What Size Generator Do You Need for Your Home

Home size is a starting point, not the answer

Square footage gives a rough sense of scale, but generator sizing is really about electrical load, how many circuits, how much air conditioning, whether you have major motor-driven equipment like a well pump, not square footage directly. Two similarly sized homes can need very different generator sizes depending on what's actually plugged into the panel.

The three common tiers

• Essential circuits only (10-14 kW): refrigerator, well pump, a few lights and outlets, one AC zone. Common for smaller homes or homeowners who only want to keep the basics running.
• Most of the home (16-20 kW): the above plus most lighting circuits and a larger AC system. A common middle ground for mid-size homes.
• Whole home (22-26 kW and up): every circuit stays powered, including multiple AC zones and an electric range or dryer. More common for larger homes, or homeowners who don't want to think about which circuits are and aren't covered.

See the full sizing guide for more detail on each tier, or use the sizing calculator directly for an estimate based on what's actually in your home.

Why a real load calculation still matters

These tiers are a reasonable starting point, not a substitute for the load calculation a licensed installer will do based on your actual electrical panel. A home with a pool, an EV charger, or multiple HVAC zones can need more capacity than its size alone would suggest.