and water dispenser)Runtime uses daily energy, not running watts. Turn off the station's ECO/auto-off mode so it doesn't cut power between compressor cycles.	180 (132–250)	1,200	1.96 kWh typical day	3,000 Wh
Side-by-side refrigeratorRuntime uses daily energy, not running watts. Turn off the station's ECO/auto-off mode so it doesn't cut power between compressor cycles.	180 (132–250)	1,200	1.77 kWh typical day	3,000 Wh
Mini fridgeDaily energy is from ENERGY STAR; running watts and start surge are not published, so check the label.	80 (50–120)	240	0.67 kWh typical day	1,500 Wh
Chest freezerChest freezers are among the easiest loads to keep running. Keep the lid shut during an outage.	100 (60–160)	1,200	0.60 kWh typical day	1,500 Wh
Upright freezerAuto-defrost uprights use about twice the daily energy of a chest freezer.	150 (100–200)	1,200	1.20 kWh typical day	2,000 Wh
Microwave (1,000–1,200 W cooking power)The watts on the label are cooking power. It pulls 1.3 to 1.6 times that from the outlet.	1,500 (1,000–1,800)	—	0.38 kWh 0.25 h/day	1,000 Wh
Drip coffee makerFull power only while brewing; turn the warming plate off to save energy.	1,000 (600–1,200)	—	0.25 kWh 0.25 h/day	1,000 Wh
Pod coffee machine (Nespresso)Uses little energy per cup, but the station must handle the full wattage while it heats.	1,260 (1,150–1,600)	—	0.13 kWh 0.1 h/day	500 Wh
Electric kettleestimateMost US kettles are rated 1500 W; check the base label.	1,500 (1,000–1,500)	—	0.15 kWh 0.1 h/day	1,000 Wh
Induction cooktop (portable, one burner)estimateTops out at 1800 W on high; lower power levels draw less.	1,300 (500–1,800)	—	0.65 kWh 0.5 h/day	1,500 Wh
Air fryerThe heating element cycles once it reaches temperature.	1,500 (1,200–1,800)	—	0.75 kWh 0.5 h/day	1,500 Wh
Toaster (2-slice)4-slice toasters can draw up to 1500 W.	900 (800–1,500)	—	0.09 kWh 0.1 h/day	500 Wh
Slow cooker (6 qt)	240 (150–300)	—	1.34 kWh 8 h/day	3,000 Wh
Electric pressure cooker (Instant Pot, 6 qt)Full power until it reaches pressure, then it cycles.	1,000 (700–1,000)	—	0.38 kWh 0.75 h/day	1,000 Wh

Medical devices

Device	Running watts	Starting watts	Energy per day	Station for 24 h
CPAP — no humidifierBased on ResMed AirSense 10 at pressure 10; higher pressure draws more. A DC converter is the most efficient way to run it.	11.2 (8.4–19.9)	—	0.09 kWh 8 h/day	500 Wh
CPAP — with humidifier & heated tubeTurning off the humidifier and heated tube cuts power use by about three-quarters.	45.2 (37.4–67.3)	—	0.36 kWh 8 h/day	1,000 Wh
Travel CPAP (ResMed AirMini, Transcend 3)Waterless humidification, so there is no heater to add.	5.4 (3.1–9.3)	—	0.04 kWh 8 h/day	500 Wh
Oxygen concentrator (home, 5 LPM)Life-sustaining: keep a large reserve and ask your oxygen supplier for a backup plan.	350 (280–400)	700	8.40 kWh 24 h/day	6,000+ Wh
Nebulizer (tabletop compressor)Portable units like the Omron NE-C801 draw under 10 W. Check your device label.	100 (80–138)	—	0.05 kWh 0.5 h/day	500 Wh
Insulin travel fridge (12 V)Most run on 12 V DC; use the station's car socket.	25 (15–42)	—	0.30 kWh 24 h/day	1,000 Wh

Internet, work and electronics

Device	Running watts	Starting watts	Energy per day	Station for 24 h
Wi-Fi router + modemA combo gateway sits at the low end; separate modem and router at the high end.	15 (8–20)	—	0.36 kWh 24 h/day	1,000 Wh
Mesh Wi-Fi node (eero)Add one per node. Busy networks draw more.	7 (3.4–22)	—	0.17 kWh 24 h/day	1,000 Wh
Fiber box (ONT)Needed alongside your router if you have fiber internet.	5 (2.5–12)	—	0.12 kWh 24 h/day	500 Wh
Starlink StandardIncludes the router. Idle draw is 20 W; snow melting pushes it to the top of the range.	88 (75–100)	—	2.11 kWh 24 h/day	4,000 Wh
Starlink MiniRuns on 12–48 V DC or a 100 W USB-C PD port. Snow melting can reach its 60 W max input.	30 (20–40)	—	0.72 kWh 24 h/day	1,500 Wh
Starlink Standard Actuated (Gen 2)Includes the router. Idle draw is 20 W.	62 (50–75)	—	1.49 kWh 24 h/day	3,000 Wh
Starlink Flat High Performance (Gen 1–2)Idle draw is 45 W. The newer Gen 3 Performance kit averages 75–100 W; pick Starlink Standard for that.	130 (110–150)	—	3.12 kWh 24 h/day	6,000 Wh
LaptopCharge from the station's USB-C port to skip inverter losses.	60 (30–100)	—	0.24 kWh 4 h/day	1,000 Wh
Phone or tablet chargingestimateTiny load. Use the USB ports, not the AC outlet.	10 (5–30)	—	0.02 kWh 2 h/day	500 Wh
Desktop PC + monitorGaming PCs can go past 400 W under load.	213 (100–400)	—	0.85 kWh 4 h/day	1,500 Wh
TV (50–55 in, LED)Bright or HDR picture modes draw more. A streaming stick adds only a few watts.	96 (62–108)	—	0.38 kWh 4 h/day	1,000 Wh
TV (65 in, LED)Older sets and HDR peaks draw more.	118 (93–128)	—	0.47 kWh 4 h/day	1,000 Wh
Game console (PS5 / Xbox Series X)	180 (150–220)	—	0.54 kWh 3 h/day	1,500 Wh
Nintendo Switch (docked)	18 (10–25)	—	0.05 kWh 3 h/day	500 Wh
Hair dryerThe low setting draws roughly half.	1,800 (1,200–1,875)	1,900	0.27 kWh 0.15 h/day	1,000 Wh

Heating and cooling

Device	Running watts	Starting watts	Energy per day	Station for 24 h
Space heater (1500 W setting)Uses 1.5 kWh every hour on high, so most portable stations last under an hour. The low setting is 750 W.	1,500 (750–1,500)	—	6.00 kWh 4 h/day	6,000+ Wh
Electric blanket or heated mattress pad (queen)Far more efficient than a space heater. Dual-control queens can reach 240 W with both sides on high.	110 (95–240)	—	0.44 kWh 8 h/day	1,000 Wh
Gas furnace blowerHard-wired: needs a transfer switch or inlet installed by a licensed electrician. Variable-speed (ECM) blowers draw 90–300 W.	400 (90–900)	1,400	3.84 kWh 24 h/day	6,000 Wh
Pellet stoveIgnition draws much more for several minutes. Check the rating plate.	150 (80–300)	500	3.60 kWh 24 h/day	6,000 Wh
Fan (box or pedestal)	40 (35–70)	120	0.32 kWh 8 h/day	1,000 Wh
Window AC (5,000–6,000 BTU)Based on ENERGY STAR units; older units draw more. Start surge isn't published, so leave headroom.	397 (347–438)	1,191	1.91 kWh 8 h/day	3,000 Wh
Window AC (8,000 BTU)Based on ENERGY STAR units; older units draw more. Start surge isn't published, so leave headroom.	533 (500–569)	1,599	2.56 kWh 8 h/day	4,000 Wh
Window AC (10,000 BTU)Older fixed-speed units can run near 1500 W. Inverter models start more gently.	667 (625–667)	2,200	3.20 kWh 8 h/day	6,000 Wh
Window AC (12,000 BTU)Based on ENERGY STAR units; older units draw more. Start surge isn't published, so leave headroom.	800 (750–800)	2,400	3.84 kWh 8 h/day	6,000 Wh
Portable air conditionerestimateLess efficient than a window unit of the same BTU. Check the label.	1,000 (800–1,400)	3,000	5.60 kWh 8 h/day	6,000+ Wh
DehumidifierA 20–25 pint unit sits at the low end, a 50 pint unit at the high end.	340 (260–490)	1,020	2.45 kWh 12 h/day	4,000 Wh
RV rooftop AC (13,500 BTU)A soft-start kit cuts the start surge, not the running watts.	1,600 (1,300–1,900)	2,800	5.76 kWh 6 h/day	6,000+ Wh
RV rooftop AC (15,000 BTU)A soft-start kit cuts the start surge, not the running watts.	1,800 (1,500–2,100)	3,300	6.48 kWh 6 h/day	6,000+ Wh

Pumps and tools

Device	Running watts	Starting watts	Energy per day	Station for 24 h
Sump pump (1/3 hp)Pump time depends on rain and the water table; adjust it if your pump runs more.	800 (700–1,100)	1,300	0.77 kWh 24 h/day	1,500 Wh
Sump pump (1/2 hp)Pump time depends on rain and the water table; adjust it if your pump runs more.	1,050 (900–1,300)	2,150	1.01 kWh 24 h/day	2,000 Wh
Well pump (1/2 hp, 240 V)Most portable power stations can't start this pump. It needs 240 V output and a very large surge rating.	670 (670–960)	7,400	0.34 kWh 0.5 h/day	240 V home unit
Well pump (3/4 hp, 240 V)Most portable power stations can't start this pump. 3-wire pumps with a control box start more easily.	940 (940–1,310)	9,400	0.47 kWh 0.5 h/day	240 V home unit
Well pump (1 hp, 240 V)Most portable power stations can't start this pump. It needs 240 V output and a very large surge rating.	1,210 (1,210–1,600)	11,200	0.60 kWh 0.5 h/day	240 V home unit
Power-tool battery chargerestimateRapid chargers sit at the high end. Check the charger label.	100 (50–300)	—	0.10 kWh 1 h/day	500 Wh
Corded drill (3/8 in)	440 (440–600)	600	0.11 kWh 0.25 h/day	500 Wh
Circular saw (7-1/4 in, corded)	1,400 (1,200–1,500)	2,300	0.35 kWh 0.25 h/day	1,000 Wh
Electric chainsaw (corded, 14–15 A)Running watts come from the nameplate amps; real cutting draw varies. Start-up surge is our 3× motor estimate, not a maker figure.	1,740 (1,400–1,800)	5,220	0.87 kWh 0.5 h/day	1,500 Wh (big surge)
Garage door opener (1/2 hp)Uses almost no energy; the start surge is what matters.	720 (480–720)	1,420	0.04 kWh 0.05 h/day	500 Wh

Lights, outdoor and vehicle

Device	Running watts	Starting watts	Energy per day	Station for 24 h
LED light bulbA 100 W-equivalent LED uses 13 W.	10 (8–15)	—	0.06 kWh 6 h/day	500 Wh
LED string lights (100-bulb strand)estimateCheck the box label; old incandescent strands draw far more.	7 (4–15)	—	0.04 kWh 6 h/day	500 Wh
Tailgate TV (32–43 in) + Bluetooth speaker	60 (35–110)	—	0.24 kWh 4 h/day	1,000 Wh
12 V portable fridge (45 L)Plug into the 12 V car socket. Hot weather or freezer mode can double its daily use.	45 (36–60)	—	0.30 kWh typical day	1,000 Wh
EV charging (Level 1, 120 V)AFDC and FuelEconomy.gov put Level 1 at about 5 miles of range per hour (AFDC also cites 2–5), so a 2 kWh station adds only a few miles.	1,440 (1,200–1,440)	—	1.44 kWh 1 h/day	3,000 Wh

“Station for 24 h” is the smallest common capacity that runs that one device alone for a day on AC, after 10% battery reserve, 15% inverter loss and standby draw. For your own mix of devices and hours, use the runtime calculator or the sizing quiz.

What people actually ask

What's the difference between running and starting watts?

Running watts are what a device draws while it works. Starting watts are the brief spike when a motor or compressor kicks on, often three to seven times the running figure. A power station needs a surge rating above the starting watts or it shuts off.

How many watts does a refrigerator use?

A full-size fridge draws roughly 130 to 190 W while the compressor runs and around 1,200 W for a moment at start-up. Because the compressor cycles, a typical top-freezer model uses about 1 kWh per day in total.

How many watts does a CPAP use?

A ResMed AirSense 10 draws about 11 W without the humidifier and about 45 W with the humidifier and heated tube at a pressure of 10 cmH2O, based on ResMed battery guide figures. Turning the humidifier off is the single biggest runtime gain.

Can a portable power station run a space heater?

Only briefly. A 1,500 W heater empties a 1,000 Wh station in well under an hour. An electric blanket gives you warmth for a fraction of the power.

Why does this chart show energy per day?

Battery size is about energy over time, not peak watts. A device that cycles on and off, like a fridge, uses far less in a day than its running watts times 24 hours.