Understand your home’s energy needs and choose the right power setup
Your home’s energy use adds up fast, but how much power does it really take to keep everything running? Understanding your household’s energy consumption is the first step toward managing costs, improving efficiency, and planning for the right power setup. Whether you’re aiming to lower your utility bill, explore solar options, or prepare for outages, knowing your wattage needs will help you make informed choices.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to assess your energy use, calculate your home’s wattage requirements, and evaluate potential power solutions based on your needs.
In this article:
- How many watts does an average home use?
- Factors that influence your power needs
- How to calculate your home’s power requirements
- Consider solar to meet your energy needs
- Backup power during outages
- Frequently asked questions
How many watts does an average home use?
In 2023, the average U.S. residential electricity customer consumed approximately 10,260 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, equating to about 855 kWh per month, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
However, annual household electricity use ranges widely across the U.S. — from about 6,000 kWh to nearly 15,000 kWh. Differences in climate, household energy efficiency, and reliance on heating or cooling systems all affect how many watts your house may use. To learn more about kilowatts, read our deep dive on kW vs kWh.
Factors that influence your power needs
To choose the right energy solution, it’s important to assess how your appliances, home size, and location affect your daily and seasonal electricity use.Let’s take a closer look at the key factors that influence how much electricity your home uses.
Appliances
Large household appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioning units are significant energy consumers. Typical minimum wattages range from 600-5,000, but we’ll talk more about how to calculate your specific needs below.
Home size
Larger homes require more lighting, heating, and cooling, using more energy. Considering that the median size of a newly built single-family home in the U.S. is approximately 2,200 square feet and the average household electricity consumption is around 900 kWh per month, we can estimate that 0.41 kWh is used per square foot monthly in an average-size home. That means:
- A 1,000 sq ft apartment might use around 410 kWh a month
- A 4,000 sq ft house could consume 1,640 kWh a month
This simplified example provides a general idea of how many watts it takes to run a house. Actual energy usage varies based on climate zone, insulation, HVAC usage, and appliance load/efficiency.
Your location
Climate, weather patterns, and seasonal changes can drastically influence your power needs. Homes in colder regions may require more heating, while those in warmer climates are often cranking the AC.
How to calculate your home’s power requirements
To accurately estimate your home’s energy needs, it’s important to assess the power consumption of your major appliances and devices. Or, just look at your electric bill! By understanding the wattage of each item and factoring in seasonal variations, you can get a clearer picture of your total electricity requirements.
Step 1: Inventory major appliances and devices
Start by listing all significant devices and their wattage. You can find the wattage information on the appliance’s label, in the user manual, or by checking the manufacturer’s website. Then see below for estimates of how much power your appliance draws when operating (measured in watts):
- Microwave: 1,000-1,500 watts
- Dishwasher: 1,200-2,400 watts
- Air conditioner: 900-5,000 watts
- Refrigerator: 150-300 watts
- Washing machine: 500-1,000 watts
- Clothes dryer: 1,800-5,000 watts
- Electric oven: 1,000-5,000 watts
- Television: 50-400 watts
(Source fypower.org)
Follow these instructions from the U.S. Department of Energy to determine how many watts of electricity your device is using.
Step 2: Calculate total wattage
To calculate your home’s total power usage, your math would end up being:
- Find the wattage of each appliance and multiply that by the number of hours it’s used daily. This includes appliances running simultaneously, such as the refrigerator, lights, air conditioner, and any other electronics you may have on (television, computer, etc.).
- Convert watts to kilowatts.
- Multiply by the number of days in a month to get a good idea of monthly usage, or days in a year to get the annual total for each appliance — but keep in mind that seasonal differences will affect your true usage.
- Add up all the kWh across the appliances.
For example, if you are running the following devices:
- Refrigerator: 300 watts
- TV: 100 watts
- Air conditioner: 3,000 watts
You would add the wattages together to get the total energy consumption per hour:
- 300 + 100 + 3,000 = 3,400 watts per hour
Keep in mind that some appliances, like refrigerators and air conditioners, may cycle on and off, so power usage can fluctuate. For a more accurate picture of your home’s monthly energy consumption, consider estimating each device’s average runtime and peak-use hours in your calculations.
Step 3: Evaluate seasonal variations
Heating and cooling can significantly impact electricity demand. Heating systems like electric furnaces, space heaters, and heat pumps often run more during the winter months.
In contrast, summer months often lead to increased electricity consumption, as AC units, fans, and cooling systems work harder to combat the heat. Specifically, central air conditioner systems that run continuously can be major energy users.
To adjust your calculations for seasonal differences, review your electric bills across different months to determine an accurate average. If your air conditioner consumes an average of 4,000 watts and runs for several hours a day during hot months, this can add up quickly.
Plan for future energy needs
While calculating your current energy use is important, it’s just as critical to consider what your home may need in the future. Many modern upgrades — such as electric vehicles (EVs), heat pumps, home additions, or even installing a pool — can significantly increase your overall electricity demand.
For example, a typical Level 2 EV charger may draw around 7,200 watts, while a typical home pool pump can use between 750 and 1,500 watts depending on its size and type. These additions could double or even triple your household’s baseline energy use if not accounted for in your planning.
Factoring in future energy needs now can help you avoid undersizing a solar system or backup power solution later. Even if you’re not ready to invest in upgrades today, having a rough estimate of what’s ahead allows you to make more scalable, cost-effective energy decisions.
Consider solar to meet your energy needs
Now that you know your home’s wattage needs, you can explore how solar energy can help meet those demands and reduce reliance on the utility grid, lowering both your electricity bills and carbon footprint.
Solar panels generate electricity during daylight hours, often producing more than your home consumes when sunlight is strongest and they are generating the most power. To make the most of that excess energy, you can integrate a battery storage system, which can store surplus power for use at night, on cloudy days, or during brief grid outages.
In many regions, homeowners on Time-of-Use (TOU) electricity plans can also use batteries to reduce costs by shifting consumption away from expensive peak hours. This adds another layer of savings on top of solar generation, especially in areas with high utility rates or demand charges.
While smaller batteries can help manage daily energy use and limited backup, larger-capacity systems may be better suited for homes that need whole-home support during extended outages.
To design a solar system — or a solar-plus-battery setup — tailored to your home’s unique energy needs, both now and in the future, it’s best to work with experienced installers. These professionals can help you evaluate the right equipment and system size for your usage patterns. With Aurora Solar, you can easily compare multiple vetted quotes from trusted installers, all in one place.
Backup power during outages
If you want to ensure that you have a reliable electricity supply during power outages, extreme weather, or emergencies, you need to have a backup power solution. Depending on the level of backup power you need and the duration of outages, this is what we recommend:
- Portable generators: These are typically used for short-term, emergency situations. They range from 3,000 to 8,500 watts and are best suited for powering essential appliances like refrigerators, lights, and heating systems. They’re usually fueled by gasoline or propane and can be quickly set up when needed to provide immediate relief during a power outage. Do not operate a generator indoors because it releases carbon monoxide.
- Whole-house generators: A whole-house generator is a more permanent solution. The wattage varies based on home size. Consumer Reports notes that whole-home generators can range from 8,000 to 20,000 watts, while Lowe’s states that whole-home generators are typically 10,100 watts and above. The bottom line is that a whole-home generator has to have enough wattage to power your entire home, including larger appliances like air conditioners and electric heating systems. They are typically powered by natural gas or propane and automatically kick in when the power goes out.
- Battery systems: These are commonly paired with solar panels but can also serve as standalone backup solutions. While many systems are designed to store excess solar energy for use at night or during short outages, larger battery setups can support whole-home or multi-day backup. Unlike generators, batteries operate silently, produce no emissions, and don’t require fuel — they recharge through solar panels or the grid. Whole-home battery backup typically involves a higher upfront investment and thoughtful planning around system size, load prioritization, and charging strategy. For those considering battery storage beyond short-term needs, it’s a good idea to consult a qualified installer to assess your home’s energy usage and design the right solution.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the best time to use electricity?
Using electricity during off-peak hours (typically late at night or early morning) can lower costs if you are on a Time-of-Use (TOU) electricity plan from your utility provider. Check with your utility provider for specific time frames and rates.
What are ENERGY STAR appliances?
ENERGY STAR-certified appliances are energy-efficient devices that reduce power consumption without sacrificing performance. Examples of appliances that have ENERGY STAR models include refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners.
What size battery do you need to back up your home?
Battery size depends on your energy usage. For example, a 10 kWh battery can support essential loads in smaller homes for about 8 hours (since the average American household uses about 30 kWh per day). 20-30 kWh systems are typically better suited for whole-home backup or longer outages.
What size generator is needed to run a 2,000-square-foot house?
A generator producing 15,000 watts can often power many essential appliances in a 2,000-square-foot home, including a central AC unit, refrigerator, and lights. However, homes with significant electric heating or multiple large appliances may require careful load management or a larger generator. A proper load calculation is recommended.
