What Size Generator Do You Need to Run an Electric Blanket?
By the Generator Size Calculator Team · Updated · 5 min read
Quick answer: Honda lists a queen-size electric blanket at 800 watts, with no start-up surge. A 2,000-watt inverter generator runs one, and about 2,500 watts two. Add a gas furnace fan (1,000 running and 1,800 starting watts for 1/3 HP) and two blankets and a 4,000-watt generator covers the lot. A blanket warms you rather than the room, so it is far lighter than a space heater.
Electric blanket watts
| Appliance | Running watts | Starting watts |
|---|---|---|
| Electric blanket (queen) | 800 | 800 |
| Furnace fan, 1/3 HP | 1,000 | 1,800 |
| Space heater, high | 1,500 | 1,500 |
Honda lists a queen-size electric blanket at 800 watts. Sizes and heat settings vary, so check the label on your blanket. Compare with a space heater at 1,500 watts, covered in what size generator runs a space heater.
Which generator size to choose
| Setup | Running load | Generator at 80% |
|---|---|---|
| One blanket | 800 W | About 1,000 W, so 2,000 W inverter |
| Two blankets | 1,600 W | About 2,000 W, so 2,500 W |
| Two blankets and a furnace fan | 2,600 W | About 3,250 W, so 4,000 W |
A typical 2,000-watt inverter delivers about 1,600 running watts, so its 80% mark is about 1,280 watts and one blanket fits easily. Two blankets sit right at the 80% limit of a 2,500-watt unit. For the furnace, see what size generator runs a furnace.
Example: two blankets and a furnace
| Load | Running watts |
|---|---|
| Electric blanket (queen) | 800 |
| Electric blanket (queen) | 800 |
| Furnace fan, 1/3 HP | 1,000 |
| Lights, chargers, Wi-Fi | 175 |
| Running total | 2,775 |
The furnace fan's extra start-up load is 800 watts (1,800 minus 1,000), so the peak is about 3,575 watts. A 4,000-watt generator carries 2,775 running watts under its 80% mark (3,200 watts), and its approximate 5,000-watt starting capacity covers the peak.
Add the fridge, lights and more.
Tips for a winter outage
- Heat the person, not the room. A blanket plus layers uses a fraction of a space heater's power.
- Use the blanket's own controller and cord, and do not run it under a heavy pile of bedding unless the maker says it is safe. Follow the label.
- Never bring the generator indoors to stay warm. Winter outages are when carbon monoxide poisonings happen most.
- Plan the fuel. See how long a generator runs on a tank of gas.
Run the generator outdoors, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents. Never in a garage or shed, even with the door open. Install battery-powered carbon monoxide alarms. See how far a generator should be from your house.
Frequently asked questions
How many watts does an electric blanket use?
Honda lists a queen-size electric blanket at about 800 watts. Check the label on yours.
Can a 2000-watt generator run an electric blanket?
Yes. One 800-watt blanket is under the roughly 1,280-watt 80% mark of a typical 2,000-watt inverter.
Can I run two electric blankets on one generator?
Yes, on about a 2,500-watt generator.
Do electric blankets have a starting surge?
No. A heating element draws about the same at start-up as when running.
Is a blanket better than a space heater on a generator?
Usually, for one or two people. A blanket is about 800 watts, against 1,500 for a space heater on high.
Related calculators
Sources: Running and starting watts from the Honda generator wattage guide (electric blanket, furnace fan); space heater figure from Honda and Lasko. Generator sizes apply the 80% running rule and an assumed starting capacity about 25% above the running rating. The lights and chargers in the example are assumed values.