Generator Size
7.5 kW
Load
3,250 W
With Margin
4,063 W
Circuits
3
Recommended Generator
7.5 kW
4,063 W with 25% margin
Base Load
3,250 W
Amps (120V)
34
Circuits
3
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Inputs
Result
2,000 + 200 + 1,050 = 3,250W. With 25% margin: 4,063W. 4,063 / 800 = 5.1 kVA → 5 kW. Amps: 4,063 / 120 = 34A → 3 circuits.
Inputs
Result
2,000 + 3,000 + 3,500 = 8,500W. With 25%: 10,625W. 10,625 / 800 = 13.3 kVA → 15 kW. Amps: 89A → 6 circuits.
A typical outdoor wedding or party needs 5–10 kW. A PA system (2,000W) plus 400 ft of string lights (200W) plus 3 food warmers (1,050W) totals 3,250W base load. With a 25% safety margin, you need a 5 kW generator. Add portable AC or heaters and you jump to 7.5–10 kW.
| Equipment | Watts | Generator |
|---|---|---|
| PA + String Lights | 2,200W | 3 kW |
| + Food Warmers | 3,250W | 5 kW |
| + Portable AC | 6,750W | 10 kW |
| Full Production | 10,000W+ | 15 kW |
Divide total wattage by 120V, then divide amps by 15 for standard circuits. A 3,250W setup draws 27 amps, requiring 2 circuits. Never load a circuit above 80% (12A per 15A circuit). Run audio and lighting on separate circuits to prevent flicker and hum.
A typical event PA system draws 1,500–2,500 watts. A simple 2-speaker setup for 100 guests uses about 1,500W. A DJ setup with subwoofer, mixer, and laptop draws 1,500–2,000W. Live bands with amplifiers and monitors can require 3,000–5,000W depending on size.
LED string lights use about 0.5 watts per foot. 100 feet of LED bistro lights draws only 50 watts. Even 400 feet (a large venue) uses just 200 watts — less than a single food warmer. Traditional incandescent strings use 5–10x more power, so always choose LED for events.
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Last Updated: Mar 20, 2026
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