What Size Generator for a 1,200 Sq Ft House

Although the power consumption varies from one home to another, a 7,500-10,000 watts generator should power a typical 1,200 sq ft home. But, to determine the exact answer to what size generator you need for a 1,200 sq ft house, find the starting and running of your household appliances, calculate your house’s total power requirements, and decide which generator suits you the best.

Other than that, decide on the type of generator to invest in. Amongst the available types, solar generators stand out due to their efficiency, reliability, and portability. Jackery Solar Generators are one of the best out there due to their compact and lightweight design, portability, noise and emission-free operation, and ability to power your appliances for hours during blackouts and power outages.  

Key Takeaways

• A generator with a capacity between 7,500- 10,000 watts should power a 1,200 sq ft house.
• To determine the size of a generator, you must determine the power requirements of your house and get one with 10-20% more capacity than the calculated amount.
• Generators based on usability are of three types: portable, inverter, and standby generators. While based on fuel type, there are gasoline, diesel, propane, and solar generators.
• To select the best generator for your 1,200 sq ft house, consider your power needs, noise level, efficiency, and portability.

What Size Generator for a 1,200 Sq Ft House

There’s no standard generator size for a 1,200-square-foot house, but a capacity between 7,500 and 10,000 watts should suffice for most houses. It should power most of your appliances, including lights, computers, refrigerators, air conditioners, etc.

However, the generator’s size varies from home to home, and it’s crucial to determine the right value. Here, size refers to the power output of the generator or how much power it can produce. And it should match with your house’s overall power consumption. Choosing a properly sized unit ensures all your electrical appliances function when utility power fails.

If the generator is undersized, enough power won’t be available to run the appliances. It can lead to power shortages and potentially damage the appliances and generator. On the flip side, if you’ve got an oversized generator, there’s more power than needed. It results in a waste of electricity alongside high installation, fuel, and maintenance costs.

How to Determine The Size of the Generator

If you’re wondering, “What size generator do I need to run my house,” the primary step involves determining your house’s power or wattage requirements. Add up the wattage of appliances you want to run during a power outage. Besides, factor in any appliances you wish to add in the future. Continue reading to find out how:

Understand Generator Basics

Let's start with the basics before you get into the generator size calculations. Here are the definitions of a few common terms you might come across:  

• Starting Wattage: This refers to the extra watts a motor-driven appliance needs to power up for the first few seconds.
• Running Wattage: Running wattage is the continuous energy the appliances need to continue running.
• Surge Wattage: Surge wattage refers to the highest wattage a generator can provide an appliance when running. It typically occurs for a few seconds, after which the wattage returns to normalcy.
• Power Ratings: A power rating is a set of operating values that indicates the maximum amount of power a generator can produce under varying scenarios. The manufacturer typically provides these ratings, which are expressed in kilowatts and watts. The higher the power rating, the more power the generator can produce at a time.

Understand Power Requirements

Now that you’re clear about the starting and running wattage, the next important step in generator sizing is determining your household appliances' power requirements. Here’s a table for the respective wattage of some typical household appliances:

Calculate the Total Power Needs

Now that you have the power requirement list of your household appliances, it’s time to answer what size generator you need for a 1,200 sq ft house. For that, use the formula:

Total running wattage = Sum of the running wattage of the appliances

Let's consider that you have a ceiling fan (800W), hammer drill (1000W), and a sump pump- 1/3HP (1140W) to power simultaneously.

So, Total running wattage = 800W + 1000W + 1140W = 2940W

That’s not it. Most appliances (especially those with engines) have a surge wattage value, so calculate total surge wattage as:

Total surge wattage = Running wattage of the appliances + Single highest starting watts out of the items you want to use

Amongst ceiling fan (800W), hammer drill (1000W), and a sump pump- 1/3HP (1140W), the hammer drill has the highest starting wattage of 3000W.

Total surge wattage = 2940W + 3000W = 5940W

Considering that’s your standard power requirement, you’ll at least need a generator with a 2940 running and 5940 starting watts power rating. However, getting a generator with a capacity of 3000W or more is recommended if you plan to add other appliances in the future.

Note: Many manufacturers mention the appliances' power requirements in volts and amps rather than watts. To calculate the running wattage, use the formula Volts (V) × Amps (A) = Watts (W). For example, a sump pump—1/3HP operates at 220V and 5A, so its wattage = 220 × 5 = 1100W.

Determine the Generator Size

When sizing a generator, it’s crucial to consider one with more AC output than your calculated power requirements. In this way, you can add other appliances in the future if needed.

These high-capacity generators, however, are more expensive and consume more fuel. Besides, they aren’t portable and often require high maintenance. At the same time, sizing them down can potentially damage the appliances due to overloading.

Selecting a suitable generator is, therefore, a balancing act. The general rule here is to get one that has an additional 10-20% capacity or power generation ability to keep a buffer to include more appliances in the future. For example, if your power requirement is 2940W, invest in a generator with 3300-3600W output.

Types of Generators for a 1,200 Ft Sq House

When choosing the right generator size for a 1,200 sq ft house, it’s crucial to understand the different types of generators. It’s typically classified into categories, which are as follows:

Classified by Usages

Depending on usability, generators are typically classified into three categories: portable, standby, and inverter generators.

Portable Generators: Portable generators are popular choices among homeowners due to their versatility, affordability, and comparatively lower operating costs. This size is suitable for operating essential appliances such as sump pumps, refrigerators, and several lights simultaneously without overloading the generator.

Inverter Generators: Inverter generators typically produce “clean” electric power and are crucial for operating sensitive appliances like smartphones, laptops, and medical equipment. They are suitable for households that prioritize less noise and power quality over high efficiency.

Standby Generators: These are installed outside your house and professionally wired to the electric system. These generally have high power generation ability and come with peace of mind that all your appliances run simultaneously despite a power outage. However, it produces more noise and is more expensive than its counterparts.

Here’s a table for the capacity range and suitability of the respective generator types:

Classified by fuels

Generator type also varies with the type of fuels it uses, including fossil fuels, renewable energy sources, and others. These are detailed below:

Gasoline: Gasoline generators, as in the name, use gasoline or natural gas to generate electricity. These are often used in homes and businesses as backup power during power outages or when the main power grid isn’t available. Also, you can use the portable versions of these generators to power tools when working outdoors or for recreational purposes.

Diesel: A diesel generator uses diesel as a fuel to produce electricity. When the diesel is poured in, the chemical energy inside it is converted into mechanical energy through combustion, which then rotates a crank to generate electricity. These are known for their reliability, efficiency, and durability and are used in homes, businesses, industrial sites, and others.

Propane: These mechanical devices use propane gas to generate electricity. These are more reliable than diesel or gasoline generators as they’re readily available, easy to store, can power an entire house during an outage, and run well in winter. So, these find their usage in multiple purposes, such as outdoor events, houses, construction sites, and remote locations.

Solar: Here, the solar panels capture sunlight and convert it into DC electricity, which is then stored and used to power appliances during an outage. These panels are portable and easy to carry around.

Here’s a table comparing the pros and cons of each generator type:

Now the question is, can a portable generator power a house? The answer is yes, it can, but the number of hours depends on its power generation capacity and the number of appliances you power at a time.

Solar generators are a better option. Here’s how:

• Solar generators collect and convert the sun’s energy to produce usable electricity without harmful emissions like gasoline, diesel, or propane alternatives.
• These don’t have any moving parts, so they require little to no maintenance. But you must clean the solar panels periodically to maintain their efficiency for the longer term.
• Solar generators can produce enough electricity to power your entire home, so you save a lot on electric bills.
• These are much lighter and more compact than gas generators, so they don’t require much space to store or effort to carry around.       

Jackery Solar Generators for 1,200 Sq Ft House

Investing in clean energy is a great way to power your household appliances. Using a solar generator for your 1,200 sq ft house cuts down your reliance on electric grids and helps reduce the electric bills. Jackery is a global brand that manufactures one of the best solar generators, foldable solar panels, and portable power stations.

Jackery Solar Generators combine Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels built with efficient monocrystalline silicon solar cells and Jackery Explorer Portable Power Station with a sine-wave inverter. It collects, converts, and transmits the sun’s rays into usable electricity to power most of the appliances in your 1,200 sq ft house.

Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro

Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro is a reliable and durable battery backup solution that can help reduce electric bills. With a huge battery capacity, it can power 99% of your heavy-duty appliances and power tools such as refrigerators, air conditioners, smartphones, laptops, etc. Besides, its convenient app control makes it one of the best solar generators for whole-home backup.

Appliance Running Hours

• Refrigerator (520W): 4.9H
• Microwave (1000W): 2.6H
• Heater (1800W): 1.4H
• Electric Grill (850W): 3.02H
• Smartphone (30W): 85.7H
• LED Light (12W): 214.2H

Customer Review: “They are great for camping and even greater for power emergencies at home. Nice to have some peace of mind during such emergencies.”- Radford Bustin.

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus is another whole-home battery backup solution that can power most household appliances of your 1,200 sq ft home during a power outage. The best part about it is that you can expand it by adding solar panels and battery packs. It’s perfect for powering most of your appliances during long blackouts and even if you plan to lead an off-grid life. Besides, its foldable handles and wheels make it easy to carry around.

Appliance Running Hours

• Refrigerator (520W): 3.3H
• Portable Air Conditioner (1150W): 1.5H
• Kettle (850W): 2.04H
• Smartphone (30W): 57.9H
• LED Light (12W): 144.7H
• Laptop (100W): 17.4H

Customer Review: “I plugged in two box fans, which operated perfectly. Generator and solar panels seem well-designed and solidly built.”- Carol Salmon.

What to Consider When Choosing A House Generator

When selecting a house generator, there is a set of factors you must keep in mind to meet your power requirements and save for a longer term. These are as follows:

Power Ratings

Your generator must generate enough electricity to keep you comfortable during power cuts or cut down your reliance on electric grids. List the running and starting wattage of the appliances available at your home, and calculate your total power requirements. Then, choose a generator with a slightly higher power rating.  

Fuel Type

As mentioned above, generators typically run on gasoline, diesel, propane, and solar. Gasoline generators are widely available, affordable, and comparatively portable. Diesel generators have a longer runtime, while natural gas models are more efficient and readily available. All of these can be noisy and produce emissions that are harmful to human health.  

On the other hand, solar generators use clean sources of fuel, such as sunlight. They are portable, noise—and pollution-free, and require little maintenance, but they come at a high upfront cost. So, make your choices accordingly.

Portability

If you plan to reside in a remote location or work outdoors, you probably will need a portable generator. Check their overall dimensions and weight and if there are any handles and wheels for easy transportation. Smaller portable generators have less power generation capacity and vice versa. So, you need to strike a balance between portability and power output based on your needs.

Noise Level

Fuel types dictate the noise a generator produces. Gasoline, diesel, and propane generators are noisier than solar generators. Read through the model’s instruction manual to check its decibel ratings. You probably will need a quiet generator if it stays inside, so make your decisions accordingly.    

How Much Is A Generator for A 1,200 Sq Ft House

A 1,200 sq ft home generator costs around $2,000-$3,500, depending on its power output, fuel use, portability, and efficiency. Installation, fuel use, maintenance, and other associated costs are also excluded, and they add around $5,000-$10,000.  

Compared to this, a Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro costs around $3,699, and a Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus is around $3,099. The best part is that it needs no additional investment for installation, maintenance, or other things. And if you take proper care, these last for decades.

Here’s a table for generator costs for different sizes houses:

FAQs

How big of a generator do I need to run a 1500-square-foot house?

In general, you‘ll need a generator with a capacity of 12-15kW to run a 1,500 sq ft house. However, the size of a generator for a 1,500 sq ft house depends on the appliances you want to power simultaneously. For example, you’re powering a microwave (1000W) and a refrigerator (520W) with Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro.

Working Time = Capacity of Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro in Wh × 0.85 / Operating wattage of the appliances.

So, Working Time = 3024 × 0.85 / 1520 = 1.7H

Note: There’s some power loss while charging. Hence, we’ve multiplied the battery capacity by 0.85.

Is a home generator tax deductible?

Only a few solar generators are eligible for rebates from the federal government as well as local government. Check the manufacturer’s website to get more details.

Can a generator be too big for a house?

Yes, a generator can be too big for a house. For example, a 1,200 sq ft house typically needs a generator with an output of between 7,500 and 10,000 watts, and a generator bigger than that would generate excess electricity.

Is a whole house generator worth it?

Yes, a whole-house generator is worth it if you live in an area with major power outages or high electricity bills.

How big of a generator do I need to run my AC?

If you have a 3-ton AC, you at least will need a 14kW generator, while a 17kW generator is suitable for a 4-ton AC.

Final Thoughts

Determining what size generator you need for a 1,200 sq ft house shouldn’t be tough, provided you do your calculations right. Carefully calculating your home’s power requirements and generator sizing guidelines helps ensure you invest in a system that can power your everyday appliances. Besides, it’s also crucial to select a proper generator type based on the respective pros and cons. Jackery Solar Generators can power most of your essential heavy-duty appliances for hours. It also lasts for years, provided you take care of them right.

Well, the investment decision of your whole-home generator depends primarily on the appliances you wish to power simultaneously and for how long. Tell us about the kind of appliances to power in your 1,200 sq ft house. This way, we can help you choose your perfect battery backup solution.