Hair Dryer Wattage for Generator Sizing
About the Hair Dryer
A standard household hair dryer with a heating element and fan motor. Despite having a motor, the heating element is the dominant load and the overall behavior is essentially resistive with no meaningful starting surge. Hair dryers draw their full rated wattage continuously during use. Most hair dryers have multiple heat and speed settings, with the low setting drawing around 750 watts. Include a hair dryer in your generator sizing if personal grooming is important during extended outages.
Generator Sizing for a Hair Dryer
Running a hair dryer by itself requires a generator with at least 1,875 W of capacity (2 kW), which includes a 25% safety margin. However, you rarely run a single appliance on a generator. When combined with other appliances, the hair dryer contributes 1,500 W to the continuous running load.
The hair dryer is a resistive load, meaning it uses a heating element or simple electronic circuit rather than a motor. Resistive loads draw the same wattage from the moment they turn on until they turn off, with no starting surge. This makes them the easiest type of appliance to run on a generator. When calculating your total generator load, the hair dryer adds a flat 1,500 W to your running total with no impact on peak surge calculations. Resistive loads also produce a power factor of 1.0, meaning they use electricity very efficiently with no wasted reactive power.
To determine the total generator size you need, use our interactive calculator to combine the hair dryer with your other appliances. The calculator automatically handles the starting surge calculation and applies the 25% safety margin to give you an accurate recommendation. Alternatively, browse the scenarios below to see common generator setups that include the hair dryer.
Tips for Running a Hair Dryer on a Generator
Running a hair dryer on a generator is straightforward since it is a purely resistive load. There are no special starting procedures or surge considerations. Simply ensure your generator's continuous (rated) wattage exceeds 1,500 W plus the wattage of all other appliances running simultaneously.
Since the hair dryer draws a constant 1,500 W whenever it is operating, you can accurately predict generator fuel consumption. At typical generator fuel efficiencies, running the hair dryer continuously adds approximately 0.1 gallons of gasoline per hour to your fuel consumption. If the hair dryer operates intermittently (like a thermostat-controlled heater), the actual fuel impact will be lower.
For sensitive electronic components within the hair dryer, an inverter generator provides the cleanest power output. However, most resistive appliances work fine on conventional generators as well. If you are running the hair dryer along with sensitive electronics like computers, the inverter generator protects all connected devices.
Hair Dryer Wattage Compared to Similar Appliances
The following table compares the hair dryer to other appliances in the other category. Understanding relative power requirements helps you make informed decisions about which appliances to prioritize on your generator and where you might find opportunities to reduce your total load.
| Appliance | Running Watts | Starting Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Hair Dryer (this appliance) | 1,500 W | — |
| Phone / Tablet Charger | 25 W | — |
| Sewing Machine | 100 W | — |
| Clothes Iron | 1,200 W | — |
| Electric Blanket | 200 W | — |
| Pool Pump (1 HP) | 1,500 W | 2,500 W |
| Hot Tub / Spa | 6,000 W | 7,500 W |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many watts does a hair dryer use?
A hair dryer uses approximately 1500 watts of continuous (running) power during normal operation. As a resistive load with no motor, it has no starting surge above its running wattage.
What size generator do I need to run a hair dryer?
To run a hair dryer by itself, you need a generator rated for at least 1,875 W (2 kW), which includes a 25% safety margin above the running wattage of 1500W. However, most people run additional appliances alongside the hair dryer, so your actual generator needs will be higher. Use our calculator to add your other appliances and get a comprehensive recommendation.
Can I run a hair dryer on an inverter generator?
Yes, a hair dryer runs perfectly well on an inverter generator. As a resistive load with no motor starting surge, it is one of the easiest appliances to power with any generator type. The clean sine wave output of an inverter generator is a bonus for any electronic components.