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Off-grid appliance wattage cheat sheet
One page with the watts that matter for sizing solar, batteries and an inverter. Print it, pin it up, or hand it out. It's free to copy and share.
Off-grid appliance wattage cheat sheetTypical values for sizing solar, batteries and inverters
☀ Watt My Roof| Appliance | Running W | Startup W | Hours/day | Wh/day | Voltage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator (full-size, efficient) | 150 | 600 | 8 | 1,200 | 120V |
| Chest freezer | 100 | 500 | 8 | 800 | 120V |
| 12V compressor fridge (RV/van) | 45 | 90 | 8 | 360 | 12V DC |
| Microwave (1,000 W cooking power) | 1,500 | 1,500 | 0.25 | 375 | 120V |
| Electric kettle | 1,500 | 1,500 | 0.2 | 300 | 120V |
| Drip coffee maker | 900 | 900 | 0.25 | 225 | 120V |
| Induction cooktop (single burner) | 1,800 | 1,800 | 0.5 | 900 | 120V |
| Slow cooker | 200 | 200 | 6 | 1,200 | 120V |
| Clothes washer (top or front load) | 500 | 1,200 | 1 | 500 | 120V |
| Gas clothes dryer (electric parts) | 300 | 600 | 1 | 300 | 120V |
| 12V RV water pump | 60 | 120 | 0.5 | 30 | 12V DC |
| Shallow-well jet pump (1/2 hp) | 1,000 | 3,000 | 1 | 1,000 | 120V |
| Submersible well pump (1 hp) | 1,500 | 4,500 | 1 | 1,500 | 240V |
| Window air conditioner (8,000 BTU) | 700 | 2,100 | 6 | 4,200 | 120V |
| Ductless mini-split (12,000 BTU, inverter) | 900 | 1,000 | 6 | 5,400 | 240V |
| Space heater | 1,500 | 1,500 | 4 | 6,000 | 120V |
| Gas furnace blower | 500 | 1,000 | 4 | 2,000 | 120V |
| Ceiling fan | 60 | 60 | 8 | 480 | 120V |
| 12V roof vent fan (RV/van) | 30 | 30 | 8 | 240 | 12V DC |
| Dehumidifier (50 pint) | 500 | 1,000 | 8 | 4,000 | 120V |
| LED lights (6 bulbs) | 60 | 60 | 5 | 300 | 120V |
| Internet modem and Wi-Fi router | 25 | 25 | 24 | 600 | 120V |
| Satellite internet dish (standard) | 60 | 60 | 24 | 1,440 | 120V |
| Laptop charging | 65 | 65 | 5 | 325 | 120V |
| Phone charging | 10 | 10 | 3 | 30 | 12V DC |
| LED TV (50 inch) | 100 | 100 | 4 | 400 | 120V |
| CPAP machine with humidifier | 60 | 60 | 8 | 480 | 120V |
| Circular saw | 1,400 | 2,400 | 0.25 | 350 | 120V |
| Table saw (15 A) | 1,800 | 4,500 | 0.25 | 450 | 120V |
| Air compressor (portable) | 1,200 | 3,600 | 0.5 | 600 | 120V |
| Cordless tool battery charger | 100 | 100 | 2 | 200 | 120V |
| EV charging, Level 1 | 1,400 | 1,400 | 4 | 5,600 | 120V |
Size it in four steps
- Daily energy: watts × hours per day for each load, then add them up. Fridge: 150 W × 8 h = 1,200 Wh.
- Battery (kWh): daily kWh × days of storage × 1.2 ÷ 0.8 for lithium.
- Panels: daily kWh × 1.2 ÷ (panel kW × peak sun hours × 0.8). Use your darkest month's sun hours.
- Inverter: 120V/240V watts that run together × 1.25. Surge = those watts + the biggest startup jump (add the jumps of motors that can start at once).
Stay safe
- Never run a generator indoors or in a garage. Carbon monoxide kills.
- Startup watts vary by model. Check the nameplate before you buy an inverter.
- Don't charge lithium batteries below about 32°F (0°C).
- Wiring into a building's panel, 240V work, and solar strings above 50V DC need a licensed electrician.
Who it's for
- Emergency preparedness groups and CERT teams: hand it out at outage-readiness sessions alongside the outage backup guide.
- Libraries and teachers: use it as a quick energy lesson: which appliances use the most, and why startup watts matter.
- Cabin, van and homestead owners: keep it next to your system for quick checks before you plug something in.
You're welcome to print it, copy it, or link to it from your own site. For exact sizing with your own loads, use the off-grid planner.