Yes, a generator can power an electric stove or range, but the high wattage demand of a full electric range means you need a generator of at least 22kW and ideally 24kW to 26kW for comfortable simultaneous operation alongside other household loads. An electric range with four burners and an oven draws 8,000 to 12,000 watts when operating at full capacity, making it one of the largest electrical loads in any home.
Electric Range Wattage by Element
A standard 240-volt electric range uses the following wattage per element. A small 6-inch burner draws approximately 1,200 watts. A large 8-inch burner draws 2,000 to 2,500 watts. A dual-element or bridge burner draws 2,500 to 3,400 watts. The oven bake element draws 2,500 to 3,500 watts. The oven broil element draws 3,000 to 4,000 watts. With all four burners and the oven running simultaneously, total draw can reach 10,000 to 12,000 watts. In normal cooking, however, the simultaneous draw is significantly lower because not every element runs at full power at the same time.
Realistic Cooking Load During an Outage
During an actual power outage, a household cooking a meal typically uses two to three burners at moderate settings plus the oven, which draws 4,000 to 6,000 watts total. A 22kW generator handles this comfortably alongside the refrigerator, lighting, and television. The problem arises when the AC compressor starts (adding 10,000 to 15,000 watts of starting surge) while the range is at full load. This concurrent peak is where undersized generators trip their main breakers.
Generator Size Recommendation for Electric Range Homes
For homes with an electric range as the primary cooking appliance alongside central AC, the Generac 24kW Guardian is the recommended minimum for whole-house coverage without load management concerns. The additional 2kW of headroom over the 22kW model provides the buffer needed when range cooking and AC cooling overlap during a summer outage. For homes with an electric range, electric water heater, and 4-ton or larger AC, the Generac 26kW Guardian is the appropriate choice. Browse our complete Generac lineup or contact our licensed master electrician team for a personalized load calculation. Free Freight Insurance Included.