What Size Generator Do You Need to Run a Hair Dryer and Iron?
By the Generator Size Calculator Team · Updated · 5 min read
Quick answer: Honda lists hair dryers at 300 to 1,500 watts and a clothes iron at 1,200 watts, with no start-up surge on either. A 2,500-watt generator runs a hair dryer on high, a 2,000-watt inverter an iron or a dryer on low, and about 3,500 watts both at once. Taking turns is the easy way to use a small unit.
Hair dryer and iron watts
| Appliance | Running watts | Starting watts |
|---|---|---|
| Hair dryer, low | 300 | 300 |
| Hair dryer, high | 1,500 | 1,500 |
| Clothes iron | 1,200 | 1,200 |
Honda lists hair dryers as a range of 300 to 1,500 watts, since the draw depends on the heat and fan setting. Check the label on yours, because some travel dryers are lower and some salon-style dryers are higher. Both are heating appliances, so starting watts equal running watts.
Which generator size to choose
| Setup | Running load | Generator at 80% |
|---|---|---|
| Hair dryer, low | 300 W | 1,000 W inverter is enough |
| Clothes iron | 1,200 W | About 1,500 W, so 2,000 W |
| Hair dryer, high | 1,500 W | About 1,875 W, so 2,500 W |
| Hair dryer on high and iron together | 2,700 W | About 3,375 W, so 3,500 W |
A typical 2,000-watt inverter delivers about 1,600 running watts, so its 80% mark is about 1,280 watts, which covers the iron at 1,200 but not a dryer on high. Add a TV, lights and a phone charger and the totals climb, so use the generator wattage calculator.
Add the dryer, iron, lights and a TV.
Tips to use less
- Use the low setting or towel-dry first. The low setting is 300 watts against 1,500 on high.
- Take turns. Dry your hair, then iron. Together they need a much bigger generator.
- Plug in directly or use a heavy cord, never a thin one. See the extension cord calculator.
- Camping? See the RV generator calculator for the whole rig.
Run the generator outdoors, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents. Never in a garage or shed, even with the door open. See how far a generator should be from your house.
Frequently asked questions
How many watts does a hair dryer use?
Honda lists hair dryers at 300 to 1,500 watts, depending on the heat and fan setting.
How many watts does a clothes iron use?
Honda lists a clothes iron at about 1,200 watts.
Can a 2000-watt generator run a hair dryer?
On low, yes. A dryer on high at 1,500 watts is above the roughly 1,280-watt 80% mark of a typical 2,000-watt inverter, so a 2,500-watt generator is safer.
Can I run a hair dryer and iron at the same time?
Only with a generator of about 3,500 watts. Most people run them one after the other.
Do hair dryers have a starting surge?
No. They are heating appliances and draw about the same watts at start-up as when running.
Related calculators
Sources: Running and starting watts from the Honda generator wattage guide (hair dryers, clothes iron). Generator sizes apply the 80% running rule.