What size generator to run a chest freezer?
Chest freezer draws about 500W while running and surges to 1,500W on startup. Allowing 20% headroom, size for at least 1,800W of starting capacity.
The surge is the number that matters. A generator rated to 500W will stall the moment the motor kicks in, because for a fraction of a second it needs 1,500W. Manufacturers advertise running watts, which is why people routinely buy one size too small.
Units that cover it
- Pulsar PG2300iSCO
2,300W starting · 53% headroom · $529
Comfortable headroom without overpaying for capacity, has a CO shutoff sensor, runs at 59 dB.
Check price - Westinghouse iGen2200c
2,200W starting · 47% headroom · $579
Comfortable headroom without overpaying for capacity, has a CO shutoff sensor, runs at 52 dB.
Check price - DuroMax XP2300iH
2,300W starting · 53% headroom · $649
Comfortable headroom without overpaying for capacity, has a CO shutoff sensor, runs at 52 dB, runs on propane as well as gasoline.
Check price
Running more than one thing
Most people are not powering one appliance. Add everything you need at once and the calculator works out the real peak — your total running load plus the single largest surge, not the sum of every surge.
Size the whole load