Appliance Wattage & Running Cost
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What size generator or power station for a garage door opener? (700+ W)

To run a garage door opener, choose at least
700 W running · 1,100 W startup surge.

A garage door opener draws about 550 W while running, but its motor can spike to roughly 1,100 W at startup, so size for the surge. Pick a generator, inverter or power station rated comfortably above these numbers.

Battery runtime calculator

Estimated runtime

Assumes about 85% usable capacity. Motors need extra headroom for startup surge.

How long a power station lasts

Power stationEstimated runtime
300 Wh0 h 28 min
500 Wh0 h 46 min
1,000 Wh1 h 33 min
2,000 Wh3 h 5 min
3,000 Wh4 h 38 min

Sizing guide

Minimum running watts700 W
Minimum starting watts1,100 W
Suggested inverter1,100 W or higher

See also garage door opener wattage and running cost.

FAQ

How many watts does a garage door opener use?

About 350-750 watts while moving, with a brief startup surge.

Does an opener use standby power?

A few watts to keep the radio and lights ready, which is negligible.