What size generator to run a laptop?
Laptop draws about 100W while running, and being a resistive load it has no startup surge. Allowing 20% headroom, size for at least 200W of starting capacity.
Units that cover it
- EGO Nexus Escape PAD1500
— starting · 50% headroom
Comfortable headroom without overpaying for capacity.
Check price - EGO Nexus Escape PAD1800
— starting · 80% headroom
Plenty of room to add loads later.
Check price - WEN PP300i
600W starting · 500% headroom · $232
Plenty of room to add loads later.
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