Off-grid planning data
Off-grid appliance wattage chart
Running watts, startup watts and daily energy for 46 common appliances: the numbers you need to size off-grid solar, batteries and inverters.
Worked example: sizing the inverter
| Load | Running W | Startup W | Extra at startup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 150 | 600 | 450 |
| LED lights (6 bulbs) | 60 | 60 | 0 |
| Shallow-well jet pump (1/2 hp) | 1,000 | 3,000 | 2,000 |
| Laptop charging | 65 | 65 | 0 |
| Total running | 1,275 | Largest: 2,000 |
The inverter needs at least 1,275 W continuous (plus about 25% headroom), and a surge rating of at least 1,275 + 2,000 = 3,275 Wso the pump can start while everything else is running. Checking only the pump's 3,000 W startup figure would undersize it. This assumes only one large motor starts at a time.
Published October 11, 2026 · Planning values for typical U.S. models
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The full chart is available as a CSV for spreadsheets, resource pages, classes and articles. Use it freely with a link back to this page.
Download the CSV (46 appliances)
The formula
Kitchen
| Appliance | Running W | Startup W | Hours/day | Daily Wh | Voltage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator (full-size, efficient) Compressor cycles on and off; 8 hours is the equivalent full-power time. Divide the Energy Guide kWh/year by 365 for your model. | 150 | 600 ⚡ | 8 | 1,200 | 120V |
| Chest freezer Chest freezers lose less cold air than uprights and suit off-grid well. | 100 | 500 ⚡ | 8 | 800 | 120V |
| 12V compressor fridge (RV/van) Runs directly from the battery, so no inverter is needed. Hot climates raise run time. | 45 | 90 ⚡ | 8 | 360 | 12V DC |
| Microwave (1,000 W cooking power) The rated cooking power is lower than the input draw; check the label for input watts. | 1,500 | 1,500 | 0.25 | 375 | 120V |
| Electric kettle High draw but short use. Size the inverter for it even if energy use is small. | 1,500 | 1,500 | 0.2 | 300 | 120V |
| Drip coffee maker A warming plate left on adds energy; a thermal carafe avoids it. | 900 | 900 | 0.25 | 225 | 120V |
| Toaster Short, high-power use. | 1,000 | 1,000 | 0.1 | 100 | 120V |
| Induction cooktop (single burner) Draw falls on lower power settings. | 1,800 | 1,800 | 0.5 | 900 | 120V |
| Electric range and oven Needs 240V output. Propane cooking is common off-grid. | 3,000 | 3,000 | 1 | 3,000 | 240V |
| Dishwasher Most energy goes to heating water and drying; air-dry settings cut use. | 1,200 | 1,200 | 1 | 1,200 | 120V |
| Slow cooker Low power but long run time. | 200 | 200 | 6 | 1,200 | 120V |
| Blender Brief use; mainly an inverter surge consideration. | 400 | 800 ⚡ | 0.05 | 20 | 120V |
Laundry
| Appliance | Running W | Startup W | Hours/day | Daily Wh | Voltage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clothes washer (top or front load) Assumes cold-water washing; hot water energy comes from the water heater. | 500 | 1,200 ⚡ | 1 | 500 | 120V |
| Electric clothes dryer Usually impractical off-grid. A clothesline or gas dryer avoids it. | 5,000 | 5,000 | 1 | 5,000 | 240V |
| Gas clothes dryer (electric parts) Drum motor and igniter only; heat comes from propane or natural gas. | 300 | 600 ⚡ | 1 | 300 | 120V |
Water
| Appliance | Running W | Startup W | Hours/day | Daily Wh | Voltage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12V RV water pump Runs from the battery with no inverter. | 60 | 120 ⚡ | 0.5 | 30 | 12V DC |
| Shallow-well jet pump (1/2 hp) Startup varies widely by model; check locked-rotor amps on the nameplate. | 1,000 | 3,000 ⚡ | 1 | 1,000 | 120V |
| Submersible well pump (1 hp) Often the largest surge in an off-grid home. A soft starter or variable-speed pump reduces it. | 1,500 | 4,500 ⚡ | 1 | 1,500 | 240V |
| Electric water heater (tank) Rarely practical off-grid. Propane, solar thermal, or a heat-pump water heater use far less electricity. | 4,500 | 4,500 | 3 | 13,500 | 240V |
Heating and cooling
| Appliance | Running W | Startup W | Hours/day | Daily Wh | Voltage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Window air conditioner (8,000 BTU) Run time depends on climate and insulation. | 700 | 2,100 ⚡ | 6 | 4,200 | 120V |
| Ductless mini-split (12,000 BTU, inverter) Inverter compressors ramp up gently, so startup surge is low. Many models are 240V. | 900 | 1,000 ⚡ | 6 | 5,400 | 240V |
| Central air conditioner (3 ton) Needs a large 240V inverter and battery bank. A soft starter is strongly recommended. | 3,000 | 7,500 ⚡ | 4 | 12,000 | 240V |
| Space heater Resistance heat drains batteries quickly; wood, propane, or a heat pump are better off-grid. | 1,500 | 1,500 | 4 | 6,000 | 120V |
| Gas furnace blower Variable-speed (ECM) blowers use much less. | 500 | 1,000 ⚡ | 4 | 2,000 | 120V |
| Ceiling fan DC-motor fans use less. | 60 | 60 | 8 | 480 | 120V |
| Box fan Small motor; negligible surge. | 100 | 100 | 8 | 800 | 120V |
| 12V roof vent fan (RV/van) Draw depends on speed setting. | 30 | 30 | 8 | 240 | 12V DC |
| Dehumidifier (50 pint) Run time depends on humidity. | 500 | 1,000 ⚡ | 8 | 4,000 | 120V |
Lighting and electronics
| Appliance | Running W | Startup W | Hours/day | Daily Wh | Voltage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LED lights (6 bulbs) About 10 W per bulb. | 60 | 60 | 5 | 300 | 120V |
| Internet modem and Wi-Fi router Always on unless switched off overnight. | 25 | 25 | 24 | 600 | 120V |
| Satellite internet dish (standard) Commonly 50–75 W average and higher when melting snow. Check the provider's power figures. | 60 | 60 | 24 | 1,440 | 120V |
| Laptop charging Many laptops can charge from 12V USB-C, skipping the inverter. | 65 | 65 | 5 | 325 | 120V |
| Phone charging USB charging from the 12V system. | 10 | 10 | 3 | 30 | 12V DC |
| LED TV (50 inch) Standby draw adds a little when left plugged in. | 100 | 100 | 4 | 400 | 120V |
| Desktop computer and monitor Gaming computers can draw far more. | 250 | 250 | 4 | 1,000 | 120V |
Workshop and tools
| Appliance | Running W | Startup W | Hours/day | Daily Wh | Voltage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circular saw Surge matters more than energy for most power tools. | 1,400 | 2,400 ⚡ | 0.25 | 350 | 120V |
| Table saw (15 A) One of the hardest workshop loads to start on an inverter. | 1,800 | 4,500 ⚡ | 0.25 | 450 | 120V |
| Air compressor (portable) Starting against tank pressure raises surge; unloader valves help. | 1,200 | 3,600 ⚡ | 0.5 | 600 | 120V |
| Shop vacuum Short use. | 1,000 | 1,500 ⚡ | 0.25 | 250 | 120V |
| Corded drill Cordless tools shift the load to a charger. | 600 | 900 ⚡ | 0.25 | 150 | 120V |
| Cordless tool battery charger Charge during peak sun to use solar directly. | 100 | 100 | 2 | 200 | 120V |
Vehicles
| Appliance | Running W | Startup W | Hours/day | Daily Wh | Voltage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV charging, Level 1 About 4–5 miles of range per hour of charging. | 1,400 | 1,400 | 4 | 5,600 | 120V |
| EV charging, Level 2 Needs a large 240V system; most off-grid EV charging is scheduled for sunny middays. | 7,200 | 7,200 | 1 | 7,200 | 240V |
Personal care
| Appliance | Running W | Startup W | Hours/day | Daily Wh | Voltage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPAP machine with humidifier Medical equipment: plan backup power and check the manufacturer's DC option. | 60 | 60 | 8 | 480 | 120V |
| Hair dryer Short use, but a high inverter load. | 1,500 | 1,500 | 0.15 | 225 | 120V |
| Vacuum cleaner Cordless vacuums shift the load to a small charger. | 1,000 | 1,500 ⚡ | 0.25 | 250 | 120V |
⚡ Motor or compressor load with a startup surge above its running draw. Hours/day for cycling loads such as refrigerators are equivalent full-power hours.
Get better numbers for your own appliances
- Read the nameplate. Most appliances list watts, or volts and amps (watts ≈ volts × amps). Motors may also list locked-rotor amps (LRA), which sets the startup surge.
- Use the Energy Guide label. For refrigerators, freezers and other labeled appliances, kWh/year ÷ 365 gives a realistic daily figure that already accounts for cycling.
- Measure with a plug-in watt meter. A plug-in meter shows actual watts and cumulative kWh for 120V plug-in loads. Leave it on a refrigerator for a few days for an accurate average.
- Use a clamp meter for 240V and hardwired loads. Well pumps, dryers and HVAC can't use plug-in meters. A clamp meter with an inrush mode can capture startup draw, but working inside panels is a job for an electrician.
What this means for an off-grid system
- Heat is the biggest drain. Electric water heaters, dryers, ranges and space heaters use more energy than nearly everything else combined. Most off-grid homes use propane, wood or heat pumps for heat.
- Surge sizes the inverter. A well pump or table saw can need an inverter several times larger than its running watts suggest.
- DC loads skip inverter losses. 12V fridges, fans, pumps and USB charging run directly from the battery.
- 240V loads need 240V output. That means a split-phase inverter and professional wiring.
You're welcome to reproduce this table or the CSV. Please link to this page and describe the figures as Watt My Roof planning values for typical appliances, not measurements of a specific model.
Limitations
- Models vary. Efficiency, size and age can move running watts by 50% or more.
- Use varies. Hours per day reflect a typical planning case; climate and household habits change them.
- Startup values are planning estimates. Inrush depends on the motor, its load and the supply; check LRA or measure for pumps and compressors.
FAQ
How do I calculate how much energy an appliance uses per day?
Multiply its running watts by the hours it runs per day to get watt-hours (Wh). Divide by 1,000 for kWh. For appliances that cycle, such as refrigerators, use the Energy Guide kWh/year ÷ 365 or measure with a plug-in meter.
What is the difference between running watts and startup watts?
Running watts are the steady draw while an appliance is on. Startup (surge) watts are the brief spike when a motor or compressor starts, often two to several times the running draw. Running watts (with hours of use) size the battery and solar. The inverter's surge rating must cover everything running at once plus the largest motor's extra startup draw.
Which appliances are hardest to run off-grid?
Resistance heating loads such as electric water heaters, dryers, ranges and space heaters use the most energy, and well pumps, air conditioners and large power tools have the biggest startup surges.
Are these wattages exact?
No. They are planning values for typical U.S. models. Your appliance's nameplate, Energy Guide label or a plug-in watt meter will always be more accurate.
Can I use this data on my website?
Yes. You are welcome to reproduce the table or CSV with a link back to this page as the source.
Next, turn these numbers into a battery size with the solar battery sizing guide, or compare grid-tied panel counts in the appliance-aware sizing dataset.