What size generator for a food truck?

Check, uncheck or adjust the typical device list below — watts, startup surge and battery size update instantly. Numbers come from U.S. DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer spec sheets, not marketing copy.

1. Check what you need to power

Refrigeration & Freezers

  • 1

Kitchen

  • 1
  • 2

Heating, Cooling & Fans

  • 1

Water & Pumps

Laundry & Cleaning

Electronics & Office

  • 1
  • 2

Medical Devices

Power Tools & Outdoor

Lighting

  • 4

2. Your sizing

Running load4,951 Wtypical certified-model range 4,920–4,978 W; we size with a conservative value
Startup peak5,961 Wdriven by 1× Refrigerator (bottom-freezer, ~20 cu ft)
Daily energy6,600 Wh
Recommended capacity8,250 WhBasis: 1 day of typical usage, incl. 25% margin for inverter loss & battery depth of discharge
Backup duration:

Assumptions: daily hours per device follow DOE / ENERGY STAR duty cycles; capacity adds a 25% margin. Check your appliance nameplates — actual draw varies by model.

3. Best matches from our 6-brand database

  1. Anker SOLIX F3800expandable system~$2,199
    • rated 6,000W covers your 5,450W continuous load
    • surge 9,000W covers your 5,961W start peak
    • base 3,840Wh + expansion batteries (up to 26,880Wh) covers your 8,250Wh need
    • 120/240V split-phase output
    Check price →

Static answer (crawlable summary)

Typical device list: Refrigerator (bottom-freezer, ~20 cu ft)×1, Induction Cooktop (portable single burner)×2, Coffee Maker×1, Router + Modem×1, LED Bulb (60W equivalent)×4, Box Fan×1, Phone / Smartphone Charger×2.

Estimated from: Energy Star Certified Products · Mfr spec: Duxtop 8120MC (Secura) · VT Extension table (DOE-derived) · Mfr spec class: Netgear KB + measured (ARRIS SB8200) · Energy Star Certified Products (bulbs) · Mfr spec: Lasko Pro Power 20in · Unbound Solar Power Table (secondary) — some household values are cross-checked class estimates (not single-model nameplates); check your own appliance nameplate before buying.

Continuous load4,951 W
Startup peak5,961 W (driven by 1× Refrigerator (bottom-freezer, ~20 cu ft))
Daily energy use6,600 Wh
Recommended capacity8,250 Wh (25% margin included)
Minimum inverter5,450 W continuous

Frequently asked questions

What size generator for a food truck?

For a typical setup (Refrigerator (bottom-freezer, ~20 cu ft), Induction Cooktop (portable single burner), Coffee Maker, Router + Modem and LED Bulb (60W equivalent), plus 2 more devices), you need at least 4,951W of continuous power. The single biggest moment is startup: when 1× refrigerator (bottom-freezer, ~20 cu ft) kicks on, the momentary draw peaks at 5,961W. For a full day of runtime we recommend at least 8,250Wh of battery capacity (your devices use about 6,600Wh per day, plus a 25% margin for a full day of use).

Which power stations can handle this?

Based on published specs, Anker SOLIX F3800 (with expansion batteries) covers the 5,961W startup peak and delivers up to 4.1 days fully expanded of typical daily use. Check the comparison cards above for the full numbers.

Why is the startup surge higher than the running watts?

Motor-driven devices (fridge compressors, well pumps, air conditioners) draw 2-5× their running power for a split second at startup — measured as locked-rotor amps (LRA). On this page the biggest spike comes from the Refrigerator (bottom-freezer, ~20 cu ft): a station that only meets the running load will trip or stall when it starts. Data sources: U.S. DOE Energy Saver, ENERGY STAR certified products, manufacturer spec sheets.