What can a 5000-watt generator run?
A 5000-watt portable generator is one of the most popular sizes for home backup. It's big enough to keep the essentials running, but still small enough to move around and store.
This guide breaks down what a 5000W generator can realistically run, how to think about starting vs running watts, and a few example load plans you can copy.
Understanding 5000 running watts vs starting watts
When you see a generator advertised as "5000 watts", that usually refers to its running watts – the amount of power it can provide continuously. Many generators also list a higher starting watts number (for example, 6250W), which is the short burst of extra power available to start motors and compressors.
For planning, it's safest to stay within the running watt rating for your expected load and treat the extra starting watts as a buffer for appliances that kick on occasionally.
Common household items a 5000W generator can run
Exact wattage varies by model, but here are typical running watt ranges and whether they fit inside a 5000W budget.
| Appliance | Typical running watts | Fits with other loads? |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator / freezer | 150–300W (600–1200W start) | Yes – easy to pair with many other loads. |
| Gas furnace blower | 300–700W | Yes – common backup use with fridge and lights. |
| Window A/C (small) | 500–800W (1000–1600W start) | Yes – but be careful stacking with other big loads. |
| Sump pump (1/2 HP) | 700–1000W (1500–2000W start) | Yes – but starting watts add up with other motors. |
| Microwave | 800–1200W | Yes – typically used in short bursts. |
| Electric water kettle / toaster | 1200–1800W | Yes – but best not to run with other large items. |
| LED lights, Wi‑Fi, phone chargers | 50–200W total | Yes – very small share of the budget. |
Example load plans for a 5000W generator
Here are a few sample combinations that typically fit within a 5000W generator's capacity. Always check the actual nameplate ratings for your appliances and leave extra headroom.
"Essentials only" plan
- Refrigerator / freezer (300W)
- Gas furnace blower (500W)
- Lights and outlets for a few rooms (200W)
- Wi‑Fi router, phone/laptop charging (100W)
Approximate running total: ~1100W – well within a 5000W budget.
"Comfort plus" plan
- Refrigerator / freezer (300W)
- Small window A/C or portable A/C (800W)
- Lights and outlets for main living areas (300W)
- TV, streaming device, Wi‑Fi (200W)
- Microwave occasionally (1000W when in use)
Approximate running total: ~1600–2600W plus short spikes when the microwave or A/C compressor kicks on. Still manageable for many 5000W generators if you avoid turning everything on at once.
"Tool and project" plan
- Corded drill or small power tools (600–800W)
- Air compressor (1000–1500W running, higher starting)
- Work lights (100–200W)
This type of use is very doable on a 5000W unit, but you may want to avoid running large household appliances at the same time as compressor-based tools.
What a 5000W generator usually cannot handle
There are some loads that are often too heavy for a single 5000W portable generator, especially when combined with other household items:
- Central air conditioning units (often 3000–5000W running on their own)
- All‑electric ranges or ovens (3000–5000W+)
- Electric water heaters (3000–4500W)
- Whole‑home electric heat systems
You may be able to run one of these large loads by itself on a 5000W generator, but it leaves very little headroom and isn't practical for whole‑home backup.
Tips for planning your own 5000W load
- Make a list of what you must keep running in an outage (fridge, heat, medical devices).
- Look up or measure the actual running watts for each item, not just guesses.
- Keep your planned running total under about 70–80% of 5000W (~3500–4000W).
- Stagger high‑draw devices like microwaves and space heaters so they’re not on together.
- Use the calculators on the GeneratorCalc home page to sanity‑check runtime and fuel use.
Bottom line
A 5000W generator is a very flexible size for running the essentials and a few comfort items in a typical home. It’s not usually enough for full electric heat or central air plus everything else, but with a bit of planning, it can make an outage much more comfortable without overspending on a huge unit.