Portable generators are a good solution indeed during the blackout. You can power the small appliances of your home with a 2000-watt generator easily. Most interestingly, you run an air conditioner with a 2000 watt generator.
Yes, you can really run your window AC with a 2000-watt generator smoothly. But it also depends on some other facts like the size (BTU, Ton) and type (window, central, etc) of your air conditioner.
Here, I have elaborately discussed what kind of air conditioner you can run with a 2000-watt portable generator. Before going into the main discussion, I would like to clear some common terms of AC and generator.
If you are looking for the best generator to run your central and window air conditioner, you could read this article.
let’s get started.

A Brief Idea on the Peak and Running Watt of Generator
You should have a clear idea of the peak wattage and running wattage of your generator.
When you start your generator in economy mode, it will run in the running watts. But if you stop the economy mode before starting, your generator will run in the peak wattage.
Usually, most of the 2000-watt generator has the 2000 peak watt. And the running wattage is lower than the peak wattage. On the other hand, some brand introduces a 2000-watt generator as they have 2000 running watt and the peak watt is more than the running watt.
So, the power supply varies from brand to brand. First, make sure what is the peak and running watt of your generator. Then check the running and surge watt of the air conditioner.
If you find that the starting watt of your air conditioner is lower than the peak watt of your generator, you are good to go with your 2000 watt.
What is BTU in AC?
BTU stands for the British Thermal Unit. BTU refers to the amount of energy needed to increase 1° F of 1-pound of water. BTU is normally used in the generator.
What is the meaning of Ton in AC?
Ton in AC doesn’t mean the weight of AC. Ton refers to how much heat can an air conditioner remove from a room in one hour. A one-ton AC can remove 12000 BTU per hour from a room.
So, you could calculate it as,
- 1 Ton AC= 12,000 BTU
- 2 Ton AC=24000 BTU

Will A 2000 Watt Generator Run an Air Conditioner?
It depends. If you run a small or medium window air conditioner, you can run with a 2000-watt portable generator easily. Moreover, you can run the Central AC with Compressor Off & Fan-Only with a 2000 watt.
But you can not run the central AC with the compressor with a 2000-watt portable generator. Because they need at least 3000 watts to start.
Will A 2000 Watt Generator Run A 5000 Btu Air Conditioner?
Yes, you could run a 5000 Btu Air conditioner with a 2000 watt generator. a 5000 Btu generator needs usually 417-625 watts to run. So, you can easily run with your 5000 Btu air conditioner with a 2000-watt generator.
Will A 2000 Watt Generator Run A Window Air Conditioner?
Yes, you could run a window air conditioner with a 2000 watt generator. Usually, the window air conditioner doesn’t need a very high starting and running watt, you know. So, you could run your window air conditioner with the 2000 watt portable generator.
Will A 2000 Watt Generator Run A 8000 Btu Air Conditioner?
Yes, you could run even the 8000 Btu air conditioner with the 2000 watt portable generator. Usually, an 8000 Btu air conditioner needs a 665-1000 watt run. So, you could smoothly run your 8000 Btu air conditioner with a 2000 watt portable generator.
Will A 2000 Watt Generator Run A 13,500 Btu Air Conditioner?
Yes, you can run even the 13500 Btu Air conditioner with a 2000 watt generator. 13500 Btu air conditioner needs 1200 to 1800 watt to run. So, a 2000 watt generator is enough for a 13,500 Btu air conditioner.
Final Thoughts
The calculation is not complex. Just take it simply. If you have a Ton Ac or 12000 BTU AC, you just need to calculate how many watts you need to start your AC. If your generator can produce more than the starting watt of your air conditioner, you can run your AC easily.
Related: Generator for 15000 BTU AC
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