How Many Amps Does Each Appliance Use?

Amps decide whether a circuit, breaker or extension cord can carry a load safely. Nameplates print watts far more often than amps, so converting between them is the first step in almost any wiring question.

Amps equal watts divided by volts. A 1,500 W appliance on a 120V circuit draws 12.5 amps; the same appliance on 240V draws half that, 6.25 amps, for the same power delivered.

Convert any wattage to amps

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W
hours
USD/kWh
Cost per month
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Per hour
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Per day
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Per year
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kWh per day
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Planning estimate. The rate box is prefilled with a regional average; the figure on your own bill is the one that matters. Power is draw while running, not while switched on.

Amp draw for every appliance

Air quality

ApplianceWattsAmps at 120V
Dehumidifier500 W4.2 A
Air purifier50 W0.4 A
Humidifier40 W0.3 A

Cleaning

ApplianceWattsAmps at 120V
Vacuum cleaner1,400 W11.7 A

Cooling

ApplianceWattsAmps at 120V
Central air conditioner3,500 W29.2 A
Portable air conditioner1,100 W9.2 A
Window air conditioner900 W7.5 A
Evaporative cooler300 W2.5 A
Box fan75 W0.6 A
Ceiling fan60 W0.5 A
Tower fan50 W0.4 A

EV

ApplianceWattsAmps at 120V
Level 2 EV charger7,200 W60.0 A

Electronics

ApplianceWattsAmps at 120V
Gaming PC400 W3.3 A
Game console160 W1.3 A
Desktop computer150 W1.3 A
Television90 W0.8 A
Laptop60 W0.5 A
Soundbar with subwoofer40 W0.3 A
Computer monitor30 W0.3 A
Cable box / DVR25 W0.2 A
Printer20 W0.2 A
Wi-Fi router10 W0.1 A
Home security panel6 W0.1 A
Streaming box (Roku, Apple TV, etc)4 W0.0 A
Smart speaker3 W0.0 A
Cordless phone base3 W0.0 A

Fitness

ApplianceWattsAmps at 120V
Treadmill900 W7.5 A

Heating

ApplianceWattsAmps at 120V
Garage heater5,000 W41.7 A
Air-source heat pump3,000 W25.0 A
Space heater1,500 W12.5 A
Electric fireplace1,500 W12.5 A
Electric baseboard heater1,500 W12.5 A
Mini-split heat pump900 W7.5 A
Electric blanket100 W0.8 A

Kitchen

ApplianceWattsAmps at 120V
Electric oven2,400 W20.0 A
Dishwasher1,800 W15.0 A
Electric stove burner1,500 W12.5 A
Air fryer1,500 W12.5 A
Electric kettle1,500 W12.5 A
Toaster1,200 W10.0 A
Microwave oven1,000 W8.3 A
Electric pressure cooker1,000 W8.3 A
Coffee maker900 W7.5 A
Chest freezer200 W1.7 A
Slow cooker200 W1.7 A
Refrigerator150 W1.3 A

Laundry

ApplianceWattsAmps at 120V
Electric clothes dryer3,000 W25.0 A
Washing machine500 W4.2 A

Lighting

ApplianceWattsAmps at 120V
Incandescent light bulb60 W0.5 A
LED light bulb9 W0.1 A

Other

ApplianceWattsAmps at 120V
Aquarium heater200 W1.7 A
CPAP machine40 W0.3 A

Outdoor

ApplianceWattsAmps at 120V
Pool pump1,500 W12.5 A
Hot tub1,500 W12.5 A
Sump pump800 W6.7 A
Well pump750 W6.3 A

Personal care

ApplianceWattsAmps at 120V
Hair dryer1,800 W15.0 A

Water heating

ApplianceWattsAmps at 120V
Electric tankless water heater18,000 W150.0 A
Electric water heater4,000 W33.3 A
Heat pump water heater500 W4.2 A

The 80 percent rule

US electrical code treats any load running half an hour or longer as continuous, and continuous loads must not exceed 80 percent of a circuit breaker rating. A device drawing 12 amps continuously therefore needs at least a 15A breaker, even though 12 amps looks like it fits comfortably under 15. That headroom, not the raw draw, is what actually sizes a circuit.

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