What Size Generator Do I Need for My Catering Trailer?

March 5, 2025 | Nate Cord

When you’re serving food and drinks on the go, whether it’s a mobile coffee truck, food van, or you’re providing catering services at an outdoor event like a festival or wedding, one thing is for sure… you’ll need reliable power. And this is where a generator comes in.

But with so many different sizes (and types) of generators on the market, it can be difficult to know exactly which one is best for your trailer or van.

To put it simply, the size of your generator will all depend on the total power consumption of all your equipment. Noise and portability considerations are also likely to influence your decision, as well as the type of fuel you prefer.

But before we get into that, it’s important to look at exactly why a catering trailer or food truck needs a reliable generator.

Why Does a Catering Trailer Need a Reliable Generator?

A reliable generator serves as the primary power source for essential equipment, and without one, a catering trailer would struggle to operate efficiently, especially in locations without direct access to power.

The success of a catering trailer depends solely on the produce being fresh and edible, but without a steady and dependable power supply, critical appliances such as fridges/freezers, ovens, fryers, coffee machines and warming stations simply wouldn’t be able to work properly.

Unfortunately, this can then lead to food spoilage and potential health risks, which means two things – wasted inventory and financial losses to the business. Being unable to meet consumer demand can also massively damage reputation, which, for a small catering business, can be incredibly difficult to recover from.

This is why it’s absolutely essential for a catering trailer to invest in a reliable generator that will provide steady power and allow the business to operate efficiently in any location.

Browse our wide range of catering and outdoor event generators here, providing reliable power for cooking and refrigeration.

What Size Generator Do I Need for My Catering Trailer?

As touched on above, the right size generator you choose for your catering trailer will mainly depend on the total power consumption of all your equipment, but you should also consider other factors, too. Let’s get into it…

3 key things to consider when choosing the right size generator for your catering trailer:

1. Total Power Consumption

Each appliance that you use in a catering trailer (coffee machine, fryer, fridge etc.) requires a specific amount of power to work, but failing to supply them with enough electricity can lead to performance issues, equipment failure, or even power outages.

If you choose a generator that is too small, you’ll find that it struggles to handle the load, causing it to overheat or probably even shut down. On the other side of the coin, if you go ahead and choose a generator that is too big, you will waste unnecessary fuel consumption and off the back of that, waste unnecessary money!

How to Calculate Wattage Requirements

To determine the correct size, the first step is to calculate the wattage requirements of every appliance you plan to use, and we’re talking everything! You will be able to find the power rating of each appliance in either watts or amps, and they can be found on its label or in the user manual that came with the appliance.

Once you have found out the wattage for all your appliances, add them together to find out the total running wattage your generator needs to supply.

What About Starting Watts?

When calculating wattage requirements, it’s also important to account for starting watts, as many appliances like fridges or fryers require more power when they first turn on, and this surge power can be quite a lot higher than the running wattage.

This means the generator you choose must be able to handle these peaks without overloading. To prevent overloading, as a general rule of thumb, it’s wise to go for a generator that provides at least 25-30% more power than your total calculated wattage.

For example:

• For small catering trailers with not that much equipment, such as coffee machines, a small fridge, and perhaps some pretty basic lighting a 3,000W to 5,000W generator may be sufficient, such as the Champion CHG3500-DF Dual Fuel Generator
• Medium-sized trailers that include fryers, grills, and fridges will typically need a 6,500W to 10,000W generator like the Hyundai HY10000LEK-2 Petrol Generator
• Larger catering setups with multiple high-power appliances may need a 10,000W to 15,000W (or even higher) generator, such as the Stephill SSDK20M Super Silent Multi-Phase Diesel Generator

The Champion 3000 Watt LPG Dual Fuel Generator with Lifting Eye stands as an exceptionally robust power source for catering trailers, adept at fueling a wide array of tools, lighting systems, and various small equipment.

2. Run Time

In addition to power output, runtime should also influence your decision. Run time refers to how long the generator can operate on a single tank of fuel without needing to be refueled.

Understanding run time is especially important for catering businesses that may be working at remote events or locations without easy access to fuel, or during long shifts where consistent power is needed throughout the whole duration of the day/ evening.

Some generators are designed to run for 8 to 12 hours or more on a single tank of fuel, depending on the load, while others may only run for 3 to 5 hours under heavy use.

If your catering trailer operates long shifts at outdoor events, for example, a generator with a larger fuel tank and longer runtime (such as those with 12-hour capabilities) are the better option, giving you peace of mind that you won’t run out of fuel midway through an event.

You might also want to look into dual-fuel generators (generators that run on both petrol and propane) can offer greater flexibility and extended run times, especially when one type of fuel is running low.

3. Noise Levels

Noise levels are another key consideration when choosing the right generator for your catering trailer, especially if your business operates in locations where noise regulations are in place, or perhaps if you’re working at events with large crowds like festivals, weddings or campsites.

A loud, disruptive generator can detract from the ambiance of the outdoor event and create a negative impression of your business, so it’s important to go for a generator that won’t cause these potential interruptions.

Most generators you’ll find on the market will fall within the range of 60 dB to 90 dB, with larger generators generally being noisier. For reference, 60 dB is roughly the noise level of a normal conversation between people, while 90 dB is similar to the sound of heavy traffic or a lawnmower.

In most public event settings, anything above 70 dB is often thought of as disruptive, so we recommend sticking around or below this level if possible.

Brands like Honda and Hyundai are well-known for producing quiet inverter generators that can provide clean power without excessive noise.

Looking for a Reliable Generator for your Catering Trailer?

At Generators Direct, we offer a range of generators, power stations and power banks for your specific needs.

All of our products are manufactured, tested and certified to industry standards, and come with a price promise – you won’t find prices cheaper anywhere on the web, but if you do, we’ll match them. In addition to this, all orders come with free mainland UK shipping and after sales support from our experts.

If you require additional advice or have a question for our team, don’t hesitate to get in contact with us using this form or via phone at +441639849847. We’d be more than happy to assist you.