Tent house guide · Generator

What Size Generator (KVA) Does a Wedding Need? A Rough Load Guide for Lights, Coolers, DJ and the Water Motor (Generator Kitne KVA Ka)

Bharat Tent & Light House · 17 October 2026

If the power goes on the wedding night, first the lights go out, then the coolers stop, then the DJ. That's why a village or home function almost always needs a generator. The question is what size, in KVA? Too small and it keeps tripping; too big and you pay for nothing. The answer comes from one list: what will run on the generator. Below is an easy way to make that list. Bharat Tent & Light House, Khorra supplies a generator with the lights and tent, and a generator can also be rented on its own.

These figures are rough estimates; the real wattage of each item is printed on its plate or box. We confirm the final size after seeing your list.

1. KVA and watts, simply

• An item's power is written in watts (W); 1000 watts = 1 kilowatt (kW)
• A generator's size is in KVA. Rule of thumb: KVA ≈ total kilowatts ÷ 0.8
• Add 20-25% headroom on top, so the generator doesn't run flat out and copes if something extra is plugged in

Example: if everything adds up to 8 kilowatts, 8 ÷ 0.8 = 10 KVA, and with headroom about 12-13 KVA is right.

2. How much power common items draw (rough)

The biggest difference is halogen versus LED. The power one halogen light uses runs several LED lights. These days most decoration is LED jhalar and lights, so the lighting load is not as heavy as it used to be.

3. Make your own list

Before booking, draw three columns on paper: item, how many, how many hours. Then add up watts × number for each line.

A rough example (a wedding night at home):

• 40 LED bulbs × 15 W = 600 W
• 30 jhalar strings × 30 W = 900 W
• 6 focus lights × 80 W = 480 W
• 2 chandeliers × 100 W = 200 W
• 8 coolers × 200 W = 1600 W
• 6 fans × 70 W = 420 W
• DJ sound = 2000 W
• Water motor (1 HP) = 750 W

Total about 6950 W ≈ 7 kW. 7 ÷ 0.8 ≈ 8.7 KVA, with headroom about 10-11 KVA.

This is only an example. In winter the coolers go and the load drops a lot; in summer a portable AC pushes it up.

4. Things people often forget

• Motors and ACs draw much more while starting. Don't switch everything on at once; one at a time
• If the halwai's motor or mixer runs on the same generator, add it to the list
• How many hours: a jagran runs all night, a wedding from evening till late; that decides how long the generator runs
• House power too: sometimes the lights run on the house supply and the generator is only backup; say this clearly at booking
• Where it goes: the generator always runs in open air, never in a room, veranda, garage or a space closed in with kanat. Its exhaust contains carbon monoxide, which has no smell and can kill in an enclosed space. Keep it at least 20 ft (about 6 m) from doors and windows, the pandal and the kitchen, with the exhaust pointing away from people and windows

5. How it differs by function

• Small function (birthday, katha, griha pravesh): a few lights, fans, a mic; low load
• Jagran or mata ki chowki: all-night lights and sound, more hours
• Wedding night: full decoration, coolers or fans, DJ, lights for the food counters; the highest load
• Ghudchadhi and nikasi: the moving lights and the DJ gaadi have their own arrangement

For the rest of the planning see the wedding light decoration and summer wedding guides.

WhatsApp the list of what will run on the generator to 99918 64283, or tell us on the phone. We'll tell you what size generator is right, so you don't have to worry about power all night.

FAQ

What size generator does a wedding need?

It depends on what runs on it: lights, jhalar, coolers, fans, DJ, the motor. Add up all the watts, divide by 1000 to get kilowatts, then divide by 0.8 (a rough assumption), and keep 20-25% headroom. For example 7000 W = 7 kW, 7 ÷ 0.8 ≈ 8.75 KVA, about 10-11 KVA with headroom. Send the list and Bharat Tent & Light House, Khorra will tell you the right size.

How do I work out the generator load?

Each item's watts (on its plate) × how many, all added up. 1000 watts = 1 kilowatt. Total kilowatts ÷ 0.8 = roughly the KVA, then a little headroom.

Can coolers and an AC run on a generator?

Yes, if the generator is sized for them. Coolers use little power, a portable AC a lot more, and an AC pulls even more while starting, so switch them on one at a time.

Can I rent a generator on its own?

Yes. A generator comes with the tent and lights, and also on its own. At booking, tell us what will run on it and for how many hours.

Do LED lights reduce the generator load?

Yes, a lot. The power one halogen light uses runs several LED lights. If most of the decoration is LED, a smaller generator does the job.